Keyframes explained
Keyframes let you fix the first and last frame of a clip. The model interpolates between them, producing motion that lands exactly where you want it. This is the single most powerful control for matching two shots together or hitting a specific ending pose.
What keyframes do
Every video model generates a sequence of frames from a prompt. On supported tiers, you can optionally pin the first and last frame of that sequence with an image. The model still reads the prompt, but its output is constrained: whatever motion happens between frame one and frame N has to end on the image you pinned.
This matters for two reasons. First, you can chain shots: use the last frame of clip A as the first frame of clip B, and the camera logic flows continuously. Second, you can aim at a specific ending: the character reaches the door, opens it, and the shot ends exactly on the pose you drew.
Which models support keyframes
| Model | First frame | Last frame | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fawna Cinema | Yes | Yes | Both slots in composer. |
| Fawna Motion | Yes | Yes | Strong interpolation quality. |
| Fawna Muse | Yes | Yes | Requires a first frame to run. |
| Fawna Film family | Yes | Yes | Veo 3.1 native. |
| Fawna Audio | Yes | Yes | Same Veo engine, synced audio. |
| Fawna Drama | Yes | Yes | Hailuo native. |
| Fawna Spark | No | No | Text-to-video only. |
How to set keyframes
- In the composer, find the reference row above the prompt.
- The first slot is labeled First frame. Drop or upload an image.
- If the model supports it, a second slot labeled Last frame appears beside it. Drop an image there too.
- Write a prompt that describes the motion and any elements that should change between the two frames.
- Generate. The clip will start on frame one, end on frame N, and the model fills in the between.
You do not have to set both. A first-frame-only clip behaves like standard image-to-video. A last-frame only clip gives the model a target to aim at while it improvises the start.
Chaining shots seamlessly
The killer use case is continuity. Once you have a clip you like, right-click the final frame and save it, then feed it into the next clip as the first frame. The motion flows without a visible cut.
- Generate your first clip. Export the last frame (in Studio, the three-dot menu has "Grab last frame").
- Start a new generation. Drop the grabbed frame into First frame.
- Write the prompt for what happens next. Keep the character description identical to the previous prompt.
- Generate. Splice the two clips end-to-end in Timelines.
Aiming for a specific ending
If you know exactly how you want the clip to end (a character mid-gesture, a specific composition, a dramatic reveal), generate that ending frame separately in Illustrate or Compose, then pin it as the last frame. The model will bend its trajectory to land there.
Works especially well for:
- Doors opening on a reveal.
- A character arriving at a specific pose or expression.
- A camera move ending on a precise composition.
- A crowd settling into a specific arrangement.
When frames don't fit
If your first and last frames are visually incompatible (different characters, different settings, impossible motion between them), the model will still try to interpolate and produce jarring or melting transitions. Keep subjects stable, vary only the pose, camera, or lighting.
Good pairings: same character, same location, different pose or camera angle. Same character walking across a room. A camera dollying from a wide to a close-up. Bad pairings: two different people, two different rooms, day-to-night without a valid motion in between.
Duration and interpolation
Longer durations give the model more room to move between keyframes and generally look smoother. A 4-second clip with very different first and last frames can feel rushed. If the motion is big, use 6 or 8 seconds. Small motion (a slight head turn, a subtle camera push) looks fine at 4.
Where to go next
- Character consistency for the broader workflow keyframes fit into.
- Editor for stitching keyframed clips together on a timeline.