Runway Gen-3 Alpha offers limitless potential to bring your artistic vision to life. Crafting a strong prompt that clearly conveys the scene is essential for generating videos that align with your concept. This article provides various example structures, keywords, and prompting tips to help you get started with Runway Gen-3 Alpha. These examples are a starting point – feel free to experiment to bring your ideas to life.
This feature is currently available to users on a Standard plan or higher.
Prompt Structures
Base Prompt
Effective prompts follow a clear structure that separates details about the scene, subject, and camera movement into distinct sections.
Using the following structure should help provide consistent results as you become familiar with Gen-3 Alpha:
[camera movement]: [establishing scene]. [additional details].For example, a prompt for a woman standing in a tropical rainforest might look like this:
Low angle static shot: The camera is angled up at a woman wearing all orange as she stands in a tropical rainforest with colorful flora. The dramatic sky is overcast and gray.
Repeating or reinforcing key ideas in different sections of your prompt can help increase adherence in the output. For instance, noting that the camera quickly flies through the scenes in a hyperspeed shot can emphasize that action.
Keep your prompt focused on what should be in the scene. For example, prompt for a clear sky rather than a sky with no clouds.
Sample Prompts
Seamless Transitions
Continuous hyperspeed FPV footage: The camera seamlessly flies through a glacial canyon to a dreamy cloudscape.
Camera Movement
A glowing ocean at night time with bioluminescent creatures under water. The camera starts with a macro close-up of a glowing jellyfish and then expands to reveal the entire ocean lit up with various glowing colors under a starry sky. Camera Movement: Begin with a macro shot of the jellyfish, then gently pull back and up to showcase the glowing ocean.
Text Title Cards
A title screen with dynamic movement. The scene starts at a colorful paint-covered wall. Suddenly, black paint pours on the wall to form the word “Runway”. The dripping paint is detailed and textured, centered, superb cinematic lighting.
Prompt Keywords
Keywords can be beneficial for achieving specific styles in your output. Ensuring that keywords are cohesive with your overall prompt will make them more apparent in your results.
For example, including keywords about skin texture wouldn’t be beneficial for a wide-angle shot where the camera is not closely focused on a face. A wide-angle shot might instead benefit from additional details about the environment.
Camera Styles
| Keyword | Output |
| Low angle | |
| High angle | |
| Overhead | |
| FPV | |
| Hand held | |
| Wide angle | |
| Close up | |
| Macro cinematography | |
| Over the shoulder |  |
| Tracking | |
| Establishing wide | |
| 50mm lens | |
| SnorriCam | |
| Realistic documentary | |
| Camcorder |
Lighting Styles
| Keyword | Output |
| Diffused lighting | |
| Silhouette | |
| Lens flare | |
| Back lit | |
| Side lit | |
| [color] gel lighting | |
| Venetian lighting |
Lighting Styles
| Keyword | Output |
| Diffused lighting | |
| Silhouette | |
| Lens flare | |
| Back lit | |
| Side lit | |
| [color] gel lighting | |
| Venetian lighting |
Movement Types
| Keyword | Output |
| Grows | |
| Emerges | |
| Explodes | |
| Ascends | |
| Undulates | |
| Warps | |
| Transforms | |
| Ripples | |
| Shatters | |
| Unfolds | |
| Vortex |
Style and Aesthetic
| Keyword | Output |
| Moody | |
| Cinematic | |
| Iridescent | |
| Home video VHS | |
| Glitchcore |
Text Styles
| Keyword | Output |
| Bold | |
| Graffiti | |
| Neon | |
| Varsity | |
| Embroidery |
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