Short answer: Write a storyboard prompt as a small shot plan: define the subject and setting once, assign each shot a time range, describe one visible action per shot, and state what must remain consistent.
What a storyboard prompt should decide
A storyboard answers five questions: what is the subject, where does the scene begin and end, which action belongs to each time range, how does the camera move, and which transition is intentional?
The prompt limit depends on the selected model. On September 28, 2026, this site's text-to-video interface showed 30,000 characters for Seedance 2.5 and 7,000 for Seedance 2.5 Lite. Recheck the live counter before submitting; the limit is not a target prompt length. A bounded shot plan is still more useful than describing every frame.
A practical three-shot structure
| Time | Shot job | What to specify |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3s | Establish | subject, location, starting composition, light |
| 3–7s | Demonstrate | one action, camera direction, key visual cue |
| 7–10s | Resolve | final position, hold, and ending composition |
Keep the subject, location, and visual style outside the time-coded list. Put only changes inside each shot.
Prompt template
Create a [duration]-second video in [aspect ratio]. The main subject is [subject]
in [setting]. Keep [identity, product shape, clothing, or color] consistent.
Shot 1, [time range]: [starting composition] and [opening action].
Shot 2, [time range]: [one visible action]. The camera [one movement].
Shot 3, [time range]: [final action]. End with [final composition] and hold.
Use [reference label] only for [defined role]. No extra subjects, products,
scene changes, unrequested text, or additional cuts.
This is illustrative, not a tested result. Attach the same reference assets again for each new generation and replace labels with those shown in the interface.
Worked example: a product reveal
This is an illustrative prompt, not a measured product result:
Create a 10-second 16:9 product video of the travel mug in @Image1 on a light
wooden table beside a window. Keep the mug's shape, lid, handle, color, and
visible markings consistent with @Image1. Use soft morning light.
Shot 1, 0–3s: stable medium shot; the mug is centered and still.
Shot 2, 3–7s: one slow left-to-right camera move while the mug remains visible.
Shot 3, 7–10s: ease to a stop and hold the final frame for one second.
Preserve markings already visible in @Image1, but add no new text or logos. No
zoom, orbit, camera cut, or scene change.
References and review
Give each asset one role: image for appearance, video for motion or camera inspiration, audio for pacing, and a second image for a separate design or location constraint. Review each shot for timing, subject continuity, unwanted props or text, and a usable final hold. If only one shot fails, revise that shot first.
Split the storyboard into separate generations when the location changes, the subject needs a new reference, the action becomes too dense, or one shot must be regenerated independently. Align separate clips in an external editor.
FAQ
Is a storyboard the same as a prompt?
No. A storyboard is the plan of shots and timing; the prompt is the instruction sent to the generator.
How many shots should I use?
Start with two or three bounded shots. Add another only when it has a distinct visual job.
Can a storyboard guarantee exact timing?
No. Time ranges make the request easier to interpret and review, but generated motion can drift. Use an external editor for exact alignment.
Next step
Use your shot plan to direct a first test in Seedance 2.5, then review timing and continuity before adding shots.
