Seedance 2.5 Prompt Guide

Build a clear prompt, copy a template, and try it in Seedance 2.5.

Last verified Aug 9, 2026
prompt_structureclear beats
subject + action
environment + camera
lighting + timing
audio + references
01 / Prompt formula

Seedance 2.5 prompt formula

There is no official rigid syntax. Use a short, auditable direction that makes the subject, motion and references clear.

The current official documentation does not prescribe a magic formula. Its examples show concrete scene direction, camera language, timing, audio and reference relationships. BytePlus also recommends keeping current Seedance 2.0-series prompts under 1,000 words; exact behavior and limits may vary for Seedance 2.5 by platform/API.

01

Subject

Who or what is visible? Include identity or product traits that must stay stable.

02

Action

Describe the observable movement in a sequence the model can follow.

03

Environment

Set the location, objects, weather and physical details that affect motion.

04

Camera

Name one primary camera move, framing and speed instead of a pile of lenses.

05

Lighting

Give the light direction, quality and color when it changes the scene.

06

Timing

Use a short sequence or timed beats when the order of actions matters.

07

Audio

Describe ambience, dialogue, effects or music only when sound is part of the intent.

08

References

Say what each image, video or audio reference controls and what must not change.

[subject] + [observable action]
in [environment], filmed with [camera + framing + speed]
under [lighting / style], from [start] to [end]
with [audio direction]
[reference instructions, if used]
02 / Copyable prompts

Text-to-video prompts

These are starting directions, not guaranteed outputs. Change the subject and action before adding more adjectives.

Cinematic / rain and neon

Copyable

A controlled one-take scene with a clear subject, action and camera path.

A woman in a red raincoat walks through a neon-lit city street after dark and turns toward the camera. Start with a medium tracking shot, then make a slow push in as she passes the glowing signs. Wet asphalt reflects cool blue and warm amber light; rain continues throughout. Cinematic realism, restrained pacing, one continuous shot. Ambient rainfall, footsteps and distant traffic, no dialogue, no music.

Product / tabletop commercial

Copyable

A product prompt that defines the reveal, material and camera move.

Premium tabletop commercial for a matte black travel mug on a pale stone surface. A narrow beam of morning light moves across the mug as condensation gathers and a small stream of coffee pours into the open lid. Begin with a macro close-up, then slowly pull back to reveal the full product and a clean negative-space background. Crisp commercial lighting, realistic metal and ceramic textures. Soft pour sound and a subtle room tone, no voiceover, no on-screen text.

Character / readable performance

Copyable

Keep the action simple enough for the character's performance to stay legible.

A young astronomer stands on a quiet rooftop at blue hour and unfolds a paper star chart. She looks from the chart to a bright meteor crossing the sky, then smiles with quiet surprise. The camera begins in a locked-off medium shot and gently arcs to her side without cutting. Natural facial performance, soft wind moving her coat, cool twilight with a warm rooftop light. Rooftop ambience and a distant city hum, no dialogue.

Landscape / scale and movement

Copyable

Describe a large environment with one clear camera movement and physical motion.

A wide coastal landscape at sunrise, with tall grass bending in the sea wind and waves breaking below a dark cliff. The camera glides forward from behind the grass, rises slightly over the cliff edge, and settles on the horizon. Natural documentary realism, warm low sunlight, fine mist in the distance, gradual pacing. Wind through grass, rolling surf and distant seabirds, no music.

Commercial / vertical social clip

Copyable

A short vertical ad direction with a sequence that is easy to follow.

Vertical social ad for a bright citrus drink on a summer picnic table. A hand opens the cold can, ice cubes slide into a clear glass, and the drink pours in with visible bubbles. Use a quick macro push in for the opening, a smooth side track during the pour, and finish on a clean close-up of the can beside the glass. Bright daylight, fresh yellow and green palette, upbeat commercial energy. Crisp fizz and ice sounds, short cheerful music, no extra text.
03 / Reference-led motion

Image-to-video prompts

When an image is already doing the visual description, use the prompt to direct what changes after the reference frame.

Preserve the parts of the image that matter, then describe subject motion, camera movement, environment motion and timing. Re-describing the whole image can create unnecessary conflict with the reference. Accepted roles and input limits depend on the platform/API.

Reference image / animate the subject

Copyable
Use [Image 1] as the source appearance and composition. Keep the subject's identity, clothing, colors and background stable. After the first frame, the subject slowly turns toward the window while a curtain moves in a soft breeze. The camera makes a restrained push in and keeps the face readable. Warm morning light remains consistent. Quiet room tone and soft fabric movement, no dialogue.

Product reference / controlled reveal

Copyable
Use [Image 1] as the exact product reference. Do not redesign the shape, label or material. Animate only the motion: a slow rotation on the tabletop, a narrow highlight travelling across the surface, and a few drops of condensation sliding downward. The camera tracks slightly from left to right and ends in the same centered product framing. Clean studio light, subtle product-commercial sound, no new text or logos.

Character reference / motion only

Copyable
Use [Image 1] to preserve the character, hairstyle, clothing and setting. Describe only what changes after the first frame: the character takes two careful steps toward the camera, pauses, and looks past the lens as leaves move behind them. Keep the original framing and color palette; use a very gentle handheld drift. Natural outdoor ambience, no dialogue, no costume changes.
04 / Camera language

Camera movement prompts

A camera term works best when it is tied to a subject, direction and speed.

Push in

Direction

Bring attention closer to a subject or detail.

The camera makes a slow push in from a medium shot to a close-up as she notices the sound.

Pull back

Direction

Reveal the larger environment around the subject.

The camera slowly pulls back from the product to reveal the full table and the sunlit room.

Tracking

Direction

Move with a subject travelling through the scene.

A side-tracking camera keeps pace with the runner while the background slides past.

Orbit

Direction

Show a subject from changing angles while keeping it central.

The camera performs a slow half-orbit around the dancer as the fabric catches the light.

Handheld

Direction

Add documentary energy without changing the subject's action.

Use subtle documentary-style handheld drift while the reporter crosses the market.

Locked-off

Direction

Keep attention on performance, timing or a visual transformation.

Use a locked-off static frame as the paper sculpture unfolds by itself.
05 / Timed direction

Multi-shot and timed prompt structure

Seedance 2.5 is positioned for 30-second storytelling, but timeline controls and exact timestamp behavior depend on the platform/API.

Use timed beats when the order matters. This is a prompt pattern, not a claim that AstraiLab currently exposes a timeline editor or that every integration will honor every timestamp literally.

Timed beat template

Copyable

Keep each beat observable and give the transitions a clear cause.

[0–5 seconds] Wide view of a quiet train platform at dawn. A woman in a blue coat waits beside one suitcase; the camera slowly tracks toward her.

[5–10 seconds] The train enters the background. She turns toward the sound and takes one step forward; cut to a medium profile shot.

[10–15 seconds] The doors open. She picks up the suitcase and walks into the carriage as the camera follows from behind.

[15–20 seconds] Close-up on her hand releasing the suitcase handle. The train begins moving; warm window light crosses her face.

Natural station ambience, rail vibration and soft footsteps. Maintain the blue coat and the same dawn color palette throughout.
06 / Reference instructions

Reference prompts

Give each reference a job. State what to borrow and what to preserve.

Use a reference for
  • Subject identity, product shape or wardrobe.
  • Composition, camera language or motion rhythm.
  • Environment, sound character or visual palette.
  • A first frame, final frame or transition target.
Keep explicit
  • Which reference controls which element.
  • What must remain unchanged.
  • What changes after the first frame.
  • Which action happens first, next and last.

Reference mapping template

Copyable
Use [Image 1] for the character's identity and clothing.
Use [Image 2] for the location and background composition.
Use [Video 1] for the slow camera movement only.
Keep the face, outfit and color palette from [Image 1] unchanged.
The character walks from the doorway to the window, pauses, and looks outside.
Use the framing from [Image 2] and the camera rhythm from [Video 1].
Natural room tone and soft footsteps, no dialogue.

The current BytePlus documentation describes reference roles and combined image/video/audio inputs for the Seedance 2.0 series. Treat exact reference counts, file requirements and role syntax as platform/API-specific.

07 / Troubleshooting

Common prompt mistakes

Fix the instruction before adding more style words.

Conflict

Action conflicts with the reference

If the reference is the first frame, say what changes after it instead of replacing the subject, pose and setting.

Camera

Too many camera instructions

Give one primary move per beat. A push in, orbit, crane and handheld change at once is hard to audit.

Subject

Ambiguous subject

Name the subject before the action and use the same wording when the action continues.

Timing

Conflicting timing

Use a simple order or time window. Do not ask an action to finish before it starts.

Length

Adjectives without motion

Replace “epic, beautiful, dynamic” with something visible: a camera path, physical action, light change or ending beat.

08 / FAQ

Seedance 2.5 prompt FAQ

Practical answers for the first prompt iteration.

How do I write a Seedance 2.5 prompt?

Start with the subject and observable action, then add the environment, camera movement, lighting, timing and audio direction that matter. Keep the prompt internally consistent and describe what should happen rather than stacking adjectives.

Does Seedance 2.5 support image-to-video?

Seedance is presented as a multimodal video model with reference control, and the current Seedance-family documentation includes image-to-video workflows. Exact image roles, limits and access depend on the platform/API you use.

How do I describe camera movement?

Name one primary camera move, say what the camera follows, and add its speed or timing. For example: “slow side tracking with the cyclist, then settle into a close-up.” Avoid asking for several unrelated camera paths at the same moment.

Can Seedance 2.5 use reference images?

Reference control is a core capability described on the official Seedance 2.5 page. In a prompt, identify what each reference controls and what must remain unchanged. The accepted file types, number of references and role syntax vary by platform/API.

How long should a Seedance prompt be?

The current BytePlus ModelArk documentation recommends keeping Seedance 2.0-series prompts under 1,000 words because lengthy text can scatter attention. Use that as a practical ceiling, not as a universal 2.5 limit; a shorter prompt with clear observable actions is usually easier to audit.

09 / Sources

Check the source

Prompt behavior and model limits can change as platforms update their integrations.