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How to generate videos from your images with Adobe Firefly
Adobe Firefly has quietly turned into one of the easiest ways to make short AI videos from the visuals you already have saved.
Sitting alongside Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Express in Adobe’s wider Creative Cloud ecosystem, Firefly runs in your browser and lets you turn still images into dynamic clips with just a couple of prompts and a few sliders.
Adobe’s generative tools can take one or two “keyframe” images, apply your text prompt, and spit out a short clip that’s ready for social posts, product teasers, or mood pieces, without you ever touching a camera.
Firefly’s latest video models support HD and Full HD output, plus simple controls for framing, motion, and overall style, all tied into Adobe’s generative credit system so you can see exactly what you’re spending as you experiment.
Adobe also leans heavily on “commercially safe” training data, which will matter if you’re using the clips alongside assets you’ve created in other apps.
But how to actually use Firefly? Let's take a look at a step-by-step guide on creating videos from your images, along with some pro tips.
What you need before you start
Before you start, you’ll need an Adobe ID and access to Firefly in a modern desktop browser – that might be through a standalone Firefly plan, or as part of a Creative Cloud subscription that includes generative credits.
Make sure you’re on a reasonably up-to-date version of Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox so the video tools run smoothly, and be aware that Image to video is designed for short clips, currently capped at Full HD and a few seconds long.
How image to video in Firefly actually works
At its core, Firefly’s Image to video tool is a simple keyframe system wrapped in an AI model.
You give it one or two stills – a starting frame, and optionally an ending frame – then describe what should happen between them in a text prompt.
Behind the scenes, Firefly’s video model animates from that first image towards your instructions, or smoothly morphs between both keyframes.
Step-by-step: generating a video from an image
Once you’re signed in to Firefly on the web, head to the Image to video option in the video section of the homepage, opening a dedicated workspace with a large preview area and controls down the side.
Step 1
Start by adding your first frame – this is the still image you want to animate – either from your computer or from your Adobe cloud files.
Step 2
Next, decide whether you want a simple move from that single frame, or a transition between two images. If it’s the latter, add a second still as your last frame so Firefly has a clear start and end point to work with.
Step 3
Once your images are in place, set the basics: choose an aspect ratio that suits your destination, pick a resolution up to 1080p, and select a video model.
Step 4
You can then shape the “camera” move. Use the motion presets to decide whether the shot gently zooms in, tracks sideways, tilts, or stays locked off, and adjust the shot size if you want something tighter or wider.
Step 5
Finally, write a clear prompt describing what should happen – the subject, mood, style, and any specific motion you’re after – and click Generate. Adobe also includes an "Enhance prompt" feature to help out.
If you prefer to work on your phone, the Firefly mobile app follows broadly the same pattern: choose Image to video, add a first frame set aspect ratio and resolution, pick a model and camera motion, then type your prompt. Simple.
Tips for better results: prompts, images, and motion
Good results in Firefly usually start with good source images.
Clean, reasonably high-resolution photos with a clear subject give the model far more to work with than tiny, noisy screenshots.
Your prompt does a lot of the heavy lifting, so treat it like a shot description rather than a single keyword. It helps to combine subject, motion, and style and then refine from there instead of rewriting from scratch each time.
Credits, costs, and safety: what to watch out for
Firefly’s video tools sit on top of Adobe’s generative credit system, so each Image to video render uses up a small chunk of your monthly allowance rather than being completely unlimited.
Availability can also vary a little. Certain video features and partner models may not show up in every country or on every plan, and Adobe can change what’s included as it updates Firefly.
Finally, although Adobe stresses that Firefly is trained on “commercially safe” data, you’re still responsible for the photos you upload. As such, use your own work, licensed stock, or client-supplied assets, and make sure you have permission to animate them.
What to do with your generated clips next
Once you’ve got a clip you’re happy with, the easiest win is simply to download it and drop it into your usual edit. As you might expect, Firefly’s Image to video output also plays nicely with Adobe’s own tools like Premiere Pro.
If you are aiming squarely at social, think about where it is going before you export. A vertical 9:16 version works well for TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts, while 16:9 still suits more traditional YouTube uploads or portfolio sites.
FAQs
- Can I use Adobe Firefly’s Image to video tool for free? Yes – there’s a free tier with limited generative credits, with paid plans if you need more.
- How long can the clips be when I turn an image into a video? They’re only a few seconds long, aimed at quick intros, cutaways, and social posts.
- Do I have to use two images, or will it work with just one? It works fine with a single image, though a second frame gives Firefly a clearer end point.
- What formats can I export my Firefly videos in? You can export standard MP4 files at resolutions up to Full HD.
- Is it safe to use Firefly videos in commercial projects? Adobe pitches Firefly as “commercially safe,” but you still need rights for any images you upload.
