Released in early 2025, Gen-4 emphasizes temporal consistency, narrative coherence, and the ability to generate short 5- or 10-second clips from an input image combined with a text prompt. This model excels in maintaining characters and objects across frames, making it ideal for storytelling, VFX integration, and creative content creation.

Unlike pure text-to-video models, Gen-4 I2V requires both an image and prompt, enabling precise control over visuals while directing motion and dynamics. Whether you're a filmmaker, marketer, or hobbyist, effective prompting is key to harnessing its potential. This guide delves into prompting strategies, best practices, and examples tailored for Gen-4's image-to-video (I2V) functionality.

Understanding Prompting in Runway Gen-4 Image to Video

Gen-4's I2V process uses an uploaded image as the visual foundation—defining subjects, composition, lighting, colors, and style - while the text prompt guides the animation, focusing on motion, actions, and changes. This hybrid approach ensures high fidelity to the input image, with the AI animating elements realistically without generating from scratch. Key is to avoid describing the image in the prompt, as it can reduce motion or lead to inconsistencies; instead, emphasize what happens next.

Outputs are fast and controllable, integrating well with live-action or animated content, but limitations include character consistency across multiple scenes. To maintain character consistency in your AI Storyboard, you can use AI filmmaking tools like Atlabs.

Natural Language Prompting

Natural language prompting leverages descriptive, sentence-based inputs for intuitive results, ideal for beginners or quick tests. Focus on clear, narrative descriptions of actions and environments to bring the image to life.

Example: "A serene lake at sunrise, gentle waves lapping the shore as mist rises slowly."

This animates a static lake image into a peaceful, dynamic scene. Add sensory details like lighting or pace for refinement, but keep it conversational yet specific to avoid ambiguity.

Structured Prompting

For precision, structure prompts by separating elements like camera movement, subject action, environment, and style. This script-like approach mirrors filmmaking, helping Gen-4 adhere to your vision.

Recommended structure:

• Camera Movement: E.g., "Static camera" or "Dolly in."

• Subject/Action: E.g., "A chef preparing sushi."

• Environment/Atmosphere: E.g., "Traditional Japanese restaurant with warm lighting."

• Style: E.g., "Cinematic, slow motion."

Example: "Static camera, cinematic lighting: A master chef preparing a gourmet dish in slow motion, steam rising, ingredients falling into place with precision."

This ensures focused animation, especially useful for complex I2V where the image sets the base.

Prompting with Keywords for Camera Control and Styles

Incorporate targeted keywords to dictate camera, lighting, motion, and aesthetics. Gen-4 responds well to these for fine-tuned control.

• Camera Angles/Movements: Static camera, dolly in, pan right, aerial view, handheld camera tracks.

• Motion Effects: Slow motion, fast-moving, ripples spreading.

• Lighting/Atmosphere: Warm firelight, dramatic thunderstorm, golden sunlight.

• Styles/Aesthetics: Cinematic shot, impressionist painting style, 1980s vintage film look, film grain, moody lighting.

Example: "Pan right: A bustling city street at night with neon signs and passing cars, cinematic quality."

For I2V, align keywords with the image's elements - e.g., use "locked camera" for static subjects to emphasize subtle motions.

Best Practices and Tips

• Keep It Simple and Positive: Start simple, use positive phrasing (e.g., "The camera remains still" instead of "No camera movement"). Negative prompts aren't supported and can cause issues.

• Focus on Motion: Describe physical actions clearly (e.g., "The woman smiles and waves") rather than concepts or image details to maximize animation quality.

• Use High-Quality Inputs: Upload high-resolution, artifact-free images for better results. Gen-4 thrives on clear visuals.

• Iterate and Experiment: Generate variations, refine incrementally by adding elements like subject motion first, then camera.

• Avoid Complexity: Limit to single scenes; no multi-scene changes or contradictions. For multiple subjects, use positional descriptors (e.g., "Subject on left walks").

• Incorporate Cause and Effect: Describe actions and consequences for natural flow (e.g., "A pebble drops into a pond, creating expanding ripples").

• Work Around Limitations: For longer narratives and character consistency, use AI video tools like Atlabs.

Examples of Effective Prompts

1. Simple Action: "The woman inspects her reflection in the mirror. The surface of the mirror bubbles with large, organically-shaped translucent bubbles in varying sizes. Locked camera."

   • Animates a mirror image into a surreal, bubbling scene.

2. Transformation: "The pile of rocks transforms into a humanoid made out of rugged volcanic rocks. The rock humanoid walks around the scene."

   • Evolves a static rock image into a moving figure.

3. Narrative Sequence: "Create a video with a fixed camera of the man making an origami flower and giving it to the girl."

   • Generates a short story clip from an origami scene image.

4. Environmental Interaction: "Slow motion: Water droplets falling into a still pond, ripples spreading outward."

   • Brings a pond image to life with dynamic water effects.

5. Cinematic Style: "Aerial view: Sun setting over a vast desert landscape with long shadows, impressionist painting style."

   • Transforms a desert photo into an artistic, aerial video.

These showcase how to blend structure and keywords for compelling outputs. For more, refer to Runway's official guides or Atlabs help docs.

Conclusion

Runway Gen-4 revolutionizes I2V with its focus on consistency and narrative. By mastering natural, structured, and keyword-based prompting, alongside best practices, you can create stunning videos from images. Experiment freely, iterate, and explore integrations for complex projects. Dive into Gen-4 today via Atlabs platform and elevate your creative workflow!