Choose a prompt by the movement you need
Use a slow takeoff when you want to show the transition from road to air. Choose hovering when the airborne pose matters more than travel. Use a traffic escape when the surrounding cars are part of the story.
These prompts are starting points, not tested recipes or exact recreations of the example. Copy one, replace details that conflict with your photo, and keep the first attempt focused.
| Scene | Useful reference | Keep the direction focused on |
|---|---|---|
| Slow takeoff | Whole car on a clear road | One upward movement |
| Steady hover | Unobscured side or three-quarter view | Small motion and a stable viewpoint |
| Traffic escape | Main car clearly separated from nearby vehicles | Lift followed by a gentle glide |
Prompt 1: slow vertical takeoff
Use this when the reveal is simply that the car leaves the ground. Keep the camera near the starting angle so the scene does not also need to reveal an unseen side of the vehicle.
If you want a short shot, let it finish just above the road. Adding a landing creates a second transition to review. If your photo has no road, replace that setting with the surface shown in the image.
Use the uploaded photo as the vehicle reference. The car slowly lifts vertically from the road and ends just above the ground. Preserve the original paint, body proportions and four attached wheels. A steady three-quarter camera keeps the entire vehicle in frame. Maintain coherent lighting and a shadow beneath the car. One continuous fictional shot.
Prompt 2: a calm hover at sunset
This direction starts in the air rather than telling a full takeoff story. Use it to explore a floating pose with restrained movement. Replace sunset with overcast daylight if that better matches your photo.
The valley-flight example above has several viewpoints and substantial travel. This hover prompt deliberately asks for less movement; it is not a reconstruction of that clip.
Use the uploaded photo as the vehicle reference. Show the car hovering a short distance above an empty road in warm evening light. Keep its paint, silhouette and four attached wheels consistent. Hold a steady height as the camera tracks slowly alongside it. Keep the whole vehicle visible with soft reflections and a coherent shadow. One continuous fictional shot.
Prompt 3: rise above a traffic queue
Make the main car easy to identify before it moves. The surrounding vehicles should provide context without covering the subject. If a crowded photo causes cars to merge, begin with a cleaner input or simplify the setting.
This direction includes a lift and a gentle forward glide. If the result rushes through both, remove the glide for the next attempt. More actions do not automatically make a better short video.
Use the uploaded photo as the main car reference. The car waits in a traffic queue, slowly rises above the surrounding vehicles, then glides gently forward. Preserve its paint, body shape and four attached wheels. Follow from a steady rear three-quarter view. Other vehicles remain on the road. Keep the main car visible with coherent lighting and shadows. One continuous fictional shot.
Adapt the prompt to your image and settings
Change the viewpoint to match the visible side of the car. Replace the lighting and setting if they contradict the photo. Keep the action readable before adding thrusters, unfolding parts or a fast camera orbit.
Set duration and aspect ratio in the workbench rather than relying only on words in the prompt. The studio supports 5–15 seconds, 480p or 768p, and 9:16 or 16:9. Check the displayed credit cost before you generate; these examples do not include free rendering.
Keep a copy of the exact direction you submitted. If the output changes the wheels or body, use the troubleshooting guide and adjust one element at a time. Save promising results before experimenting with another direction.
Questions before you generate
Are these the prompts used for the example videos?
No. They are newly written editable directions. The original prompts and source photos for the owner-provided clips were not supplied.
Can I use these prompts for a non-Tesla car?
Yes. They refer to the vehicle in your photo, rather than requiring a particular brand. Results still depend on the photo and generation.
Why does my result look different from the reference?
The example may use a different source image, model, settings or editing. A visual reference and an independently written prompt do not guarantee the same output.
Sources and example notes
General prompting reference: Runway’s image-to-video prompting guide. Model behaviour differs; these guides do not claim a measured improvement rate. Product settings and credit costs were checked against this studio on October 18, 2026. See current pricing.
Videos were supplied by the site owner as generated examples. They are fictional scenes, not evidence of real vehicle flight. Source photos, original prompts and generation charges were not supplied.
Try one clear shot
Bring a photo you have permission to use, choose one action and check the credit cost before submitting.
Create a flying car video ↗