\documentclass[10pt,a4paper]{article} % Packages \usepackage{fancyhdr} % For header and footer \usepackage{multicol} % Allows multicols in tables \usepackage{tabularx} % Intelligent column widths \usepackage{tabulary} % Used in header and footer \usepackage{hhline} % Border under tables \usepackage{graphicx} % For images \usepackage{xcolor} % For hex colours %\usepackage[utf8x]{inputenc} % For unicode character support \usepackage[T1]{fontenc} % Without this we get weird character replacements \usepackage{colortbl} % For coloured tables \usepackage{setspace} % For line height \usepackage{lastpage} % Needed for total page number \usepackage{seqsplit} % Splits long words. %\usepackage{opensans} % Can't make this work so far. Shame. Would be lovely. \usepackage[normalem]{ulem} % For underlining links % Most of the following are not required for the majority % of cheat sheets but are needed for some symbol support. \usepackage{amsmath} % Symbols \usepackage{MnSymbol} % Symbols \usepackage{wasysym} % Symbols %\usepackage[english,german,french,spanish,italian]{babel} % Languages % Document Info \author{wishjohn} \pdfinfo{ /Title (ai-video-prompt-structure.pdf) /Creator (Cheatography) /Author (wishjohn) /Subject (AI Video Prompt Structure Cheat Sheet) } % Lengths and widths \addtolength{\textwidth}{6cm} \addtolength{\textheight}{-1cm} \addtolength{\hoffset}{-3cm} \addtolength{\voffset}{-2cm} \setlength{\tabcolsep}{0.2cm} % Space between columns \setlength{\headsep}{-12pt} % Reduce space between header and content \setlength{\headheight}{85pt} % If less, LaTeX automatically increases it \renewcommand{\footrulewidth}{0pt} % Remove footer line \renewcommand{\headrulewidth}{0pt} % Remove header line \renewcommand{\seqinsert}{\ifmmode\allowbreak\else\-\fi} % Hyphens in seqsplit % This two commands together give roughly % the right line height in the tables \renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.3} \onehalfspacing % Commands \newcommand{\SetRowColor}[1]{\noalign{\gdef\RowColorName{#1}}\rowcolor{\RowColorName}} % Shortcut for row colour \newcommand{\mymulticolumn}[3]{\multicolumn{#1}{>{\columncolor{\RowColorName}}#2}{#3}} % For coloured multi-cols \newcolumntype{x}[1]{>{\raggedright}p{#1}} % New column types for ragged-right paragraph columns \newcommand{\tn}{\tabularnewline} % Required as custom column type in use % Font and Colours \definecolor{HeadBackground}{HTML}{333333} \definecolor{FootBackground}{HTML}{666666} \definecolor{TextColor}{HTML}{333333} \definecolor{DarkBackground}{HTML}{2C3E50} \definecolor{LightBackground}{HTML}{F8F8F9} \renewcommand{\familydefault}{\sfdefault} \color{TextColor} % Header and Footer \pagestyle{fancy} \fancyhead{} % Set header to blank \fancyfoot{} % Set footer to blank \fancyhead[L]{ \noindent \begin{multicols}{3} \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{C} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \vspace{-7pt} {\parbox{\dimexpr\textwidth-2\fboxsep\relax}{\noindent \hspace*{-6pt}\includegraphics[width=5.8cm]{/web/www.cheatography.com/public/images/cheatography_logo.pdf}} } \end{tabulary} \columnbreak \begin{tabulary}{11cm}{L} \vspace{-2pt}\large{\bf{\textcolor{DarkBackground}{\textrm{AI Video Prompt Structure Cheat Sheet}}}} \\ \normalsize{by \textcolor{DarkBackground}{wishjohn} via \textcolor{DarkBackground}{\uline{cheatography.com/219248/cs/48527/}}} \end{tabulary} \end{multicols}} \fancyfoot[L]{ \footnotesize \noindent \begin{multicols}{3} \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{LL} \SetRowColor{FootBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{p{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Cheatographer}} \\ \vspace{-2pt}wishjohn \\ \uline{cheatography.com/wishjohn} \\ \end{tabulary} \vfill \columnbreak \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{L} \SetRowColor{FootBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{p{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Cheat Sheet}} \\ \vspace{-2pt}Published 20th October, 2026.\\ Updated 20th October, 2026.\\ Page {\thepage} of \pageref{LastPage}. \end{tabulary} \vfill \columnbreak \begin{tabulary}{5.8cm}{L} \SetRowColor{FootBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{p{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Sponsor}} \\ \SetRowColor{white} \vspace{-5pt} %\includegraphics[width=48px,height=48px]{dave.jpeg} Measure your website readability!\\ www.readability-score.com \end{tabulary} \end{multicols}} \begin{document} \raggedright \raggedcolumns % Set font size to small. Switch to any value % from this page to resize cheat sheet text: % www.emerson.emory.edu/services/latex/latex_169.html \footnotesize % Small font. \begin{multicols*}{3} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{0.84609 cm} x{4.13091 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Prompt Anatomy}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Part & What to write \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \seqsplit{Subject} & Who or what is on screen. Be concrete: "a ceramic teapot", not "an object" \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 3) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Action} & One visible thing that happens: steam rises, a hand waves, mist drifts \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 3) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} \seqsplit{Setting} & Where and when: "on a pale wooden table", "quiet park path at dusk" \tn % Row Count 10 (+ 3) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Camera} & One shot size and one camera move: "medium shot, slow push in" \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 2) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} \seqsplit{Lighting} & Source, direction, quality: "soft window light from the left" \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 2) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Style & Look and texture: "realistic, natural colours", "warm neutral palette" \tn % Row Count 17 (+ 3) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} \seqsplit{Format} & Aspect ratio, duration and resolution are set in the tool's controls. The text only describes framing \tn % Row Count 21 (+ 4) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Order & Subject → action → setting first, then camera, light and style \tn % Row Count 23 (+ 2) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} Scope & One shot per prompt. Several locations or a whole story in one short clip is hard to control \tn % Row Count 26 (+ 3) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.64241 cm} x{3.33459 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Camera Moves}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Term & Effect on screen \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Static / locked-off & Camera does not move; safest when the scene is busy \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Push in / dolly in & Camera moves toward the subject; builds focus \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} Pull out / dolly out & Camera moves away; reveals surroundings \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 2) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Pan left / right & Camera turns horizontally from a fixed spot \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 2) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Tilt up / down & Camera turns vertically from a fixed spot \tn % Row Count 11 (+ 2) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Tracking / trucking & Camera travels alongside a moving subject \tn % Row Count 13 (+ 2) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Orbit / arc & Camera circles the subject; good for products \tn % Row Count 15 (+ 2) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Crane / pedestal up & Camera rises vertically, often to reveal a scene \tn % Row Count 17 (+ 2) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} Handheld & Slight natural shake; documentary feel \tn % Row Count 19 (+ 2) % Row 10 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Zoom in / out & Lens changes focal length; the camera stays put \tn % Row Count 21 (+ 2) % Row 11 \SetRowColor{white} Rule & One move per shot. Don't combine conflicting moves, e.g. "locked camera" plus "rapid handheld zoom" \tn % Row Count 25 (+ 4) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.84149 cm} x{3.13551 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Shot Sizes}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Shot & Frames \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Extreme wide (EWS) & Subject small in a big landscape; sets location \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Wide / long (WS) & Whole subject plus surroundings \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} Medium-wide (MWS) & Roughly knees up; body language and setting \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 2) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Medium (MS) & Waist up; the default for people talking or gesturing \tn % Row Count 10 (+ 3) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Medium close-up (MCU) & Chest up; face plus some context \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 2) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Close-up (CU) & Face or a whole product fills the frame \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 2) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Extreme close-up (ECU) & One detail: an eye, a texture, a logo-free label \tn % Row Count 16 (+ 2) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \seqsplit{Over-the-shoulder} (OTS) & Behind one person, looking at another or at an object \tn % Row Count 19 (+ 3) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} POV & What the subject sees \tn % Row Count 20 (+ 1) % Row 10 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Low / high angle & Camera below or above eye level; adds power or smallness \tn % Row Count 23 (+ 3) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.69218 cm} x{3.28482 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Lighting Terms}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Term & Look \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Soft light & Diffused, gentle shadows (overcast, window with curtain) \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 3) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Hard light & Crisp, defined shadows (direct sun, bare bulb) \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} Golden hour & Warm, low-angle light just after sunrise or before sunset \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 3) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Blue hour & Cool, even twilight just before sunrise or after sunset \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 3) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Backlight / rim light & Light behind the subject; outlines edges \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 2) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Side light & Light from one side; shows texture and shape \tn % Row Count 16 (+ 2) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Key / fill & Main light vs. softer light that lifts the shadows \tn % Row Count 18 (+ 2) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} High key & Bright, low contrast, few shadows \tn % Row Count 20 (+ 2) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} Low key & Dark, high contrast, moody \tn % Row Count 21 (+ 1) % Row 10 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Practical light & A visible lamp, neon sign or screen in the scene \tn % Row Count 23 (+ 2) % Row 11 \SetRowColor{white} Colour temperature & "Warm" (orange) vs. "cool" (blue); name both if you mix them \tn % Row Count 26 (+ 3) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.4931 cm} x{3.4839 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Motion \& Pacing Words}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Word & Use it for \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Slowly / gently & Calm, controlled motion; usually the most stable choice \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Gradually & Change that builds across the clip (light rising, mist thinning) \tn % Row Count 6 (+ 3) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} Steadily & Constant speed with no sudden changes \tn % Row Count 8 (+ 2) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Briskly / quickly & Energetic action; expect more artefacts \tn % Row Count 10 (+ 2) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Drifts / floats & Weightless motion: mist, smoke, petals, dust \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 2) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Sways / ripples & Small repeating motion: grass, fabric, water \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 2) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Continuous shot & Asks for no cuts within the clip \tn % Row Count 16 (+ 2) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Real-time & Normal speed; avoids an accidental slow-mo look \tn % Row Count 18 (+ 2) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} Slow motion & Stretched action: splashes, hair, falling objects \tn % Row Count 20 (+ 2) % Row 10 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Pacing tip & One main action plus at most one small background motion \tn % Row Count 22 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{1.54287 cm} x{3.43413 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Aspect Ratios \& Format}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Ratio & Typical use \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} 9:16 (vertical) & Shorts, Reels, TikTok, Stories. Keep the subject near the centre and leave space for captions \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 4) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} 16:9 \seqsplit{(horizontal)} & YouTube, websites, presentations, cinematic landscapes \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} 1:1 (square) & Feed posts, product tiles, carousels \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 2) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Check support & Not every model offers every ratio; pick one that the chosen model supports \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 3) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Set it in controls & Choose ratio, duration and resolution in the tool's settings \tn % Row Count 15 (+ 3) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} "4K" in text & Writing "4K" in a prompt does not change the output resolution you selected \tn % Row Count 18 (+ 3) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Duration & Short clips favour one simple action; save longer ideas for several shots \tn % Row Count 21 (+ 3) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{2.33919 cm} x{2.63781 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Negative Cues \& What to Avoid}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Cue / habit & Why \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} "No titles, captions or logos" & Stops stray on-screen text; add your own text later in an editor \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 4) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} "No cuts" & Keeps one continuous shot \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} "No people" & Use it for landscapes and products that should stay empty \tn % Row Count 10 (+ 3) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} "Keep the {[}subject{]} fully in frame" & Phrasing it positively often works better than "don't crop" \tn % Row Count 13 (+ 3) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Negative field & If the tool has a separate negative-prompt field, put exclusions there; otherwise add one short "No…" sentence at the end \tn % Row Count 19 (+ 6) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Avoid: stacked adjectives & "Epic, stunning, ultra, cinematic, 8K" adds noise, not detail \tn % Row Count 22 (+ 3) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Avoid: conflicting cues & "Static camera" plus "sweeping drone shot" \tn % Row Count 24 (+ 2) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Avoid: story in one clip & Multiple scenes, outfit changes or locations in a single short generation \tn % Row Count 28 (+ 4) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} Avoid: real brands or people & Use unbranded objects and generic people unless you have the rights \tn % Row Count 32 (+ 4) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Image-to-Video Tips}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{The image already fixes the subject, composition and style. Spend the prompt on {\bf{motion and camera}}.} \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 3) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Describe what moves and what stays still: "steam rises; the teapot stays fixed in frame".} \tn % Row Count 5 (+ 2) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Start with a clean, well-lit image with a clear subject. Clutter usually turns into wobble.} \tn % Row Count 7 (+ 2) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Match the image's aspect ratio to the output ratio to avoid unwanted cropping.} \tn % Row Count 9 (+ 2) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Keep camera moves small (slow push in, gentle orbit) so the scene doesn't drift away from the source.} \tn % Row Count 12 (+ 3) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Don't re-describe the image with different details. Conflicting text can pull the result off-model.} \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 2) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{Use reference images only on models that accept them, and only images you have the right to use.} \tn % Row Count 16 (+ 2) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{X} \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Worked Example: Before → After}} \tn \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{1}{x{5.377cm}}{BEFORE \newline a cool cinematic video of a cat in a city, epic, 4K, ultra realistic \newline \newline AFTER \newline A ginger cat walks along a rain-wet stone wall in a quiet city \newline alley at dusk. Neon signs reflect in the puddles below. Medium-wide \newline shot; the camera tracks slowly alongside at the cat's eye level in \newline one continuous shot. Soft blue ambient light with a warm glow from \newline the signs, realistic fur texture. No text, captions or logos. \newline \newline WHAT CHANGED \newline + concrete subject, one action, a named setting and time \newline + one shot size and one camera move \newline + lighting with a source and colour \newline + one exclusion sentence \newline - removed "epic", "cinematic" and "4K" (set resolution in controls) \newline Ratio and duration: chosen in the settings, e.g. 9:16 for a Short} \tn \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}-} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{2.09034 cm} x{2.88666 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Common Fixes}} \tn % Row 0 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Symptom & Change \tn % Row Count 1 (+ 1) % Row 1 \SetRowColor{white} Motion is chaotic or busy & Simplify to one action; add "slowly"; drop background motion \tn % Row Count 4 (+ 3) % Row 2 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Camera ignores the move & State one move plainly near the start of the camera sentence; remove other camera words \tn % Row Count 8 (+ 4) % Row 3 \SetRowColor{white} Shaky or warping scene & Try a static camera first, then add movement back \tn % Row Count 11 (+ 3) % Row 4 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Subject drifts out of frame & Add "keep the {[}subject{]} fully in frame"; use a wider shot size \tn % Row Count 14 (+ 3) % Row 5 \SetRowColor{white} Subject changes look mid-clip & Shorten the prompt; describe the subject once with fixed details; for image-to-video, use a cleaner source image \tn % Row Count 19 (+ 5) % Row 6 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Random text or logos appear & Add "No titles, captions or logos" \tn % Row Count 21 (+ 2) % Row 7 \SetRowColor{white} Wrong mood & Change only the lighting line (e.g. soft → low key) and keep the rest \tn % Row Count 25 (+ 4) % Row 8 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Framing wrong for vertical & Choose 9:16 in the controls; centre the subject; say "medium shot" rather than "wide" \tn % Row Count 29 (+ 4) % Row 9 \SetRowColor{white} Looks low-res despite "4K" & Pick a higher resolution in the controls; the text doesn't override it \tn % Row Count 33 (+ 4) \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} \vfill \columnbreak \begin{tabularx}{5.377cm}{x{2.09034 cm} x{2.88666 cm} } \SetRowColor{DarkBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{\bf\textcolor{white}{Common Fixes (cont)}} \tn % Row 10 \SetRowColor{LightBackground} Many things wrong at once & Change one variable per attempt and note which change helped \tn % Row Count 3 (+ 3) \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \SetRowColor{LightBackground} \mymulticolumn{2}{x{5.377cm}}{Further reading: a longer walkthrough on \{\{link="https://everygenai.io/guides/video-prompt-guide"\}\}how to write AI video prompts\{\{/link\}\}, with adaptable example briefs for products, people and landscapes.} \tn \hhline{>{\arrayrulecolor{DarkBackground}}--} \end{tabularx} \par\addvspace{1.3em} % That's all folks \end{multicols*} \end{document}