How Do I Turn a Photo into a Video in Dream Machine?

Category: Getting Started
Tags: photo to video, image to video, KeyFrame, Ray3, Draft Mode, beginner guide, video creation, animation

Introduction

Turning a static photo into an animated video is one of Dream Machine's most powerful features. Whether you want to bring a portrait to life, animate a landscape, or create dynamic motion from any still image, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the complete photo-to-video workflow. You'll learn how to upload your image, set up the generation properly, write effective prompts, and optimize your workflow using Draft Mode to save credits while perfecting your result.

Step-by-Step Photo-to-Video Guide

Follow these steps to transform your photo into an animated video:

Step 1: Open the Composer

Press 'BOARDS' at the top of the interface, then press the big Plus Button in the middle bottom. You'll see the Composer window open—this is where all video creation happens.

Step 2: Upload Your Photo

At the bottom left of the Composer window, click the little picture icon. This opens the file browser where you can select and upload your photo from your device.

Step 3: Set Up KeyFrame (The Magic Part!)

Click the bottom right Pop-Up window. Make sure 'KeyFrame' is highlighted at the top—this should be automatically selected, but if not, select it manually. KeyFrame tells Dream Machine to use your photo as the starting frame of the video.

Step 4: Select Your Model

Select 'Ray3' to create your video. Ray3 is the most advanced model with superior motion quality, physics understanding, and prompt adherence.

Step 5: Choose Draft Mode (Optional but Recommended)

To save credits while testing, select 'DRAFT' mode by choosing the video size (such as '720P'). Draft Mode lets you preview results quickly and cost-effectively before committing to full Hi-Fi quality.

Step 6: Write Your Prompt

Type instructions in the text box describing what motion or action you want to happen in the video. Be specific and clear with your instructions.

Example prompt: "The girl stands still and moves her head from side to side"

Step 7: Generate Your Video

Select the RENDER / GO! Button—it's the small button with the ARROW UP icon. Wait for your 5-second video to appear. You can extend videos up to approximately 30 seconds total using the Extend feature.

Step 8: Upgrade to Hi-Fi Quality (If Using Draft)

If you used Draft Mode and are satisfied with the result, select 'HiFi' in the bottom right to create the full-quality version at 720p or your desired resolution.

Step 9: Download Your Video

Click the video, then click the download arrow (top right) to save it to your device. If you don't see the Download arrow, try selecting the THREE DOTS beside the video and select 'DOWNLOAD'.

Writing Effective Photo-to-Video Prompts

The quality of your animation depends heavily on your prompt. Sometimes the AI doesn't get it perfect the first time—just add more specific details to your prompt and try again!

Example of Prompt Refinement

Initial prompt: "The girl stands still and moves her head from side to side"

If the result isn't quite right, add more specific details:

Refined prompt: "The girl stands still and moves her head from side to side. She stays still. There are few people all moving very slowly in the background."

The more specific you are about what should move, what should stay still, and how elements should behave, the better your results will be.

View a full example of this refinement process here: https://dream-machine.lumalabs.ai/share/board/235fb8cd-77bc-4e96-8bbf-a16bc0e29c60

Key Tips for Success

• Use KeyFrame: Always ensure KeyFrame is selected when working with photos—this is essential for photo-to-video conversion

• Start with Draft Mode: Save credits by testing in Draft Mode before committing to Hi-Fi quality

• Be specific in prompts: Describe exactly what should move and what should stay still

• Iterate and refine: Don't expect perfection on the first try—add details and regenerate as needed

• Use Ray3: Ray3 offers the best motion quality and prompt understanding for photo-to-video workflows

Troubleshooting

• What happens if nothing moves in my photo-to-video generation?: Your prompt may be too vague or you may have accidentally selected a static camera instruction. Make sure you're explicitly describing motion: "the person turns their head," "leaves rustle in the wind," "water flows gently." Avoid phrases like "still camera shot" which lock everything in place.

• Why does my entire photo distort or change instead of just animating?: You may not have selected KeyFrame properly. Go back and verify that 'KeyFrame' is highlighted at the top of the bottom right Pop-Up window. Without KeyFrame selected, Dream Machine treats your image as a reference rather than the exact starting frame, which can cause unwanted changes.

• My video has too much movement—how do I make specific elements stay still?: Add explicit instructions about what should NOT move. For example: "The girl stands still and only moves her head" or "The background remains static while only the character moves." Being specific about stillness is just as important as describing motion.

• The motion looks jerky or unnatural...: Try using Ray3 instead of Ray2, as Ray3 has superior motion quality and physics understanding. Also ensure your prompt describes smooth, natural movement: "slowly turns head," "gentle breeze," "smooth camera push-in" rather than abrupt actions.

• I can't find the download button after my video generates...: Click directly on the video first to select it, then look for the download arrow in the top right. If it's still not visible, click the THREE DOTS menu beside or near the video and select 'DOWNLOAD' from the menu options.
  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What's the difference between using a photo as KeyFrame versus Reference?KeyFrame uses your photo as the exact first frame of the video—what you see in the photo is precisely what the video starts with, and motion happens from there. Reference uses your photo as inspiration or guidance, but Dream Machine may reinterpret the image style and content. For photo-to-video, always use KeyFrame.

2. Should I use Draft Mode or go straight to Hi-Fi? Always start with Draft Mode to test your prompt and see if the motion works as intended. Draft Mode saves significant credits and generates faster. Once you have a Draft result you're happy with, upgrade to Hi-Fi for the final quality version. This workflow prevents wasting credits on Hi-Fi attempts that don't work.

3. How long can my photo-to-video generations be? Initial generations are 5 seconds. You can extend videos up to approximately 30 seconds total using the Extend feature. Each extension adds additional seconds to your video, allowing you to create longer animated sequences from your original photo.

4. Can I animate specific parts of a photo while keeping other parts still? Yes, by being very specific in your prompt about what should move and what should stay still. For example: "The person's eyes blink slowly while the rest of the face remains still" or "Only the curtains move gently in the breeze while everything else is static." The more explicit your instructions, the better Dream Machine can control selective animation.

5. What types of photos work best for photo-to-video conversion? High-resolution photos with clear subjects and good lighting work best. Photos with natural motion potential (people, animals, nature scenes, fabric, water) tend to animate more realistically than completely static objects. Avoid heavily compressed or low-resolution images as they may produce lower quality animations.

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Original Author: Chris Roebuck, Luma AI – Customer Support - Education
Original Creation Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2025 at 7:10 AM
Updated by: KB Conversion Team