Images & characters / Intermediate lesson
Art-direct a scene with prepared references
Runway Academy uses a prepared 3D composition to guide generated imagery. Apply the idea to a scene whose layout you want to control deliberately.
Video by Runway · Published May 2025 · Watch on YouTube ↗
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A prepared reference can express composition more clearly than adding a longer list of adjectives.
Your practice exercise
Sketch a small greenhouse scene with one robot, one plant, and a single window. Keep that layout fixed while testing two visual treatments.
- Make a simple layout before committing to detailed art.
- Keep subject placement stable during style comparisons.
- Use a reference you created or have permission to use.
Preserve the composition of the supplied layout reference: one small robot on the left, a single potted plant at center, and a tall greenhouse window on the right. Keep the camera angle and relative scale fixed. Create a warm handcrafted storybook treatment, then a restrained cinematic treatment. Generate each version separately.
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