VellmShould you use an AI video template or create your own?
By Vellm ·
Use a template when its preview is already close to the video you want. Use Create when you want to supply a different scene, describe an action or bring your own reference clip.
That decision often saves more work than choosing a model first. If you want your dog in the Billie Jean routine, the template gives you a configured starting point. If you want the dog watching rain through a window, you need a different brief.
What a template decides for you
A Vellm template supplies a configured scene and movement. Its page tells you which photos to add and lists the output specifications and credit cost. Available controls vary by template.
This suits a recognizable routine. You can compare the preview with the scene in your mind before uploading anything. Check the performers as well as the movement: Single Ladies puts your dog with two backup dancers, while La Calabaza uses a three-pet arrangement.
The template also sets boundaries. The current dog-dance presets do not offer an open prompt field for rewriting the choreography. If you want a different camera path or an original setting, move to Create. Watch for the label on a preview, too: an attributed trend reference illustrates the target scene and is not proof that your uploaded photo will produce an identical clip.
What you choose in Create
Create has five modes:
| What you want to make | Mode | What you bring |
|---|---|---|
| A new version of a specific clip | Remake a video | A reference clip and a subject photo |
| A video combining several visual ideas | Mix references | Supported reference files and a description of their roles |
| Movement starting from a still image | Animate a photo | A starting photo and a motion description |
| A scene without an existing image | Text to video | A written description |
| A new or edited still picture | AI image | A description, plus an image when editing |
Within each mode, you select an available AI model. The available models and settings depend on the task. Choose the workflow first, then compare the models that support it.
For an original pet clip, Animate a photo is a useful place to start. A modest action such as a head tilt gives you something specific to judge. For a recognizable dance that is absent from the template library, Remake a video lets you provide the movement reference yourself.
Compare the amount you will pay
Templates list a fixed credit cost for the configured routine. Create calculates the charge from the selected model and settings; a remake can also depend on the length of the reference clip. The Generate button shows the credits before you start.
Here are two current template examples:
| Plan | Credits needed | One-time USD purchase that covers it |
|---|---|---|
| One Billie Jean dog dance attempt | 50 | 50 credits for $4.49 |
| One Single Ladies dog dance attempt | 100 | Standard 100-credit pack for $7.99 |
The 600-credit pack costs $39.99. If you spend it entirely on 50-credit templates, it covers 12 attempts at an average of about $3.33 each. You pay $39.99 upfront. The average does not make $3.33 the minimum checkout amount.
One-time packs are available without a subscription; monthly plans are optional. First-purchase discounts have eligibility conditions. Check current pricing and the generation cost for your particular task rather than applying a template's price to a custom remake.
Decide what you want to hear
Vellm's current templates export silent video. Their names identify a routine, not an included music license or soundtrack.
Create has audio controls on supported models, and audio is off by default. Enabling it does not guarantee the original song from a reference. Choose audio you can use for your intended post and check the exported file before sharing.
Three starting decisions
For "my dog doing Billie Jean," start with the Billie Jean template. You supply one dog photo and the template provides the configured routine.
For "my cat looks up from the sofa as the camera moves closer," start with Animate a photo in Create. Your image establishes the opening composition; your prompt describes the motion.
For "my pet follows this clip I recorded," start with Remake a video. Trim the reference to the action you want and upload a clear pet photo. Treat the first result as an attempt to inspect for likeness and movement before spending more credits.
If you are still choosing the input, use the photo guide. If you already have an original scene in mind, write a short motion prompt.