> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.chatvideopro.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.chatvideopro.com/getting-started/interface-overview/model-selection.md).

# Model Selection

### How to Use the Different Model Selectors

{% embed url="<https://www.loom.com/share/22156e5e06204a60825b8023787f1279>" %}

Chat Video Pro has more than one model selector because different jobs need different levels of control.

The easiest way to think about it:

<table><thead><tr><th width="245">Path</th><th>Best for</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Top-right selector</strong></td><td>Choosing the chat model and default quick image model.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Generate Media selector</strong></td><td>Direct control over image and video generation models.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Studio</strong></td><td>Guided workflows like Cinematic Lab, Motion Director, AI Transitions, Avatar Studio, Rotoscope, Erase Objects, Add Effects, Reshoot, Upscale, Motion Capture, Multi-Cam, Relight Scene, and Reframe.</td></tr></tbody></table>

If you are not sure where to start, choose based on the job rather than the model name.

***

<figure><img src="/files/byLeUaz784LK0hb32KfJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Top-Right Selector

The top-right selector lives in the chat header.

It controls:

* The AI model used for chat and text responses.
* The default image model used for quick natural-language image requests.

Use it when:

* You are having a normal conversation with Chat Video Pro.
* You want faster or deeper assistant reasoning.
* You want a quick image without opening Generate Media.
* You type something like `generate an image of a sunset over mountains`.

Do not use it for:

* Video generation.
* Detailed image settings.
* Aspect ratio, duration, resolution, audio, or model-specific controls.
* Studio workflows.

#### Quick Image Example

1. Set your default image model in the top-right selector.
2. Type: `Generate an image of a cozy coffee shop at golden hour.`
3. Chat Video Pro generates the image using default settings.

This is the fastest path, but it is not the most controlled path.

#### Chat Models

<table><thead><tr><th width="245">Model</th><th>Best for</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Claude Sonnet 5</strong></td><td>Default for chat and Story Cutter. Fast frontier model for everyday editing help, brainstorming, and rough-cut work.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>GPT-5.5</strong></td><td>Strong general assistant for mixed creative and technical questions.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gemini 3.1 Pro</strong></td><td>Long-context tasks, multimodal reasoning, and Google-native workflows.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Claude Opus 4.8</strong></td><td>Complex editorial decisions that need deep reasoning. Available in general chat now; Story Cutter support coming soon.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Claude Fable 5</strong></td><td>Prompt writing and creative storytelling. The picker shows a "Very expensive" warning before you send. Story Cutter support coming soon.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Gemini 3.5 Flash</strong></td><td>Fast, low-cost second speed tier. Turn it on in Settings when you want a lighter Google model alongside GPT-5.5.</td></tr></tbody></table>

#### Models Settings

You control which models appear in the top-right picker and in Generate Media lists.

1. Open **Settings**.
2. Go to **Configuration → Models**.
3. Search for a model or scroll the list.
4. Toggle a model on to show it, off to hide it.

Four models show by default: **Sonnet 5**, **GPT-5.5**, **Gemini 3.1 Pro**, and **Fable 5**. Enable the rest when you need them. Hidden models stay available in the app; they just do not clutter your picker.

***

<figure><img src="/files/bD2LcGhlAwpYcUxPD5aO" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Generate Media Selector

The Generate Media selector appears in the composer when **Generate Media** is enabled.

Use it when:

* You want to generate video.
* You want full control over image generation.
* You need aspect ratio, duration, resolution, quality, or audio settings.
* You are choosing a specific image or video model.
* You are using the classic composer-based generation flow.

Generate Media is the direct model-control path.

#### What It Controls

Depending on your inputs, Generate Media can show:

* Text-to-video models.
* Image-to-video models.
* Transition models.
* Reference models.
* Text-to-image models.
* Image-to-image models.
* Classic video editor tools from an existing video.

Use Supported Video Models and Supported Image Models if you need help choosing a model.

***

<figure><img src="/files/tahKs6R5eLfVo7iSztF5" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Studio

Studio is not just another model selector. It is the guided workflow layer.

Use Studio when you know the creative task you want to run:

* Create a cinematic still.
* Animate a still with a camera move.
* Build an AI transition.
* Generate alternate angles.
* Remove a background.
* Erase an object.
* Add effects.
* Reshoot a short segment.
* Upscale a clip.
* Relight an image or video.
* Transfer motion to a character image.

Studio chooses or constrains the model path for the workflow, asks for the right source media, and gives you task-specific controls.

Example: instead of choosing a Kling image-to-video model manually and writing a camera prompt, open Motion Director, load a still image, and choose a camera movement preset.

Use Studio when you want a guided production workflow. Use Generate Media when you want direct model control.

***

### Which Path Should I Use?

<table><thead><tr><th width="382">Goal</th><th>Best path</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Ask questions, brainstorm, troubleshoot, or get Premiere help</td><td>Chat with top-right model selector</td></tr><tr><td>Generate a quick image from natural language</td><td>Top-right selector</td></tr><tr><td>Generate an image with exact aspect ratio or quality settings</td><td>Generate Media</td></tr><tr><td>Generate video from text</td><td>Generate Media</td></tr><tr><td>Animate one still image manually</td><td>Generate Media Image-to-Video</td></tr><tr><td>Animate one still image with camera presets</td><td>Studio Motion Director</td></tr><tr><td>Connect two frames manually</td><td>Generate Media Transition Mode</td></tr><tr><td>Connect two frames with guided styles</td><td>Studio AI Transitions</td></tr><tr><td>Use references for character/product consistency</td><td>Generate Media Reference Mode</td></tr><tr><td>Create a cinematic still for video work</td><td>Studio Cinematic Lab</td></tr><tr><td>Clean up, relight, reshoot, add effects, or upscale video</td><td>Studio</td></tr><tr><td>Edit an existing generated video from chat</td><td>Video Canvas Editor or Studio, depending on task</td></tr></tbody></table>

The simple rule:

* Use **Chat** for conversation and quick images.
* Use **Generate Media** for direct model control.
* Use **Studio** for guided creative workflows.

***

### How Attachments Change The Model List

Generate Media adapts to what you attach. This is intentional. It keeps irrelevant models out of the way.

<figure><img src="/files/iZ5p4Lm7WU4Dki0lZUYx" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### No Attachments

Available paths usually include:

* Text-to-Video.
* Text-to-Image.

Use this when you are starting from a prompt.

<figure><img src="/files/VztJZPs5EqfE773xUhp8" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### One Image Attached

Available paths usually include:

* Image-to-Video.
* Image-to-Image.
* Reference-capable options, depending on model.

Use this when you want to animate or edit a still image.

Most families keep their text-to-video tier selectable here, treating the image as a reference. **Flux 3 is stricter:** attaching any image commits you to the Flux 3 image-to-video tier, and the Flux 3 text-to-video tier hides. Remove the image to get it back. **Luma Ray 3.2 behaves the same strict way** — with an image attached, only its image-to-video tier is offered.

<figure><img src="/files/mgaP1Y46G2OH18CJ4AyZ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Two Images Attached

Two images often activate Transition Mode, because the app treats them as a start frame and end frame.

Use this when you want one image to become the other.

If you meant to use the two images as subject references instead, switch to Reference Mode with a reference-capable model.

On **Flux 3**, the two-image case is handled by the same image-to-video entry, which routes to a dedicated first/last-frame endpoint behind the scenes. There is no separate Flux 3 transition model to pick.

On **Luma Ray 3.2**, two images are also handled by the image-to-video entry itself — but nothing re-routes: the second image is passed natively as the end frame on the same endpoint. Luma interpolations are 5 seconds only and silent.

The **Seedance** tiers work the Luma way too — the second image is the end frame on the same endpoint, with no separate transition entry. **Seedance 2.5** can carry that interpolation for up to 30 seconds (or Auto), at 480p, 720p, or 1080p with native audio; Seedance 2 covers 4–15 seconds and reaches 1080p and 4K. Unlike Flux 3 and Luma, the Seedance group does not narrow to a single tier when images are attached — at one or two images you see the main tiers and the Reference tiers together.

<figure><img src="/files/8C3ptRbQmD75f3WaLYxr" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/RuM6QGkbHLuUtOT2Nc9m" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Multiple Reference Images

Multiple images can be used for character, product, subject, or style consistency when you choose a reference-capable model.

Use this when the generated video should keep a person, product, or visual identity consistent across shots.

Not every family has a reference tier. **Flux 3 disappears from the picker once you attach three or more images**, handing off to a reference-capable model such as Veo 3.1 Reference. The same applies when you use Element tags or attach a video clip — Flux 3 has no reference or video-to-video tier. **Luma Ray 3.2 also has no reference tier** and leaves the picker the same way at three or more images or with Element tags — though unlike Flux 3 it does have a video-to-video model, which appears when you attach a clip.

The **Seedance** family does the opposite: at three or more images (or with Element tags, or with a video clip attached) it narrows to its Reference tiers — **Seedance 2 Reference**, **Seedance 2 Fast Reference**, **Seedance 2 Mini Reference**, and **Seedance 2.5 Reference**. Escalation stays inside its own version, so a Seedance 2.5 job that gains a third image lands on Seedance 2.5 Reference, never on a Seedance 2 tier.

<figure><img src="/files/GqfW9cSAROVwmkHCeKpw" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### One Video Attached

When a video is attached, the model list shifts toward video editing and video-to-video options.

Attaching a clip surfaces **Luma Ray 3.2 Edit** in the video-to-video list under the Luma group — a restyle/edit model with a 4-way divergence dial (Default, Adhere, Balanced, Reimagine) that sets how far the result strays from the source. Its output follows the source clip's aspect ratio and carries no generated audio. It is also selectable inside Studio → Add Effects.

For most new video editing tasks, use Studio instead. Studio opens the right workflow directly: Rotoscope, Erase Objects, Add Effects, Reshoot, Upscale, Relight Scene, and more.

***

### Common Workflows

#### Quick Image During Chat

1. Choose your default image model in the top-right selector.
2. Type a natural image request in chat.
3. Use the result or regenerate if needed.

Best for: quick ideas and casual image generation.

#### Full-Control Image Generation

1. Enable **Generate Media**.
2. Choose an image model.
3. Set aspect ratio and quality/resolution.
4. Write the prompt.
5. Generate.

Best for: production images, thumbnails, exact formats, and model comparison.

#### Direct Video Generation

1. Enable **Generate Media**.
2. Choose a video model.
3. Set duration, aspect ratio, resolution, and audio.
4. Write the prompt.
5. Generate.

Best for: text-to-video, image-to-video, transition mode, and reference mode when you want direct model control.

#### Guided Studio Workflow

1. Open **Studio**.
2. Choose the workflow card.
3. Load the required media.
4. Use the workflow controls.
5. Generate and review.

Best for: tasks with a clear shape, like cinematic stills, motion direction, transitions, cleanup, relighting, effects, and upscaling.

***

### Choosing The Right Model

Do not start by memorizing model names. Start with the job.

For video:

* Use Supported Video Models when choosing between Veo, Kling, Sora, Seedance (including 4K, Mini, and Seedance 2.5), Omni Flash, Wan, Hailuo 03, Grok Imagine 1.5, Flux 3, and Luma Ray 3.2.
* Use Text-to-Video, Image-to-Video, Transition Mode, or Reference Mode based on your inputs.

For images:

* Use Supported Image Models when choosing between Nano Banana, GPT Image 2, Flux, Seedream 5.0 Pro, Grok, and Ideogram V4 Fast.
* Use Text-to-Image for normal image generation.
* Use Cinematic Lab when the image is a cinematic frame or source for video.

***

### Troubleshooting

#### I cannot generate videos from the top-right selector

That is expected. The top-right selector is for chat and quick image defaults. Enable **Generate Media** to generate video.

#### The wrong models are showing

Check what is attached to the composer. Attachments change the model list:

* No attachment: text-to-image and text-to-video.
* One image: image-to-image and image-to-video. On Flux 3 the text-to-video tier hides here.
* Two images: transition mode may appear.
* Multiple reference images: reference models may appear. Families without a reference tier, such as Flux 3 and Luma Ray 3.2, drop out of the list entirely.
* Video: video editing or video-to-video options.

#### I attached two images but wanted references

Two images often trigger Transition Mode. Manually switch to a reference-capable model if the images are examples of the same subject rather than start/end frames.

#### I want the app to guide me instead of choosing models

Use Studio. Studio is designed for guided creative tasks and reduces the amount of model selection you need to think about.

#### The settings changed when I switched models

That is normal. Different models support different durations, resolutions, aspect ratios, reference counts, and audio options.

***

### Related Pages

* [Video Generation](/features/video-generation.md) - Generate video with direct model control.
* [Image Generation](/features/image-generation.md) - Generate and edit images.
* [Studio](/features/studio.md) - Use guided production and post-production workflows.
* [Supported Video Models](/features/video-generation/supported-video-models.md) - Choose a video model.
* [Supported Image Models](/features/image-generation/supported-image-models.md) - Choose an image model.

***

**Next:** If you want direct video model control, start with Video Generation. If you want a guided workflow, start with Studio.