Inspiration
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PHOTO ANIMATION · MOTION CONTROL
MiniMax H3 Image to Video
Animate a photo, product image, or illustration. Upload a start frame, an end frame, or both, then guide movement and native audio in a 5- to 15-second video at 768p or up to 2K.
Model
Animate a start frame, an end frame, or both at 768p or up to 2K in about 2–5 minutes.
Example videos
Get inspired
Inspiration
Glass and water
Inspiration
Fashion motion
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Architectural light
Need the basics first? Read our beginner's guide to MiniMax H3.
Still image to moving shot
Animate the Visual You Already Have
MiniMax H3 Image to Video starts with your photo or artwork instead of inventing the entire scene from words. Use it to explore a product reveal, a small gesture in a portrait, movement in a landscape, or an animated illustration.
The useful question is what should happen next. A product photo may need a gentle camera move; a character illustration may need a glance or a shift in posture. Keep the motion compatible with the perspective and space already present in your source.
Source preparation
Choose a Photo That Can Support the Motion
Plan around what is visible, what has room to move, and what the source leaves unknown.
Product Photos
Keep the product large enough to inspect, with clean edges and an uncluttered background. Start with a push-in or moving highlight. A full orbit asks the model to invent surfaces that a single front-facing photo cannot show.
Portraits and Characters
Choose a frame that clearly shows the face and any hands involved in the action. A blink, breath, or slight head turn is a useful first test. Large pose changes can reveal anatomy and clothing details missing from the source.
Landscapes and Illustrations
Identify the parts that should move and the parts that should stay fixed. Wind in foliage or drifting clouds can add life while buildings and the horizon remain stable. For artwork, ask to preserve its existing line work and visual style.
Leave Space in the Direction of Motion
If a person will look right, leave space on that side. If the camera will push in, avoid placing the product against the image edge. For vertical delivery, prepare a portrait crop that already includes the face, hands, or packaging you need to keep visible.
Plan Around Labels and Fine Detail
Small packaging text and intricate patterns may shift as the image moves. Use a clean, readable source and restrained motion. Add critical captions in an editor, and inspect product markings throughout the clip rather than judging only the first frame.
Quick start
How to Use MiniMax H3 Image to Video
Upload a source, direct the change, and review the result against the original image.
- 01
Upload Your Image
Add a photo, product render, illustration, or storyboard frame under Start frame. Choose a source with a clear subject and enough space for the intended movement. In the Standard workflow, you can instead supply an End frame, or use both. Sign in when prompted to upload.
- 02
Describe What Should Move
Write the action that should develop from the image. Separate subject movement from camera movement: “The person turns toward the window while the camera stays still.” Add environmental motion and audio only when they support the shot.
- 03
Set the Output
Match the output to the source crop. Standard H3 suggests an aspect ratio from the uploaded image unless you have already chosen one; Max and Turbo use their own image-based framing. Leave room for the subject to turn or travel, and give the action enough time to settle. Review the selected model and live credit estimate.
- 04
Generate and Compare
Click Generate. Compare the moving result with the original photo. Pause near the beginning, middle, and end to inspect edges, facial details, and any visible lettering. Listen for sounds that fit the scene. If the subject drifts, reduce the motion before adding more descriptive detail.
Need a specific ending composition? Read the first and last frame guide.
Inside the workspace
Upload Your Source Before Writing the Motion Brief
Use the preview to confirm that you selected the right image, then describe the action in Prompt.
Motion briefs
Image to Video Prompts for Different Source Photos
Upload your own matching image before generating. These starter prompts describe movement to add to a source photo.
Product Photo · Subtle Reveal
Using the uploaded product photo as the start frame, make a slow, gentle camera push-in. Keep the product stationary and preserve its shape, material, and position. Let a soft highlight move across the surface without changing the scene lighting dramatically. Quiet studio ambience. End with a steady close-up. No added objects or text.
Image to Video · H3 Standard · 16:9 · 768p · 5s
Portrait Photo · A Small Gesture
Using the uploaded portrait as the start frame, the person takes a quiet breath and slowly turns their gaze toward the camera. Keep their facial features, hairstyle, clothing, and body proportions consistent with the photo. The camera stays locked. Subtle fabric movement, natural light, and quiet room ambience. End on a relaxed expression.
Image to Video · H3 Standard · 9:16 · 768p · 5s
Landscape Photo · Wind and Atmosphere
Using the uploaded landscape photo as the start frame, animate a light breeze through the visible foliage while thin clouds drift slowly overhead. Preserve the terrain, buildings, and horizon from the image. Keep the camera still and the lighting natural. Soft wind and distant outdoor ambience. No new people, vehicles, or structures.
Image to Video · H3 Standard · 16:9 · 768p · 5s
Refine the animation
Fix the Motion Without Losing the Source
Compare the generated clip with the photo before deciding which instruction to change.
The Subject Changes Shape
Reduce the action and camera movement first. Ask for a stationary product or a small gesture, and name the outline or features that should remain consistent. Higher resolution alone will not resolve unstable geometry.
The Frame Feels Too Tight
Keep the same source and first try a locked camera with smaller subject movement. If the frame still clips important details, prepare a wider crop and generate again. Compare both versions to identify whether the crop or camera direction caused the problem.
The Background Moves Too Much
Specify the static parts: “Keep the walls, furniture, and camera fixed; only the curtains move slightly.” If several motions compete, remove one. Review the ending as carefully as the opening.
Questions
MiniMax H3 Image to Video FAQ
Answers about source images, motion prompts, aspect ratios, output, and credits.
What does MiniMax H3 Image to Video do?
It creates motion from an uploaded still image and a written prompt. Your image supplies visual context; the prompt describes what happens over time, how the camera behaves, and what the viewer hears.
What kind of image should I upload?
Use a sharp photo, illustration, render, or storyboard frame with a readable subject. Use JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP, HEIC, or HEIF images up to 30 MB. Each side must be 256–5760 pixels, with a width-to-height ratio between 0.4 and 2.5. Avoid severe blur, cropped limbs, and tiny product details when those features need to stay visible.
Do I need both a start frame and an end frame?
Standard H3 accepts a start frame, an end frame, or both. A start frame is a useful choice for animating an existing photo. Add an end frame when the shot needs a specific destination; see the first and last frame guide for transition planning. H3 Max requires a start frame and treats the end frame as optional.
Should my prompt describe everything in the image?
Focus on changes: subject action, camera direction, environmental movement, timing, and audio. Mention visible details when they need to remain consistent, such as a product silhouette or a person’s outfit. A full inventory of the photo can distract from the requested motion.
How does the aspect ratio work with my photo?
With Standard H3, the tool suggests a supported aspect ratio from the uploaded image unless you have manually selected one. Max and Turbo use image-based framing instead of the Standard aspect-ratio selector. If you need a different format, prepare a source composition with enough room around the subject rather than assuming that a wide photo will fit a narrow frame unchanged.
Can I animate an illustration without changing its style?
Use the illustration as the start frame and ask to preserve its line work, colors, and shading. Begin with a small movement that fits the drawing, such as a glance or drifting fabric. Check whether the style holds across the clip; large rotations can require details the original artwork does not show.
Will the video preserve my product or face exactly?
The image guides the appearance, but fine lettering, facial features, and geometry can still change during motion. Begin with a small action and a restrained camera move. Review every part of the clip before using it in a product listing, campaign, or other published asset.
How much does animating an image cost?
A five-second Standard H3 clip estimates 15 credits at 768p or 25 credits at 2K. Duration and model selection change the estimate. Check the live cost and credit packs before generating. For faster 480p or 768p iterations, explore H3 Max and Turbo.
Give Your Image One Clear Action
Choose a source photo, describe the movement, and check the output settings and credit estimate.
Animate Your Image →Sign in to upload and generate