Google Flow Text to Video: Step-by-Step Guide

Google Flow generates videos from text prompts using the Veo model. You type a description of your scene — characters, setting, camera movement, mood — and Flow produces a video clip in seconds. Available free with 50 daily credits at labs.google/flow.

• Write a text prompt describing your scene
• Choose video settings (aspect ratio, duration)
• Click Generate and get a video clip
• Refine with camera controls and re-prompting
• Assemble clips into scenes with Scenebuilder

How to Create a Video from Text

Step 1: Open Flow

Go to labs.google/flow and sign in with your Google account. Click “New Project.”

Step 2: Write Your Prompt

Click “Video” and type your scene description. A basic prompt works:

> A golden retriever running through a field of sunflowers at sunset

But a detailed prompt gives you better results:

> A golden retriever running through a field of sunflowers at golden hour. Camera tracks the dog from a low angle. Shallow depth of field, warm color grading, cinematic 24fps look. The dog’s fur catches the light as it moves through the flowers.

Step 3: Generate

Click “Generate.” Flow processes your prompt through the Veo model and returns a video clip. Free accounts use Veo 2; Google AI Ultra subscribers get Veo 3.1 with 1080p output.

Step 4: Refine

If the result isn’t quite right, adjust your prompt. Add more detail about:

• Camera movement (pan, tilt, dolly, tracking)
• Lighting (golden hour, overcast, neon, studio)
• Style (cinematic, documentary, anime, photorealistic)
• Mood (dramatic, peaceful, energetic, mysterious)

Prompt Writing Tips

Be Specific About Movement

Bad: “A person walking”

Good: “A woman in a red coat walking along a rainy cobblestone street, camera follows from behind at a steady pace”

Describe the Camera

Flow responds well to cinematography terms:

• Dolly in — camera moves toward the subject
• Pan left/right — camera rotates horizontally
• Tilt up/down — camera rotates vertically
• Tracking shot — camera follows a moving subject
• Crane shot — camera rises or descends
• Static wide shot — camera doesn’t move, wide framing

Set the Atmosphere

Include lighting, time of day, weather, and color palette. “Overcast winter morning, desaturated blues and grays” gives a completely different result than “bright summer afternoon, warm golden tones.”

Keep It One Scene

Each generation is one continuous clip. Don’t ask for scene transitions or cuts in a single prompt. Generate separate clips and combine them in Scenebuilder.

Using Camera Controls

Beyond text prompts, Flow offers direct camera controls:

1. Generate an initial clip
2. Click on the clip to open editing options
3. Select “Camera” to adjust movement
4. Choose direction and speed
5. Re-generate with the camera instruction applied

This gives you precise control without rewriting your entire prompt.

From Clips to Scenes

Once you have several clips, use Scenebuilder:

1. Click “Scenebuilder” in the left panel
2. Drag clips into the timeline
3. Reorder and trim as needed
4. Add transitions between clips
5. Export the final sequence

Text to Video Limits