How to Turn an Image into a Video with Wan 3.0

Wan 3.0 on wan3.dev can animate a still image into a clip of up to 1080p and 30 seconds. Switch the generator to Image to video, upload your photo, then write a prompt that describes the motion and camera move rather than re-describing the picture. Expect a single run to cost hundreds of credits — the site's own example shows a 455-credit generate button — so decide your duration and resolution before you click.

Before you start

• Source image: a clear, well-lit still. The model animates what it sees, so a blurry or cluttered photo gives it little to work with.
• Prompt: up to 2000 characters. The site's own tip is to describe subject, style, lighting, mood, and composition — for image-to-video, add motion and camera direction on top of that.
• Credits: check your balance before generating. The interface shows "Available Credits" next to the generate button, and the example run is priced at 455 credits.
• Settings you'll choose: resolution (480p / 720p / 1080p), aspect ratio, duration (2–30s), and whether to generate audio.

Step-by-step: image to video

1. Open the generator and pick Image to video

The site lists four starting points: Text to video, Image to video, Video to video, and Video editing. Choose Image to video so the generator treats your upload as the first frame rather than as a loose reference.

2. Upload your image

Select the photo you want to animate. This becomes the visual anchor — the subject, framing, and lighting of the output should stay recognisable to it.

3. Write a motion prompt

This is where most first attempts go wrong. Don't describe what's already in the photo; describe what should change.

Weak prompt: "A woman standing in a field."

Useful prompt: "The woman turns her head slowly toward the camera, hair moving in a light breeze; slow push-in, warm late-afternoon light, calm mood."

Cover four things:

• Subject motion — what moves, and how fast
• Camera move — push in, pull out, pan, orbit, or hold still
• Lighting and mood — keeps the clip consistent with the source image
• Style — only if you want the output to shift away from the photo's look

4. Set resolution, ratio, and duration

Duration runs from 2 to 30 seconds and resolution from 480p to 1080p. Longer and higher-resolution clips are the expensive end of that range, so a first test at a short duration and lower resolution is the cheaper way to check whether your prompt produces the motion you want.

5. Decide on audio

The generator has a Generate audio toggle. If you don't need sound, leaving it off keeps the run simpler; if you do, the site advertises audio generation from text descriptions.

6. Check the credit cost, then generate

The generate button displays its price before you commit — the on-page example is 455 credits. Credit cost scales with the settings you chose, so if the number is higher than you expected, shorten the clip or drop the resolution and check again.

7. Review and adjust

Watch the result against your source image. Two common failure modes:

What it costs and what you get

• Output: up to 1080p, up to 30 seconds, from text, image, or video input.
• Model options: the generator lists Wan 3.0 with a 2–30s range at 480p/720p/1080p and a credit band of 98–5880 credits depending on settings.
• Pricing page: wan3.dev/pricing is linked from the main navigation and currently shows a 50% OFF label. Check it for current credit packs rather than assuming a price.

Practical notes

• Test cheap, finish expensive. Run a short, low-resolution version to validate the prompt, then re-run at your target settings once the motion looks right.
• One action per clip. A single clear movement reads better than a list of instructions, and it's easier to debug when the output is wrong.
• The site is independent. Its footer states that references to Wan 3.0 describe the creative product on the website and don't imply ownership, partnership, or endorsement by a model provider. Treat it as a browser-based creation service, not the model's official home.
• Gallery as reference. The workflow showcase on the homepage demonstrates subject action, camera direction, image-led motion, and visual transformation — useful for calibrating how much motion a prompt should ask for.