Ray3 Overview: Workflow, Control, Results

TL;DR

Ray3 is a camera-literate video model that rewards disciplined shot planning. Treat it like a production partner: set the shot size, movement, lighting, pacing, and duration up front, then iterate quickly in Draft Mode before committing to hi-fi or HDR/EXR. Document every render with Parameter Cards so your wins are traceable and portable across teams.

Follow the Tutorials · Master Draft Mode

Why Ray3 Matters

• Ray3 interprets push, pull, track, orbit, and zoom language with higher fidelity than Ray2, cutting floaty camera errors and reframing headaches.
• Draft Mode lowers cost and latency, letting you preview pacing, coverage, and asset needs before investing in detailed renders.
• HDR/EXR output brings cinematic headroom for commercial grading and compositing pipelines, preserving highlights for finishing.
• Keyframes, looping, and extend tools make Ray3 viable for pre-viz, social variations, and product storytelling without stitching hacks.
• A growing ecosystem of helpers—Prompt → Shotlist, Camera Phrase Helper, Parameter Cards—keeps teams aligned on the same vocabulary.
• API readiness is on the horizon; designing around the submit/get_job/get_asset contract now future-proofs integrations.

Draft → Hi-Fi Workflow

1. Translate your brief into 3–5 shots with explicit shot size (WS/MS/CU), angle, movement, lighting, and duration, then sanity-check against the storyboard.
2. Run Draft Mode renders at 4–8 seconds, logging prompt, seed, fps, aspect ratio, and review notes in Parameter Cards.
3. Review for camera accuracy, subject coherence, and rhythm; tighten prompts where movement, scale, or exposure drifted from the plan.
4. Upgrade selected takes to hi-fi or HDR/EXR, apply the HDR checklist, and deliver proxies for edit while masters render.
5. Archive outcomes: attach best-performing prompts to the library, update analytics dashboards, and flag gaps for future tests.

Control Patterns to Reuse

• Constrain perspective: “low-angle, medium shot, slow dolly-in” sets the frame before style words enter and prevents scale creep.
• Lighting anchors: choose one dominant cue—top, rim, volumetric, or neon—to stabilize exposure; mention secondary bounce only if essential.
• Movement pacing: specify speed adjectives (“slow orbit 120° counterclockwise”) and duration so Ray3 aligns motion arcs with your edit rhythm.
• Style as garnish: add material, palette, and lens details only after camera language locks, otherwise they override the move.
• Continuity linking: reuse subject descriptors, BPM, and lighting terms across shots so Ray3 treats the sequence as a cohesive story.

Tips for Precision

• Pair prompts with reference frames when you need look continuity; include framing guides or overlays for editors.
• Use aspect ratios deliberately; square or 9:16 compositions react differently to dolly/orbit moves, so practice in your delivery format.
• Sequence prompts chronologically so Ray3 treats them as a storyboard, not isolated moments, and label shots with IDs.
• Track successes in a shared Prompt Library; repeatable phrasing keeps teams aligned and surfaces reliable building blocks.
• Monitor analytics for prompt_copy and tool_open_shotlist events to see which templates convert into shipped work.

Pitfalls to Watch

• Jumping to hi-fi before validating camera grammar leads to expensive reshoots and forces grade teams to fix avoidable issues.
• Compounding adjectives (“epic, cinematic, dreamy”) dilutes Ray3’s understanding; pick concrete descriptors tied to camera or lighting.
• Forgetting to pin movement speed yields jittery or inconsistent pacing, especially on push/pull shots where scale shifts quickly.
• Ignoring color management when exporting HDR/EXR causes clipped highlights or muddy mids downstream; pick ACES or Rec.2100 and stick to it.
• Treating Parameter Cards as optional; without them you lose seeds, tempo, and lighting notes that make successes repeatable.

Checklist

• Brief converted into shot size, movement, lighting, and duration statements.
• Draft budget split vs. hi-fi upgrades (aim 70/30) agreed with stakeholders.
• Parameter Card template duplicated for each render and stored centrally.
• HDR/EXR needs aligned with post pipeline before production kicks off.
• Internal links set: Tutorials, Prompts, API Tracker.
• Analytics events wired for prompt_copy, tool_open_shotlist, hdr_checklist_open.

FAQ

What separates Ray3 from Ray2?
Ray3 delivers steadier camera control, richer motion blur, and better physical coherence, especially when you specify movement and lighting precisely; Ray2 often drifts even with detailed prompts.

How long should Draft runs be?
Keep them under eight seconds unless you’re testing long-form motion; shorter clips iterate faster, surface issues sooner, and keep review manageable.

Do I need keyframes to maintain continuity?
Not always. Start with consistent camera language and Parameter Cards; add keyframes or reference frames only when you must lock poses or transitions.

When is HDR/EXR overkill?
Skip it for social-first content or quick comps; go HDR/EXR when color grade, VFX, or archiving is part of the plan, and plan storage accordingly.

How does Ray3 fit into a multi-model stack?
Use faster or stylized tools for ideation, then switch to Ray3 for shots that demand camera discipline, HDR finishing, or client approvals.