Guide a video with Reference Images to Video

Reference Images to Video is the Nodespell Creative Tool for generating a video clip guided by several images at once. The images describe who or what should appear, the style, or the composition, and the prompt describes the shot; unlike Image to Video, no single image has to become the first frame.

When to use Reference Images to Video

If you have…	Use
Several images of a character, product, outfit or setting	Reference Images to Video
One image that must be the opening frame	Image to Video
No images, only a prompt	Text to Video
A finished clip you want to restyle or edit	Modify Video

Reference Images to Video lists models whose image input accepts many images. Many of them also accept reference videos and reference audio.

Generate a video from reference images

1. Switch the workspace to Create. Select Image to Video in the tool rail, open the tool switcher at the top of the form, and choose Reference Images to Video. It is also listed under All tools.
2. Check the model. The default is Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video.
3. Add images to the reference-images field (labelled Reference images, or Reference Images on models that use their own labels). Select the field to open Choose assets and pick several Assets or upload files.
4. Add reference videos or reference audio if the model offers those fields and you need motion or timing guidance.
5. Write a prompt that says what each reference is for, for example “the woman in @Image1 wears the jacket from @Image2”.
6. Set duration, resolution and aspect ratio.
7. Set Generations from 1 to 4, then select Generate.

Refer to images in the prompt

Several models number references so the prompt can point at them. Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video, for example, reads @Image1, @Image2, @Video1 and @Audio1 in the order you added the files. Reorder references if the numbering matters, and name each one’s role in the prompt. Models that do not use this syntax treat the images as general guidance.

Reference Images to Video controls

Control	What it does	Options and defaults
Tool switcher (title)	Moves to another video Creative Tool	All video tools
Model picker	Chooses the model	Default: Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video
Previous model / Next model	Steps through eligible models	—
Reference-images field	The ordered set of guide images	Multiple images; limits depend on the model
More settings	Less-used model settings	Collapsed
Generations	Number of runs submitted together	1 to 4, default 1
Generate	Adds or updates the model node and submits the runs	Shows the credit estimate

Reference video, reference audio, duration, resolution, aspect ratio and audio fields appear only when the model has them, under the model’s own labels.

Recommended models for Reference Images to Video

The Featured collection lists, in order:

• Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video (default)
• MiniMax H3 Reference to Video
• Veo 3.1

Veo 3.1 appears in both Image to Video and Reference Images to Video because it accepts a start frame, a last frame and reference images. See Choose a model for the rest of the list.

What changes with the model?

• Reference types: Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video accepts reference images, videos and audio. Its audio references need at least one image or video reference. Other models accept images only.
• Required references: some models, such as Gemini Omni Flash Reference To Video, require at least one reference image; on Seedance 2.5 all reference inputs are optional.
• Duration: Seedance 2.5 offers auto or 4 to 30 seconds; MiniMax H3 offers 5 to 15 seconds.
• Resolution and audio: Seedance 2.5 offers 480p to 1080p and a Generate Audio toggle that is on by default.
• Start frame: a few reference models, such as Kling 4.0 Reference to Video, also take an optional start image alongside the references.

Get consistent subjects

• Use clean, well-lit images that show the subject clearly. Several angles of the same subject help more than many near-duplicates.
• Keep the references to what the shot needs. Unrelated images pull the result in different directions.
• State in the prompt what must stay the same, such as face, logo or outfit.

For a full walkthrough, see Keep a character consistent.

Where does the video go?

Generate adds a Reference Images to Video model node to the current graph level and runs it. Finished clips appear in Results in the Create form and on the node; see Takes. Generated media also appears under Generated in the Asset Manager.

Common problems

• “This value is required.” The prompt is empty, or the model requires a reference image.
• A reference field says “Controlled by an upstream connection”. A node in the graph feeds that input. Change it in the graph, or disconnect it.
• The subject drifts between shots. Add clearer references, refer to each image in the prompt, and keep the same model for every shot.

Frequently asked questions

How many reference images can I add?

It depends on the model, and the field accepts only what the model allows. Read the model’s description in the picker before relying on a large set.

Is a reference image used as the first frame?

No. Reference images guide the subject and style; they are not placed as the opening frame. To fix the first frame, use Image to Video.

Can Reference Images to Video use video and audio references?

Yes, on models that offer them. Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video, Seedance 2.0 Reference To Video and Wan 3.0 Reference to Video accept images, videos and audio.

What is the default Reference Images to Video model?

The default is Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video, which accepts mixed image, video and audio references and clips of auto or 4 to 30 seconds.

Related

• Image to Video — anchor the shot on one image
• Keep a character consistent — references across several shots
• Choose a model — compare reference support
• Upload and organize Assets — prepare reference images
• Connections — feed references from other nodes