When you start an Assemble / Disassemble video from a photo, you have two extra choices. "Use my photo as it is" puts your photo into the video unchanged. "Enhance the image with Sam" first makes a new advertising-quality image of the same product. You can use either, or both: enhance first, then use the enhanced image as it is.
The template lives in Film Studio; the rest of the form (flow, camera, length, quality) is covered in the Assemble / Disassemble guide.
What happens when "Use my photo as it is" is off?
By default the option is off. The studio redraws your product cleanly on a studio backdrop and builds all keyframes from that drawing. This gives a uniform catalogue look, but the backdrop, light and angle are new, and small details can differ from your photo.
What happens when it is on?
Your photo becomes a frame of the video without any change. It is only cropped around the product, or its edges are extended, to fit the aspect ratio you chose. The other frames are generated to match the light, angle and setting of your photo. Where your photo sits depends on the flow:
| Flow | Your photo becomes |
|---|---|
| Whole to parts | The first frame |
| Parts to whole | The last frame: the parts come together into the look of your photo |
| Take apart and rebuild | The first and the last frame |
| Build and take apart | The frame in the exact middle |
Because the starting frame comes from your photo, the keyframe cost is lower: only the end frame is generated (16,334 tokens) instead of the start and end pair (29,167 tokens).
What makes a photo suitable?
- The short side must be at least 700 pixels. Smaller photos are refused for this option.
- The product should appear alone and clearly in the frame.
- Products held in a hand, or busy scenes with other objects, can spoil the result.
- Even light and a sharp focus help the generated frames match.
If your photo fails these points, the second option is the better start.
What does "Enhance the image with Sam" do?
It is meant for photos that are blurry, dark or simply ordinary. Sam creates a new advertising-quality image while your product stays exactly the same: shape, colours, materials and lettering are kept. The image is made in the aspect ratio selected in the form, at high resolution. You choose a background:
- Studio: clean backdrop, professional studio light.
- Lifestyle: a realistic setting that suits the product.
- Photo setting: the same setting as your photo, flawlessly shot.
How do you use it, step by step?
- Choose your product photo in the Assemble / Disassemble form.
- Open "Enhance the image with Sam" and pick a background.
- Press "Enhance with Sam". It usually takes a minute or two.
- Compare the before and after images.
- Press "Use this image" to make it the product photo, regenerate for another try, or go "Back to the original".
- Optionally switch on "Use my photo as it is" so the enhanced image itself becomes the frame.
The enhanced image is also saved to your library, so you can reuse it elsewhere, for example to animate it as in turning a photo into a video.
How does the fidelity check work?
After the image is made, it is checked strictly against your original: logo, lettering, parts and proportions. If the first attempt does not pass, a second attempt is made and the better one is delivered. If some details may still differ, the app shows a warning: "The check found that some product details may differ from the original." Look closely at the logo and small parts before you use the image. You can regenerate or return to the original at any time.
The check reduces mistakes; it does not make them impossible. For products where a logo or label must be exact, compare carefully, or use the original photo as it is.
What does it cost?
| Item | Tokens | About |
|---|---|---|
| Enhance the image with Sam, per attempt | 49,584 | $0.30 |
| End frame only (photo used as is) | 16,334 | $0.10 |
| Start and end frames (option off) | 29,167 | $0.18 |
Prices are Basic list prices; Free pays ×1.3, Pro ×0.8. If the enhancement fails, the tokens are refunded. Current prices are on the pricing page.
How do these options work with the rest of the form?
Pick the aspect ratio before you enhance: the enhanced image is created in the ratio selected in the form, and "Use my photo as it is" crops or extends your photo to that ratio as well. The Extra direction field still applies to the frames that are generated around your photo, so you can ask for a darker backdrop or a part that should stay on top. The flow decides where your photo lands, so choose it with the table above in mind.
Which option should you choose?
- A good product shot with a clean background: use it as is.
- A decent product in a poor photo: enhance with Studio or Photo setting, then use the result as is.
- You want a uniform catalogue look across products: leave the option off.
- Exact lettering matters and the enhanced image shows a warning: go back to the original.
Whichever you choose, the optional Avoid field is passed on; see the Avoid field guide.
Frequently asked
Why is my photo refused for "Use my photo as it is"? The short side of the photo must be at least 700 pixels. Use a larger photo, or enhance it with Sam first.
Does the enhancement change my product? It is designed not to: shape, colours, materials and lettering are kept, and a strict check compares the result with the original. If details may differ, you see a warning.
Can I use the enhanced image outside the Assemble video? Yes. It is saved to your library like any other image.
Is a failed enhancement charged? No. If the image cannot be enhanced, the tokens spent are refunded to your account.