Videna uses your product photo as a visual reference for the model. The cleaner the photo, the more recognizable your product is in the final clip. Here is what the model actually does with the image and how to give it the best one.
How references work
When you pick a product on the Create page, Videna sends the product image to the model along with your prompt. The model uses the image to understand the shape, color, label, and material of your product. It then renders a new scene that contains an object that looks like your product. It is not pasting your photo into the video. It is generating a new product that resembles yours.
What makes a good reference
A good reference is sharp, well lit, and shows the product from an angle a customer would recognize. Plain backgrounds work better than busy ones because the model can focus on the product. Front facing or three quarter angles read best. Top down photos confuse the model and often produce videos where the product looks flat or distorted.
What to avoid
Avoid lifestyle photos as your reference image. A photo of your candle on a styled coffee table is worse than a clean studio shot of the candle on white. Avoid photos with overlay text, watermarks, or price stickers. Avoid photos taken in low light or with heavy color filters because the model will copy the color cast into the video.
Multiple product images
If your product has multiple photos in Shopify, Videna uses the first one by default. You can change which image is used inside the product picker on the Create page. For products with strong front and back labels, the front label image almost always produces a better video.
Special cases
Apparel works best with a flat lay or a ghost mannequin shot rather than an on model photo, because on model photos can confuse the model about who the character is supposed to be. Jewelry works best with a closeup against a neutral background. Food and drink work best with hero shots that show texture clearly.
When the reference fails
If the product in your video looks wrong even after you change the prompt, the reference image is usually the cause. Replace it with a cleaner photo and generate again. The fix is almost always upstream of the prompt.