What is Runway?
Runway is a web-based creative suite packed with powerful AI tools for video makers. It's famous for its Gen-2 model, which can generate short, original video clips from text prompts or still images. It goes beyond simple video creation, offering a full suite of "AI Magic Tools" for advanced editing and visual effects.
Unlike automated tools that rely on stock footage, Runway is a playground for creating visuals that would be impossible with traditional methods. It's designed for artists and filmmakers who want to experiment with the future of filmmaking and exercise fine-grained creative control.
Who is Runway for?
Choose Runway when you need creative control and cutting-edge features. It's less for automated marketing videos and more for artists, designers, and filmmakers looking to push creative boundaries.
Filmmakers
For storyboarding, creating B-roll, or generating unique visual sequences.
VFX Artists
For AI-powered rotoscoping, inpainting, and other visual effects tasks.
Animators
To bring still images to life or generate animated textures and backgrounds.
Content Creators
For producing unique, eye-catching visuals for social media and video platforms.
Main Features of Runway
Text-to-Video (Gen-2)
Generate original video clips from descriptive text prompts.
Image-to-Video
Animate still images, adding motion and life to your pictures.
AI Rotoscoping
Automatically remove the background from any video with a single click.
Infinite Image
Expand the canvas of any image, letting AI generate what's beyond the frame.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Offers a huge suite of advanced and unique AI magic tools
- A leader in generative video technology (Gen-2 model)
- More creative freedom than automated tools like InVideo
- Active community and frequent feature updates
❌ Cons
- The interface can be overwhelming for beginners
- Video generation can be slow and credits can be expensive
- Generated video quality is still not photorealistic
Runway Tutorial - Getting Started
Step 1: Navigate to Generate Video
Sign up on the Runway website and go to the 'Generate Video' section to access the Gen-2 model.
Step 2: Choose Your Input Method
Select how you want to create: use a 'Text' prompt, upload an 'Image', or combine an 'Image + Description' for more control.
Step 3: Write a Detailed Prompt
Describe the scene and the specific motion you want to create. For example: "A cinematic shot of a drone flying slowly over a misty forest at sunrise."
Step 4: Generate and Edit
Generate your clip, which will use credits. Then, take your generated clips into Runway's 'Video Editor' to combine them, add sound, and apply more AI effects.
💡 Pro Tips
- Think in terms of 'shots,' not entire stories. Generate small clips and edit them together.
- Use the 'Motion Brush' tool to add specific movement to parts of a still image.
- Explore the other 'AI Magic Tools'—features like 'Inpainting' or 'Super Slow-Mo' are incredibly powerful.
- Start with the free plan to get a feel for the tools before committing to a paid subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions about Runway
Runway is best for creative professionals like filmmakers, VFX artists, and animators who need cutting-edge tools for generating original video clips from text or images (Gen-2), automated rotoscoping, and other advanced AI-powered video editing features.
Yes, Runway offers a freemium plan that provides a starting amount of credits to test its features. However, generating video is credit-intensive, so for consistent use, a paid subscription is necessary to get more credits.
The main difference is the source of the video content. Runway generates new, original video clips from text prompts (generative video), making it a tool for artistic creation. InVideo AI assembles videos from a library of existing licensed stock footage, making it a tool for rapid marketing and informational video production.