Prepare the body parts your intended action actually needs, with room for them to move. For a full-body dance, that generally means a clear head-to-foot character and readable hands. For a close facial performance, a wide full-body composition may be unnecessary. Choose coverage from the shot, not from a rule that every reference must have the same crop.
Draw the required body coverage
List the visible events: an overhead reach, a crouch, a side step or a small expression. Beside each, name the body evidence needed to judge it. A foot-dependent action requires more than the face and jacket.
Check the actual image boundaries. Are fingers cut by the edge? Does the trouser leg merge with a dark background? Is the supporting foot distinguishable from its shadow? Enlarging a crop does not restore something absent from the source.
Kling's VIDEO 2.6 preparation notes recommend compatible body coverage and space for large movements. Apply the underlying preparation question while checking your selected model's own requirements.
Leave space for the movement, not just the standing pose
Imagine the action's extreme positions within the frame. Use a duplicate image for temporary annotations so you keep a clean upload file.
| Planned movement | Boundary to review |
|---|---|
| Arms overhead | Space above the raised hands |
| Side reach | Width beyond the fingertips |
| Crouch | Ground contact and room for the changing silhouette |
| Turn | Separation between arms, torso and background |
| Step sideways | Room at the destination as well as the starting point |
There is no single margin percentage that handles all five. A compact gesture and a wide reach have different spatial needs. If the required space makes the face too small to evaluate, simplify the action or choose a different shot rather than stretching the character.
Inspect anatomy before adding movement
Review the hands, elbows, knees and footwear at a useful close view. Look for fused fingers, disconnected edges and a foot that is already floating. Runway warns that visible input artifacts may intensify during image-to-video generation.
Keep this anatomy pass separate from aesthetic approval. A pleasing costume does not answer whether both wrists connect plausibly. If you modify the image, compare it with the approved character to ensure that a repair has not changed identity.
For a real person's reference, obtain a more complete authorized photograph when factual appearance matters. Generated extensions are interpretations, not recovered evidence of unseen hands or shoes.
Check the file you will actually upload
Save a clean reference without temporary arrows, selection outlines or a second comparison panel. Reopen it and confirm the crop, orientation and relevant detail.
Place it beside a representative frame of the motion source. The body coverage should make the intended action reviewable in both. Keep the image filename with the shot notes so a later substitution does not quietly replace the approved reference.
This preparation does not establish exact limb control. Its purpose is to remove obvious gaps before testing the motion.
Questions about reference framing
Should I use the biggest possible image?
Choose sufficient visible detail and a compatible composition. A larger file with cropped fingers still lacks the needed fingers.
Can I add empty background around a tight portrait?
Extra canvas can create room, but it does not supply a missing body. Separate expanding space from inventing anatomy, and review any newly created parts before animation.