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Materials
Runway
First Generation

First Generation

Updated: 2026-05

1. About This Page

Create 1 or 2 videos using Runway’s Free Plan. Get a feel for the generation process without using up too many credits.

2. What to Make

Make the following two:

  1. Text to Video (T2V) — Create videos using only prompts (Gen-4 Turbo)
  2. Image to Video (I2V) — Animate a single provided still image (Gen-4 Turbo)

Both are 5-second clips, and we expect them to consume a total of about 50 cr. This will use up about 40% of the 125 cr included in the Free plan.

3. Try T2V

3.1 From the Dashboard

  1. Left navigation bar → Generative Video → Text/Image to Video
  2. Select Text to Video from the tabs at the top
  3. Make sure Gen-4 Turbo is selected in the model selection (available for free)

3.2 Entering a Prompt

Write a brief description of the video in the text box below. Example:

A red sports car drives slowly along a misty forest road, with cinematic lighting and a slow tracking shot from behind.

Points:

  • Describe what moves and how (“drives slowly”)
  • Describe the camera movement as well (“slow tracking shot from behind”)
  • Use vocabulary that conveys atmosphere (“cinematic lighting,” “misty”)

3.3 Settings

  • Length: 5 seconds (shortest setting)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (or 9:16 portrait)
  • Seed: Leave as random (set to a fixed value later if you want to reproduce the result)

3.4 Generation

Click the Generate button at the bottom. Check the Credits Used displayed, then proceed.

Wait a few dozen seconds for the results to appear. If everything looks good, right-click and select “Download” to save it to your computer.

4. Try I2V

In T2V, it’s often easier to control the process by “specifying the composition in the input image → and letting the AI handle the motion.”

4.1 Preparing Images

Anything will do. Example:

  • Everyday photos taken with a smartphone
  • Scanned drawings I created myself
  • Photos from free stock image sites (Unsplash, Pexels, etc.)

Square or 16:9 images are easier to work with.

4.2 Image to Video Mode

  1. Switch to Image to Video in the top tab
  2. Drag and drop your images
  3. Enter motion instructions in the text box

Example: Upload a photo of the city:

The camera slowly zooms in. Pedestrians walk by. Cars drive past. The golden light of late afternoon.

4.3 Generation

Click “Generate.” I2V in Gen-4 Turbo is a core feature available even in the Free version. A 5-second clip consumes approximately 25 cr.

5. How to Interpret the Results

Key points to note in the generated video:

  • Natural Movement — Does the object move in an unnatural way?
  • Hand, Finger, and Facial Distortion — An area where AI struggles; distortion often occurs.
  • Physical Consistency — Are gravity, shadows, and the direction of light accurate?
  • Prompt Accuracy — Is the movement consistent with the instructions?

“I figure as long as I get about 80% right, it’s a success.” If I strive for perfection, I’ll burn out.

6. The Feeling of Starting Over

Options if you’re not satisfied:

  1. Click “Generate” again (same settings, different seed, same cost)
  2. Change the prompt (change only a part of it to see the difference)
  3. Change the model (switch from Gen-4 Turbo to Gen-4 to improve quality)
  4. Change the image (for I2V, the composition of the input image may be poor)

If you try 3 to 5 times and keep getting the same kind of error, it’s important to recognize that that prompt just won’t work. We’ll cover tips for prompt design in the next section (Group C).

7. Managing Your Balance on the Free Plan

The Free Plan offers 125 cr once only. There is no monthly reset. If you try one T2V and one I2V on this page, it will cost about 50 cr, leaving you with 75 cr.

If you want to try the rest:

  • Another I2V (25 cr) in a separate prompt
  • Reserve the remaining 50 cr for the experiment on the next page

Once you’ve used up your credits, you’ll need to ask a group member who shares the Pro plan to generate the final version.

8. Common Pitfalls

Common problems during class:

  • The “Generate” button is unclickable — Insufficient credit balance, or a model selected that is not available on the free plan
  • Generation doesn’t start — Browser ad blocker is interfering. Try again in incognito mode
  • Result is completely black/white — Contradiction in the prompt. Simplify it and try again
  • Hands are distorted — Known limitation. Adding “hands not visible” to the prompt may help

9. What’s Next

  • Prompt Design — Prompt design tailored for video
  • Camera Control — Advanced camera control
  • References — Improve control using image and video references
Interface TourPrompt Design