The quick read
- Use the same brief and judge framing, subject continuity, motion and editability.
- Choose image-led generation when an approved visual is the central constraint.
Choose an anchor
Text-to-video starts from a written description. Image-to-video starts with a visual reference plus instructions. A reference can establish a character or composition, but it does not guarantee consistent motion, identity or physics across a generated clip.
Compare a single scene
Use the same brief and judge framing, subject continuity, motion and editability. Track how many attempts are needed to obtain a usable result. A striking first frame can hide errors that only become visible halfway through the clip.
Plan the edit
Choose image-led generation when an approved visual is the central constraint. Choose text-led exploration when discovering the scene is part of the work. In both cases, verify rights to inputs and review the entire output before using it in a public story.
Sources & notes
An editorial decision framework, not a scored benchmark or hands-on test.
developers.openai.com — official reference
Sources reviewed for the September 2026 launch edition.