LTX-2 Prompting Guide: Master AI Video Generation with Expert Techniques

Introduction

LTX-2 represents a significant leap forward in AI video generation technology. Developed by Lightricks, this next-generation model delivers native 4K resolution, high frame rates up to 50 frames per second, and synchronized audio-video generation. Unlike traditional image generation models, LTX-2 can create continuous video sequences up to 20 seconds long, making it a powerful tool for content creators, filmmakers, and digital artists.

The key to unlocking LTX-2's full potential lies in mastering prompt engineering. While image generation models respond well to simple descriptive prompts, video generation requires a fundamentally different approach. You're not just describing a static scene—you're choreographing motion, directing camera behavior, and orchestrating temporal flow.

This guide will teach you the advanced techniques used by professional creators to generate cinematic-quality videos with LTX-2. You'll learn the six essential elements of effective prompts, best practices for different video lengths, and how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to poor results.

Understanding LTX-2 Core Principles

The "Complete Story Picture" Philosophy

The fundamental principle of LTX-2 prompting is simple yet profound: paint a complete picture of the story you're telling that flows naturally from beginning to end. This isn't about listing visual elements—it's about describing a coherent sequence of events as they unfold in time.

Think of your prompt as a mini screenplay. Every action should lead naturally to the next, every camera movement should have purpose, and every element should contribute to the overall narrative flow.

Cinematic Thinking

LTX-2 interprets prompts much like a cinematographer would read director's notes. It responds best to language that describes:

• Camera behavior: How the lens moves, what it focuses on, and how the frame changes
• Temporal progression: The sequence and timing of actions
• Atmospheric details: Lighting, color, texture, and mood
• Physical specificity: Precise movements, gestures, and spatial relationships

Key Differences from Image Generation

Image Generation	Video Generation (LTX-2)
Static composition	Temporal flow and motion
Single moment	Beginning-to-end sequence
Descriptive lists	Narrative paragraphs
Visual elements only	Visual + audio + motion
Any tense works	Present tense preferred

The Six Essential Elements

Every effective LTX-2 prompt should incorporate these six core components:

1. Shot Establishment

Define the initial framing and camera position using cinematography terminology that matches your desired genre.

Examples:

• "Wide shot from across the street"
• "Extreme close-up on weathered hands"
• "Bird's eye view of a bustling marketplace"
• "Low-angle shot looking up at towering skyscrapers"

Pro tip: Match your shot terminology to your genre. Documentary-style prompts benefit from handheld language, while cinematic pieces work better with controlled camera movements like "dolly" or "crane."

2. Scene Setting

Describe the environment with attention to lighting, color palette, textures, and atmospheric conditions.

Key elements to include:

• Lighting quality: "Golden hour bounce," "harsh overhead fluorescents," "soft window light"
• Color palette: "Desaturated blues and grays," "warm amber tones," "vibrant primary colors"
• Atmospheric conditions: "Thick morning fog," "dust particles in sunbeams," "light rain"
• Texture details: "Weathered brick walls," "polished marble floors," "rough wooden planks"

Example:
"A dimly lit jazz club with warm amber lighting pooling on small round tables. Cigarette smoke drifts lazily through shafts of blue stage light. The walls are exposed brick, dark and textured."

3. Action Description

Write action sequences naturally from start to finish, using present-tense verbs to convey dynamic motion.

Best practices:

• Use present tense: "walks," "turns," "reaches" (not "walked," "turning")
• Describe actions in sequence: "She lifts the cup, brings it to her lips, then pauses"
• Include small physical details: "His fingers drum against the table"
• Show cause and effect: "The door swings open, revealing..."

Poor example: "A person is happy and excited"
Good example: "A woman's eyes widen, her mouth opens in surprise, and she brings both hands to her face as she gasps"

4. Character Definition

Define characters with specific physical details, clothing, and emotional cues expressed through body language.

Include:

• Age and appearance: "A woman in her mid-30s with short dark hair"
• Clothing details: "Wearing a yellow raincoat and rubber boots"
• Physical characteristics: "Tall and lean with angular features"
• Emotional expression through action: "Her shoulders slump, head tilting downward"

Remember: Show emotion through physical cues, not abstract labels. Instead of "sad," describe "tears welling in her eyes, her lip trembling."

5. Camera Movement

Specify how the camera moves, when it moves, and how subjects appear after motion.

Common camera movements:

• Static: "Tripod-locked," "stationary frame"
• Pan: "Slow pan left," "whip pan right"
• Tilt: "Tilts up to reveal," "tilts down following"
• Dolly: "Pushes forward," "pulls back slowly"
• Track: "Tracks alongside," "follows behind"
• Crane: "Rises up and over," "descends from above"

Advanced technique: Relate camera movement to subject action: "The camera pushes forward as she reaches for the door handle, then holds steady as her hand pauses mid-air."

6. Audio Description

Detail ambient sounds, music, dialogue (in quotation marks), and vocal characteristics.

Audio elements:

• Ambient sounds: "Distant traffic hum," "birds chirping," "wind rustling leaves"
• Specific sound effects: "Footsteps echoing on tile," "glass shattering," "door creaking"
• Music: "Soft piano melody," "upbeat electronic beat," "melancholic strings"
• Dialogue: Use quotation marks: "Hello, is anyone there?" she calls out
• Vocal characteristics: "In a raspy whisper," "with a thick French accent"

Example:
"The sound of rain pattering against windows fills the room. A clock ticks steadily in the background. 'I've been waiting for you,' he says in a low, measured tone."

Best Practices for LTX-2 Prompting

Single Continuous Paragraph

Structure your prompt as one flowing paragraph without line breaks, lists, or fragmented thoughts. This helps LTX-2 understand the continuous nature of the scene.

Poor structure:

- A fisherman on a lake
- Early morning
- Fog
- Rowing slowly

Good structure:

A lone fisherman rows across a foggy lake before sunrise, the boat creaking softly as water laps at its sides. The camera glides overhead, tracking his slow progress. His lantern casts a warm circle of light, reflecting in ripples while reeds sway gently on the shoreline.

Use Present-Tense Action Verbs

Describe all actions in present tense to convey dynamic motion effectively.

Examples:

• ✅ "walks," "tilts," "flickers," "rises"
• ❌ "walked," "was tilting," "has flickered," "will rise"

Explicit Camera Behavior

Clearly describe the camera's perspective, angle, movement, and speed. Don't assume the model will infer camera behavior.

Vague: "A woman in a kitchen"
Explicit: "The camera begins in a medium close-up at shoulder height as a woman stands at a kitchen counter slicing vegetables. The camera slowly pushes forward, settling into a close-up of her hands as the knife pauses mid-air."

Precise Physical Details

Use small, measurable movements and specific gestures to enrich character interactions.

Generic: "She looks surprised"
Precise: "Her eyebrows lift approximately two millimeters, her eyes widen, and her lips part slightly as she inhales sharply."

Atmospheric Environment Description

Paint the mood through sensory details:

Lighting examples:

• "Harsh overhead fluorescents casting sharp shadows"
• "Soft golden-hour light filtering through sheer curtains"
• "Flickering candlelight creating dancing shadows on walls"

Atmospheric examples:

• "Thin mist rolls across the ground, partially obscuring ankles"
• "Dust particles float visibly in shafts of sunlight"
• "Steam rises from a coffee cup, dissipating into cool air"

Smooth Temporal Flow with Connectors

Use connecting words to ensure actions transition naturally:

Connectors: "as," "then," "while," "before," "after," "when"

Example:
"A pair of elevator doors slide open as thin mist rolls out from the floor vents. As the camera holds in a stationary wide shot, a tall figure steps forward through the haze. Then the camera glides sideways, following the figure's stride down the metallic corridor."

Advanced Techniques

The Six-Part Structured Prompt for 4K Video

For optimal 4K video generation, use this structured format:

1. Scene Anchor: Location, time, atmosphere

• Example: "Dawn over a misty alpine lake, light fog, glassy water"

2. Subject + Action: Who/what and a verb

• Example: "A red canoe gliding across, single rower in a yellow raincoat"

3. Camera + Lens: Movement, focal length, aperture, framing

• Example: "Slow dolly-right, 50mm, f/2.8, medium-wide, stable rig"

4. Visual Style: Color science, grading, film emulation

• Example: "Soft contrast, rich primaries, Kodak 2383 print look"

5. Motion and Time Cues: Speed, frame intent, shutter feel

• Example: "Natural motion blur, 50 fps feel, 180° shutter equivalent"

6. Guardrails: What to avoid

• Example: "No flicker, no high-frequency patterns, no text overlays"

Lens and Shutter Language

Incorporate specific camera terminology to control motion coherence and realism:

Focal length examples:

• "24mm wide-angle" - expansive, environmental
• "50mm standard" - natural perspective
• "85mm portrait" - compressed, intimate
• "200mm telephoto" - compressed depth, isolated subject

Shutter descriptions:

• "180° shutter equivalent" - cinematic motion blur
• "Natural motion blur" - realistic movement
• "Fast shutter, crisp motion" - sports/action feel

Keywords for Smooth 50 FPS Motion

To achieve fluid motion at 50 fps, use these descriptors:

Camera stability:

• "Steady dolly"
• "Smooth gimbal"
• "Tripod-locked"
• "Constant speed pan"

Motion quality:

• "Natural motion blur"
• "Fluid movement"
• "Controlled motion"
• "Stable tracking"

Avoid these for 50 fps:

• "Handheld chaotic" (causes warps)
• "Shaky cam"
• "Erratic movement"

Long-Shot Prompting Strategy (Up to 20 Seconds)

For videos approaching the 20-second maximum, treat your prompt like a mini-scene:

Structure:

1. Scene header: Place and time
2. Short description: Tone and atmosphere
3. Blocking: Subject and camera movement sequence
4. Dialogue/cues: Performance notes in brackets

Example for 15-second shot:

INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING. Warm, bustling atmosphere with soft jazz playing. The camera starts in a close-up on a woman's hands wrapping around a ceramic mug, steam rising between her fingers. As she lifts the cup, the camera pulls back slowly to a medium shot, revealing her face as she takes a sip and gazes out the window. Her expression shifts from tired to contemplative. The camera continues pulling back, now showing the full cafe scene behind her—other patrons, a barista working, morning light streaming through large windows. [She sets the cup down gently, the clink barely audible over ambient conversation.]

Pro tip: Start with a close-up and move out. This helps the model retain facial and material detail, as wider shots can soften likeness.

Audio-Video Synchronization Techniques

LTX-2 generates audio and video simultaneously. Use these techniques to improve synchronization:

Timing cues:

• "On the downbeat" - sync action to music
• "Hit on second snare" - precise timing
• "Steam burst at 2.5s" - specific timing

Action regularity:

• "Constant speed pan" - predictable motion
• "Rhythmic footsteps" - regular intervals
• "Steady breathing" - consistent pattern

Example:
"A drummer's hands strike the snare on the downbeat, sticks bouncing up in perfect rhythm. The camera holds steady in a close-up as each hit creates a sharp crack that echoes in the small practice room."

What Works Well with LTX-2

LTX-2 excels in these areas:

Cinematic Compositions

• Controlled camera movements (dolly, crane, tracking shots)
• Well-defined depth of field
• Classic cinematography techniques
• Genre-specific visual language

Emotive Human Moments

• Subtle facial expressions
• Natural body language
• Authentic emotional reactions
• Character interactions

Atmospheric Settings

• Environmental storytelling
• Weather effects (fog, rain, snow)
• Lighting moods
• Textured environments

Clear Camera Language

• Defined shot types
• Purposeful movements
• Consistent framing
• Professional techniques

Stylized Aesthetics

• Film emulation looks
• Color grading styles
• Genre-specific visuals
• Artistic treatments

Precise Lighting Control

• Motivated light sources
• Dramatic shadows
• Color temperature
• Light quality descriptions

Multilingual Voice Work

• Natural dialogue delivery
• Accent specifications
• Vocal characteristics
• Multiple languages supported

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Emotional Labels Without Visual Cues

❌ Wrong: "A sad woman sits at a table"
✅ Right: "A woman sits at a table, her shoulders slumped forward, eyes downcast, fingers tracing the rim of an empty coffee cup"

Text and Logos

LTX-2 cannot reliably generate readable text or logos. Avoid prompts that require:

• On-screen text
• Brand logos
• Signage with specific words
• Written documents

Complex Physics or Chaotic Motion

The model struggles with:

• Multiple objects colliding
• Liquid simulations
• Particle effects
• Chaotic crowd scenes
• Complex mechanical movements

Scene Overload

Too many elements create confusion:

❌ Overloaded: "A busy marketplace with 20 vendors, children playing, dogs running, cars passing, birds flying, and a parade in the background"
✅ Focused: "A marketplace vendor arranges colorful spices in metal bowls as two customers browse nearby. The camera slowly pans across the display while ambient chatter fills the air."

Conflicting Lighting Logic

Avoid contradictory light sources:

❌ Conflicting: "Bright noon sunlight with dramatic moonlight shadows"
✅ Consistent: "Harsh noon sunlight casts short, sharp shadows directly beneath market stalls"

Overly Complicated Instructions

Keep prompts focused and clear:

❌ Too complex: "Start wide then zoom in while panning left but also tilting up and rotating the frame 45 degrees while the subject walks backward and forward simultaneously"
✅ Clear: "The camera starts in a wide shot, then slowly pushes forward to a medium close-up as the subject walks toward the camera"

Practical Examples

Example 1: Natural Scene - Fisherman on Lake

Prompt:

A lone fisherman rows across a foggy lake before sunrise, the boat creaking softly as water laps at its sides. The camera glides overhead in a slow aerial tracking shot, following his steady progress from behind and slightly above. His lantern casts a warm circle of light that reflects in gentle ripples, while tall reeds sway on the distant shoreline. A distant bird call echoes across the water as mist rolls slowly across the glassy surface, partially obscuring the horizon. The oars dip and rise in a rhythmic pattern, droplets falling and creating expanding circles in the still water.

Why this works:

• Clear camera movement: "glides overhead in a slow aerial tracking shot"
• Temporal flow: Actions progress naturally from rowing to ripples to mist
• Atmospheric details: Fog, sunrise timing, mist movement
• Audio elements: Creaking boat, lapping water, bird call
• Precise physical details: Oars dipping, droplets falling, circles expanding

Example 2: Character Close-Up - Kitchen Scene

Prompt:

A woman stands at a kitchen counter slicing vegetables in afternoon light streaming through a nearby window. The camera begins in a medium close-up at shoulder height, then slowly pushes forward to focus on her hands. Her right hand grips the knife while her left hand presses gently against the cutting board. As she hears a creak from the hallway behind her, her eyebrows lift slightly and the blade pauses mid-air. The camera holds steady with shallow depth of field, capturing the tension in her wrist and the stillness of hanging copper pots above. Ambient kitchen sounds—a refrigerator hum, distant traffic—create a quiet domestic atmosphere.

Why this works:

• Specific camera progression: Medium close-up to close-up with push-in
• Precise physical details: Hand positions, eyebrow movement, blade pause
• Emotional cues through action: Hearing sound, pausing, tension
• Depth of field specification: Shallow DOF for focus
• Environmental audio: Refrigerator, traffic, creating atmosphere

Example 3: Sci-Fi Scene - Spaceship Corridor

Prompt:

A pair of metallic elevator doors slide open inside a spaceship corridor as thin mist rolls out from floor vents. The camera begins in a stationary wide shot, revealing a tall figure in a white uniform stepping forward through the haze. Blue accent lights line the corridor walls, casting geometric patterns on the polished floor. As the figure walks toward the camera, their footsteps echo with a hollow metallic ring. The camera glides sideways in a smooth tracking shot, following their stride past illuminated wall panels and sealed doorways. A low mechanical hum fills the background, punctuated by occasional electronic beeps from nearby systems.

Why this works:

• Genre-appropriate language: "metallic," "corridor," "uniform," "systems"
• Clear camera choreography: Static wide to smooth tracking shot
• Sci-fi atmosphere: Mist, blue lights, geometric patterns, electronic sounds
• Spatial progression: Elevator to corridor to panels to doorways
• Audio layering: Footsteps, mechanical hum, electronic beeps

Tips for Different Video Lengths

Short Videos (Under 5 Seconds)

Focus on a single action or moment:

Structure:

• One clear action
• Simple camera movement or static shot
• Minimal scene complexity

Example:
"A coffee cup lifts from a saucer, steam rising in a thin spiral. Close-up, shallow depth of field, soft morning light."

Medium Videos (5-10 Seconds)

Develop a short sequence with beginning, middle, and end:

Structure:

• 2-3 connected actions
• One camera movement
• Clear progression

Example:
"A woman opens a wooden door, pauses in the doorway as sunlight streams past her silhouette, then steps inside. The camera tracks forward slowly, following her movement from exterior to interior."

Long Videos (10-20 Seconds)

Create a mini-narrative with multiple beats:

Structure:

• Multiple action sequences
• Camera movement changes
• Environmental shifts
• Character development

Example:
"A chef enters a busy kitchen, weaving between prep stations as steam rises from pots. The camera follows in a smooth tracking shot as he reaches his station, ties his apron, and begins chopping vegetables with practiced precision. Other chefs work in the background, creating a layered scene of culinary activity."

Conclusion

Mastering LTX-2 prompting is about thinking like a filmmaker. Every prompt should tell a complete story with clear visual progression, purposeful camera work, and atmospheric details that bring your vision to life.

Key Takeaways

1. Think cinematically: Use professional camera language and shot terminology
2. Show, don't tell: Express emotion through physical actions, not abstract labels
3. Flow naturally: Connect actions with temporal connectors for smooth progression
4. Be specific: Precise physical details create more convincing results
5. Layer your audio: Ambient sounds, dialogue, and music enhance immersion
6. Match complexity to length: Short videos need focus; long videos need structure

The Importance of Iteration

LTX-2 rewards experimentation. Don't expect perfect results on your first attempt. Try variations:

• Adjust camera movements
• Refine action sequences
• Experiment with lighting descriptions
• Test different temporal pacing

Further Learning

To continue improving your LTX-2 prompting skills:

• Study cinematography terminology and techniques
• Analyze professional film scenes for camera work and composition
• Practice writing prompts for different genres
• Join the LTX community to share techniques and learn from others
• Experiment with the model's different versions (Fast, Pro, Ultra) to understand their strengths

Official Resources:

• LTX Official Guide: https://ltx.io/model/model-blog/prompting-guide-for-ltx-2
• LTX Studio: https://ltx.studio
• Community Forums: https://ltx.io/community

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This guide is based on official LTX documentation and community best practices. For the latest updates and features, visit the official LTX website.

Link

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• Zimage.run Google Site
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