What is Pika Video Studio?
Video Studio is the app inside Pika where most video is made. Pika describes it as a way to “build an original video with maximum creative input” and to generate “anything from a short clip to a 3-minute multi-shot masterpiece—sound included.” You write a prompt, optionally attach images, choose a model, and generate.
One app, several models
Pika 2.5, Seedance 2.5, MiniMax H3, Wan 3.0 and Google Omni Flash are listed side by side, so you can compare without switching services.
Text, images or both
Start from words alone, or attach up to 50 characters, products, settings and styles and @mention them in the prompt.
Sound included
Clips can come with generated audio, depending on the model you choose.
Short clip to multi-shot
Begin with a few seconds to test, then build longer, multi-shot pieces once the look is right.
Before you start
- An account. Sign in through Pika’s official login page. This site never asks for your credentials.
- Credits. Every generation spends credits. Pika’s Free plan lists zero monthly credits, so you will need a credit pack or a paid plan; see is Pika AI free? and Pika pricing.
- One simple idea. A single subject, one place and one action. Your first video is a test of the tool, not the finished project.
- A note file. Somewhere to paste the prompt, model and credits used for each attempt. It makes every later attempt faster.
The main controls in Video Studio
Layouts change as Pika updates the app, but you will find these controls in some form. Each one affects the result, the cost, or both.
| Control | What it does | Beginner setting |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt box | Describes the scene, action, camera and style | Two to four plain sentences |
| References | Attach characters, products, settings or styles to @mention | None for the first test |
| Model | Sets motion quality, prompt-following and credit cost | A lower-cost model |
| Duration | Length of the clip; longer costs more | The shortest option, around 5 seconds |
| Aspect ratio | Frame shape: vertical, square or widescreen | Where you plan to post it |
| Resolution | Output sharpness; higher costs more | Base resolution for drafts |
| Cost display | Credits the current settings will spend | Check it before every generation |
For reference, Pika’s pricing page lists a 720p, 5-second clip at 33 credits on Wan 3.0 and 122 credits on Seedance 2.5. Other models and settings are priced in the app. See the video models guide for how they differ.
Create your first video, step by step
This first project is deliberately simple: a calm scene with one object, one kind of motion and one camera move. It shows you how the app responds before you try anything ambitious.
- Open Video Studio. Go to create.pika.art/apps/create-video and sign in if asked.
- Leave references empty. This first test is text only.
- Choose a lower-cost model and the shortest duration. Pick the aspect ratio you are most likely to use.
- Paste the starter prompt below into the prompt box.
- Check the credit cost shown for these settings, then generate.
- Watch the result twice: once for the overall feel, once for details (edges, steam, light, the cup’s shape).
- Download or save the clip, and note the prompt, model and credits used.
Starter prompt: A white ceramic cup of hot coffee on a wooden table by a window in the morning. Steam rises slowly from the cup. Soft sunlight from the left. Camera pushes in gently. Calm, cosy, no people, no text.
Why this works as a first test: steam and light are forgiving motions, the cup is a simple shape, and the push-in lets you see how the model handles camera movement. It is our own practice prompt, not a guaranteed result.
Review the result and improve it
The first clip is information, not a verdict. Decide what you want to change, then change only that one thing and generate again.
| If you want… | Change this | Example edit |
|---|---|---|
| A different mood | Light and time of day | “Rainy evening, warm lamp light” |
| Different movement | Camera instruction | “Camera static” or “slow orbit to the right” |
| More detail or realism | Model | Re-run the same prompt on a higher-quality model |
| A different look | Style words | “35mm film grain” or “soft watercolour style” |
| Less drift or warping | Duration and action | Shorter clip, slower motion |
When you have a version you like, finish only that one: upscale it with quality tools, continue it with Extend Video, or adjust the look with Color Grade.
Next step: adding references
Once text-only clips make sense, try attaching an image. Video Studio lets you “attach up to 50 characters, products, settings, and styles, and @mention them in the prompt to specify how you want them used.” References are how you keep the same person, product or look across many clips.
Example with references: @mug sits on @kitchen counter in morning light. Steam rises slowly. Camera pushes in gently. Keep @mug exactly as in the reference.
The names after @ are whatever you called the attached references. For a full walkthrough with photos, read the image-to-video guide; for start and end frames, see Pikaframes. To build a reusable character, try Character Studio.
Making longer and multi-shot videos
Video Studio can produce multi-shot pieces up to three minutes, but a long generation costs more and has more room to go wrong. A reliable approach is to build up:
- Get one short shot you are happy with.
- Write the next shot using the same references, light and style words.
- Generate the shots and check they match before going longer.
- Only then generate or assemble the full multi-shot sequence.
For story-driven projects, continue with the short films tutorial; for social formats, see Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
Common beginner mistakes
Avoid
- Long prompts packed with conflicting style words.
- Several actions and camera moves in a 5-second clip.
- Starting with the most expensive model and longest duration.
- Changing everything between attempts.
- Asking for readable text or logos inside the video.
Do instead
- One subject, one action, one camera move.
- Draft short and cheap, then upgrade the keeper.
- Change one thing per attempt and write it down.
- Add titles and logos later in an editor.
- Check hands, faces and backgrounds before publishing.
Need ideas for your next few attempts? Try 50 Pika prompts to test. Stuck on an error? See troubleshooting.
Pika Video Studio FAQs
Where do I find Video Studio?
Sign in at create.pika.art and open Video Studio from the apps list, or go directly to create.pika.art/apps/create-video.
How many credits does a first video cost?
It depends on the model and settings. Pika lists a 720p, 5-second clip at 33 credits on Wan 3.0 and 122 on Seedance 2.5; the app shows the exact cost before you generate.
Can I make a video without any images?
Yes. Leave the references empty and describe the scene in the prompt. See the text-to-video guide.
How long can Video Studio videos be?
Pika describes output from a short clip up to a 3-minute multi-shot piece. Available durations depend on the model; start short while you learn.
Do videos have a watermark?
Pika’s pricing page lists no watermark on any plan. A commercial license is listed on the Creator and Fancy plans; check current terms before client work.
Is this the official Pika website?
No. pikaais.com is an independent informational guide. Generation, accounts and purchases take place on Pika’s official services.
Make one short clip today
Open Video Studio, paste the starter prompt, pick a low-cost model at the shortest duration, and generate. Then change one thing and compare.
Open Video Studio ↗Next: Text to video · Image to video · All AI video guides
Sources: Pika Video Studio, Pika and Pika pricing, checked September 24, 2026. Image: Pika. The walkthrough, starter prompt and tips are our own.