Own the story with Start and End Frame 

Creating full-length videos can be complex and time-consuming, and adding branded endings often requires extra manual editing. AI image to video models on Artlist with Start and End Frame capabilities solve that creative challenge. 

Simply upload one or two reference images that define the Start and End frames of your video. It sounds small, but it changes everything. You can lock in the exact composition you want to open on, then decide precisely how you want to leave your viewer, whether that’s a branded freeze, a looping shot, or a cinematic fade.

In this article, we’ll break down why this feature matters, how to use it, and what to watch out for. You’ll see real creative advantages, a few honest caveats, and prompts you can test right away to get the most from your AI video generation.

Why Start and End frames matter more than you think

Most creators focus on the content of the video — the motion, the look, the pacing. All those things are important, but the edges define the experience for the audience.

The Start frame decides whether the viewer keeps watching.
The End frame decides what they remember and what they do next.

Industry sources suggest that the first three seconds of a video are crucial to viewer retention. Many creators and marketers treat those opening frames like make-or-break moments, especially for short-form platforms like TikTok, Reels, or YouTube Shorts. 

For brand content, the End frame is often the one that stays frozen on screen, including the thumbnail, the share preview, or the End screen. Anchoring these frames gives you consistency, predictability, and professional control.

When the model knows where to start and where to end, it fills the space between with motion that connects those points. That’s the difference between AI-generated and creator-led content with the help of AI.

Models that support Start/End Frame on Artlist

On Artlist, we have text to video and image to video that support Start and End Frame. There are helpful tags on the model menu so you can quickly identify the models with support Start and End Frame uploads. Check out the model pages for more details on which one to choose for your project needs.

Start/End Frame support: Kling 2.6 Pro, Kling 2.5 Turbo Pro, Kling 1.6, Kling 2.1, Kling 2.1 Master, Kling O1 Pro, Veo 3.1, Veo 3.1 Fast, Seedance 1.5 Pro 

Start Frame support only: Grok Imagine, Wan 2.6, Hailuo 2.3, Hailuo 2.3 Pro, Hailuo Fast, Hailuo Fast Pro, Seedance 1.0 Pro Fast, LTX 2.0 Pro

How reference frames change AI video creation

Traditionally, text or image to video models begin from noise and build each frame sequentially. You describe what you want with a prompt or image, but you don’t know exactly what the first frame will look like, or how the final one will land.

Uploading reference images changes that.

• A Start frame reference locks the initial composition, lighting, and style.
• A End frame reference defines the destination

The concept is simple: you upload stills for the beginning and end, describe the motion that connects them, and the model generates everything in between.

The upside: more control, stronger storytelling

Predictable openings: No more awkward first seconds where the model struggles to find its footing. Your video opens exactly on the image you choose.

Seamless endings: If you’re building branded content, you can land precisely on your logo, your tagline, or a clean freeze for an end screen. For loops, you can ensure the final frame matches the first.

Visual and narrative continuity: When your Start and End frames share lighting, composition, or subject, the model naturally fills the middle with coherent transitions. This creates stronger storytelling arcs and visual rhythm.

Workflow efficiency: Teams can collaborate more easily when the start and end are fixed. Editors, motion designers, and sound designers know exactly what they’ll get.

Creative experimentation: You can design multiple middle paths between the same two frames. This means you can try different moods, motions, or durations, without changing the anchors.

The trade-offs: what to keep in mind

Less spontaneity: Anchoring both ends constrains the model. You’ll lose some of the surprising, serendipitous results that can make AI outputs interesting.

Transition challenges: If the Start and End frames are too different in terms of lighting, angle, or subject position, then the model may produce awkward motion or morphing artifacts.

More work upfront: Preparing reference images that match resolution, color, and framing takes effort. You’ll also need to describe the in between motion carefully.

Feature gaps across models: Not every generator supports this feature equally. Veo 3.1 handles it natively. Sora 2 may honor the Start frame more reliably than the last. 

Rendering time: Because the model must satisfy stricter constraints, generation can take slightly longer. 

Creative prompting formula 

Start frames should set tone, context, and atmosphere. They often establish time, mood, or subject focus.

When you upload two keyframes, the prompt acts as a director’s note, telling the AI:

• What happens between the two frames (transition / motion / emotional arc)
• How it should look and feel (style, camera, tone)
• What to preserve (characters, lighting, composition)

So your prompt formula should describe:

Subject + Setting + Motion or Change + Style + Mood

Pro tips for better transitions

• Add “hold still” commands: Prompt with directions such as, “hold first frame for X seconds” or “no motion for first 12 frames” to keep openings crisp.
• Match lighting direction: Inconsistent lighting between references is a top cause of flicker.
• Leave space for overlays: If you’ll add text or logos, design the End frame with clear negative space.
• Plan sound design early: Choose audio cues that match the motion arc, like rise, resolve, or loop.
• Pad extra frames: Generate slightly longer (e.g., +0.5 s at start/end) so you can trim or freeze later.
• Use consistent style prompts: Mention color grading or film-look parameters to keep edges stylistically coherent.
• Reverse your story: Try swapping your Start and End frames to reverse the motion — perfect for creating rewind effects, surreal transitions, or reveal-style edits. This trick lets you explore storylines that fold back on themselves, turning simple scenes into unexpected visual loops or narrative twists.
• Mid-shot transformations: Start and end with two related images — like the same person in different outfits, or a product before and after an upgrade. AI will animate the smooth, natural motion that connects those frames. It’s perfect for transformation effects, product reveals, or before-and-after shots without cutting or editing manually.

Check out this tutorial how to create seamless AI video transitions using first and last frames using AI image model Nano Banana and AI video model, Kling 2.1.

Try it on Artlist now 

Generative video is unpredictable by design, but you don’t have to leave the outcome to chance. Uploading Start and End frame references gives you director’s control inside a generative process. You still enjoy the creative freedom of AI, but now your clip begins and ends exactly where you choose. Whether you’re designing cinematic shots, seamless loops, or branded outros, this capability turns AI into a tool for intentional storytelling. It’s a small step in the UI that unlocks a huge step in professionalism. Ready to test it yourself? Try it now with Image to Video in the Artlist Toolkit video generator.