Seedance 2.0 Tutorial: Complete Guide to ByteDance's AI Video Generator (2026)

Feb 11, 2026

Seedance 2.0 is ByteDance's latest AI video generation model, released on February 7, 2026. It represents a major leap forward in text-to-video and image-to-video generation, producing higher quality, more coherent videos than its predecessor. This comprehensive tutorial covers everything you need to know to start creating AI videos with Seedance 2.0.

What is Seedance 2.0?

Seedance 2.0 is the second generation of ByteDance's AI video generation model. It builds on the foundation of Seedance 1.0 (which was already one of the top AI video generators) with significant improvements in:

  • Visual quality: Sharper details, more realistic textures, and better color accuracy
  • Motion coherence: Smoother, more natural movement with fewer artifacts
  • Prompt understanding: Better interpretation of complex prompts with multiple subjects and actions
  • Resolution options: Support for up to 1080p output
  • Generation speed: Faster processing times compared to 1.0

The model is accessible through the Dreamina platform (ByteDance's creative suite) and via API for developers.

Getting Started with Seedance 2.0

Step 1: Access the Platform

Seedance 2.0 is available through the Dreamina platform by CapCut. Here is how to get started:

  1. Visit dreamina.capcut.com
  2. Sign up or log in with your account (TikTok, Google, or email)
  3. Navigate to the Video Generation section
  4. Select Seedance 2.0 as your model

The free tier gives you a limited number of generations per day, which is enough to experiment and learn the tool before committing to a paid plan.

Step 2: Understanding the Interface

The Seedance 2.0 interface consists of several key elements:

  • Prompt input: Where you describe the video you want to generate
  • Model selector: Choose between Seedance 2.0 and other available models
  • Mode toggle: Switch between Text-to-Video and Image-to-Video
  • Aspect ratio: Select from 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, and other ratios
  • Duration: Choose video length (typically 4-8 seconds per generation)
  • Advanced settings: Fine-tune parameters like motion intensity and style

Step 3: Your First Text-to-Video Generation

Let's create your first video. Start with a clear, descriptive prompt:

Example prompt:

A golden retriever running through a sunlit meadow, wildflowers swaying in the breeze,
cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, slow motion, 4K quality

Tips for your first generation:

  • Be specific about the subject, action, and environment
  • Include lighting and camera details for better results
  • Start with simpler scenes before attempting complex multi-subject videos
  • Specify the visual style (cinematic, documentary, animated, etc.)

Click Generate and wait approximately 30-60 seconds for the result.

Writing Effective Prompts for Seedance 2.0

The quality of your output depends heavily on your prompt. Here is a framework for writing effective prompts.

The SCELA Framework

Structure your prompts using the SCELA framework:

  1. Subject: What is the main focus? (A young woman, a futuristic city, an ocean wave)
  2. Context: Where and when? (In a Tokyo street at night, during sunset, in a snow-covered forest)
  3. Effect: What visual style? (Cinematic, anime, photorealistic, film noir)
  4. Lighting: How is the scene lit? (Golden hour, neon lights, dramatic shadows)
  5. Action: What is happening? (Walking slowly, camera orbiting, zooming in)

Prompt Examples by Category

Cinematic landscape:

Aerial drone shot of a misty mountain valley at sunrise,
rays of golden light piercing through fog,
a winding river reflecting the sky below,
cinematic color grading, ultra-wide lens, smooth forward dolly

Character-focused:

Close-up portrait of a musician playing violin in a dimly lit concert hall,
warm amber spotlights creating bokeh in the background,
subtle emotional expression, shallow depth of field,
slow gentle camera push-in

Product/commercial style:

Sleek smartphone rotating on a reflective black surface,
studio lighting with soft blue and white highlights,
premium product photography style,
smooth 360-degree rotation, clean minimal background

Abstract/artistic:

Flowing liquid metal morphing into geometric shapes,
iridescent rainbow reflections,
dark background with dramatic rim lighting,
surreal dreamlike atmosphere, slow mesmerizing transformation

Common Prompt Mistakes to Avoid

  • Too vague: "A pretty video" gives the model nothing to work with
  • Contradictory instructions: "Fast action in slow motion" confuses the model
  • Too many subjects: Start with 1-2 subjects per scene for best results
  • Ignoring camera: Not specifying camera movement often leads to static or random motion
  • Text requests: AI video models still struggle with generating readable text in videos

Image-to-Video Mode

One of Seedance 2.0's strongest features is Image-to-Video generation, which animates a static image.

How to Use Image-to-Video

  1. Switch to Image-to-Video mode in the interface
  2. Upload your source image (recommended: high resolution, clear subject)
  3. Write a motion prompt describing how you want the image to animate
  4. Select duration and aspect ratio
  5. Generate

Motion Prompt Tips

When using Image-to-Video, your prompt should focus on motion and changes, not describe the image itself (the model can already see it):

Good motion prompt:

The woman slowly turns her head and smiles,
hair gently blowing in the wind,
subtle camera zoom-in

Bad motion prompt:

A beautiful woman with brown hair wearing a red dress standing in a garden

(This describes the image, not the desired motion.)

Best Source Images for Image-to-Video

  • High resolution (1024px+ on the longest side)
  • Clear main subject with good separation from the background
  • Consistent lighting without extreme shadows
  • Natural poses that suggest potential movement
  • Images generated by AI tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, or Flux work great

Advanced Techniques

Extending Video Length

Seedance 2.0 generates clips of 4-8 seconds. To create longer videos:

  1. Sequential generation: Generate multiple clips with related prompts
  2. Last-frame continuation: Use the last frame of one clip as the input image for the next
  3. Edit and combine: Use video editing software (CapCut, DaVinci Resolve) to stitch clips together with transitions

Consistent Characters Across Clips

Maintaining character consistency is one of the biggest challenges in AI video. Strategies include:

  • Use the same source image for all Image-to-Video generations of a character
  • Keep character descriptions identical across text prompts
  • Use reference images generated from the same AI image model and seed
  • Post-process with face-swap tools if consistency breaks

Upscaling and Enhancement

After generation, you can improve quality by:

  • Using Topaz Video AI or similar upscalers for resolution enhancement
  • Applying color grading in DaVinci Resolve or CapCut
  • Frame interpolation to smooth out motion (RIFE, Flowframes)
  • Audio addition through separate AI tools

Seedance 2.0 API Integration

For developers and automation workflows, Seedance 2.0 is available via API.

Getting API Access

  1. Visit the Seedance API portal
  2. Create an application and obtain your API key
  3. Review the rate limits and pricing for your tier

Basic API Request

Here is a simplified example of a text-to-video API call:

const response = await fetch('https://api.seedance.ai/v2/generate', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.SEEDANCE_API_KEY}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    model: 'seedance-2.0',
    prompt: 'A cat playing with a ball of yarn in warm afternoon light',
    aspect_ratio: '16:9',
    duration: 4,
  }),
})

const result = await response.json()

For a complete API integration guide, see our dedicated Seedance 2.0 API tutorial.

Pricing and Plans

Seedance 2.0 is accessible through multiple pricing tiers:

PlanGenerations/DayResolutionPrice
Free5720p$0
Pro1001080p~$10/month
BusinessUnlimited1080p+Custom
APIPay-per-use1080p~$0.05/generation

For a detailed breakdown of pricing across all plans, see our Seedance pricing guide.

How Seedance 2.0 Compares

Seedance 2.0 competes with several other top AI video generators:

FeatureSeedance 2.0SoraKling 3.0Runway Gen-4
Max duration8s20s120s+10s
Image-to-VideoYesYesYesYes
Free tierYesLimitedYesNo
API availableYesYesYesYes
Motion qualityExcellentExcellentVery GoodExcellent

For in-depth comparisons, read:

Best Practices Summary

  1. Start simple — Master single-subject scenes before complex compositions
  2. Use SCELA — Structure prompts with Subject, Context, Effect, Lighting, Action
  3. Iterate rapidly — Generate multiple versions with small prompt tweaks
  4. Leverage Image-to-Video — Start from AI-generated images for best control
  5. Plan your pipeline — Combine Seedance with other tools for complete video production
  6. Monitor credits — Track your usage to optimize cost per video
  7. Stay updated — Seedance is rapidly evolving; follow release notes for new features

What's Next?

Now that you know how to use Seedance 2.0, explore the rest of the AI video pipeline:

The AI video production landscape is evolving fast. Bookmark AIVidPipeline to stay current with the latest tools, techniques, and tutorials.

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Seedance 2.0 Tutorial: Complete Guide to ByteDance's AI Video Generator (2026) | AI Video Production Blog — Tutorials & Tools | AIVidPipeline