Step by step
- Write the ideaOpen the Studio and describe the film in a sentence or two, in any language: what it is for, what it shows and how long it should run. For example: “A 30-second ad for a small bakery: the first croissant of the morning.”
- Read the storyboardThe AI director plans the scenes and shots, the look, the lines on screen and the narration. Read it like a script and check that the story is the one you meant. A Free account gets 3 storyboards a day.
- Draw the frames and press playEvery shot gets a still frame for 5¢. Press play and the frames move with the on-screen lines over them, so you watch the whole film before paying for any video.
- Set the budgetMove the budget slider to what you want to spend. It decides which shots become real AI video and which stay as moving stills.
- Film the shotsThe chosen shots are filmed from their frames by Google’s Veo 3.1, Veo 3.1 Lite or Gemini Omni Flash. Video starts at 30¢ for a 4-second shot.
- Add the narrationPick one of eight voices and the narrator reads the film’s lines, for 1¢ a line.
- Open it in the editor“Open in editor” makes the film a normal CutLuma project. Add music, captions and your logo, then export an MP4.
Why storyboard first
Most of the cost of AI video is shots you throw away. You type a prompt, wait, and find out the result is wrong only after you have paid for it. A storyboard moves that decision to the cheapest point: you see every shot as a still frame first, and the frame you approve becomes the first frame of the video.
It also makes the result a film and not a pile of clips. The director plans the scenes in order, with on-screen lines and narration that carry from one shot to the next. A film can run up to about 3 minutes and 30 shots, grouped in scenes.
Write an idea the director can use
One or two sentences are enough, in any language. The more concrete the idea, the closer the first storyboard lands.
- Say what it is for. An ad, an explainer, a trailer, a birthday message. The purpose sets the pace.
- Name the subject. “Our rooftop café opening at sunrise” gives the director something to show. “A nice video about our café” does not.
- Give a length. 15 seconds for a short ad, 40 seconds for a small story, up to about 3 minutes for a longer film.
- Mention the shape. Vertical for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, wide for YouTube.
What costs money and what does not
The storyboard comes first and costs nothing on a Free account, 3 times a day. Frames, video and narration are paid from generation credit. Paid plans include some every month ($1 on Starter, $3 on Pro, $10 on Business), and any account, Free included, can buy packs that never expire: $10, $25, $50 (+$5 bonus) or $100 (+$15 bonus). See the plans.
| Step | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Storyboard | Scenes, shots, the look, on-screen lines and narration | Free accounts: 3 a day |
| Frame | A still picture for one shot, drawn by Nano Banana | 5¢ |
| Moving still | The frame with a slow camera move, in place of video | Nothing more |
| AI video | The shot filmed by Veo 3.1 Lite, Veo 3.1 or Gemini Omni Flash | From 30¢ for a 4-second shot |
| Narration | A line read by one of eight voices | 1¢ a line |
Use your own picture as a first frame
If the film is about a real product, room or place, use your own picture as a shot’s first frame. The video then starts from exactly that image, so what the viewer sees matches the real thing. The image to video page has the steps.
Finish it like any other video
“Open in editor” makes the film a normal project: stills keep their camera move, the on-screen lines become text you can edit and the narration sits on the audio track. From there it is ordinary editing. Add music, captions and your logo, then resize the film for each platform and export.
Still missing a cutaway or two? The B-roll guide covers the free ways to fill a gap: stock footage, a photo with a camera move and templates.
FAQ
Can I make an AI video from text for free?
The storyboard is free: a Free account gets 3 a day. Frames cost 5¢ each and video starts at 30¢ for a 4-second shot, paid from generation credit that any account can buy in packs from $10.
Which AI models make the video?
Google’s. Gemini directs the storyboard, Nano Banana draws the frames, and Veo 3.1, Veo 3.1 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash film the shots.
How long can the film be?
Up to about 3 minutes and 30 shots, grouped in scenes.
Can I write the idea in my own language?
Yes. The Studio takes the idea in any language.
Do I have to film every shot as video?
No. The budget slider decides which shots become AI video. The others stay as moving stills, which often work well under a narrator.
Can I edit the film afterwards?
Yes. “Open in editor” makes it a normal CutLuma project with a timeline, captions, music and export.