The Motion Brush is one of Kling 3.0's most powerful features, giving you precise control over how elements in your images come to life. Instead of relying solely on AI interpretation, you can literally draw the path you want objects to follow. This guide will teach you everything you need to master this incredible tool.
What is the Motion Brush?
The Motion Brush lets you manually control the movement of items or parts of subjects within a static image by drawing motion pathways (like brushstrokes) onto the image. You outline what you want to move, draw where you want it to go, and Kling does the rest.
This feature works with:
- Photos (portraits, landscapes, product shots)
- Digital art and illustrations
- AI-generated images from Midjourney, DALL-E, or Kling's own image generator
- Hand-drawn artwork and sketches
Step-by-Step Tutorial
Access the Motion Brush Tool
Launch Kling AI and navigate to AI Videos → Image to Video. Make sure you're using model version 1.5 or later to access the Motion Brush feature. In Kling 3.0, this tool has been significantly enhanced with better edge detection and smoother animation.
Upload Your Image
Click to upload or drag and drop your image. Kling accepts JPG, PNG, and WEBP formats up to 10MB. For best results, use high-resolution images with clear subjects. The minimum short side should be at least 300 pixels.
Enable Auto-Segmentation
Toggle on Auto-segmentation for easy masking. This AI feature automatically detects and outlines objects in your image, making it much easier to select exactly what you want to animate.
Select Your Subject
Click on the element you want to animate. The auto-segmentation will highlight it. You can refine the selection by adding or removing areas with the brush. Each selection should cover only ONE element of a single category (e.g., one person, one car).
Draw the Motion Path
Now the fun part! Draw a line showing where you want the element to move. The starting point marks where the element begins, and the endpoint shows where it will be at the end of the animation. The path you draw determines the trajectory.
Use the Static Brush (Optional)
For elements you want to keep completely still, use the Static Brush. This is crucial for backgrounds, fixed objects, or any areas you don't want the AI to inadvertently move. It prevents unwanted camera shifts.
Add a Text Prompt
Pair your motion brush with a text prompt that matches the intended movement. This alignment helps the AI understand your intent. For example, if you've drawn a path for a bird to fly upward, add "bird flying upward into the sky" to your prompt.
Generate Your Video
Click Confirm to save your motion settings, then click Create. Generation typically takes 3-8 minutes depending on complexity and duration settings.
Pro Tips for Better Results
🎯 One Brush Per Element
Each motion brush should cover only one element. Don't try to animate a dog's head and legs separately—cover the entire dog with one brush.
📏 Path Length Matters
Short strokes create sharp, quick movements. Long curves create smooth, flowing motions. Match your path length to the movement style you want.
🔢 Up to 6 Elements
You can animate up to 6 different elements simultaneously, each with their own motion paths. Great for complex scenes with multiple moving parts.
🖌️ Match Prompts
Always write a text prompt that corresponds to your motion brush directions. The AI uses both inputs to understand what you want.
💡 Pro Tip: The Static Brush Secret
The Static Brush is your secret weapon for professional results. Use it liberally on backgrounds, furniture, walls, and anything else that shouldn't move. This prevents the common issue of the whole scene subtly shifting during animation.
Common Use Cases
Portrait Animation
Make portrait photos come alive with subtle movements. Draw paths for:
- Hair: Gentle flowing motion to simulate a breeze
- Eyes: Subtle gaze shifts (keep the path very short)
- Clothing: Fabric movement like a scarf or dress
- Smile: Slight upward motion at the corners of the mouth
Use static brush on the face structure and background to maintain realism.
Nature Scenes
Bring landscapes to life with natural movements:
- Clouds: Slow horizontal drift across the sky
- Water: Flowing paths following the current direction
- Trees/Plants: Gentle swaying motion
- Birds: Swooping flight paths across the frame
Product Shots
Make e-commerce images more engaging:
- Rotation: Draw a curved path around the product center
- Floating elements: Animate decorative items around your product
- Liquid motion: For beverages, draw the liquid flow path
Technical Specifications
| Supported Image Formats | JPG, PNG, WEBP |
| Maximum File Size | 10 MB |
| Minimum Resolution | 300px (short side) |
| Max Elements per Video | 6 simultaneous |
| Available in Models | Kling 1.5+, 2.x, 3.0 |
| Credit Cost | 10-30 credits (varies by duration) |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
⚠️ Element Not Moving as Expected
Fix: Make sure your text prompt matches your motion path direction. If you draw a path going left but your prompt says "moving right," the AI gets confused. Also, try making the path more pronounced—subtle paths sometimes get ignored.
⚠️ Background Moving When It Shouldn't
Fix: Use the Static Brush more aggressively on your background. Select all areas you want to keep still. This is the most common issue and the most easily fixed.
⚠️ Unnatural or Jerky Motion
Fix: Smooth out your motion path. Sharp angles create jerky movement. For natural motion, draw curved, flowing lines. Also consider the motion speed—short paths = fast movement, which can look abrupt.
⚠️ Element Disappearing or Morphing
Fix: Your path may be too long or going off-frame. Keep elements within the visible area. Also, make sure you've selected the complete element—partial selections cause morphing issues.
Advanced Technique: Combining with Camera Control
For truly cinematic results, combine Motion Brush with camera control prompts. First, set up your element animations with Motion Brush, then add camera movement keywords to your text prompt:
- "Woman turning her head, slow dolly in" - Element motion + camera approaching
- "Leaves falling, camera tilting up to reveal sky" - Multiple elements + camera tilt
- "Car driving forward, tracking shot following" - Motion path + camera follow
This creates dynamic videos where both your subjects AND the camera are moving, just like in professional filmmaking.