Minimax H3 Guidestudio
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Ref2VA for Commercial Ads (Product + Talent Photos)

When you already have pack shots or model images — assign jobs to each file, then write a timed ad script.

Ref2VA is what most brand and e-commerce teams need: you upload real assets (product, model, logo, mood board) and write a script that says what to keep from each file.

Official capacity: up to 9 images, 3 videos, 3 audio clips. Start with 2–4 images until results are stable — more files = more roles to declare, not automatic quality.

Step 1 — Sort your files before you write

| File type | Typical job in an ad | |-----------|----------------------| | Product photo | Lock shape, label, colorway | | Model photo | Lock face, skin tone, wardrobe | | Environment / mood image | Lighting, palette, film grain | | Logo PNG | End card | | Short video clip | Camera move only (orbit speed, not subject) | | Audio clip | Voice timbre reference for dialogue |

Write these jobs in a [References] block before any storytelling.

Step 2 — The commercial Ref2VA template

[References]  ← who does what (@image1, @video1…)
[Core idea]   ← one paragraph: format, tone, what NOT to do
[Process]     ← 0–3s, 3–7s… with camera verbs
Dialogue:     ← short or "none"
overall_soundscape: …
non_diegetic_music: …

You do not need the full six-section academic layout for every ad. MiniMax’s simplified [References] + [Core idea] + [Process] pattern matches what their own commercial examples use — and what converts in practice.

Step 3 — Language that locks the product

Vague: “Use the bag from image 3.”

Specific: “@image3 locks the black structured bag — handle curve, gold clasp, logo placement. Do not redesign the bag in later shots.”

Same for faces: “@image2 locks jawline and hairstyle — do not swap identity in close-ups.”

Step 4 — Motion from video references

Community pattern that works:

@video1 provides slow 360° orbit speed and radius only — ignore all subjects and objects in the source clip.

Otherwise H3 may copy unwanted people or products from your reference video.

Step 5 — Pace like an editor

For 10–15s ads, name your cuts:

  • “Hard cut on downbeat at 3s”
  • “Beat-synced montage 6–8s, 0.5s per insert”
  • “Hold logo 2s, fade to black”

Fashion and sport spots fail when the prompt reads like one paragraph with no timing.

Quick checklist before you hit generate

  • [ ] Every uploaded file mentioned with a job, not just “attached”
  • [ ] Product named again inside the timeline (“same bottle as @image1”)
  • [ ] Negative tone guard (“not horror, not comedy trailer”)
  • [ ] Sound and music in separate lines
  • [ ] Dialogue fits the duration (one line, maybe two)

Templates to start from

Each template page explains structure → adapt → pitfalls before the copy button.