Prompt quality is the single biggest factor in AI video output. The same Seedance 2.0 model produces wildly different results depending on how you write your prompt. This guide teaches you a systematic framework, provides 50+ ready-to-use templates, and covers advanced techniques for consistently generating professional-quality AI video.
Why Prompt Quality Matters
A well-structured prompt tells the AI model exactly what to generate, reducing randomness and increasing the likelihood of usable output on the first attempt. Poor prompts waste generations and credits, while precise prompts produce results you can use immediately.
The difference between a vague and specific prompt:
| Prompt Type | Example | Typical Result |
|---|---|---|
| Vague | "A mountain" | Generic landscape, unpredictable style |
| Basic | "A mountain at sunset" | Better, but still lacks direction |
| Structured | "Aerial drone shot of snow-capped mountain range at golden hour, volumetric fog in valleys, warm orange light, cinematic color grading, slow forward dolly" | Precise, professional, usable output |
The structured prompt consistently produces better results because it specifies subject, camera movement, lighting, atmosphere, and style. The SCELA framework below gives you a repeatable system for writing prompts at this level.
The SCELA Prompt Framework
SCELA is a five-component framework designed specifically for AI video prompts. Every element addresses a different aspect of the generated output, and including all five produces the most predictable results.
Subject
The main focus of your video. Be specific about what the viewer sees, including details like material, color, and scale.
Weak: "A car" Strong: "A matte black 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback"
Tips for writing strong subjects:
- Include material and texture descriptions
- Specify color precisely (not "blue" but "deep navy blue")
- Mention scale or proportion when relevant
- Describe the subject's state (moving, still, transforming)
Context
The environment, setting, and background surrounding the subject. Context grounds the scene and prevents the model from making random background choices.
Weak: "On a road" Strong: "On a winding coastal highway above turquoise ocean cliffs"
Tips for effective context:
- Describe foreground, midground, and background layers
- Include weather and atmospheric conditions
- Mention time of day and season
- Specify indoor/outdoor and the type of space
Effect
The visual style, aesthetic, and post-production look of the video. This controls whether the output looks cinematic, documentary, stylized, or photorealistic.
Weak: "Cinematic" Strong: "Anamorphic lens flares, teal-and-orange color grading, shallow depth of field with creamy bokeh"
Common effect keywords:
- Color grading: teal-and-orange, desaturated, monochrome, high contrast
- Film stocks: Kodak Portra, Fuji Velvia, CineStill 800T
- Styles: photorealistic, hyper-detailed, dreamy, gritty, minimalist
- Post-processing: film grain, lens flares, vignette, soft glow
Lighting
How the scene is illuminated. Lighting has an outsized impact on mood, dimension, and visual quality.
Weak: "Good lighting" Strong: "Rim-lit from behind with warm golden backlight, soft fill light from the left, dramatic shadows"
Lighting vocabulary:
- Direction: backlit, side-lit, overhead, under-lit, rim-lit
- Quality: soft, hard, diffused, specular, ambient
- Color temperature: warm golden, cool blue, neutral daylight
- Sources: natural sunlight, neon, candlelight, studio softbox
Action
Movement in the scene and camera motion. This is what distinguishes video from a static image and is critical for dynamic output.
Weak: "Moving" Strong: "Slow forward dolly with the subject walking toward camera, hair moving in gentle breeze"
Camera movement options:
- Dolly: forward, backward, lateral tracking
- Pan: left, right, slow, fast
- Tilt: up, down
- Crane: ascending, descending
- Orbit: 360-degree rotation around subject
- Zoom: slow push-in, pull-out
- Handheld: slight natural shake
- Static: locked-off tripod shot
Prompt Templates by Category
Each template below follows the SCELA structure. Replace the bracketed elements with your specific details.
Cinematic Landscapes
Template 1: Mountain Vista
Slow aerial dolly forward over snow-capped mountain range at golden hour,
volumetric fog filling valleys below, warm orange rim light on peaks,
cinematic anamorphic color grading, drone perspectiveTemplate 2: Ocean Coast
Wide establishing shot of dramatic sea cliffs with crashing waves,
turquoise water spray catching afternoon sunlight,
film grain texture with teal-and-orange grading,
slow lateral tracking rightTemplate 3: Desert Expanse
Sweeping crane shot ascending over red sandstone desert formations at sunrise,
heat haze distortion on distant horizon, soft pink and gold light,
hyper-detailed photorealistic rendering, gentle camera riseTemplate 4: Forest Interior
Slow forward dolly through ancient redwood forest,
god rays piercing through canopy creating light shafts in morning mist,
rich green and amber tones with soft diffused lighting,
cinematic depth of fieldTemplate 5: Urban Skyline
Static wide shot of city skyline transitioning from sunset to blue hour,
glass buildings reflecting orange sky, lights turning on across cityscape,
time-lapse aesthetic with smooth temporal flow,
locked-off tripod framingTemplate 6: Waterfall
Medium shot of powerful waterfall cascading into emerald pool,
mist catching rainbow prisms in afternoon light,
silky smooth water motion with high shutter speed aesthetic,
slow zoom in toward water impact pointCharacter and Portrait
Template 7: Close-Up Portrait
Extreme close-up of a woman's face with green eyes looking directly at camera,
soft studio lighting with butterfly pattern, creamy skin tones,
shallow depth of field with background blur,
subtle slow push-in toward eyesTemplate 8: Walking Figure
Medium tracking shot following a person in a long coat walking through
rain-soaked city streets at night, neon signs reflecting on wet pavement,
atmospheric noir lighting with cyan and magenta accents,
smooth lateral dolly matching walking paceTemplate 9: Dancer
Full body shot of contemporary dancer mid-leap in empty warehouse space,
dramatic side lighting creating long shadows on concrete floor,
high contrast black and white with grain texture,
slow motion capture at 120fps aestheticTemplate 10: Musician
Medium shot of guitarist playing on rooftop at golden hour,
wind moving hair and shirt, city skyline soft in background,
warm amber color grading with lens flare from setting sun,
slow orbit around subject from left to rightTemplate 11: Athlete
Dynamic low-angle shot of runner sprinting toward camera on track,
muscles defined by hard directional sunlight from left,
high contrast with desaturated background,
slow motion with particle debris from track surfaceTemplate 12: Elder Portrait
Close-up of weathered hands holding a ceramic coffee cup,
morning window light casting soft shadows across textured skin,
warm film stock color grading with shallow depth of field,
static shot with subtle steam rising from cupProduct and Commercial
Template 13: Tech Product Reveal
Slow orbit around sleek smartphone floating on matte black surface,
studio rim lighting highlighting metallic edges,
ultra-clean minimalist aesthetic with sharp reflections,
360-degree smooth rotation with subtle shadow playTemplate 14: Food Photography
Top-down shot of artisanal coffee being poured into ceramic cup,
milk creating swirl patterns, steam rising softly,
warm natural lighting from window right side,
slow downward zoom into cup surface detailTemplate 15: Cosmetics
Macro close-up of lipstick bullet emerging from gold case,
studio beauty lighting with soft highlight and gradient background,
hyper-detailed texture showing product surface,
smooth slow rotation revealing full product shapeTemplate 16: Sneaker Showcase
Dynamic low-angle tracking shot of sneaker stepping onto wet concrete,
water splash particles frozen in dramatic side light,
high contrast urban aesthetic with desaturated background,
slow motion impact with detailed texture renderingTemplate 17: Beverage Pour
Close-up of amber liquid pouring into crystal glass with ice,
backlit creating luminous glow through liquid,
high-speed capture aesthetic showing splash detail,
slight camera rise following pour trajectoryTemplate 18: Watch Detail
Extreme close-up of luxury watch face with second hand ticking,
studio butterfly lighting reflecting off sapphire crystal,
ultra-sharp macro detail with smooth bokeh background,
very slow push-in toward watch dial centerAbstract and Artistic
Template 19: Ink in Water
Macro shot of deep blue ink drops expanding in clear water,
backlit creating luminous translucent swirls,
high contrast with dark background and vivid color,
slow motion fluid dynamics at extreme magnificationTemplate 20: Light Painting
Long exposure aesthetic of light trails creating geometric patterns in darkness,
multicolored neon traces against pure black background,
ethereal glow with soft edge diffusion,
smooth flowing motion building pattern complexityTemplate 21: Fractal Growth
Abstract organic fractal pattern growing outward from center,
bioluminescent blue and green glow against dark void,
psychedelic detail with recursive self-similar structures,
slow continuous expansion with camera pulling backTemplate 22: Liquid Metal
Close-up of mercury-like liquid metal forming and reforming abstract shapes,
studio lighting creating chrome reflections on surface,
hyper-realistic material rendering with environment mapping,
organic morphing motion with smooth transitionsTemplate 23: Particle Field
Thousands of golden light particles floating in dark space,
slowly converging into recognizable constellation pattern,
warm amber glow with soft bokeh circles,
camera drifting slowly through particle fieldTemplate 24: Geometric Morph
Geometric crystal structure slowly transforming between platonic solids,
prismatic light refracting through transparent facets,
clean white studio background with rainbow caustics,
smooth continuous morphing rotationAction and Sports
Template 25: Surfing
Tracking shot following surfer inside barrel wave,
turquoise water wall curving overhead with sunlight piercing through,
GoPro-style wide angle with motion blur on edges,
dynamic forward motion matching wave speedTemplate 26: Skateboarding
Low-angle follow cam of skateboarder grinding rail in urban park,
golden hour backlight creating lens flare,
gritty film stock aesthetic with warm color grading,
smooth tracking matching skating speedTemplate 27: Basketball
Slow motion close-up of basketball leaving player's fingertips for shot,
dramatic overhead arena lighting with visible light beams,
high contrast with shallow depth of field,
camera following ball trajectory upwardTemplate 28: Cycling
Aerial drone tracking shot following cyclist on mountain switchback,
dust trail behind wheels catching afternoon sunlight,
wide cinematic landscape framing with subject small in frame,
smooth drone pursuit from above and behindTemplate 29: Swimming
Underwater medium shot of swimmer mid-stroke,
bubbles and light caustics dancing on body surface,
clear blue water with rays of sunlight from above,
smooth lateral tracking matching swim paceTemplate 30: Martial Arts
Medium shot of martial artist performing spinning kick,
traditional dojo with wooden floor and paper screens,
dramatic side lighting creating motion blur on limbs,
slow motion capture emphasizing technique precisionNature and Wildlife
Template 31: Bird in Flight
Tracking shot of eagle soaring over mountain valley,
wings fully spread catching thermal updraft,
golden hour warm lighting from behind creating silhouette edge,
smooth follow cam matching flight pathTemplate 32: Underwater Reef
Slow forward glide through coral reef teeming with tropical fish,
shafts of sunlight penetrating clear ocean water,
vivid natural colors with soft caustic light patterns,
gentle diving perspective moving through reef structureTemplate 33: Flower Blooming
Extreme close-up time-lapse of rose bud opening to full bloom,
soft natural daylight with gentle color shift from dawn to midday,
hyper-detailed petal texture with visible dew drops,
static macro framing with subtle focus pullTemplate 34: Storm Approaching
Wide static shot of dark thunderstorm clouds rolling over green plains,
lightning flashes illuminating cloud structure,
dramatic contrast between dark sky and bright landscape,
time-lapse cloud movement with natural light changesTemplate 35: Arctic Wildlife
Medium shot of polar bear walking across blue-white ice sheet,
soft overcast arctic lighting with blue shadow tones,
breath visible in cold air, pristine untouched snow,
slow lateral tracking parallel to bear's pathTemplate 36: Jungle Canopy
Ascending crane shot from jungle floor up through canopy layers,
dense tropical foliage with birds and insects in motion,
dappled green light filtering through leaves,
smooth vertical rise breaking through to sky aboveSocial Media and Short-Form
Template 37: Product Unboxing
Overhead shot of hands opening minimalist packaging to reveal product,
clean white surface with soft diffused overhead lighting,
ASMR-style intimate framing with detail focus,
medium speed revealing contents with slight camera push-inTemplate 38: Recipe Step
Close-up of chef's hands slicing vegetables on wooden cutting board,
warm kitchen lighting with shallow depth of field,
appetizing food photography color grading,
steady overhead angle showing technique detailTemplate 39: Outfit Reveal
Full body shot of model doing slow spin in front of neutral background,
ring light creating even illumination with catchlight in eyes,
clean fashion editorial color grading,
smooth 360-degree turn showcasing full outfitTemplate 40: Before/After
Split-screen transition from dull version to vibrant version of landscape,
dramatic color and detail enhancement sweeping left to right,
clean graphic transition with visible quality difference,
static framing with wipe transition effectTemplate 41: Quote Card Animation
Elegant typography appearing letter by letter on dark textured background,
soft warm backlighting creating subtle glow behind text,
minimalist design aesthetic with serif font,
gentle camera drift with text animationTemplate 42: Travel Montage Shot
Wide shot of traveler standing at iconic location viewpoint,
dramatic landscape stretching to horizon,
warm travel photography color grading with slight grain,
slow zoom out revealing full scene scaleImage-to-Video Prompt Techniques
Image-to-video (I2V) prompts work differently from text-to-video prompts. Since the image already provides visual context, your prompt should focus on motion, transformation, and camera movement rather than scene description.
Key differences from T2V prompts:
| Aspect | Text-to-Video Prompt | Image-to-Video Prompt |
|---|---|---|
| Scene description | Required (detailed) | Not needed (image provides) |
| Motion description | Important | Critical |
| Camera movement | Important | Critical |
| Style/aesthetic | Required | Optional (image sets style) |
| Lighting | Required | Optional (image sets lighting) |
I2V Template 43: Subtle Motion
The subject gently sways as a soft breeze moves through the scene,
hair and fabric responding to wind, subtle atmospheric particles,
camera remains static, natural ambient motion onlyI2V Template 44: Camera Movement Only
Slow cinematic dolly forward approaching the subject,
scene elements remain static, depth reveals through parallax,
smooth steady camera advance with increasing detailI2V Template 45: Character Animation
The person slowly turns head to look at camera and smiles naturally,
eyes tracking toward viewer with realistic blink,
subtle breathing motion visible, slight body weight shiftI2V Template 46: Environment Activation
Water begins flowing, clouds start drifting across sky,
leaves rustle in growing wind, light shifts as sun moves,
natural environmental animation building from stillnessI2V Template 47: Product Rotation
The product slowly rotates 90 degrees to the right,
consistent studio lighting maintained throughout rotation,
smooth controlled motion with no background changeAdvanced Prompting Techniques
Negative Prompts
Seedance 2.0 supports negative prompting to exclude unwanted elements from the generated output. Use negative prompts to avoid common artifacts or specific visual elements.
Common negative prompt elements:
- "No blur, no distortion, no artifacts"
- "No watermark, no text overlay"
- "No extra limbs, no deformed faces"
- "No camera shake, no jitter"
Prompt Chaining for Consistency
When generating multiple clips for the same project, maintain visual consistency by keeping core descriptors identical across prompts and only changing the action or camera angle.
Base descriptor (reuse across clips):
Matte black 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback on coastal highway,
golden hour warm lighting, teal-and-orange color grading,
cinematic anamorphic lensClip 1: "Wide establishing shot, [base], slow aerial approach" Clip 2: "Close-up of chrome grill, [base], slow lateral tracking" Clip 3: "Rear tracking shot following car, [base], dynamic pursuit angle"
Style Mixing
Combine multiple aesthetic references in a single prompt for unique visual results:
Shot on 35mm Kodak Vision3 500T film stock combined with modern digital
color grading, vintage grain texture with contemporary sharpness,
warm analog color palette with digital dynamic rangeResolution and Duration Optimization
- For 4-second clips: Front-load the most important visual in the first 2 seconds
- For 8-second clips: Structure as setup (0-3s), peak moment (3-6s), resolve (6-8s)
- For 1080p output: Include fine detail descriptions to leverage full resolution
10 Common Prompt Mistakes and Fixes
| Mistake | Example | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too vague | "A nice video" | Add SCELA components |
| Contradictory | "Dark scene, bright sunlight" | Choose one lighting direction |
| Too many subjects | "Cat, dog, bird, fish, horse" | Focus on 1-2 subjects max |
| No camera direction | "A mountain sunset" | Add "slow aerial dolly forward" |
| Missing lighting | "Person in room" | Add "soft window light from left" |
| Overloaded | 200+ word prompt | Keep to 30-80 words |
| Wrong mode | Scene description for I2V | Use motion-focused prompt for I2V |
| No style direction | "A city" | Add "cyberpunk neon aesthetic" |
| Impossible physics | "Person flying without wings" | Keep physics grounded unless stylized |
| No emotional tone | Technical description only | Add "serene", "dramatic", "energetic" |
FAQ
What makes a good Seedance prompt?
A good Seedance prompt includes five elements: Subject (main focus), Context (environment), Effect (visual style), Lighting (illumination), and Action (movement). This is called the SCELA framework.
How long should a Seedance prompt be?
Aim for 30-80 words. Shorter prompts lack detail, while very long prompts can confuse the model. Focus on specificity over length.
Does Seedance support negative prompts?
Seedance 2.0 supports negative prompting to exclude unwanted elements. Use it to avoid artifacts, specific styles, or visual elements you do not want.
What is the SCELA prompt framework?
SCELA stands for Subject, Context, Effect, Lighting, and Action. It is a structured approach to writing prompts that consistently produce high-quality AI video output.
Can I use the same prompts for text-to-video and image-to-video?
Not exactly. Image-to-video prompts should focus on motion and transformation rather than scene description, since the image already provides the visual context.
How do I avoid blurry or distorted Seedance output?
Specify camera type, lighting conditions, and avoid contradictory instructions. Using the SCELA framework consistently reduces artifacts and improves clarity.
Where can I find Seedance prompt templates?
This guide includes 50+ templates organized by category: cinematic landscapes, character portraits, product shots, abstract art, action scenes, nature, and social media content.
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