Sora 2 Prompt Crafting Guide: Tips for Generating High-Quality Videos

Introduction

Sora 2 is OpenAI’s latest text-to-video generation AI technology. By writing effective prompts, you can generate high-quality videos that better match your intentions. This article introduces best practices for prompt creation to maximize your use of Sora 2.

Basic Prompt Structure

1. Clearly Describe Your Subject

Good Example:

A golden retriever puppy playing in a sunlit garden

Bad Example:

Dog outside

The more specific you are, the easier it is for the AI to understand your intent.

2. Add Visual Details

Include these elements for more precise video generation:

• Lighting Conditions: golden hour lighting, soft diffused light, dramatic shadows
• Camera Angles: close-up, wide shot, bird’s eye view, tracking shot
• Colors: vibrant colors, muted tones, high contrast
• Textures: smooth, rough, glossy, matte

Example:

A sleek sports car driving along a coastal highway at sunset, cinematic shot with warm golden lighting, following camera angle

5 Essential Prompt Writing Tips

Tip 1: Specify Camera Work

Camera movement greatly influences the mood of your video. Be explicit about it.

• Static Camera: static shot, fixed camera
• Moving Camera: tracking shot, dolly in, crane shot
• Rotation: rotating camera, 360-degree view
• Zoom: slow zoom in, zoom out

Example:

Slow dolly push towards a mysterious door in an abandoned mansion, cinematic lighting

Tip 2: Define Time and Motion

Specify video duration and motion speed to control pacing.

Example 1:

Time-lapse of a flower blooming over 24 hours, smooth and continuous motion

Example 2:

Slow motion shot of a dancer leaping through the air, 120fps feel

Tip 3: Define Style and Mood

Clarify the atmosphere and artistic style of your footage.

Style Examples:

• Cinematic
• Documentary style
• Anime style
• Photorealistic
• Vintage film look
• Modern minimalist

Mood Examples:

• Peaceful and serene
• Energetic and dynamic
• Mysterious and suspenseful
• Joyful and bright

Tip 4: Detail Environment and Background

Carefully describe scene settings to establish a clear world view.

Example:

A cozy coffee shop interior on a rainy afternoon, customers reading books, warm pendant lighting, steam rising from coffee cups, soft jazz ambiance

Tip 5: Use Layered Descriptions

Separate foreground, midground, and background elements for depth.

Example:

Foreground: wildflowers swaying in breeze, Midground: a wooden fence, Background: rolling hills at sunset

Prompt Writing Pitfalls to Avoid

Too Vague:

Something cool happening

Contradictory Instructions:

A sunny day with heavy rain and snow

Overloaded with Elements:

A cat playing piano while riding a skateboard in space with dinosaurs and aliens having a party with fireworks and rainbows…

Note: Too many elements dilute focus.

Overly Abstract Concepts:

The feeling of nostalgia

Note: Convert to visually representable elements.

Genre-Specific Prompt Examples

Nature and Landscape

Aerial drone shot gliding over a misty forest at dawn, rays of sunlight piercing through the canopy, birds taking flight

Urban and Architecture

Time-lapse of a busy Tokyo intersection at night, neon signs reflecting on wet streets, crowds crossing in all directions

Portrait and People

Close-up portrait of an elderly woman smiling, natural window lighting from the side, shallow depth of field, warm color grading

Abstract and Art

Colorful liquid paint mixing in water, macro shot, black background, vibrant colors swirling and forming organic patterns

Product and Commercial

Rotating 360 view of a luxury watch on a reflective black surface, studio lighting with soft highlights, elegant and clean composition

Advanced Techniques

Sequence Specification

For connecting multiple scenes:

Opening with a wide shot of a beach at sunrise, then transitioning to a close-up of footprints in the sand, ending with waves washing them away

Emotional Storytelling

A child releasing a balloon into the sky, camera follows the balloon as it drifts higher, revealing a beautiful landscape below, emotional and bittersweet mood

Reference Style Utilization

Reference existing films or photographer styles:

Street photography in the style of Henri Cartier-Bresson, decisive moment, black and white, candid human interactions

Pre-Submission Checklist

Before submitting your prompt, verify:

• Subject is clear
• Camera movement and angle specified
• Lighting conditions described
• Colors and mood defined
• No contradictory elements
• Appropriate length not too long or short

Conclusion

Effective Sora 2 prompts require a balance of specificity, clarity, and visual detail. Master the basic structure while expressing your creativity to generate videos beyond your imagination. We recommend experimenting repeatedly to develop your own prompting style. Happy creating!