Tutorial: A thunderstorm video with rain running down the window

Thunder and rain on a window are two of the trickiest things to get from AI. Thunder is an occasional sound that can miss the 30-second clip entirely, and rain on glass is a fine motion the animator can underplay. We'll build a 30-minute thunderstorm video (2 credits) and check each of them before it's rendered.

1. 1

   Start a Sound-mode project

   Dashboard → New Project → switch the mode to Sound and pick 30 minutes (2 credits). It's a cheap way to get the sound and the picture right; the same steps work for a 10-hour video (40 credits).

2. 2

   Write the sound: thunder first

   Make the thunder the main sound and keep the rain moderate. A dense, loud downpour can fill the whole clip and leave no room for thunder. Keep it to three sounds at most, and don't call any of them soft or distant: those words make a sound nearly inaudible.

   "Deep rolling thunder rumbling every few seconds over steady rain on a city street at night. In the background: water gurgling in a drainpipe, clearly audible. No music, no voices."

3. 3

   Write the visual: name the main focus

   Describe a window that fills most of the frame and say what matters most: "An attic window at night fills most of the frame, blurred city lights outside, a desk lamp glowing inside. What matters most: water trickling down the pane." The motion prompt for the loop will start with what you named.

4. 4

   Listen for the thunder

   The 30-second preview is exactly what repeats for the whole video. Is there at least one clear roll of thunder? Will it be pleasant every 30 seconds? If there's no thunder, press Generate New Version. If two versions in a row come out without it, change the description instead: thunder even more clearly first, rain lighter, fewer other sounds. Up to 10 versions stay in the list, so you can go back to the best one.

5. 5

   Pick the picture

   Of the 4 images, choose the one where the window is big and the streaks of water on the glass are easy to see. If a lamp, a candle or a screen is the most eye-catching thing in a picture, the animation may go there instead.

6. 6

   Check the motion prompt

   Press Create Video Loop: the 10-second loop starts generating on its own. When it's ready, its motion prompt is shown under the video. If the first sentence isn't about the rain on the glass, press the pencil (Edit Motion Prompt), write for example "Water trickles down the pane in steady streams, new drops keep landing. Static camera." and press Generate with This Prompt. Leave out anything that doesn't need to move.

7. 7

   Watch the loop, then export

   Play the loop full screen: does water visibly run down the glass the whole time? If yes, continue to Export and render. If not, adjust the motion prompt once more or try another picture.