Vidu, the AI video generator from Shengshu Technology (vidu.com), follows camera and motion language unusually closely — so getting the wording and settings right is most of the battle. This is the reference: the exact prompt parts, modes, models, camera moves, movement-amplitude values, shot sizes, lighting words, resolutions and audio triggers the 2026 Vidu Q2 line responds to, all at 24fps. Keep it open while you write. When you want ready-made scenes, grab the 38 best Vidu prompts.
The Vidu prompt formula
Write Vidu prompts in six parts, in order: subject + appearance → one action → camera move → setting → lighting/mood → settings note. Keep it to one continuous action and around 25 to 60 words; resolution, aspect ratio, length and amplitude are app settings, so the settings note is just a reminder of what you picked.
A young woman in a red coat [subject + appearance] walking slowly along an empty seaside promenade [one action], slow tracking side shot moving with her [camera move], misty morning coastline with distant cliffs [setting], soft golden first light and drifting fog, calm and cinematic [lighting/mood]. Settings: Vidu Q2 · 16:9 · 1080p · 8s · amplitude: small.If a prompt runs long, cut adjectives before you cut the camera or action cues — those are what make the clip feel directed. For the full walkthrough, read how to prompt Vidu for realistic video.
Modes
Vidu offers four ways to generate. Pick the mode that matches how much of the look you already have locked.
| Mode | What it does | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Text-to-Video (T2V) | Builds the whole scene from a written description | Original scenes you invent from scratch |
| Image-to-Video (I2V) | Animates a still you upload — describe only the motion and say "keep identical" | Locked composition, product photos, animating a fixed look |
| Reference-to-Video | Fuses up to 7 reference images into one consistent clip — Vidu's signature feature | Consistent characters, props or scenes across shots (My References library) |
| Start-and-End-Frame | Takes a first and last frame and fills the transition between them | Smooth morphs and controlled start-to-end shots |
For start-and-end-frame, keep the two frames' aspect ratios within a 0.8–1.25 range of each other and set amplitude to small for a smooth morph. See the full pack of Vidu prompt templates for reusable skeletons.
Models
The 2026 flagship is the Vidu Q2 line — three models sharing the same modes and 24fps output but tuned for different jobs.
| Model | Strengths | When to pick |
|---|---|---|
| Vidu Q2 | Balanced quality and speed, reliable across scenes | The default for most b-roll, people and anime clips |
| Vidu Q2 Pro | Highest detail and quality, crisp texture and reflections | Product hero shots, close-ups and premium commercial work |
| Vidu Q2 Turbo | Fast drafts at lower cost | Testing composition, camera move or wording before a final render |
Camera moves
Name exactly one camera move per clip. Vidu reads standard film language, so use the terms below rather than vague phrases like "moving around."
| Move | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Push-in | Camera moves toward the subject, tightening the frame | Building focus and emotion on a face or product |
| Pull-back | Camera retreats, widening the frame | Reveals and end-of-scene beats |
| Dolly | Smooth camera travel forward, back or sideways on a track | Polished, controlled motion through a scene |
| Tracking (side) | Camera moves alongside a subject from the side | Runners, walkers and vehicles across frame |
| Tracking (behind) | Camera chases just behind a moving subject | Bikes, chases and following into a space |
| Orbit | Camera circles around the subject | Product hero shots and 3D-feeling reveals |
| Aerial / drone | High sweeping overhead movement, often a rise-and-reveal | Establishing shots and epic landscapes |
| Tilt up / down | Camera pivots vertically from a fixed point | Revealing height, scale or a rising subject |
| Pan | Camera pivots horizontally from a fixed point | Scanning a landscape or following action across frame |
| Time-lapse | Compresses time while the camera stays calm | Skies, clouds, light changes and crowds |
| Static / locked-off | No camera movement at all | Macro, food and product where only the subject moves |
Movement amplitude
Movement amplitude sets how much motion Vidu adds. Match it to the shot: calm subjects low, action high.
| Amplitude | Effect | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | Vidu picks a safe amount for the scene | Portraits, calm scenes and a reliable starting point |
| Small | Subtle, controlled, minimal drift | Product shots, macro and smooth start-and-end transitions |
| Medium | Lively, natural, brisk motion | Full-body movement, walking, moderate camera moves |
| Large | Fast, dramatic, high-impact | Action, chases, VFX and fast camera moves |
Shot sizes & lighting
Name the shot size to frame the subject, and add one or two lighting words to set the look. Both read reliably in Vidu across every mode.
| Shot size | What it frames |
|---|---|
| Extreme wide | Vast landscapes and scale; subject tiny in frame |
| Wide | Full scene and subject with surroundings |
| Medium | Subject from roughly the waist up; conversational |
| Close-up | Face or product filling the frame; emotion and detail |
| Macro | Extreme detail — droplets, textures, small objects |
| Lighting term | Effect |
|---|---|
| Golden hour | Warm, low, soft sunlight with long shadows |
| Blue hour | Cool twilight glow just after sunset, moody and calm |
| Rim light | Bright edge glow outlining the subject |
| Softbox / studio | Even, controlled light — clean and commercial |
| Neon | Colored practical glow for night-city and cyberpunk looks |
| Backlit | Light behind the subject creating a silhouette |
| Overcast | Flat, soft, diffuse light with no harsh shadows |
Resolution, aspect ratio & length
Pick resolution, aspect ratio and length in the generation panel before you render — these are app settings, not inline parameters, which is why the prompt only carries a reminder line.
| Setting | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 540p, 720p, 1080p | 1080p at 24fps for the sharpest hero output |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 | 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for TikTok/Reels, 1:1 for feed posts |
| Clip length | 2–8 seconds | Up to about 10s on some platforms; stitch shots for longer stories |
Audio & negative prompts
Vidu Q2 generates industry-first 48kHz sound effects synced to the action, and a Background Music toggle adds a matching soundtrack at no extra credit or duration. Trigger it by describing the sound in plain language, and steer quality with a short negative prompt.
| What you want | How to trigger it |
|---|---|
| Synced 48kHz SFX | Describe the sound in the prompt, e.g. "soft rain and distant thunder" or "crisp fizz sound" |
| Background Music | Turn on the Background Music toggle; Vidu adds a matching track free of extra credit or length |
| Silent clip | Leave the audio description out and add your own track in an editor later |
| Default negative prompt | blurry, deformed, warped face, flickering, extra limbs, low quality |
Keep the negative prompt short and add only terms for problems you actually see — add warped hands or extra fingers when a figure distorts, and morphing or melting for unstable objects.
Copy-paste example prompts
Four prompts putting the formula and settings together. Swap the bracketed parts and set the app options to the noted values.
Cinematic b-roll — coastal drone reveal
A rugged coastline with turquoise waves crashing against tall cliffs, a lone lighthouse on the headland, aerial drone shot rising and pulling back to reveal the full coast, bright midday sun, deep blue ocean, crisp natural color, smooth cinematic motion, soft wind and distant surf.Settings: Vidu Q2 · 16:9 · 1080p · 8s · amplitude: small · Background Music off. A rise-and-pull-back is Vidu's strongest reveal, and one landmark anchors the eye as the frame widens.
Product hero — perfume rotation
A faceted glass perfume bottle with a gold cap on a wet black reflective surface, a soft swirl of pink mist drifting behind it, slow 360-degree orbit around the bottle, elegant softbox studio lighting with a bright rim highlight on the edges, luxury commercial look, crisp reflections, macro focus.Settings: Vidu Q2 Pro · 1:1 · 1080p · 6s · amplitude: small. A slow single-axis orbit on a clean set is the classic product-hero move, and Q2 Pro holds the glass and reflections crisp.
Anime — girl on a rooftop
A young anime girl with short teal hair standing on a school rooftop at sunset, hair and skirt swaying in the wind, she turns her head toward the camera and smiles softly, slow push-in on her face, warm golden-hour light and long shadows, wistful Makoto Shinkai-inspired style, crisp clean line art.Settings: Vidu Q2 · 16:9 · 1080p · 6s · amplitude: auto. The swaying hair supplies motion while her face stays calm — exactly what Vidu's anime frames handle best.
Reference-to-video — character meets a dragon
Using the reference images, the young warrior from image 1 stands in the mountain landscape from image 2 and reaches out toward the small dragon from image 3, which flutters down to land on her arm, slow push-in, warm dawn light, cinematic fantasy, keep each character consistent with its reference image.Settings: Vidu Q2 Reference-to-Video · 3 reference images · 16:9 · 1080p · 6s · amplitude: medium. Naming which image each element comes from plus a keep-consistent line lets Vidu fuse unrelated references into one coherent shot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vidu prompt formula?
Write Vidu prompts in six parts, in order: subject and appearance, one action, an explicit camera move, the setting, lighting and mood, and a short settings note. Keep it to a single continuous action per clip and around 25 to 60 words. Resolution, aspect ratio, length and movement amplitude are app settings in Vidu, not inline parameters, so set them in the panel and reserve the settings line as a reminder of what you picked.
Which Vidu model should I pick — Q2, Q2 Pro or Q2 Turbo?
Use Vidu Q2 as the balanced default for most scenes. Pick Q2 Pro when you need the highest detail and quality, such as product hero shots and close-ups where texture and reflections matter. Pick Q2 Turbo for fast drafts when you are still testing composition, camera move or wording and do not need final quality yet. All three run at 24fps and share the same modes and settings.
How many reference images can Vidu use?
Vidu's reference-to-video mode accepts up to seven reference images — characters, props or scenes, even unrelated ones — and fuses them into a single coherent clip while keeping each subject looking like its reference. It is Vidu's signature feature. Name which image each element comes from in the prompt and add a line like keep each character consistent with its reference image, and save subjects you reuse in the My References library.
What is movement amplitude in Vidu?
Movement amplitude controls how much motion Vidu adds, with settings of auto, small, medium and large. Auto suits portraits and calm scenes. Use small for product shots and smooth transitions, and medium or large for full-body action and dramatic camera moves. Pair a larger amplitude with one clear camera instruction so the extra motion has direction instead of wobble.
What resolutions, aspect ratios and lengths does Vidu support?
Vidu generates at 540p, 720p and 1080p at 24fps, with clip lengths of roughly 2 to 8 seconds per generation, up to about 10 seconds on some platforms. Aspect ratios include 16:9 for YouTube, 9:16 for TikTok and Reels, and 1:1 for feed posts. All of these are app settings rather than inline parameters, so set them in the generation panel before you render.
How do I get audio in Vidu?
Vidu Q2 generates industry-first 48kHz sound effects synced to the on-screen action, and a Background Music toggle adds a matching soundtrack at no extra credit or duration cost. Describe the sound you want in plain language inside the prompt, for example add gentle rain and distant thunder or soft ambient market chatter, and Vidu matches the audio to the motion. You can also leave a clip silent and add your own audio later.
What is a good default negative prompt for Vidu?
A reliable default is: blurry, deformed, warped face, flickering, extra limbs, low quality. Keep it short and add only the terms for problems you actually see in a render, because an overloaded negative prompt can strip detail you want. Add warped hands or extra fingers when a figure distorts, and morphing or melting for unstable effects or objects.
What is start-and-end-frame mode in Vidu?
Start-and-end-frame mode takes a first and a last frame and fills the motion between them, which is ideal for smooth morphs and controlled transitions. Keep the two frames' aspect ratios within a 0.8 to 1.25 range of each other, describe the transition, and set movement amplitude to small so the morph stays smooth rather than jumpy.