video/skills/creative/prompting/grok-prompting.md

Grok Prompting

Use this when the chosen provider is grok_image or grok_video.

When Grok Is The Right Pick

• You need to edit an existing image instead of generating from scratch
• You need to merge multiple source images into one output
• You need a short video influenced by reference images without locking the first frame
• You want one provider for both image and video generation with similar prompt language

Grok Image

Best Prompt Shape

[subject] + [action or change] + [setting] + [one style anchor] + [lighting]

Edit Prompts

For image edits, describe the intended transformation directly:

• "Render this as a pencil sketch with detailed shading."
• "Replace the plain t-shirt with a dark green bomber jacket."
• "Combine these two people into the same sunny park scene."

Do not over-specify every unchanged detail unless preservation is critical.

Multi-Image Composites

Tell Grok how to combine the inputs:

• who comes from which source
• what should stay separate
• where the final scene takes place

Example:

Place the person from image 1 and the person from image 2 on the same subway platform at dusk,
standing shoulder to shoulder, cinematic sodium-vapor lighting, realistic photography.

Grok Video

Best Prompt Shape

[shot] + [camera movement] + [subject] + [main motion beat] + [environment] + [lighting] + [tone]

Reference-Image Video

Grok supports prompts that refer to source images with placeholders like <IMAGE_1>. Use that when you need identity, wardrobe, or product consistency.

Example:

Medium full shot, slow push-in. The model from <IMAGE_1> walks onto a clean white runway wearing
the jacket from <IMAGE_2>. Soft studio lighting, premium fashion campaign, confident expression.

Image-to-Video vs Reference-to-Video

• Use image-to-video when the source image should act like the opening frame.
• Use reference-to-video when the source images should influence the content but not freeze the composition.

Common Mistakes

• Treating Grok reference images like strict storyboards. They are influence inputs, not exact frame locks.
• Writing multiple scene changes into one clip request.
• Combining too many style labels with too little scene information.
• Using vague edit prompts like "make it better" instead of naming the change.

OpenMontage Guidance

• For image edits or compositing, prefer grok_image over the selector's default workhorse tools.
• For reference-conditioned video, prefer grok_video when the brief depends on carrying people, clothing, or products from input images into motion.
• If the deliverable is pure cinematic motion without reference constraints, compare Grok against Runway, Veo, and Kling before locking the provider.