aedev-tools/kling-3-prompting

Overview

Kling 3.0 is a unified multimodal video model. It understands cinematic direction, not keyword lists. Write prompts like a director — describe what the audience sees, hears, and feels over time.

Core shift: Description → Direction. Think "direct a scene" not "describe an image."

Interactive Builder Workflow

When invoked, guide the user through these steps using AskUserQuestion:

digraph builder {
  "1. Generation mode?" [shape=diamond];
  "Text-to-Video" [shape=box];
  "Image-to-Video" [shape=box];
  "Multi-Shot Sequence" [shape=box];
  "Keyframe Transition" [shape=box];
  "2. Gather scene details" [shape=box];
  "3. Assemble prompt" [shape=box];
  "4. Present & refine" [shape=box];

  "1. Generation mode?" -> "Text-to-Video";
  "1. Generation mode?" -> "Image-to-Video";
  "1. Generation mode?" -> "Multi-Shot Sequence";
  "1. Generation mode?" -> "Keyframe Transition";
  "Text-to-Video" -> "2. Gather scene details";
  "Image-to-Video" -> "2. Gather scene details";
  "Multi-Shot Sequence" -> "2. Gather scene details";
  "Keyframe Transition" -> "2. Gather scene details";
  "2. Gather scene details" -> "3. Assemble prompt";
  "3. Assemble prompt" -> "4. Present & refine";
}

Step 1: Determine Generation Mode

Ask the user which mode:

• Text-to-Video — prompt from scratch
• Image-to-Video — animate a reference image
• Multi-Shot Sequence — 2-6 shot storyboard (up to 15s)
• Keyframe Transition — start frame → end frame with interpolated motion

Step 2: Gather Scene Details

Ask about each element (adapt questions to mode):

| Element | Question | Why it matters | |---------|----------|----------------| | Subject | Who/what is the focus? Specific appearance details? | Anchors consistency — define distinguishing traits early | | Action | What happens? Describe the timeline (first → then → finally) | Kling 3.0 excels at sequential action over 15s arcs | | Environment | Where? Be specific (not "a street" but "narrow Tokyo alley, steam from grates") | Grounds the scene physically | | Camera | Shot type and movement? (See camera reference below) | Cinematic language produces far better results | | Lighting | What light sources? Name them specifically | "Flickering neon" beats "dramatic lighting" | | Mood/Emotion | What should the audience feel? | Drives color grade, pacing, music | | Audio | Dialogue? Ambient sound? Music? | Kling 3.0 generates native audio + lip-sync | | Duration | How long? (3-15s) | Longer = describe progression over time | | Aspect Ratio | 16:9 / 9:16 / 1:1 / 21:9? | 16:9 cinematic, 9:16 social, 21:9 ultra-wide |

Image-to-Video: Focus on how the scene evolves from the image — movement, camera motion, environmental change. The model preserves identity/layout from the source.

Keyframes: Ask for start and end frame descriptions. Frames should match in color, style, and lighting. Prompt sparingly — Kling infers motion well.

Multi-Shot: Define each shot separately with its own framing, subject, action, and duration. Label shots explicitly.

Step 3: Assemble the Prompt

Use the Master Formula:

[Scene/Environment] + [Subject & Appearance] + [Action Timeline] + [Camera Movement] + [Audio & Atmosphere] + [Technical Specs]

Writing rules:

• Use cinematic motion verbs: dolly push, whip-pan, crash zoom, rack focus, tracking shot — NOT "moves" or "goes"
• Name real light sources: neon signs, candlelight, golden hour, LED panels — NOT "dramatic lighting"
• Include texture for credibility: grain, lens flares, condensation, fabric sheen, smoke, sweat
• Describe temporal flow: beginning → middle → end
• Keep to 1-3 rich sentences per shot (specificity > length)
• For dialogue: use character labels, assign voice tone/emotion, use transitional words ("Immediately," "Pause")

Step 4: Present & Refine

Present the assembled prompt. Ask if they want to:

• Adjust any element
• Add a negative prompt
• Generate variations (different duration, different camera, different mood)

Quick Reference

Camera Movements

| Movement | Effect | Example phrase | |----------|--------|---------------| | Dolly push-in | Builds intimacy/tension | "slow dolly push-in toward her face" | | Dolly zoom | Vertigo/dramatic reveal | "dolly zoom creating disorienting depth shift" | | Tracking shot | Follows subject laterally | "camera tracks alongside as she walks" | | Whip-pan | Energy/surprise | "whip-pan to reveal the door" | | Crash zoom | Shock/emphasis | "sudden crash zoom on the object" | | Rack focus | Shift attention | "rack focus from foreground hand to background figure" | | Handheld/shoulder-cam | Raw/documentary feel | "handheld shoulder-cam with subtle sway" | | Static tripod | Composed/observational | "locked-off static tripod, wide shot" | | FPV drone | High-energy immersion | "dynamic FPV drone shot chasing through corridor" | | Low-angle tracking | Heroic/imposing | "low-angle tracking shot, subject towers above" | | Truck left/right | Lateral reveal | "camera trucks right revealing the cityscape" | | Tilt up/down | Vertical reveal | "slow tilt up from boots to face" |

Lens & Film Stock

| Phrase | Effect | |--------|--------| | "Shot on 35mm film" | Warm grain, organic texture | | "Macro 85mm lens" | Tight detail, shallow depth of field | | "Wide-angle steadicam" | Smooth, immersive, spatial | | "Handheld camcorder" | Raw VHS energy, nostalgic | | "Anamorphic lens flare" | Cinematic horizontal streaks |

Lighting

Use specific sources, not adjectives:

• "Golden hour sun cutting through dusty warehouse windows"
• "Flickering neon casting magenta/cyan across wet pavement"
• "Single bare bulb swinging, casting moving shadows"
• "Cool blue LED panels reflecting off glass surfaces"
• "Candlelight warming skin tones, deep shadows beyond"

Color & Grade

• "Desaturated teal grade, crushed blacks"
• "Amber nightclub strobe cutting through smoke"
• "Cool blue haze filling the corridor"
• "Magenta neon reflecting off wet asphalt"
• "Overexposed highlights, blown-out whites"

Multi-Character Dialogue

| Rule | Do | Don't | |------|-----|-------| | Name characters | [Character A: Silver-haired CEO] | [Man] says... | | Anchor to action | Agent slams table. [Agent, angrily]: "Where is it?" | Just dialogue without visual action | | Assign voice tone | [CEO, deep authoritative gravelly voice] | Generic "says" | | Control timing | "Immediately," "Pause," "After a beat" | Back-to-back dialogue without transitions |

Multi-Shot Structure

Shot 1 (0-5s): [Wide establishing shot description]
Shot 2 (5-10s): [Medium/close-up with action progression]
Shot 3 (10-15s): [Resolution/reaction with camera payoff]

Atmosphere: [Overall mood, color grade]
Audio: [Sound design, music, dialogue]

Label every shot. Assign durations. Describe framing + subject + motion per shot.

Start & End Frame Tips

• Frames should match in color palette, style, and lighting
• Identical start/end frames = seamless loop
• Prompt sparingly — Kling infers motion between frames well
• Simple camera directions: zoom in/out, pan left/right, tilt up/down
• 5s for dynamic transitions, 10s for complex transformations
• Start frame aspect ratio drives the whole clip

Negative Prompts

Use to prevent common AI defaults:

smiling, laughing, cartoonish, bright saturated colors, low resolution,
morphing, blurry text, disfigured hands, extra fingers, static pose,
frozen expression, stock photo aesthetic

Customize based on scene — remove items that conflict with your intent.

Weak → Strong

| Element | Weak | Strong | |---------|------|--------| | Camera | "Camera follows person" | "Handheld shoulder-cam drifts behind subject with subtle sway" | | Subject | "A woman walking" | "Woman in red dress, heels clicking wet cobblestone" | | Environment | "In a city" | "Narrow Tokyo alley, steam from grates, glowing vending machines" | | Lighting | "Dramatic lighting" | "Flickering neon casting magenta/cyan across wet pavement" | | Texture | "It looks realistic" | "Rain beading on leather jacket, condensation on glass, visible breath" | | Motion | "She walks away" | "She turns slowly, hair catches light, disappears around corner" |

Common Mistakes

| Mistake | Fix | |---------|-----| | Keyword lists instead of scene direction | Write like directing a shot: subject + action + camera + environment | | Vague motion ("moves," "goes") | Use cinematic verbs: dolly, track, whip-pan, crash zoom | | Generic lighting ("dramatic") | Name the source: neon, candle, golden hour, LED panel | | Overlong prompts | 1-3 rich sentences per shot; specificity > length | | No temporal progression | Describe beginning → middle → end of the shot | | Mismatched keyframes | Match color, lighting, and style between start/end frames | | Unattributed dialogue | Label every speaker with name, tone, and emotion | | Cramming multi-shot into one paragraph | Separate and label each shot with duration |