Vidu

What is Vidu?

ViduLaunched by Shengshu TechnologyAI Video GenerationThis platform is primarily designed to convert text, static images, and character reference materials into animated scenes. It is intended for creators who need to produce animated storyboards, character shorts, product showcases, and advertising materials: users can design animations directly from existing design sketches, or explore visual concepts even when they only have a story idea. The platform offers a web-based creation interface and an API for developers; the scope of functionality and pricing models for each should be confirmed separately.

The official website has showcased video models such as Q4, as well as Vidu Agent, image generation, and audio tools. The Q4 product page further highlights multi-reference material, native audio, and multi-camera creation. Therefore, when learning about Vidu, it is important to understand not only the platform’s entry points but also the models actually selected for the current task; one should not assume that the capabilities of a particular new model are shared across all modes.

How Should You Choose Among the Three Generation Methods?

• Wensheng Video:Starting with a written description, establish the subject, action, setting, and camera angles. This approach is ideal for early-stage experimentation with narrative atmosphere and for exploring scenes for which no reference images are available, resulting in a set of dynamic visual drafts that can be used for selection.
• Toussaint Video::Upload an image as the starting frame, then describe the characters' actions, changes in the environment, and camera movements. You can also set the first and last frames in supported modes, using two images to define the starting and ending states. This method is suitable for product images, illustrations, or character designs where the composition has already been finalized.
• Watch the sample video::Constrain the visual elements in a new shot using images of characters, objects, or scenes, and then use prompts to describe their relationships. Compared to image-to-video generation with a fixed starting frame, this method is better suited for featuring the same character in different shot compositions and scenes. My References allows you to save characters, props, and scenes for reuse later.

The value of reference materials lies in reducing ambiguity in visual descriptions. Front-view character illustrations are suitable for illustrating clothing and facial features, while multi-angle images help convey side profiles; scene references provide information on space, lighting, or set design. Mixing characters, products, and backgrounds into a single cluttered collage is not necessarily easier to manage than materials with clearly defined roles. The specific number of files you can upload is subject to the selected model interface; the limits in older tutorials differ from those on the Q4 page.

Create Short Video Content Using a Single Product Image

Suppose you need to shoot a product shot of a plain ceramic mug. The goal is to produce a short clip that can be handed off to the editor, rather than creating an entire commercial in one go.

1. Please enter:Select product images that clearly show the rim, handle, and outer contour of the cup, and determine whether the final ad will be displayed in landscape or portrait orientation. If the image already contains a brand logo, its stability must be checked separately later.
2. Watch the Tusheng video:Access the dashboard via Try Vidu, select "Image to Video," upload your starting image, configure the model, aspect ratio, duration, and resolution using the options provided on the page, and review the estimated usage before submitting.
3. Include only one main action:For example, enter: “The camera slowly zooms in on the cup, which remains stationary, with soft side lighting and the curtains in the background gently swaying, highlighting the details of the cup’s handle and glaze.” For now, do not include rotation, flight, pouring water, or scene transitions, so we can determine where the generation errors are coming from.
4. Targeted revisions after previewing:If the cup handle becomes distorted, first reduce the camera movement or replace it with an input image that has a clearer outline; if the background is distracting, simplify the action in the scene. When you need a different ending, try adding appropriate final frames and check the transitions in between.
5. Output and Assembly:Download the approved clips and send them to the editing team to add the correct branding, subtitles, and licensed audio. Keep a record of the source images, prompts, and models used so that the direction can be reproduced, additional shots can be added, and changes can be explained.

When producing character shorts, you can replace Step 3 with a reference animation: Save the same set of character assets and generate separate shots such as “walking into a room,” “looking out the window,” and “close-up of the face,” then manually check whether the costumes, props, line of sight, and direction of movement are consistent. Reference consistency serves as a supplementary constraint and cannot replace frame-by-frame review.

What types of projects are suitable for Vidu?

Pre-Production for Animation and Short Films:Turn written storyboards into dynamic storyboards to discuss in advance whether the pacing and shots work; for movements such as turning, tracking shots, and environmental movements—which are difficult to convey in static storyboards—you can conduct low-cost tests first.E-commerce and Brand Materials:Expand the approved product images into shots with different compositions and backgrounds, then fine-tune them based on the intended use of the final footage.Social Media Content Creation:Organize a series of content pieces around fixed characters and reuse assets, rather than starting from scratch with each piece—including its appearance and description.

If a project requires frame-by-frame consistency of trademarks, actual product dimensions, timeline control for a complete feature-length film, or verifiable factual footage, allow room for post-production adjustments. Generated imagery may be used for visual representation but cannot be used as a substitute for actual product photography, event documentation, or proof of product performance.

How to Choose Between Runway and Adobe Firefly

RunwayIt also provides workflows centered around reference materials and video generation, and allows users to save references for reuse in future tasks. If a team is already managing assets and exploring image-video integration in Runway, they can use the same set of character and shot requirements for comparison; one cannot assume that Vidu is the only platform capable of maintaining character consistency simply because it has “reference images.” Key aspects of Vidu worth evaluating include its reference-based video generation interface, how character assets are organized, and whether these features align with your team’s needs for continuous-shot production.

Adobe FireflyIt also supports video creation guided by keyframes at the beginning and end, and can integrate with the Firefly video editor or Premiere. Teams already using Adobe’s post-production workflow should prioritize evaluating the ease of footage integration and delivery; creators whose primary tasks involve character reference and test shots can directly compare the final results produced by Vidu and Runway. When evaluating, it’s more meaningful to consider visual stability, the completeness of movements, the percentage of unusable footage, the cost per usable clip, and the number of revisions required—rather than simply comparing the resolution advertised in promotional materials.

Things to Confirm Before You Start Creating

Package limits, processing speed, image clarity, and audio capabilities may vary depending on the model and account; the details provided at the time of task submission shall prevail. Before uploading character art, portraits, product images, or audio clips, you must possess the appropriate usage rights; if you need to use audio references, you must also obtain consent from the copyright holder. Before final delivery, inspect each frame for hands, text, logos, object connections, and shot transitions. Confirm compliance with the current Terms of Service and material licenses; do not treat the examples shown on the official website as a guarantee that every generation will achieve the same results.