# VideoBrainstorm Full Agent Context

Last updated: 2026-05-20

## Product Summary

VideoBrainstorm helps users move from a rough idea to concrete image and short-video directions. The core loop is: describe the direction, let Auto Mode plan the smallest useful job, compare generated options, steer useful versions, save finals, and share image polls when collaborators need to vote.

VideoBrainstorm is best for the early creative pass. It is not a finished-video editor, social media scheduler, asset management platform, MCP server, or Telegram automation product.

## Quick Start

1. Sign in and open the studio.
2. Add the provider keys you want to use in Settings. Gemini is the main key for Auto Mode, Gemini image generation, and Veo.
3. Start one project per product, campaign, or visual direction so instructions, references, checkpoints, and finals stay scoped.
4. Let Auto Mode create image directions or route the request to video when motion is explicit.
5. If VideoBrainstorm pauses for provider spend or missing references, read the reason before choosing Edit request, Run anyway, or the lower-cost option.
6. Pick what works. Use "more like this" or a targeted change instead of rewriting the whole prompt.
7. Mark useful results as finals so they can become share options or future references.

Example first prompt: "Surreal product launch visuals for a new iced coffee brand, bold morning light, premium but playful, social campaign look."

## Auto Mode

Auto Mode reads the prompt, project instructions, selected target, references, and available provider settings. It can create new images, make variations, refine selected versions, apply changes across versions, or route explicit motion requests to video. Selected targets matter: choose a version before typing when the instruction is about that version.

Good requests include:

- "Make three poster directions for this launch."
- "More like Version A, but calmer and more editorial."
- "Animate this hero image as a slow product reveal."
- "Use the project references as style guidance for a new campaign direction."

## Image Generation

VideoBrainstorm sends Gemini and OpenAI image requests through authenticated backend routes. Provider keys stay server-side or in encrypted BYOK storage. Text-only image prompts work best for new directions. Reference-guided prompts work best when a product, layout, style, or mood needs to carry into the next run.

## Project References

Project references are reusable context for one project. Use instructions for durable product, style, and do-not-do guidance. Use reference packs to group images by role: Brand, Product, Character, Style, Location, or Other. Users can add or rename packs, upload new references into a selected pack, choose which packs are included for the next generation, and see compact checkpoint usage such as "Used Brand + Product." If a prompt asks for brand, product, or character continuity but the matching pack is empty or skipped, VideoBrainstorm can pause before provider spend with an option to upload an image, include the pack, edit the prompt, or run anyway.

## Checkpoints and Finals

A checkpoint is one completed creative step. It records the prompt, plan, target, generated assets, failures, and cost records. The generation activity tray shows queued, running, taking longer, failed, cancelled, and recoverable work near the composer. Cancel stops eligible active server image jobs. Reconnect resumes polling an existing server job without starting a new provider call. Retry prepares the composer from a failed or stuck checkpoint without auto-spending again. Finals are assets worth keeping for review, sharing, or future reference. A final can become new context for another generation pass.

## Sharing and Polls

Polls are public review links made from saved image finals in the current session. A poll needs at least 2 image finals; if more than 6 are saved, VideoBrainstorm shares the first 6 image finals. Creating a poll stores the selected images on the backend and returns a short `?poll=` link with an 11-character poll code, so the URL does not carry image bytes or provider API keys.

Shared polls expire after 7 days and expired or unavailable polls show a public unavailable state. Collaborators can vote without entering the studio or signing in. The backend allows one vote per poll for each browser voter token, then the public page shows vote counts and per-option percentages. The creator status panel shows voter count, total votes, expiration, per-option percentages, and a refresh control for current totals. If a signed image URL expires while the public poll is open, the page refreshes poll data once before marking the image unavailable.

## Provider and BYOK Setup

VideoBrainstorm supports subscription access and BYOK access. The current public BYOK offer is a $50 lifetime product license with a 7-day refund window. BYOK users add provider keys in Settings. Keys are stored encrypted on the backend and used through authenticated backend endpoints.

The current public offer is built for founders, marketers, creators, and agencies that need to turn loose ideas into visual direction before a brief is locked.

Provider roles:

- Gemini: Auto Mode, Gemini image generation, and Veo video.
- OpenAI: GPT Image 2 image generation and edits.
- Replicate: SeedDance video generation for BYOK accounts.

Never put provider API keys in prompts. Provider keys belong only in Settings.

The product license unlocks VideoBrainstorm. It does not include generation credits or replace provider billing. Gemini, OpenAI, Replicate, or other provider usage is billed by the provider account attached to the saved key.

## Video Generation

VideoBrainstorm supports text-to-video, image-to-video, dual-frame video, and reference-image video when the selected provider supports it. Veo is available through Gemini setup. SeedDance runs through Replicate. Use images first, then move to video once the visual direction is strong enough to test motion.

## Costs and Settings

VideoBrainstorm records local estimates for image, video, and provider usage. The $50 lifetime product license is separate from generation spend and does not include provider credits. Estimates can be planned, running, succeeded, failed, or cancelled. Cost checks pause before video, high-cost image batches, unknown estimates, repeated failures, or retries that may already have billed. Run anyway starts the generation, Edit request keeps the composer intact, and Use lower-cost option appears only when VideoBrainstorm can safely switch to an available lower-cost provider for the same request. Provider invoices remain the source of truth. Users should check provider dashboards for final billing.

## Canonical URLs

- https://videobrainstorm.com/
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/quick-start
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/auto-mode
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/image-generation
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/project-references
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/checkpoints-finals
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/sharing-polls
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/provider-setup
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/video-generation
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/costs-settings
- https://videobrainstorm.com/docs/agent-guide