These 35 prompts are written for Luma Ray3 (latest point release Ray3.14), the reasoning-driven video model in Luma's Dream Machine app and also available in Adobe Firefly. Each one follows Ray3's native shape: subject + action + scene + camera movement + style/mood, in plain natural language. Ray3 reads every word literally, so be specific and avoid contradictions — and write camera moves as words like slow dolly in or orbit 180° clockwise, never in brackets. Bracket and director syntax belongs to Hailuo, not Luma.

The fast way to work: draft cheap, then finish clean. Iterate each prompt in Draft Mode (about 5x faster and 5x fewer credits), then hit Upgrade to Hi-Fi on the take you like. Ray3 outputs silent video, so add music and sound later. New to the model? Start with how to prompt Luma for realistic video or grab the Luma prompt cheat sheet.

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Cinematic b-roll

Atmospheric, story-neutral shots for edits and transitions. Each uses one plain-language camera move and rich lighting for a filmic look. For a full set, see Luma prompts for cinematic b-roll.

1. Rain-soaked neon crosswalk

A rainy city crosswalk at night with pedestrians under umbrellas passing through frame, puddles reflecting red and cyan neon signs. Slow dolly in toward a glowing storefront. Wide cinematic shot, moody teal-and-magenta lighting, wet asphalt highlights, atmospheric haze, shallow depth of field, filmic grain.

Why it works: A single slow dolly plus reflective wet surfaces gives Ray3 clean motion cues and stable neon. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

2. Espresso pour macro

Dark espresso streaming into a white cup, crema swirling on the surface, faint steam rising. Locked-off static macro shot, only the pour and steam moving. Extreme close-up, warm morning light from the left, soft highlights on the ceramic, blurred cafe background, rich golden tones, cozy quiet mood.

Best for: Calm intro b-roll where a locked frame keeps everything but the pour still. (16:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

3. Coastal cliff road aerial

A single car winding along a coastal cliff road, waves breaking on the rocks below. Tracking shot alongside the car, then crane up to reveal the open horizon. Extreme wide aerial, golden-hour sunlight, long shadows, drifting sea mist, epic open mood, crisp detail.

Why it works: Track then crane up reads as a deliberate establishing shot, and 10s gives the reveal room. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

4. Snowy train window

A frosted train window framing a snowy pine forest sliding past outside as the train moves. Slow lateral truck left along the seats inside. Medium shot, soft overcast daylight, cool blue tones, condensation on the glass, contemplative quiet mood, gentle motion blur outside.

Best for: Wistful travel sequences and title backdrops. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

5. Neon arcade dolly

An aisle of glowing arcade cabinets at night, screens flickering, a lone player in silhouette at the end. Smooth handheld push-in gliding forward down the aisle. Medium-wide shot, saturated pink-and-blue neon, reflective floor, retro cyberpunk mood, shallow depth of field, fine detail.

Why it works: Pushing forward through repeating light sources gives Ray3 strong parallax to render cleanly. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

Product & ad video

Clean, controlled shots that sell one hero object. Set a start and end frame with keyframes when you need an exact opening and closing pose. Pair these with Luma prompts for product ads.

6. Sneaker turntable studio

A white running sneaker on a matte gray pedestal slowly rotating. Camera orbits 180 degrees clockwise to match the turn. Product close-up, clean studio lighting with a soft key and rim light, seamless light-gray backdrop, crisp reflections, premium sportswear mood, sharp material detail.

Best for: A hero rotation that shows every angle. (1:1, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

7. Serum drop macro

A single drop of clear serum falling from a glass dropper and spreading across a glossy surface, ripples radiating out. Slow dolly in toward the impact point. Extreme close-up, bright even studio light, soft highlights, clean white background, fresh clinical mood, glossy texture.

Why it works: One drop plus a slow dolly isolates the texture beat beauty ads live on. (16:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

8. Smartwatch light sweep

A black smartwatch on a dark reflective surface, its screen lighting up with a crisp weather widget as a sweep of light crosses the glass. Slow dolly in to the watch face. Macro product shot, dramatic single-source lighting, glints on the metal edges, deep black background, luxurious tech mood.

Best for: Showing an on-screen UI in a tight vertical frame. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

9. Cola splash freeze

A frosted glass cola bottle as dark liquid splashes upward around it, droplets and ice suspended mid-air. Locked-off static frame, high-speed slow motion. Close-up, bright rim light, cool condensation on the glass, deep red backdrop, refreshing high-energy mood, crisp droplet detail.

Why it works: Ray3's literal reading of high-speed slow motion holds suspended liquid and ice with believable weight. (1:1, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

10. Headphones logo reveal

Matte-black over-ear headphones on a stand, starting tight on the embossed brand logo then revealing the full pair. Slow pull back from the logo to a wide product frame. Clean studio lighting, soft reflections on the earcups, minimal dark backdrop, premium audio mood, sharp logo and stitching detail.

Best for: Packaging and logo reveals; set start and end frames with keyframes for exact framing. (1:1, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

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Characters & people

Faces and figures with believable motion. Use Character Reference with a reference image to keep the same person consistent across a whole sequence of shots.

11. Tai chi master courtyard

A tai chi master performing a slow, precise form in a misty stone courtyard at dawn, robe trailing each movement. Camera orbits slowly around him. Wide shot, soft grey morning light, drifting mist, cinematic muted tones, focused disciplined mood, natural fluid body motion.

Why it works: A slow orbit matched to a slow form keeps limbs coherent, which Ray3 handles well at 10s. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

12. Street violinist at dusk

A young woman playing violin on a cobblestone street at dusk, bow drawing across the strings, eyes closed in concentration. Slow dolly in toward her face. Medium shot, warm string-light glow behind her, soft golden bokeh, intimate emotional mood, subtle expressive movement.

Best for: Emotional single-character scenes; add the music later since Ray3 is silent. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

13. Barista warm smile

A barista glancing up and breaking into a warm, genuine smile as she hands over a cup. Locked-off static frame. Close-up portrait, soft window light from the left, warm cafe tones, shallow focus, friendly welcoming mood, natural blinking and subtle facial expression.

Why it works: A locked frame lets Ray3 spend all its motion budget on a believable expression. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

14. Ballet turn in studio

A ballerina performing a controlled pirouette in a sunlit dance studio, tulle skirt flaring with the spin. Camera orbits slowly to match her turn. Full-body shot, soft directional daylight through tall windows, warm wood floor, elegant graceful mood, realistic fabric and body physics.

Best for: Dance where limb coherence matters; give it the full 10s. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

15. Fisherman weathered portrait

An old fisherman with a weathered, sun-creased face mending a net on a harbor dock, hands working steadily. Slow dolly in. Medium close-up, overcast diffused light, cool sea tones, honest documentary mood, sharp detail in skin texture and rope, subtle natural head movement.

Why it works: A calm dolly over a working portrait shows off Ray3's skin and hand detail. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

Nature & landscapes

Big, calming environments built on one slow move and natural light. Let the scene's own motion — mist, water, clouds — carry the shot, and grade the native HDR output afterward.

16. Misty pine valley

A deep pine valley at sunrise, low mist pooling between the ridges. Camera cranes up slowly to reveal layered mountains behind. Wide landscape, cool blue morning light warming toward the peaks, soft god rays through the trees, serene majestic mood, crisp atmospheric depth.

Best for: Meditative openers; use Loop for a clean seamless background. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

17. Desert dunes at dawn

Vast rippled sand dunes at dawn, wind lifting fine sand off the crests. Slow lateral truck right across the ridgeline. Extreme wide shot, warm low-angle sunlight, long cool shadows in the troughs, minimalist tranquil mood, sharp texture on the sand ripples.

Why it works: Blowing sand gives steady motion so a slow truck never feels empty. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

18. Bioluminescent shore

Gentle waves lapping a beach at night, glowing blue bioluminescence lighting the foam. Slow dolly in toward the waterline. Wide shot, deep dark sky with faint stars, cool electric-blue glow, black sand reflecting the light, magical calm mood, detailed shimmering foam.

Best for: Dreamlike, high-contrast nature backdrops with lots of HDR range. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

19. Cherry blossom river

A calm river lined with cherry blossom trees, pink petals falling and floating on the water. Smooth tracking shot drifting forward over the surface. Wide shot, soft spring daylight, warm pastel tones, gentle petal motion, peaceful romantic mood, delicate detail.

Why it works: Falling petals plus drifting water fill the frame with organic motion. (16:9, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

20. Thunderstorm over plains

A dark thunderstorm rolling over flat golden plains, a fork of lightning striking the horizon, wind bending the grass. Locked-off static frame. Wide landscape, dramatic low storm light, deep grey clouds, warm grass in the foreground, ominous powerful mood, realistic lightning and wind.

Best for: High-drama establishing shots that lean on the wide 21:9 frame. (21:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

Action & physics

Fast subjects, stunts, and momentum. Keep one main action and use a tracking move or explicit slow motion for control. More in Luma prompts for image-to-video, where a start frame locks the pose before the motion begins.

21. Parkour rooftop leap

A free-runner sprinting and leaping across a gap between two city rooftops at sunset, arms extended mid-air. Tracking shot alongside the jump, moving laterally with the body. Wide action shot, warm golden backlight, long shadows, hazy skyline, adrenaline mood, realistic body physics and momentum.

Why it works: A lateral track keeps the leap readable while Ray3 resolves the airborne physics. (16:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

22. Explosion stunt walk

A stunt performer walking calmly toward camera as a fiery explosion erupts behind them, debris scattering. Slow lateral truck left with the walk. Medium-wide action shot, harsh orange firelight, thick rolling smoke, dramatic backlight, intense blockbuster mood, realistic explosion and debris physics.

Best for: Cinematic action beats; finish in Hi-Fi so the fire and smoke resolve. (16:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

23. Breakdancer power move

A breakdancer spinning into a windmill power move on a concrete plaza, legs sweeping the air. Camera orbits low around them. Full-body shot, warm late-day sun, long shadows, urban energetic mood, slow motion, realistic limb momentum and fabric motion.

Why it works: Explicit slow motion plus a low orbit gives Ray3 room to keep sweeping limbs coherent. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

24. Rally car gravel drift

A rally car drifting around a gravel forest bend, dust and stones spraying from the tires. Tracking shot alongside the car through the corner. Wide action shot, overcast flat light, damp green forest, kicked-up dust cloud, high-energy motorsport mood, realistic suspension and debris physics.

Best for: Motorsport shots where flying debris sells the speed. (16:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

25. Skateboard slow-mo flip

A skateboarder landing a kickflip on a sunlit plaza, the board spinning under their feet. Tracking shot following the trick from a low angle. Low-angle medium shot, warm golden-hour light, long shadows, cool street mood, slow motion on the board rotation, realistic contact and momentum.

Why it works: Slow motion plus a low tracking angle makes one trick feel cinematic and stable. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

Vertical social (9:16)

Thumb-stopping vertical clips for Reels, Shorts, and TikTok. Set 9:16 in text-to-video, or match a vertical source image. For a full library, see Luma prompts for social media.

26. Vertical outfit reveal

A stylish person walking confidently toward camera down a sunlit city street, coat flowing with each step. Camera trucks backward to keep them centered. Full-body vertical shot, bright overcast light, crisp fashion-editorial tones, confident mood, shallow background blur, natural stride.

Best for: Fashion and lifestyle hooks in the first second. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

27. Vertical latte art pour

A barista pouring steamed milk into espresso, a rosetta pattern forming on the surface. Locked-off overhead top-down frame. Vertical close-up, bright even food-styling light, warm crema tones, clean marble counter, satisfying craft mood, smooth realistic liquid motion.

Why it works: A top-down locked frame with one pouring action is a proven vertical format. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

28. Vertical dance hook

A dancer nailing a sharp choreographed combo in a neon-lit studio, hair and clothing snapping with each move. Camera orbits slightly to match. Full-body vertical shot, saturated pink-and-blue neon, glossy floor reflection, vibrant high-energy mood, realistic body and fabric motion.

Best for: Loopable, high-energy vertical content; use Loop for a seamless cut. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

29. Vertical gadget unbox

Hands lifting the lid off a premium box to reveal a glowing gadget inside, soft light spilling out. Slow dolly in toward the reveal. Vertical close-up, clean bright studio light, minimal pastel backdrop, satisfying reveal mood, crisp product detail, natural hand movement.

Why it works: A single lift-and-reveal fits the vertical unboxing trope perfectly. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

30. Vertical night market POV

A first-person walk forward through a lantern-lit night market, food stalls and steam on either side, crowds passing. Steady handheld push-in with a gentle head-bob. First-person vertical POV, warm mixed lantern light, glowing bokeh, immersive lively mood, realistic crowd and steam motion.

Best for: Immersive travel Reels; use Extend to build a longer walkthrough. (9:16, 1080p, 10s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

Abstract & artistic

Stylized, loopable clips for backgrounds, transitions, and visualizers. These lean on Ray3's fluid motion and one clean camera move; Loop and Extend turn them into seamless assets.

31. Liquid ink bloom

Deep blue and magenta ink blooming and swirling through clear water, tendrils unfurling in slow motion. Slow dolly in toward the densest bloom. Extreme close-up, dark background, soft rim light catching the ink, dreamy hypnotic mood, high detail, realistic fluid diffusion.

Best for: Loopable backgrounds and music visualizers. (16:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

32. Kinetic paper origami

Colorful paper folding itself into an origami crane on a clean desk, creases forming in smooth stop-motion. Camera arcs slowly around the paper. Medium shot, soft even studio light, pastel backdrop, playful crafty mood, satisfying precise motion, crisp paper texture.

Why it works: A literal description of self-folding paper plays to Ray3's control over structured motion. (1:1, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

33. Neon particle portrait

A human face formed from thousands of glowing cyan particles drifting in dark space, features shifting subtly as particles flow. Slow dolly in toward the eyes. Medium shot, deep black background, electric cyan-and-violet glow, futuristic ethereal mood, fine particle detail, smooth flowing motion.

Best for: Tech intros and title cards. (16:9, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

34. Glass fractal loop

An endlessly unfolding glass fractal refracting rainbow light, geometric facets rotating outward. Slow continuous pull back. Extreme close-up, clean gradient background, prismatic highlights, mesmerizing seamless mood, sharp reflective detail, smooth looping rotation.

Why it works: A steady pull back over rotating geometry loops cleanly with the Loop tool. (1:1, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

35. Smoke silhouette dance

A dancer's silhouette formed entirely from curling white smoke against a black backdrop, the figure flowing through a graceful movement. Locked-off static frame. Medium shot, single hard backlight, high contrast, elegant mysterious mood, realistic smoke turbulence, soft dissolving edges.

Best for: Moody transitions and artistic openers. (9:16, 1080p, 5s, Draft → Hi-Fi)

Want structures you can fill in fast? Grab the Luma prompt templates, or compare models with the best Runway prompts to pick the right tool for each shot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Luma Ray3 generate audio?

No. Ray3 outputs silent video. Add music, voiceover, and sound effects in an editor after you export the clip.

How do I control the camera in Luma?

Write camera moves in plain natural language inside the prompt, such as slow dolly in, orbit 180 degrees clockwise, tracking shot alongside, or crane up to reveal. Ray3 does not use bracket or director syntax; brackets belong to Hailuo, not Luma.

What is Draft Mode in Dream Machine?

Draft Mode renders ultra-fast previews roughly 5x faster and for about 5x fewer credits. Iterate on your prompt in Draft, then use Upgrade to Hi-Fi on the take you like for final quality.

How long can Luma Ray3 clips be?

Text-to-video runs 5s or 10s and image-to-video runs 5s. Use Extend to build seamless clips up to about 30s, or Loop to create a clean infinite loop.

What aspect ratios and resolutions does Ray3 support?

Aspect ratios include 9:16, 3:4, 1:1, 4:3, 16:9, and 21:9. Resolution options are 540p, 720p, and native 1080p on Ray3.14, with 4K available via upscale.

How do I keep a character consistent across shots?

Use Character Reference to lock a character to a reference image across multiple shots. For consistent framing between a specific opening and closing pose, set a start frame and an end frame with keyframes and let Ray3 interpolate between them.

How should I write a Luma prompt?

Follow the shape subject plus action plus scene plus camera movement plus style or mood, in natural English. Ray3 reads every word literally, so be specific and avoid contradictions. English is the most stable language.

Can Luma restyle existing footage?

Yes. Modify is video-to-video restyling that preserves the original motion of your footage while changing its look, on clips up to about 18s. Ray3 also outputs native 16-bit HDR, ACES EXR, for grading.

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