How to Use Runway ML: AI Video Generation Made Simple (2026)

Runway ML has established itself as the leading AI video generation platform, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with generative video. With Gen-3 Alpha producing remarkably realistic video from text prompts and images, Runway is the go-to tool for filmmakers, content creators, and marketers who want to create professional video content with AI.

This guide covers every Runway feature from basic text-to-video generation to advanced techniques like motion brush, camera controls, and multi-modal editing.

TL;DR — Quick Start

1. Sign up at runwayml.com — free tier includes 125 credits
2. Use Gen-3 Alpha for highest quality text-to-video
3. Start with simple prompts: describe the scene, camera movement, and mood
4. Generate 5-second clips and extend the best ones

Pricing Overview

Plan	Price	Credits	Video Quality
Free	$0	125 one-time	720p, watermarked
Standard	$15/mo	625/mo	1080p, no watermark
Pro	$35/mo	2,250/mo	4K upscaling, priority
Unlimited	$95/mo	Unlimited	All features, API

Credit costs:

• Gen-3 Alpha (5s): ~50 credits
• Gen-3 Alpha (10s): ~100 credits
• Image-to-video: ~50 credits
• Upscaling: ~25 credits

Getting Started

Step 1: Create Your Account

Visit runwayml.com and sign up. The free tier gives you 125 credits to experiment with. No credit card required.

Step 2: Explore the Dashboard

Runway’s dashboard is organized into:

• Generate: Text and image to video generation
• Edit: Video editing tools (green screen, inpainting, motion tracking)
• Train: Custom model training
• Assets: Your generated content library

Step 3: Generate Your First Video

1. Click Generate → Gen-3 Alpha
2. Choose input type: Text only, or Image + Text
3. Write your prompt
4. Select duration (5s or 10s)
5. Click Generate

Generation takes 30-90 seconds depending on queue and plan.

Text-to-Video with Gen-3 Alpha

Gen-3 Alpha is Runway’s flagship model for generating video from text descriptions.

Writing Video Prompts

Effective video prompts include:

1. Subject: What’s in the scene
2. Action: What’s happening
3. Setting: Where it takes place
4. Camera movement: How the camera moves
5. Mood/Style: Visual atmosphere

Example prompt:

A golden retriever running through a sunlit meadow of wildflowers, slow motion, cinematic camera tracking shot, warm summer light, shallow depth of field, film grain, 4K quality

Camera Control Keywords

Keyword	Effect
Tracking shot	Camera follows subject
Dolly in/out	Camera moves toward/away
Pan left/right	Camera rotates horizontally
Tilt up/down	Camera rotates vertically
Crane shot	Camera rises/lowers
Static shot	Camera doesn’t move
Handheld	Slight natural shake
Aerial/drone	Overhead perspective

Style Keywords

• Cinematic: Film-like quality with bokeh and color grading
• Documentary: Natural, observational style
• Slow motion: Reduced playback speed with smooth motion
• Time-lapse: Accelerated time passage
• Vintage/retro: Film grain, muted colors
• Noir: High contrast, dramatic shadows

Image-to-Video

Transform still images into animated video clips:

How It Works

1. Upload a reference image
2. Add a text prompt describing the desired motion
3. Gen-3 Alpha animates the image while maintaining visual consistency

Best Practices

• Use high-resolution input images (1080p+)
• Describe specific motions: “the woman turns her head and smiles”
• Keep prompts focused on movement, not appearance (the image handles that)
• Simple, natural motions work better than complex actions

Use Cases

• Animate product photos for ads
• Bring illustrations and concept art to life
• Create dynamic social media content from static images
• Generate B-roll from stock photos

Motion Brush

Motion Brush gives you precise control over which parts of your image move and how.

Using Motion Brush

1. Upload an image or use a generated frame
2. Select the Motion Brush tool
3. Paint over the area you want to animate
4. Set the motion direction and intensity with brush parameters
5. Generate the video

Motion Brush Controls

• Horizontal: Move left or right
• Vertical: Move up or down
• Proximity: Move toward or away from camera
• Ambient: Subtle natural movement (like wind or breathing)

Tips

• Paint precise masks for targeted motion
• Use ambient motion for backgrounds (clouds, water, foliage)
• Combine directional motion for complex movements
• Keep at least one area static for visual anchoring

Advanced Video Editing Tools

Green Screen (Background Removal)

Remove backgrounds from video clips in seconds:

1. Upload your video
2. Click Green Screen
3. Runway automatically detects and removes the background
4. Export with transparent background or replace with a new one

Inpainting (Video)

Remove or replace objects in video:

1. Upload a video clip
2. Mask the object you want to remove
3. Runway fills in the area naturally across all frames
4. Maintains temporal consistency (no flickering)

Super Slow Motion

Create smooth slow-motion from any video:

1. Upload a regular-speed video
2. Select Super Slow Motion
3. Choose the slowdown factor (2x, 4x, 8x)
4. AI-generated frames are interpolated for smooth playback

Color Grade (AI)

Apply cinematic color grading:

1. Upload your video
2. Describe the desired look: “warm sunset tones” or “teal and orange cinematic”
3. Runway applies AI-powered color correction

Workflow: Creating a Short Film Scene

Here’s a practical workflow for creating a polished scene:

Step 1: Plan Your Shot

Describe the scene, camera movement, and mood in detail before generating.

Step 2: Generate Multiple Takes

Create 3-5 variations of the same prompt. Each generation produces slightly different results.

Step 3: Select the Best Take

Review all generations and choose the one closest to your vision.

Step 4: Extend the Clip

Use “Extend” to add more seconds to your chosen clip. Each extension continues the motion naturally.

Step 5: Apply Motion Brush (Optional)

If specific elements need adjustment, use Motion Brush for fine control.

Step 6: Post-Process

• Upscale to 4K if needed
• Apply color grading
• Export at your desired format

Step 7: Edit Together

Download clips and edit in your preferred video editor (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, etc.) or use Runway’s built-in timeline editor.

Custom Model Training

Train Gen-3 on your own visual style:

1. Prepare training data: 10-30 high-quality images or video clips
2. Create a training job: Upload your data and set parameters
3. Train: Takes 1-4 hours depending on dataset size
4. Use your model: Generate video in your custom visual style

Best for:

• Consistent brand aesthetics across campaigns
• Specific animation styles
• Character consistency in multi-scene projects

Tips for Professional Results

1. Be specific about camera movement: “Slow dolly in on the subject’s face” works better than “zoom in”
2. Include lighting descriptions: “Soft diffused morning light” or “harsh overhead fluorescent”
3. Specify the mood: “Melancholic,” “euphoric,” “tense” helps guide the generation
4. Generate in batches: Create multiple versions and pick the best
5. Use image-to-video for consistency: Generate a perfect still frame first, then animate it
6. Keep it simple: One clear action per clip works better than complex scenes
7. Extend wisely: Shorter initial clips (5s) extend more reliably than longer ones

Comparison: Runway vs Competitors

Feature	Runway Gen-3	Pika	Sora	Kling
Video Quality	Excellent	Good	Excellent	Very Good
Max Duration	10s + extend	4s	60s	10s
Image-to-Video	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Motion Control	Motion Brush	Limited	Storyboard	Limited
Camera Control	Keywords	Basic	Advanced	Basic
Editing Tools	Comprehensive	Basic	None	Basic
API Access	Yes	Yes	Waitlist	Yes
Free Tier	125 credits	Yes	No	Yes

FAQ

How long can Runway videos be?

Individual generations are 5 or 10 seconds. You can extend clips by generating additional segments that continue from the last frame. In practice, you can create clips of 30+ seconds through multiple extensions.

Is the video quality good enough for professional use?

Gen-3 Alpha produces 1080p video that’s suitable for social media, marketing materials, and creative projects. For broadcast or film, it works well as concept visualization, previz, or supplementary footage. Quality continues to improve with each model update.

Can I use Runway videos commercially?

Yes, paid plan subscribers retain commercial rights to their generated content. The free tier has watermarks and may have usage restrictions. Always check current terms for your specific use case.

How do credits work?

Credits are consumed based on the feature used and generation settings. A standard 5-second Gen-3 clip costs approximately 50 credits. Higher resolutions and longer durations cost more. Unused credits do not roll over on monthly plans.

What input formats are supported?

Runway accepts most common image formats (PNG, JPEG, WebP) and video formats (MP4, MOV, WebM). For best results with image-to-video, use high-resolution PNGs with the subject clearly visible. For more insights, check out our guide on How to Use DALL. For more insights, check out our guide on Best AI Tools for Video Conferencing. For more insights, check out our guide on Melhores Geradores de Video com IA em 2026.

Conclusion

Runway ML makes AI video generation accessible and practical. Whether you’re creating social media content, marketing materials, or exploring creative filmmaking, the combination of Gen-3 Alpha’s quality, Motion Brush precision, and comprehensive editing tools gives you a complete video creation pipeline.

Start with simple text-to-video prompts to understand how the model interprets instructions, then graduate to image-to-video and Motion Brush for more control. The free credits are enough to learn the basics before committing to a paid plan.