# Animate an image with Image to Video > Use the Nodespell Image to Video Creative Tool to animate one still or guide a shot between a start frame and an end frame. Source: https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/image-to-video/ · Last updated: 2026-11-10 Image to Video is the Nodespell Creative Tool for turning one still image into a video clip. You supply a start image and a prompt that describes the motion, and many models also accept an optional end image so you can guide the shot from a first frame to a last frame. ## When to use Image to Video Choose Image to Video when one picture must anchor the shot: the subject, composition and look of your image become the opening frame of the clip. | If you have… | Use | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | One image that should become the first frame | **Image to Video** | | A first image and a last image to move between | **Image to Video** with a model that has an end-frame field | | Several images of a character, product or style, but no fixed first frame | [Reference Images to Video](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/reference-images-to-video/) | | Only a written idea | [Text to Video](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/text-to-video/) | | An existing clip you want to make longer | [Extend Video](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/extend-video/) | | An existing clip you want to change | [Modify Video](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/modify-video/) | ## Generate a video from an image 1. Switch the workspace to **Create** and select **Image to Video** in the tool rail. Image to Video has its own rail button. 2. Check the model at the top of the form. The default is **Seedance 2.5 Image to Video**. Use **Previous model** and **Next model** to step through models, or open the picker to browse them. 3. Add your still to the start-frame field. Select the field to open **Choose assets**, where you pick from your Assets or upload a file. 4. If the model shows an end-frame field and you want the shot to finish on a specific picture, add the last image there. 5. Write a prompt that describes the motion, camera direction and, for models that generate sound, the audio you want. 6. Set duration, resolution and any other options the model shows. 7. Set **Generations** to the number of clips you want, from 1 to 4. 8. Select **Generate**. Create needs a window at least 1080 pixels wide. In a narrower window, use **Open Graph** and work with the model node directly. ## Use a first frame and a last frame First/last-frame generation means the model starts the clip on one image and ends it on another, inventing the motion between them. It is available only on models that expose an end-frame input; Image to Video does not add one to models that lack it. - With a model that has curated Create labels, the fields read **Start frame** and **End frame**. - Other models show their own input names, for example **Start Image** and **End Image** on Seedance 2.5 Image to Video, or **Image** and **Last Frame** on Veo 3.1. - On most models the end frame is optional. Some first/last-frame models, such as FLUX.3 First/Last Frame to Video, require both images. Keep both images at the same framing and aspect ratio, and describe in the prompt how the camera or subject should travel between them. ## Image to Video controls Every Creative Tool shares the same frame around the model's own settings. These controls belong to Image to Video itself: | Control | What it does | Options and defaults | | ----------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ | | Tool switcher (title) | Switches to another video Creative Tool and keeps you in Create | All video tools | | Model picker | Chooses the model; the picker opens on **Featured** when featured models exist | Default: Seedance 2.5 Image to Video | | **Previous model** / **Next model** | Steps through the eligible models in order | — | | Start-frame field | The source image; required on most models | One image | | **More settings** | Shows less-used model settings and how many you changed | Collapsed | | **Generations** | How many clips one select of **Generate** submits | 1 to 4, default 1 | | **Generate** | Validates the form, adds or updates the node in your graph and submits the runs | Shows the credit estimate | The fields between the model picker and **More settings** come from the selected model. They are grouped under **Prompt**, **References**, **Output** and **Settings**. ## Recommended models for Image to Video The **Featured** collection for Image to Video currently lists, in order: - Seedance 2.5 Image to Video (default) - MiniMax H3 Image to Video - Gemini Omni Flash Image To Video - Veo 3.1 - Kling V3 Turbo Pro Image To Video **All models** shows every model that accepts one image as its main input. See [Choose a model](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/choose-a-model/) for filters, favorites and switching. ## What changes with the model? Duration, resolution, aspect ratio, audio and frame inputs all come from the model, so the form changes when you switch. - **Duration:** ranges differ widely. Seedance 2.5 Image to Video offers `auto` or 4 to 30 seconds; other models offer fixed choices such as 5 or 10 seconds. - **Resolution:** Seedance 2.5 offers 480p, 720p and 1080p (default 720p); some models go to 4K, and some have no resolution setting. - **Audio:** models with a **Generate Audio** toggle can create synchronized sound with the picture. Seedance 2.5 has it on by default. - **Framing:** on Seedance 2.5 Image to Video the output framing follows the supplied image. - **Draft Mode:** Seedance 2.5 offers **Draft Mode**, a 480p preview. You can render a draft at 1080p within seven days with Seedance 2.5 Draft to Final in [Video Upscaler](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/video-upscaler/). Check the credit estimate on **Generate** after changing duration or resolution, since both usually change the cost. See [Plans and credits](https://docs.nodespell.com/account/plans-and-credits/). ## Start from an image you generated in Create In an image Creative Tool such as [Image Generator](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/image-generator/), select **Continue with this result** on an image in **Results**, then choose **Image to Video**. Nodespell keeps that exact image as a visible Asset node and uses it as the starting frame. The notice "This tool will use the exact selected result through a visible Asset node." appears, with **Remove** to drop the source. Nothing runs until you select **Generate**. ## Where does the video go? **Generate** places an Image to Video model node in your current graph level and submits the run. Each finished clip appears in **Results** in the Create form, where you can step with **Show older result** and **Show newer result** or **View fullscreen**. The node keeps every clip as part of its history; see [Takes](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/takes/). Generated media also appears under **Generated** in the [Asset Manager](https://docs.nodespell.com/assets/asset-manager/). To work with the same node in Graph, see [Creative Tools on the canvas](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/on-the-canvas/). ## Common problems - **A field shows "This value is required." after you select Generate.** The start image or the prompt is missing. - **"Prompt controlled by an input node"** — a node in the graph feeds the prompt. Edit that node, or select **Disconnect** to type here. - **"The saved source is no longer available."** The continued result or Asset was removed. Select **Remove** and add a new image. - **The clip ends somewhere unexpected.** The model has no end-frame input, or the field is empty. Pick a model with an end-frame field. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can Image to Video use a first and last frame? Yes, when the selected model has an end-frame input, such as Seedance 2.5 Image to Video, Veo 3.1 or Kling 4.0 Image to Video. Models without that input animate from the start image only. ### What is the default Image to Video model? The default is Seedance 2.5 Image to Video. It accepts a start image, an optional end image, durations of `auto` or 4 to 30 seconds, and 480p to 1080p output. ### How many clips can I generate at once? Set **Generations** from 1 to 4. Each generation is a separate run with its own credit cost, and the estimate on **Generate** shows the total. ### Does Image to Video add sound? Only when the model supports it. Models with a **Generate Audio** toggle, including Seedance 2.5 Image to Video and Veo 3.1, can generate synchronized audio. ## Related - [Make your first image-to-video result](https://docs.nodespell.com/start/first-image-to-video/) — a guided first run - [Choose a model](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/choose-a-model/) — picker, featured models and switching - [Reference Images to Video](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/reference-images-to-video/) — guide a shot with several images - [Extend Video](https://docs.nodespell.com/creative-tools/extend-video/) — make a finished clip longer - [Takes](https://docs.nodespell.com/graph/takes/) — browse and choose results on the node - [Image to video shot recipe](https://docs.nodespell.com/recipes/image-to-video-shot/) — an end-to-end example