# Edit a video with references

Choose the clip to change, add a visual reference, and describe what should stay the same.

Source: https://www.creativly.ai/docs/sessions/edit-video

[Original four-second product film with a blue cup and rising steam](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/video-comparison-02-preview-7ab63b327e5a8129.mp4)

Original · blue ceramic cup

[Completed Omni Flash 1.1 edit of the same shot with a terracotta-orange cup](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/sessions-video-edit-preview-b83003efdca47936.mp4)

Edited · terracotta glaze from an image reference

This example uses **Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash** to change the cup's glaze while keeping the source shot. The extra image supplies the colour and material to aim for.

## 1. Choose the video to edit

Open a Video Session and choose an editing-capable model. On an existing result, choose **Add as Edit Source**. You can also upload a clip through **Ref**.

Check the clip's chip says **Edit source**. Open its role menu if you need to change it.

![Video chip's Asset Role menu with Edit Source selected, Reference Video as a separate option, and an additional @Image1 chip.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/sessions-video-edit-role-9de73d941949bf4f.webp)

Edit Source identifies the clip to change. Reference Video is a separate role for guidance.

## 2. Add an image to guide the change

Use the image **Ref** control to upload a file or choose **Select from assets**. Here we select the terracotta cup made in the [product-campaign example](https://www.creativly.ai/docs/examples/product-campaign).

![Actual project asset picker with the terracotta-cup reference selected among the campaign images.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/sessions-video-edit-reference-picker-bf51a0e3e2ec564b.webp)

Reuse an image from the project. It becomes a reference alongside the source clip.

Leave this image as a **General Reference**, not a first or last frame. Its purpose is to guide the edit, not replace the video's opening frame.

## 3. Say what to change—and keep

Mention the reference with `@` so the instruction points to the right image.

> Edit the attached source video. Change only the cup's glaze to the glossy terracotta orange shown in @Image1. Keep the same cup shape, tabletop, background, steam and camera movement. No new objects, cuts or text.

![Production Video Prompt Bar containing the edit instruction with an inline @Image1 chip, Edit source and image-reference attachments, Omni Flash 1.1, four seconds, 720p and Count 1.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/sessions-video-edit-setup-41ce49e1350a4b93.webp)

One source clip, one image reference, and one selected video model.

## 4. Generate a separate version

Review the model, supported settings, and credit estimate, then generate. Play the complete result and compare it with the original: check the requested change, the motion, and any details you wanted to preserve.

The example above is a completed four-second, 1280×720 edit. It is a new video, not a destructive replacement of the source.

[Download the original source](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/video-comparison-02-original-bc46e719e735b0e8.mp4) · [Download the edited original](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/sessions-video-edit-original-39e01c1fd05b32ea.mp4)

Reference roles and limits depend on the model. **Edit Source**, **Reference Video**, and **First Frame** do different jobs—check the role, not just the attachment.

### Set up the same edit in Seedance 2.5

Choose **Seedance 2.5** in **Models**. Keep the clip as **Edit source** and the extra image as a **General Reference**, then mention the image with `@` in your edit instruction.

![Actual Seedance 2.5 Prompt Bar with a terracotta-glaze edit instruction, inline Image1 mention, Edit source video chip, image-reference chip, and Count 1.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/sessions-seedance-reference-setup-aa44de39756ae1f4.webp)

Seedance 2.5 reference setup: one source video, one image reference, and Count 1.

Check the available settings and credit estimate after switching models. This shows the setup only—the completed before/after videos above use **Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash**.

[References & @ mentions](https://www.creativly.ai/docs/sessions/references)A closer look at attaching and mentioning media.
[Video editing in Agent](https://www.creativly.ai/docs/agent/edit-video)Describe an edit in conversation.

Open in Creativly: [Video ↗](https://www.creativly.ai/app/video)