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Upload your references
Add up to 9 images, 3 short video clips, and 3 audio clips — characters, products, locations, styles, motion, or sound.
AI SeedanceReference to video
Reference to Video Generator
Give every reference a job
Reference to video is for when one picture is not enough: a character from one image, a location from another, a product from a third, a camera move from a clip, a rhythm from a track. Tag them in the prompt (@Image1, @Video1, @Audio1) and Seedance combines them into one shot.
- Reference images
- 9
- Reference videos
- 3
- Reference audio
- 3
- Prompt control
- @ tags
This page opens Seedance 2.0 Mini on the reference tab. Reference videos add their own length to the billed seconds; the form shows the total before you generate.
How it works
Reference to Video, step by step
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Tag each one in the prompt
Write who or what each reference is: "@Image1 is the main character, @Image2 is the kitchen, follow the camera move in @Video1".
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Describe the action
Explain what happens in the shot and how it should sound. Keep each reference to one clear role.
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Generate and compare
Generate, then swap or remove one reference at a time to see what each one contributes.
Why it works
What you can control
Consistent characters
Character references keep the same face and outfit across shots and generations.
Product accuracy
Product shots as references keep logos, shapes, and colours on brand.
Motion from a clip
A reference video can show the camera path or action you want, instead of describing it in words.
Timing from audio
A reference audio clip sets mood and rhythm for the generated sound.
Best uses
What people make with it
Brand and product ads
Combine the product, the model, and the set into one on-brand shot.
Recurring characters
Keep a mascot or host identical across a series of clips.
Recreating a camera move
Match the movement of a reference clip with your own subject.
Storyboard to shot
Use storyboard frames and style images as references for a first animated pass.
Keep exploring
More Seedance tools
FAQ
Questions about Reference to Video
What is reference to video?
It is video generation guided by several references instead of a single first frame. The references tell the model what characters, products, places, motion, or sound to use; the prompt says how they come together.
How many references can I use?
Up to 9 images, 3 video clips, and 3 audio clips in one generation on the Seedance 2.0 tiers.
How do I tell the model what each reference is?
Tag them in the prompt — @Image1, @Image2, @Video1, @Audio1 — and give each a single role, for example "@Image1 is the character, @Image2 is the background".
Do reference videos cost extra?
Yes. The length of a reference video is added to the billed seconds at the reference-video rate. The form shows the total before you generate.
Reference to video or image to video?
Use image to video when you need the clip to start on an exact frame. Use reference to video when you need to combine several sources or keep a character consistent without fixing the first frame.
Can I use photos of real people?
Only images you have the rights to use. ByteDance’s Seedance service rejects references of real human faces unless the person is authorized, so faces of real people may be refused even when you own the photo.