FRAME-GUIDED VIDEO
MiniMax H3 first and last frame workflow
Learn when to use a first frame, how an optional last frame changes the shot, and how to prompt MiniMax H3 frame-guided video.
Standard mode can generate from text alone or animate a first frame. Adding a last frame turns the shot into a guided transition between two visual states. These workflows share the same prompt box, but they solve different creative problems and benefit from different kinds of direction.
Use a first frame to anchor the opening
A first frame establishes the subject, composition, wardrobe, palette, and starting camera position. Choose an image with a readable silhouette and enough room for the intended movement. In Minimax Motion, a first-frame generation uses an adaptive aspect ratio because the source frame supplies the canvas. Focus the prompt on what should move and how the camera should respond.
Add a last frame only when the destination matters
A last frame is useful for a reveal, transformation, match cut, product turn, or precise ending composition. It requires a first frame. The two images should be visually compatible enough to support a believable path: matching subject identity, similar scene logic, and a transition that can occur within 5, 10, or 15 seconds. Large unexplained changes can force the model to spend the shot reconciling the endpoints.
Write the transition, not a second image caption
Describe the action connecting the frames. Name the subject’s movement, the camera path, and the moment the final state should settle. Avoid repeating every visual detail already present in the images. A concise instruction such as “the camera arcs left as the doors open; warm interior light grows until the final centered composition” gives the model a temporal bridge.
Test motion before increasing resolution
Use 768p to evaluate timing, direction, and continuity, then choose 2K when the composition is working and the extra detail is valuable. The workspace shows the cost before generation: H3 clips use 30, 60, or 90 credits at 768p and 60, 120, or 180 credits at 2K for 5, 10, or 15 seconds respectively. At $1 per 100 credits, that is $0.06/s at 768p and $0.12/s at 2K.
Frame workflow checklist
- checkUse a clear first frame with room for motion
- checkUse a last frame only for a deliberate destination
- checkKeep endpoints visually and temporally compatible
- checkPrompt the transition between frames
- checkValidate motion at 768p before a 2K iteration
Put the workflow into motion
Choose Standard or References, set the duration and resolution, and see the exact credit cost before you generate.
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