How Do I Use Modify Video to Transform Footage While Preserving Motion?

Category: Advanced Features
Tags: Modify Video, motion preservation, video transformation, Ray2, Modify Frame, Adhere strength, environment change, styling transformation

Introduction

Modify Video (RAY2) allows you to transform any footage—live action, animation, or phone recordings—into completely different worlds while preserving the original motion, performance, and camera dynamics. This breakthrough tool works without green screens or special equipment, using Ray2's reliable processing pipeline to maintain authentic movement while changing everything else. You can transform environments, update wardrobe and styling, change atmospheric conditions, or make multiple modifications while keeping facial expressions, lip sync, choreography, and camera movement intact.

Complete Modify Video Workflow

Step 1: Access Modify Video

Open your completed video in Dream Machine using the EDITOR. After the video has been uploaded, click the "MODIFY..." option to enter the transformation interface.

Note: Ray3 videos will be adapted to Ray2's processing pipeline for modification. Modify Video currently works with Ray2 and Ray2 Flash.

Step 2: Choose Your Modification Type

Add instructions in the text box that says "Describe your changes..."

For precise control, choose "Modify Frame" to target specific visual elements. This gives you the most control over what changes and what stays the same.

Step 3: Set Your Strength to Minimum

Locate the "Strength" slider in the modification interface. Move the slider to the lowest setting labeled "Adhere."

This crucial setting preserves motion, performance, and camera dynamics while allowing visual transformations. Adhere strength is the key to maintaining motion fidelity during modifications.

Step 4: Describe Your Changes in Your Prompt

Write clear, specific prompts describing what you want to transform:

For environment changes: "Transform the indoor scene to a magical forest, preserve all character movement"

For styling updates: "Change the modern clothing to medieval costume, maintain all performances"

For atmospheric changes: "Change sunny day to stormy night, keep all motion intact"

Step 5: Generate Your Transformed Video

Review your settings: Modify type selected, Strength at "Adhere," clear transformation prompt. Click generate and wait for processing (typically 2-4 minutes). The AI will transform your footage while maintaining original motion and performance.

Once complete, review the result and download if satisfied, or adjust your prompt and regenerate for refinements.

Real Transformation Examples

Environment Transformation

Original: Person dancing in a living room

Prompt: "Transform the living room into a futuristic space station, preserve all dance movements"

Result: Same choreography and performance in a completely new sci-fi environment

Character Styling

Original: Casual conversation between two people

Prompt: "Transform modern clothes into 1920s period costumes, maintain all gestures and expressions"

Result: Period-accurate styling with preserved natural conversation dynamics

Atmospheric Changes

Original: Outdoor scene in daylight

Prompt: "Change to nighttime with neon city lights, keep all character movements"

Result: Dramatic lighting transformation with maintained motion fidelity

Advanced Modify Video Features

Motion Preservation

Maintains facial expressions, lip sync, choreography, and camera movement regardless of environmental changes. This is Modify Video's core strength—the ability to completely transform visuals while keeping performance and motion authentic.

No Equipment Required

Works with phone footage, professional shoots, or any existing video content. You don't need green screens, special lighting, or professional equipment to achieve dramatic transformations.

Flexible Duration

Upload up to 10 seconds of footage. Output can extend to 30 seconds using Ray2's capabilities through the Extend feature.

Multiple Approaches

Use standard Modify Video for visual transformations, or Modify with Instructions for complex multi-step changes. Modify Frame offers the most precise control for targeting specific elements.

PRO TIP: Use Modify Start Frame with Adhere Strength

Use Modify Start Frame with the lowest strength setting ("Adhere") for precise control. This combination preserves your original video's motion fidelity while transforming environments, wardrobe, or styling. For more complex edits requiring multiple changes, consider Modify with Instructions which lets you describe modifications in plain English.

Troubleshooting

• What happens if my motion changes or looks distorted after modification?:Your Strength setting is likely too high. Move the Strength slider all the way to "Adhere" (the lowest setting) to maximize motion preservation. Also ensure your prompt includes phrases like "preserve all movement" or "maintain all performances" to reinforce the instruction.

• Why does my Ray3 video look different after modification?: Ray3 videos are adapted to Ray2's processing pipeline for modification since Modify Video currently only works with Ray2 and Ray2 Flash. This adaptation may result in some quality or style differences. For projects requiring extensive modification, consider generating the base video with Ray2 instead of Ray3.

• My transformation is too subtle or didn't change enough...: If Adhere strength preserves too much of the original, try slightly increasing the Strength slider while monitoring that motion stays intact. Alternatively, make your transformation prompt more specific and descriptive about what should change: instead of "change the room," use "transform the bedroom into a vibrant tropical jungle with plants and waterfalls."

• Can I modify only part of my video?: Modify Video transforms the entire video uniformly. For selective modifications (like changing only the background while preserving the foreground exactly), use very specific prompts that describe what should stay the same: "keep the person's appearance identical, only transform the background to a snowy mountain landscape."

• My video has complex motion—will Modify Video handle it?: Modify Video excels at preserving complex motion including facial expressions, lip sync, choreography, and camera movement. However, extremely fast or chaotic motion may be more challenging. Test with Adhere strength first, and if motion degrades, your footage may be too complex for current modification capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What types of videos work best with Modify Video? Any video works—phone footage, professional shoots, animations, or screen recordings. Videos with clear motion and good lighting produce the most reliable results. Modify Video maintains motion fidelity regardless of source quality, though higher quality input generally yields better transformation results.

2. Can I use Modify Video on Ray3 generations? Yes, but Ray3 videos will be adapted to Ray2's processing pipeline since Modify Video currently only works with Ray2 and Ray2 Flash. If you plan to use Modify Video extensively, consider generating your base videos with Ray2 for more seamless workflow.

3. What's the difference between Modify Video and Modify Frame? Modify Frame is a type of modification within the Modify Video interface that gives you precise control over specific visual elements. When you access Modify Video, you can choose "Modify Frame" as your modification type for the most control over what changes and what stays the same.

4. How long does Modify Video take to process? Typical processing time is 2-4 minutes, though this can vary depending on video complexity and queue length. More complex transformations or longer videos may take additional time.

5. What does "Modify with Instructions" mean? Modify with Instructions is an approach within Modify Video that lets you describe complex multi-step changes in plain English. Instead of making single transformations, you can describe multiple changes simultaneously, such as "change the room to a castle, update clothes to medieval costumes, and add torch lighting."

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Original Author: Chris Roebuck, Luma AI – Customer Support - Education
Original Creation Date: Friday, September 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Updated by: KB Conversion Team