Previs
Previsualization with AI
Previs is working out a film's shots before you shoot or render them for real. Root does it in one project: a frame for each shot, cheap moving tests, 3D models placed in a 3D scene to set the camera, and an animatic on the timeline. Previs for a 60-second sequence of 12 shots costs $4.72.
Updated
First month free on the Beginner plan, with 650 credits to try any model.
Shots made from a plan in Root
A previs workflow in Root
- Board it. Make references for the characters and the sets, then a frame for each shot with those references wired in. Seedream 4.0 takes references and costs $0.04 a frame. The AI storyboard guide covers this step in full.
- Test the movement. Wire each frame into a Video Gen node and make a short, cheap clip to see the action and the camera move. Kling 2.5 Turbo makes a 5-second test from a frame for $0.25.
- Set the camera in 3D. Turn a picture of a key prop or set into a 3D model ($0.29 to $0.49), press Send to 3D scene, and place it. Move things until the layout is right, place the camera, and render a frame.
- Make shots from the 3D frames. Wire a 3D Scene node's render into an Image Gen or Video Gen node as the starting picture. The shot starts from your layout and your framing.
- Cut the animatic. Put the frames and test clips on the timeline, add a temp track or a guide voice, and export. A timeline runs up to 10 minutes, and exporting it is free.
Previs for a 60-second sequence, priced
12 shots of 5 seconds, with 2 key props or sets built in 3D. Prices on Root, in dollars, if every run works first time. 100 credits is $1.
| Step | Model | How many | Each | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Character and set references | Seedream 4.0 | 4 | $0.04 | $0.16 |
| A frame for each shot | Seedream 4.0 | 12 | $0.04 | $0.48 |
| A test clip of each shot, 5 s, no sound | Kling 2.5 Turbo | 12 | $0.25 | $3.00 |
| 3D models of the key props or sets | Rodin (Hyper3D) | 2 | $0.46 | $0.92 |
| A temp music track | Music | 1 | $0.16 | $0.16 |
| Cut and export the animatic | Root | 1 | Free | $0.00 |
| The whole previs | $4.72 |
The cheapest models for test clips
A 5-second test clip made from your frame, with no sound, at 720p where the model offers it.
| Model | Best for | Test clip | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kling 2.5 Turbo | Fast, silent takes while you iterate. | 5 s | $0.25 |
| Luma Ray 3.2 | Natural motion and realistic camera moves, from a prompt or an image. | 5 s | $0.35 |
| Kling 3.0 | Realistic motion and physics, and 4K output. | 5 s | $0.49 |
| Kling 3.0 Omni | Several reference images or elements in one shot, and longer takes. | 5 s | $0.49 |
What the 3D scene is for
Use it when the arrangement has to be right, not just the look.
- Where each character and prop stands, and how big it is next to the others.
- Where the camera is, how far away, and what the lens is doing.
- Shots that have to match: set the space up once and every render from it agrees.
- Props and sets you made in Root: a 3D model from the 3D Model node goes straight into the scene.
Related guides
Previs questions
What is previsualization?
Previsualization, or previs, is making a rough version of a film's shots before the real shoot or render: where the camera goes, what moves, how the shots cut together. In Root, previs for a 60-second sequence of 12 shots costs $4.72.
How much does AI previs cost?
On Root you pay per run: $0.04 a frame with Seedream 4.0, $0.25 for a 5-second test clip with Kling 2.5 Turbo, and $0.29 to $0.49 for a 3D model. Cutting and exporting the animatic is free.
What is the best previs software?
One where the boards, the tests, the 3D layout and the animatic live together, so a change to one shot is a change in one place. Root keeps all four in a project, in the browser, and the final shots can be made in the same project.
Can I set the camera exactly?
Yes, in a 3D scene. Place your 3D models, put the camera where you want it and render a frame. Wire that render into an image or video model as the starting picture, and the shot starts from that layout and framing.
Can previs shots become final shots?
Yes. Everything is in the same project, so when a shot is locked you make it again from the same frame with a stronger video model. The previs take stays, so you can compare the two.
Do I need to install previs software?
No. Root runs in the browser: the 3D scene works in the browser tab, and the image, video and 3D models run on Root's side.
Can I try previs in Root for free?
For a month, yes. The first month of Root's Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits, enough for 26 5-second test clips with Kling 2.5 Turbo. After that the plan is $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.
Try Root free for a month
The first month of the Beginner plan is free and comes with 650 credits to spend on any model. After that it's $9 a month, and you can cancel whenever you like.