Correction, 2026-10-01: an earlier version of this page listed a 4-second Veo 3.1 Lite clip at 27 credits and suggested a 27-credit Lite run to test a start image. On 8frame, Veo image-to-video is locked to 8 seconds, so the cheapest run with a start image is Lite at 54 credits with sound or 33 silent. It also said WebP, AVIF "and similar" formats are converted for you; for Veo only WebP is converted, and AVIF and GIF are refused. Sources are now listed at the end.
Veo 3.1 wants a start image of 720p or higher, shaped 16:9 or 9:16, no larger than 8 MB. Those are the provider's terms: fal's documentation for Veo 3.1 image-to-video says the image "should be 720p or higher resolution in 16:9 or 9:16 aspect ratio", accepts "input images up to 8MB in size", and crops anything else "to fit" (fal, Veo 3.1 image-to-video API, checked 2026-10-01). Size is the one that stops a run. The shape costs you composition rather than the run.
TL;DR
- Minimum 720p. On 8frame a 1024 x 1024 square is too small.
- 16:9 or 9:16, or it gets cropped. A 4:3 or square image is cut to fit, so keep the subject away from the edges.
- 8 MB maximum at the provider. On 8frame larger images are resized for you.
- JPG or PNG. On 8frame a WebP is converted to JPEG for you; AVIF and GIF are refused.
- Vertical catch on 8frame: the check currently asks for at least 1280 px wide and 720 px tall in every orientation, so a vertical start image must be at least 1280 px wide (for example 1440 x 2560). A 720 x 1280 image is refused.
- Always 8 seconds with a start image on 8frame. The cheapest image-to-video run is Veo 3.1 Lite: 54 credits with sound, 33 silent.
- Same rules on all three tiers: Veo 3.1, Fast and Lite.
The requirements, in one table
| Requirement | Veo 3.1 (provider) | On 8frame |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 720p or higher | At least 1280 px wide and 720 px tall |
| Shape | 16:9 or 9:16; other shapes are cropped | Same |
| File size | Up to 8 MB | Larger images are resized for you |
| Format | Not stated on fal's page | JPG and PNG go through; WebP is converted to JPEG for you; AVIF and GIF are refused |
| Clip length | 4, 6 or 8 s | Always 8 s with a start image |
| Output | 720p, 1080p or 4K (Lite: 720p or 1080p) | Lite 720p; Veo 3.1 and Fast 1080p |
Why a vertical image fails on 8frame
fal's wording, "720p or higher in 16:9 or 9:16", reads as 720 x 1280 being acceptable for vertical video. 8frame's own check is stricter today: it tests width against 1280 and height against 720 whatever the orientation. A vertical image therefore needs a width of at least 1280 px, which in 9:16 means 1280 x 2276 or larger. If you are making vertical Veo clips, export the start frame at 1440 x 2560 and it clears both.
The check runs before anything is charged, so a refused image costs you nothing but the re-export.
End frames and reference images
The same size check covers every image you connect to a Veo node, not only the start frame:
- First and last frame: connect a start image and an end image (an end image on its own is refused). The clip is 8 seconds on every tier, and both images need 1280 px of width and 720 px of height. More in first and last frame AI video.
- Multi-reference: the "3.1 multi-reference" option in the Veo tool takes 1 to 3 reference images instead of a start frame and makes an 8-second 1080p clip at full Veo 3.1 rates (448 credits with sound). There is no Lite version of this mode, and each reference has to pass the same size check. More in reference image limits by model.
Composing for the crop
Anything that is not 16:9 or 9:16 is cropped to fit. Two consequences:
- Square and 4:3 images lose their edges. A product centred with generous margins survives; a logo in the corner may not.
- Pick the output shape before you make the start image. If the clip is for Reels or TikTok, build the start frame in 9:16 rather than letting a landscape image be cut down. More on shapes in AI video aspect ratios.
Too small: the fixes
- Generate the start image larger. Set the image model's output to at least 1280 px on the short side for vertical, or 1280 x 720 for landscape.
- Upscale it first. On the canvas, run the image through an upscaler, then into Veo. Clarity and Topaz both enlarge stills; Clarity enlarges 2x, which takes a 1024 x 1024 square to 2048 x 2048.
- Or use a model with a lower minimum. Kling and Happy Horse take 300 x 300; the full list is in upload limits by model.
What each tier costs
Credits on 8frame, where a credit is about $0.01 at pack rate. With a start image every Veo run is 8 seconds, so these are the prices that apply to image-to-video:
| Tier | Output | 8 s with sound | 8 s silent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veo 3.1 Lite | 720p | 54 | 33 |
| Veo 3.1 Fast | 1080p | 168 | 112 |
| Veo 3.1 | 1080p | 448 | 224 |
On the canvas, a new Veo node opens on Veo 3.1 Fast with sound (168 credits). Since the size and format checks run before the charge, you do not need a paid run to find out whether an image is accepted. To see how a start image animates and how the crop lands before paying for Veo 3.1, try it on Lite first: the image rules are the same on every tier. Details in Veo 3 pricing explained.
FAQ
What size image does Veo 3.1 need for image to video? 720p or higher, 16:9 or 9:16, up to 8 MB, per fal's documentation. On 8frame the image must currently be at least 1280 px wide and 720 px tall, in JPG or PNG (a WebP is converted for you).
Why does Veo reject my vertical image? On 8frame the check requires 1280 px of width in every orientation. Export vertical start frames at 1440 x 2560 or larger.
Does Veo 3.1 crop my image? Yes, if it is not 16:9 or 9:16. Keep important detail away from the edges, or make the start image in the output shape.
Can I make a 4-second Veo clip from an image? Not on 8frame: with a start image the Veo tool is locked to 8 seconds. fal's API lists 4, 6 and 8 seconds for image-to-video.
Is a failed Veo run charged? No. On 8frame failed generations are refunded automatically, and an image refused by the size or format check is never charged.
Sources
- Start image terms (720p or higher, 16:9 or 9:16, cropping, 8 MB), clip lengths and output resolutions: fal, Veo 3.1 image-to-video API, checked 2026-10-01
- The same terms for the other tiers: fal, Veo 3.1 Fast image-to-video API and Veo 3.1 Lite image-to-video API, checked 2026-10-01
- Size, file and format checks on 8frame, and that they run before the charge: the 8frame app, checked 2026-10-01
- 8-second lock with a start image, the Fast default, end-frame and multi-reference rules, output resolution: the 8frame app, checked 2026-10-01
- Credits: the 8frame app, checked 2026-10-01
- Kling and Happy Horse minimum image size: the 8frame app, checked 2026-10-01
- Clarity enlarging 2x: the 8frame app, checked 2026-10-01
Try it without signing up: the 8frame canvas opens on a real board. The canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.