Reference image (moodboard)

Reference image (moodboard)

To create a video like this, we have two options: a free method with results that aren't guaranteed, and a paid, professional method with more accurate results. In both cases we use the same reference image and the same prompt, only changing the site and model used.
01

The Prompt Used

This is the full prompt we'll use, with the moodboard as a Reference Image. The idea is a premium interior design book on a wooden table, with the whole moodboard as its cover. The book opens, and each page is dedicated to one piece from the moodboard with a different graphic style: a minimal editorial page, a technical blueprint-style page, then a collage page with material samples. On each page the piece rises out of the paper as a real 3D object and folds back flat, and at the end the pages speed up and the book closes toward the lens until the screen turns black.

Full Prompt
A cinematic 12-second single continuous take, Hollywood-level direction, photorealistic, ultra-detailed. The moodboard reference image @upload-1793746129039-64307da defines the content: choose three key pieces from the moodboard (furniture, lighting, objects, or materials), and reproduce each one exactly with its shape, materials, colors, and finish as shown in the moodboard. The overall color palette and mood of the scene follow the moodboard.
CAMERA RULE: The whole film feels like one real, unbroken take. The camera is already moving on the very first frame and never stops, never pauses, and never freezes until the last frame. When it slows down, it keeps a very slow, gentle drift. Every change of speed is gradual and extremely smooth.
SETTING: A premium hardcover interior design book with thick, high-quality matte pages, resting closed on an elegant wooden table in a calm, refined interior. Its front cover is the complete moodboard from @image1, printed full-bleed edge to edge across the cover exactly as in the reference, with its layout, images, and colors unchanged. Soft natural daylight from a nearby window, warm and gentle, soft realistic shadows, shallow depth of field with the background softly blurred.
CONCEPT: "The design book." The cover shows the whole moodboard, and inside, each page is dedicated to one piece from it, presented as a printed illustration surrounded by graphic design analysis: dimension lines and arrows, material swatches, color palette chips, small pencil sketches and alternative views, handwritten-style annotations, and fine decorative small print. Each page has a completely different layout and graphic style that suits its piece. On each page, the printed piece rises out of the paper and becomes a real, photorealistic 3D object standing on the page for a moment, then folds back down into the flat printed illustration before the page turns.
TIMELINE (ONE CONTINUOUS SHOT):
THE BOOK OPENS (0–1.5s): From the very first frame, the camera orbits slowly around the closed book, angled so the front cover is clearly visible: the full moodboard from @upload-1793746129039-64307da printed on it, its print catching the soft daylight. At 1.0s, the front cover opens smoothly, the moodboard rotating away with it, revealing the first page.
PAGE 1 (1.5–4.1s): A luxurious minimal editorial layout: generous white space, the first piece printed large in the center, a few elegant thin annotation lines, a small material swatch, and minimal fine print. The camera's orbit gradually slows to a very slow drift. At 2.0s, the printed piece rises out of the page with a smooth pop-up motion and becomes a photorealistic 3D object standing on the page, casting a real shadow, its materials and textures crisp in the daylight. It holds as a 3D object while the camera drifts gently around it, then at 3.6s it folds back smoothly into the flat printed illustration.
PAGE TURN (4.1–4.5s): The page turns smoothly, the thick paper bending naturally, and the camera's drift continues.
PAGE 2 (4.5–7.1s): A technical blueprint-inspired layout: a fine grid, precise dimension lines, small plan and elevation drawings of the second piece, measurement arrows, and technical-style fine print around the printed piece. At 4.9s, the printed piece rises out of the page with the same smooth pop-up motion and becomes a photorealistic 3D object on the page, holds while the camera drifts gently around it, then at 6.6s folds back into the flat illustration.
PAGE TURN (7.1–7.5s): The page turns smoothly.
PAGE 3 (7.5–10.1s): A creative collage layout: material samples and fabric swatches appearing taped onto the page, a color palette from the moodboard, loose pencil sketches, and handwritten-style notes around the printed third piece. At 7.9s, the printed piece rises out of the page with the same smooth pop-up motion and becomes a photorealistic 3D object on the page, holds while the camera drifts gently around it, then at 9.6s folds back into the flat illustration.
THE ACCELERATION (10.1–11.4s): The camera smoothly accelerates into a faster orbit as the pages start flipping on their own, faster and faster, a rhythmic flurry of designed pages with motion blur.
TO BLACK (11.4–12s): The last pages flip past, and the back cover of the book closes toward the lens, filling the entire frame and turning the screen completely black.
SOUND DESIGN: No music and no dialogue, only realistic, layered sound effects:
- The book opens: the soft creak of a hardcover spine and the gentle sound of a thick page settling.
- Each pop-up: a soft paper rustle and a subtle airy whoosh as the piece rises, and a gentle paper fold as it returns flat.
- Each page turn: a crisp, satisfying sound of thick paper turning.
- The acceleration: the page-turning sounds speed up into a rhythmic flurry.
- To black: a soft, muffled thud of the book closing, followed by silence.
- Throughout: a very quiet room tone with faint, distant daylight ambience.
CAMERA & STYLE: One unbroken, constantly flowing camera path, a slow orbit around the book that slows to a gentle drift during each pop-up and smoothly accelerates at the end, extremely smooth speed changes, natural motion blur during the fast flips, crisp detail on the 3D pieces and paper textures, shallow depth of field, cinematic color grading in harmony with the moodboard palette, anamorphic film look, 24fps.
02

Choosing a Method

Whichever site you use, the steps are usually similar: upload the image as a Reference Image, add the prompt, set the appropriate settings, choose the model, then click Generate.

Free, Not Guaranteed

Google Flow

Google Flow is completely free, using the Omni 1.1 Flash model.

Paid, Professional

Seedance 2 / 2.5

A professional model available on many sites, so pick the one you prefer. I personally use OpenArt (gives you a discount when you sign up through it).

03

Generating with OpenArt

  • 1Go to OpenArt and open the Video section.
  • 2Add the moodboard image using the Add visual references option.
  • 3Add the full prompt from section one.
  • 4Choose the right settings: model (Seedance 2.5), audio (On), dimensions (9:16), duration (12s), and resolution (you can pick a low resolution like 480p to save credits, then Upscale as in the next section).
  • 5Click Generate.
Very Important

The image must be added as a "Reference", not as a "Start Frame". The film starts with a book on a table with the moodboard printed on its cover, and the model needs it as a reference for the design pieces and colors on every page, not as the first frame.

Adding the moodboard as a reference image along with the prompt and setting the options, with a low resolution (480p) to save credits

Adding the moodboard as a reference image along with the prompt and setting the options, with a low resolution (480p) to save credits

04

Saving Credits with Upscale

If you feel the video will cost too many credits, you can generate it at a lower resolution, then Upscale the result. This saves a lot of credits. The Upscale uses an engine called BytePlus, on OpenArt itself.

  • 1After generating the video, click on it inside the site to open its options menu.
The menu that opens after clicking the video, with the Upscale option

The menu that opens after clicking the video, with the Upscale option

  • 2Click Upscale, and the video opens with the Upscale settings.
  • 3Choose the settings that suit you (BytePlus vCube engine, resolution, frame rate, mode), no need to copy mine. The cost is relatively low.
  • 4Click Generate.
My Upscale settings (BytePlus vCube, 1080p HD, 30 fps, Standard mode). Choose what suits you, you don't have to copy them

My Upscale settings (BytePlus vCube, 1080p HD, 30 fps, Standard mode). Choose what suits you, you don't have to copy them

05

The Free Alternative: Google Flow

Important Before You Start

This prompt is written for a 12-second video, while Google Flow supports a maximum of 10 seconds. So copy the same prompt into ChatGPT or Claude, ask it to adjust the prompt to fit a 10-second video, then use the adjusted version.

  • 1Open Google Flow.
  • 2Add the moodboard image and the adjusted prompt (using the Ingredients option, not Frames, for the same reason mentioned above).
  • 3Choose the right settings and model (Omni 1.1 Flash), with 9:16 dimensions and a 10s duration.
  • 4Click Generate.
Choosing Ingredients, dimensions (9:16), the model (Omni 1.1 Flash), and duration (10s) on Google Flow

Choosing Ingredients, dimensions (9:16), the model (Omni 1.1 Flash), and duration (10s) on Google Flow

Final Result

One continuous 12-second take: a design book with the moodboard on its cover opens onto three pages in three different graphic styles, on each page a design piece rises as a real object and folds back into the paper, until the pages speed up and the book closes toward the lens.

Special Discount

If you'd like to subscribe to OpenArt, the link above gives you a special discount when you sign up through it.

If you are still presenting your projects like it's 2019, this is your sign to stop. Click the link below to learn more.

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