AI 3D Scene Design: Enabling AI Videos to Possess Truly Controllable Cinematic Language

As a result, video generation using AI is turning from the stage of simple "inputting command and waiting for the result" into a stage of controlled video production.

Previously, when creating an AI-generated video, creators had to continuously change their commands, describing the positions of actors, camera distances, shooting directions, and compositions. Even with adequately detailed commands, the generated video could still have certain issues like characters changing places, chaos in the shot relationships, and discontinuity in transitions.

In the case of commercials, short movies, product presentations, and continuous narrative videos, it is not always beneficial to rely on commands only.

AI-driven tools for designing 3D scenes suggest the following approach: first, define characters, items, and relations in the scene. Second, specify the camera position. Finally, create the AI-generated video.

In this way, creators influence not only the process of generation but also the decisions about the location of the shooting and the arrangement of the elements.

What does AI 3D scene design mean? 

Simply put, it refers to a “virtual pre-visualization” process that comes before AI video production.

The creators can manage their characters and objects in a quite simplified 3D environment. For instance, they can:

l Decide whether the character will be to the left or to the right of the picture.

l Set the distance between the characters.

l Set up objects like tables, chairs, goods, etc.

l Create relationships between foreground, midground, and background.

l Fix the camera in a specific position.

l Visualize how the picture will look at the end. 

Thus, once these operations are done, the scene can be used for video production.

It is not a typical 3D modeling software and does not require the creators to develop sophisticated models, materials, and animations. It is rather some lightweight scene preview and shot design tool for AI video.

Why is it crucial to design scenes in AI videos?

Among the greatest benefits of AI videos is the speed of production. However, it should be noted that "speed of able to produce something does not always mean speed of doing it properly."

In particular, in case of creations with multiple shats, there might be a big difference if the prompt is entered anew for every shot.

Let’s take a conversation with two people.

1. A wide shot of the two persons

2. A medium shot of the two persons

3. Another medium shot of the two persons

4. A side shot of the two persons

5. An over-shoulder shot of the two persons.

If each scene in the video is written as a new one, it is possible that in some of the shots from the series the AI program may confuse left and right, or rearrange the people in the space.

Scene design simplifies the process of producing a video because it is only necessary to describe it once. 

From "Cue Word Control" to "Spatial Control" 

Conventional AI video workflows depend on text-based cues mainly.

For instance, one might say: "There are two persons in a room standing against one another with the camera maintaining a side view of the scene."

However, it is difficult for text to describe angles, distances and proportions of space correctly.

To modify the shot, you need to change the cues which might say things like:

"Position the camera closer."

"Take shots from the right side of the subject."

"Use a low angle while filming."

"Change the shot to a close-up shot from above shoulders."

Yes, this method works, yet its effectiveness depends on realizing the text description by the model.

3D scene workflows convert some abstract text description into more understandable spatial manipulation.

So, you can change camera position, rotate, change the height and distance of the camera and see the composition.

Plan out all the Angles for a Single Scene in no Time

Using multiple angles is one of the best implementations of 3D model creation.

Let’s say you have to shoot a commercial.

You have already set the stage for your product, characters, and background.

You start with the wide-angle shot where you open the scene.

Next, you take a step forward and capture a medium shot of the product and characters.

Now, you have to switch to a side angle to make the product visible.

After that, you move a little closer to capture the product in more detail.

At the end point, there’s no need in changing anything else in your setup as the right camera placement will help you get your shots.

The camera angle is responsible for the image's mood.

When it comes to AI-generated video, the camera does not simply determine the location of the shot.

The position of the camera has an influence on the impression of the image.

Raising the camera

The camera above the object can create an impression that the object is small and serve to show the surrounding space.

Lowering the camera

Recording from a lower position upwards will amplify the major character representation.

Eye level

The camera should be placed near the eye level of the characters, as it is the best position for interviews, conversations, and everyday situations.

Wide-angle lens

The wide-angle lens can be used for creating the space setting so that the audience can understand what is happening in the environment.

Medium shot

A medium shot can meet the needs of making a storyline and showing the movements of the characters, thus functioning well in the plots of the stories and in commercials.

Close-up

A close shot should emphasize the expression of the characters' faces and the actions of the key characters and even some details of their products.

Particular angles

Angled shots depict the characters

Keeping the spatial relationship among shots

One of the most common issues with continuous video is that “the previous shot does not correspond to the next shot.”

A person in the first shot is depicted on the left side of the screen while in the next one, the same person appears from the right side.

An object that stands on the table in front of a person in one shot suddenly shifts to the other side in the next shot.

These issues affect the quality of the video.

3D scene design involves some aspects that can be calculated from the beginning.

●    The location of the characters on the left and the right sides

●    The distances among the characters

●    The location of objects

●    The relations of items and characters

●    The distance between a camera and the object

●    Basic spatial structure of a scene

In other words, the scene would be kept unchanged when the camera changes its position.

It must be mentioned that the invention eliminates the problems of correctness of spatial layout but it cannot provide the guarantee that the pixels made by the different models of AI video-making will be identical.

What kind of issues can be addressed by AI tools for 3D scene creation?

Short films and short dramas

For instance, creating several shots of the same scene that the characters occupy without changes because the scene is shot under different angles can help maintain spatial continuity.

Commercial video editing

When it comes to commercial videos, several shots are normally required.

E-commerce videos

In e-commerce, one has to think about the spatial layout of people and objects in advance, including how they will be shown in various angles.

Short videos for social media

If one is making videos for social media where a large number of edits are planned, changing the angle of shooting while keeping the scene unchanged can make the editing process more efficient.

Film-making with AI tools

If there are many people in the video and many elements are involved in a shooting process, spatial planning will be invaluable.

What is the distinction between AI 3D scene tools and conventional 3D technologies?

These two types of tools tackle different tasks.

Conventional 3D technologies often tackle the entire 3D production cycle, such as modeling, texturing, creating materials, lighting, animation, and rendering.

AI 3D scene tools, in contrast, concentrate on some key aspects before creating a video:

Where are the characters?

Where are the objects?

Where is the camera?

How will the final picture looks like?

Thus, AI 3D tools are not designed to substitute professional tools for 3D production but to make spatial planning when creating AI videos more accessible to creators who are not acquainted with traditional 3D technologies.

Scene composition differs quite a bit from motion programming.

In AI video production, people often confuse camera operation with motion control; although both of them are closely related, they solve different tasks.

Scene composition mainly addresses the question of where the characters and the camera sit in the scene.

Motion control, on the contrary, deals with the problem of how the character will be moving in the scene.

That is, one can tell where two people are and what angle the camera is filming from having a 3D scene designed already.

Motion control concerns Making the characters walk, turn, wave, etc.

Thus, the process of making AI video becomes easier: Spatial planning → Shot design → Motion control → Generate AI footage.

From "Generate by Chance" to "Design First, Generate After."

AI video means that filmmakers will not need to stop using traditional filmmaking techniques.

On the contrary, AI takes up more and more functions of producing media, so pre-production shot design may become even more important.

Instead of continuously changing the prompts and waiting for AI to generate the ideal camera angle by accident, it is better to first decide:

l How to create the scene?

l Where should all the characters stand?

l Where should the camera be placed?

l What type of framing should be used?

l Which shots should occupy the same place?

Then we shall proceed to the generation.

This approach not only helps improve efficiency in production but also bring AI video-making closer to real movie and television industry.

AI in video production has taken another developmental leap forward.

Created in the past, as opposed to the previous generation of AI video-making technology, nowadays, technology is already able to deliver more than just separate images.

For video creation to be done successfully, the technology has to create a whole sequence of shots instead of generating a limited number of attractive video clips.

Such ability to create new video clips, known as controllability, is of great importance for creators.

In 3D scene design, this principle works simply – outline the space, decide on the shots first, and only then create the video.

In this respect, this production technique opens new horizons for video creators, allowing them to move from the constant search for new shots to proactive work on the visual design of the future movie.

Summarize

The main idea of AI 3D scene design is not to create the new generation of 3D artists, but to enrich the toolkit of AI video development with intuitive spatial control.

Thanks to the pre-setting the props, arranging the set, selecting virtual cameras, and defining the scale of the framing, the creator can organize space in the film and explore it before making a video itself.

This approach is particularly important for advertisement, short films, e-commerce videos, and multi-camera shooting, aiming to prevent unnecessary setups and time wasting.

Design the scene, arrange the positions of cameras, select the angles of the shooting, and let the AI do the rest.