Intro and Outro Scenes

This guide shows you how to add professional intro and outro scenes to your videos. Use static images for branded intros and video clips for dynamic outros, perfect for creating consistent, professional-looking content across all your videos.

What You’ll Learn

Intro Scenes

Add branded intro scenes with static images

Outro Scenes

Add outro scenes with video backgrounds

Duration Control

Set precise durations for intro/outro scenes

Scene Composition

Combine intro, content, and outro scenes

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

A Pictory API key (get one here)
Node.js or Python installed on your machine
Intro image and/or outro video accessible via public URLs
Basic understanding of scene configuration in Pictory API

npm install axios

How Intro and Outro Scenes Work

When you add intro and outro scenes to your video:

Scene Definition - You define scenes with background visuals (images or videos)
Duration Setting - Specify minimum duration for background-only scenes
Scene Ordering - Scenes are arranged in order: intro → content → outro
Visual Processing - Background images and videos are processed and prepared
Audio Integration - Background music and audio tracks are synchronized
Scene Assembly - All scenes are combined into a single video
Video Rendering - Final video is rendered with intro, content, and outro

Background-only scenes (intro/outro without text) require a minimumDuration to specify how long they should display. Content scenes with text calculate duration automatically based on voice-over and text length.

Complete Example

import axios from "axios";

const API_BASE_URL = "https://api.pictory.ai/pictoryapis";
const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY";

// URLs to your intro image and outro video (must be publicly accessible)
const INTRO_IMAGE_URL = "https://example.com/your-intro-image.png";
const OUTRO_VIDEO_URL = "https://example.com/your-outro-video.mp4";

const STORY_TEXT =
  "AI is poised to significantly impact educators and course creators on social media. " +
  "By automating tasks like content generation, visual design, and video editing, " +
  "AI will save time and enhance consistency.";

async function createVideoWithIntroOutro() {
  try {
    console.log("Creating video with intro and outro scenes...");

    const response = await axios.post(
      `${API_BASE_URL}/v2/video/storyboard/render`,
      {
        videoName: "video_with_intro_outro",

        scenes: [
          // INTRO SCENE: Branded intro with static image
          {
            background: {
              type: "image",                   // Use static image
              visualUrl: INTRO_IMAGE_URL,      // Your intro image URL
            },
            minimumDuration: 5,                // Display for 5 seconds
          },

          // MAIN CONTENT SCENE: Generated from text
          {
            story: STORY_TEXT,
            createSceneOnNewLine: true,
            createSceneOnEndOfSentence: true,
          },

          // OUTRO SCENE: Outro with video background
          {
            background: {
              type: "video",                   // Use video background
              visualUrl: OUTRO_VIDEO_URL,      // Your outro video URL
            },
            minimumDuration: 5,                // Display for 5 seconds
          },
        ],
      },
      {
        headers: {
          "Content-Type": "application/json",
          Authorization: API_KEY,
        },
      }
    );

    const jobId = response.data.data.jobId;
    console.log("✓ Video creation started!");
    console.log("Job ID:", jobId);

    // Monitor progress
    console.log("\nMonitoring video creation...");
    let jobCompleted = false;
    let jobResult = null;

    while (!jobCompleted) {
      const statusResponse = await axios.get(
        `${API_BASE_URL}/v1/jobs/${jobId}`,
        {
          headers: { Authorization: API_KEY },
        }
      );

      const status = statusResponse.data.data.status;
      console.log("Status:", status);

      if (status === "completed") {
        jobCompleted = true;
        jobResult = statusResponse.data;
        console.log("\n✓ Video with intro and outro is ready!");
        console.log("Video URL:", jobResult.data.videoURL);
      } else if (status === "failed") {
        throw new Error("Video creation failed: " + JSON.stringify(statusResponse.data));
      }

      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5000));
    }

    return jobResult;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error:", error.response?.data || error.message);
    throw error;
  }
}

createVideoWithIntroOutro();

Scene Configuration Parameters

Background Configuration

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`background.type`	string	Yes	Type of background visual. Options: `"image"` or `"video"`
`background.visualUrl`	string	Yes	Public URL to the background image or video file

Scene Duration

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
`minimumDuration`	number	Yes*	Duration in seconds for background-only scenes. *Required for scenes without `story` content.

minimumDuration Required: Scenes with only background visuals (no story text) must include minimumDuration to specify how long the scene should display. Without it, the API won’t know how long to show the intro/outro.

Supported File Formats

Intro Images

Format	Extension	Resolution Recommendation	Notes
PNG	`.png`	1920x1080 or higher	Best for transparency, logos
JPEG/JPG	`.jpg`, `.jpeg`	1920x1080 or higher	Best for photographs, smaller files
WebP	`.webp`	1920x1080 or higher	Modern format, good compression

Outro Videos

Format	Extension	Recommendation	Notes
MP4	`.mp4`	H.264 codec (recommended)	Best compatibility
MOV	`.mov`	H.264 codec	Apple format, widely supported
WebM	`.webm`	VP9 codec	Modern web format
AVI	`.avi`	Various codecs	Larger file sizes

Best Practices:

Intro images: Use PNG with 1920x1080 resolution for crisp, professional branding
Outro videos: Use MP4 with H.264 codec at 1080p for best quality and compatibility
File size: Keep images under 5MB and videos under 50MB for faster processing

Recommended Durations

Choose the right duration based on your content type and platform:

Scene Type	Duration Range	Best Used For	Platform
Quick Intro	2-3 seconds	Fast-paced social media, short videos	TikTok, Instagram Reels
Standard Intro	4-5 seconds	Most general content, professional videos	YouTube, LinkedIn
Detailed Intro	6-8 seconds	Tutorials, educational content	YouTube, Course platforms
Short Outro	3-5 seconds	Quick call-to-action, social media	Instagram, Twitter/X
Standard Outro	5-8 seconds	Subscribe prompts, contact information	YouTube, Facebook
Extended Outro	10-15 seconds	Detailed CTAs, credits, multiple links	YouTube, Webinars

Platform-Specific Recommendations:

TikTok/Instagram Reels: Keep intro under 3 seconds (viewers scroll quickly)
YouTube: 4-6 second intro is ideal (establishes brand without losing viewers)
Professional/Corporate: 5-8 seconds works well for polished presentation
Educational: Can use longer intros (6-8 seconds) for course branding

Scene Types Explained

Background-Only Scene (Intro/Outro)

{
  background: {
    type: "image",           // or "video"
    visualUrl: "https://..."
  },
  minimumDuration: 5         // Required
}

Characteristics:

No story text content
Static visual display
Fixed duration via minimumDuration
Perfect for branded intros and outros

Content Scene with Text

{
  story: "Your content text here...",
  createSceneOnNewLine: true,
  createSceneOnEndOfSentence: true
}

Characteristics:

Has story text content
Duration calculated automatically from text length
AI selects background visuals automatically
minimumDuration not needed (optional)

Content Scene with Custom Background

{
  story: "Your content text here...",
  background: {
    type: "video",
    visualUrl: "https://..."
  }
  // minimumDuration optional - calculated from text
}

Characteristics:

Has both text and custom background
Duration calculated from text length
Custom visual instead of AI-selected
Combines both approaches

Common Use Cases

YouTube Videos with Branding

{
  scenes: [
    // Intro: Channel branding
    {
      background: {
        type: "image",
        visualUrl: "https://storage.example.com/youtube-intro.png"
      },
      minimumDuration: 4         // Standard YouTube intro
    },

    // Main content
    { story: "Your video content...", createSceneOnNewLine: true },

    // Outro: Subscribe prompt
    {
      background: {
        type: "video",
        visualUrl: "https://storage.example.com/subscribe-outro.mp4"
      },
      minimumDuration: 8         // Time for subscribe animation
    }
  ]
}

Result: Professional YouTube video with channel intro and subscribe outro.

{
  scenes: [
    // Quick brand flash
    {
      background: {
        type: "image",
        visualUrl: "https://storage.example.com/brand-logo.png"
      },
      minimumDuration: 2         // Fast intro for social
    },

    // Content
    { story: "Quick tip or announcement...", createSceneOnNewLine: true },

    // No outro - keep it short for social media
  ]
}

Result: Quick social media video with brief brand intro, no outro for maximum engagement retention.

Educational Course Videos

{
  scenes: [
    // Course branding intro
    {
      background: {
        type: "video",
        visualUrl: "https://storage.example.com/course-intro.mp4"
      },
      minimumDuration: 6         // Establish course branding
    },

    // Lesson content
    { story: "Today's lesson content...", createSceneOnEndOfSentence: true },

    // Outro with next lesson prompt
    {
      background: {
        type: "image",
        visualUrl: "https://storage.example.com/next-lesson.png"
      },
      minimumDuration: 10        // Time to read next steps
    }
  ]
}

Result: Professional educational video with course branding and next-lesson call-to-action.

Marketing Videos with CTA

{
  scenes: [
    // Product/brand intro
    {
      background: {
        type: "image",
        visualUrl: "https://storage.example.com/product-intro.png"
      },
      minimumDuration: 5
    },

    // Marketing message
    { story: "Discover our amazing new product...", createSceneOnNewLine: true },

    // Strong CTA outro
    {
      background: {
        type: "video",
        visualUrl: "https://storage.example.com/cta-outro.mp4"
      },
      minimumDuration: 7         // Time for CTA to register
    }
  ]
}

Result: Marketing video with product intro and compelling call-to-action outro.

Best Practices

Keep Intros Short and Engaging

Viewers have short attention spans - make intros count:

3-5 Seconds Ideal: Most viewers will tolerate a 3-5 second intro
Front-Load Value: Show what the video is about quickly
Branded but Brief: Establish brand without being tedious
Platform Matters: Social media needs shorter intros (2-3s) than YouTube (4-6s)
Skip Option: Consider if viewers can skip long intros on your platform
Test Retention: Monitor if long intros cause viewer drop-off

Design Effective Outros

Use outros strategically to drive action:

Clear Call-to-Action: Tell viewers exactly what to do next
Single Focus: One primary CTA (subscribe, visit website, next video)
Sufficient Duration: 5-8 seconds for viewers to read and act
Visual Hierarchy: Make the CTA visually prominent
End Screens: For YouTube, align with end screen timing (last 20 seconds)
Contact Info: Include relevant links, social handles, or contact details

Optimize File Quality and Size

Balance quality with processing speed:

Resolution: Use 1920x1080 (Full HD) for professional quality
Image Size: Keep images under 5MB for faster upload/processing
Video Size: Keep outro videos under 50MB when possible
Compression: Use appropriate compression without sacrificing quality
Format: MP4 for videos, PNG/JPEG for images for best compatibility
Test First: Verify files render correctly before using in production

Maintain Brand Consistency

Create a cohesive brand experience:

Reuse Assets: Use the same intro/outro across video series
Brand Colors: Match intro/outro to brand color palette
Logo Placement: Consistent logo positioning across videos
Typography: Use brand fonts in intro/outro designs
Style Guide: Maintain visual consistency across all branded elements
Template Library: Build a library of reusable intro/outro templates

Ensure File Accessibility

Make sure your files can be accessed by the API:

Public URLs: Upload to cloud storage (AWS S3, Google Drive, Dropbox)
Direct Links: Use direct download URLs, not streaming or preview links
Stable URLs: Ensure links won’t expire during processing
Test Access: Verify URLs work in incognito browser
Permissions: Check file sharing permissions are set to public
HTTPS: Use HTTPS URLs for security and reliability

Troubleshooting

Error: minimumDuration required

Problem: API returns error about missing minimumDuration for intro/outro scene.Solution:

Background-only scenes (no story text) require minimumDuration
Add minimumDuration in seconds to your intro/outro scenes
Example: { background: {...}, minimumDuration: 5 }
Content scenes with story text don’t need minimumDuration
Verify you haven’t accidentally omitted this required field

Intro/outro visual not appearing

Problem: Final video doesn’t include intro or outro scene.Solution:

Verify the visualUrl is publicly accessible (test in incognito browser)
Check file format is supported (PNG, JPEG for images; MP4, MOV for videos)
Ensure URL is a direct link, not a preview or sharing page
For Google Drive: Use “Anyone with link” sharing and get direct download URL
For Dropbox: Change “dl=0” to “dl=1” at end of share URL
Verify file hasn’t been deleted or moved
Check API response for any error messages about the visual

Intro/outro duration too short or too long

Problem: Intro or outro displays for incorrect amount of time.Solution:

Check the minimumDuration value is in seconds, not milliseconds
Verify you set the intended duration (e.g., 5 for 5 seconds)
For video backgrounds, duration cannot exceed the video file’s length
Scene will use the longer of minimumDuration or actual video length
Test different duration values to find the right timing
Consider platform norms (social media = shorter, YouTube = longer)

Image quality is poor or pixelated

Problem: Intro image appears blurry or low quality in final video.Solution:

Use high-resolution images (minimum 1920x1080 for Full HD)
Avoid upscaling small images - create them at target resolution
Use PNG format for graphics and logos (lossless)
For JPEG, use high quality settings (90%+ quality)
Check source image isn’t already low quality
Ensure image aspect ratio matches video (16:9 for most platforms)
Test with different image files to isolate the issue

Outro video has no audio

Problem: Outro video clip plays without sound in final video.Solution:

Background videos in intro/outro scenes may not include audio by default
Add background music separately using the backgroundMusic parameter
Verify outro video file actually contains audio track
Check if audio is being mixed correctly with other audio layers
Consider that outro visuals and audio may be handled separately
Use background music for consistent audio across all scenes

Scene order is incorrect

Problem: Intro appears at end, or scenes are in wrong order.Solution:

Scenes appear in the order they’re listed in the scenes array
Ensure intro scene is first in the array
Ensure outro scene is last in the array
Content scenes go between intro and outro
Double-check array order in your code
Example order: [intro_scene, content_scene, outro_scene]

Cannot access intro/outro file URLs

Problem: API cannot download your intro image or outro video.Solution:

Verify files are publicly accessible (test URL in incognito browser)
Check file sharing permissions are set correctly
Ensure URLs are direct download links, not web pages
For cloud storage, verify sharing settings allow public access
Test URL with curl or browser to confirm it downloads the file
Check for expired sharing links or restricted access
Try uploading to different hosting service if issues persist

Advanced Configurations

Multiple Content Scenes with Intro/Outro

{
  scenes: [
    // Intro
    {
      background: { type: "image", visualUrl: "..." },
      minimumDuration: 5
    },

    // Multiple content scenes
    { story: "First section...", createSceneOnNewLine: true },
    { story: "Second section...", createSceneOnEndOfSentence: true },
    { story: "Third section...", createSceneOnNewLine: true },

    // Outro
    {
      background: { type: "video", visualUrl: "..." },
      minimumDuration: 8
    }
  ]
}

Intro/Outro with Background Music

{
  backgroundMusic: {
    enabled: true,
    musicUrl: "https://storage.example.com/background-music.mp3",
    volume: 0.3
  },
  scenes: [
    // Intro scene
    {
      background: { type: "image", visualUrl: "..." },
      minimumDuration: 5
    },

    // Content
    { story: "...", createSceneOnNewLine: true },

    // Outro scene
    {
      background: { type: "video", visualUrl: "..." },
      minimumDuration: 7
    }
  ]
}

Intro/Outro with Branding

{
  brandName: "Your Brand Name",      // Apply brand settings
  scenes: [
    // Intro
    {
      background: { type: "image", visualUrl: "..." },
      minimumDuration: 4
    },

    // Content (branded)
    { story: "...", createSceneOnNewLine: true },

    // Outro
    {
      background: { type: "video", visualUrl: "..." },
      minimumDuration: 6
    }
  ]
}

Next Steps

Enhance your intro/outro videos with these complementary features:

Brand Settings

Apply consistent branding to all video elements

Background Music

Add music to complement intro/outro scenes

Logo Overlay

Add logo watermarks to your videos

Custom Subtitle Styling

Style subtitles to match your brand

API Reference

For complete technical details, see:

Render Storyboard Video - Full API specification including scene configuration
Get Job Status - Monitor job status and get video URLs

Getting started

Text to Video

Article to Video

Presentation to Video

Audio to Video

Video to Shorts

Video Story CoPilot

Smart Layouts and Subtitles

Branding & Customization

Advanced Features

​What You’ll Learn

Intro Scenes

Outro Scenes

Duration Control

Scene Composition

​Before You Begin

​How Intro and Outro Scenes Work

​Complete Example

​Scene Configuration Parameters

​Background Configuration

​Scene Duration

​Supported File Formats

​Intro Images

​Outro Videos

​Recommended Durations

​Scene Types Explained

​Background-Only Scene (Intro/Outro)

​Content Scene with Text

​Content Scene with Custom Background

​Common Use Cases

​YouTube Videos with Branding

​Social Media Quick Posts

​Educational Course Videos

​Marketing Videos with CTA

​Best Practices

​Troubleshooting

​Advanced Configurations

​Multiple Content Scenes with Intro/Outro

​Intro/Outro with Background Music

​Intro/Outro with Branding

​Next Steps

Brand Settings

Background Music

Logo Overlay

Custom Subtitle Styling

​API Reference

What You’ll Learn

Before You Begin

How Intro and Outro Scenes Work

Complete Example

Scene Configuration Parameters

Background Configuration

Scene Duration

Supported File Formats

Intro Images

Outro Videos

Recommended Durations

Scene Types Explained

Background-Only Scene (Intro/Outro)

Content Scene with Text

Content Scene with Custom Background

Common Use Cases

YouTube Videos with Branding

Social Media Quick Posts

Educational Course Videos

Marketing Videos with CTA

Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Advanced Configurations

Multiple Content Scenes with Intro/Outro

Intro/Outro with Background Music

Intro/Outro with Branding

Next Steps

API Reference