Correction, 2026-10-02: the summary table gave Wan 2.5 lengths of 5, 10 or 15 seconds. On 8frame, Wan 2.5 makes 5-second clips at 1080p, for 102 credits. The tip on longer background layers now points to Wan 3.0, which runs 2 to 30 seconds.
Correction, 2026-10-01: the summary table listed Wan 2.2 among the Wan models on 8frame for these text prompts without saying that on 8frame Wan 2.2 runs only from a start image or an input video. The prompts below are for Wan 3.0 and Wan 2.5; the table now marks Wan 2.2 as image or video input only.
Wan is the right model family for cheap b-roll when your constraint is budget and iteration speed rather than a client-grade final. There are two honest answers to "free". The only genuinely free route is self-hosting Wan 2.2, whose weights are published under Apache 2.0; you pay in GPU and setup time instead. Hosted on 8frame, generation is paid: Wan 2.5 is 102 credits for 5 seconds at 1080p, and the newer Wan 3.0 is 24 credits for 5 seconds at 480p, 48 at 720p and 95 at 1080p, which makes it the cheaper Wan for b-roll today. The 8 prompts below work on both.
Correction, 2026-09-29: the first version of this page presented these prompts as "tested", with observations of each output and timings. We could not reproduce those notes, so they are removed; the prompts and the formula stay. It also said Wan 2.5 outputs 720p (it runs at 1080p on 8frame) and that Kling v3 outputs native 4K (no model on 8frame outputs 4K), and it did not mention Wan 3.0.
TL;DR
| Wan model on 8frame | 5 s clip | Resolution | Lengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wan 3.0 | 24 / 48 / 95 credits | 480p / 720p / 1080p | 2 to 30 s |
| Wan 2.2 (a14b), start image or video only | 50 credits | 720p | 5, 10 or 15 s |
| Wan 2.5 | 102 credits | 1080p | 5 s |
- Cheapest b-roll on 8frame's Wan models: Wan 3.0 at 480p, 24 credits per 5 seconds. Draft there, regenerate the keepers at 720p or 1080p.
- The prompt formula: Subject + Environment + Light + Camera motion. Set length and aspect ratio in the node, not in the prompt.
- Genuinely free: self-hosted Wan 2.2. Its 5B text-and-image-to-video card lists 720p at 24fps, 5-second clips and a 24 GB GPU minimum.
When Wan is the right call for b-roll
Wan earns its place in three situations. Budget-gated work where per-clip cost is the real constraint: student projects, indie documentaries, YouTube channels. On the $19 Starter plan's 1,000 credits, that is 41 five-second Wan 3.0 clips at 480p, 20 at 720p, or 9 Wan 2.5 clips.
Storyboard-phase iteration is the second. Before committing to a 448-credit Veo 3.1 generation, run the composition through Wan 3.0 at 480p a few times. You'll know if the camera angle and lighting concept work before spending the larger number.
The third is abstract texture work: transition overlays, backgrounds, skies and water, where soft edges matter least.
Move up to Kling or Veo when the clip is going to a client, plays full-screen, or needs precise lighting or faces. Where each model's resolution tops out is in AI video resolution by model.
The prompt formula
Subject: Specific. "A red ceramic pour-over coffee dripper" beats "a coffee maker." Concrete visual anchors give the model less room to guess.
Environment: One sentence on where this is happening and what the background looks like. Vague environments produce generic fills.
Light: Direction and colour temperature. "Soft north window light from the left, cool 5500K" gives the model a target. Name the light every time; without it, video models tend towards flat, even fill.
Camera motion: One specific move or "static." Simple moves (slow push-in, pan left, static macro) are easier to get right than compound ones.
Length and aspect ratio are settings on the node. Choose them there; writing "5 seconds" or "16:9" in the prompt does not set them.
8 prompts for b-roll
1. Urban street scene
A busy pedestrian crossing in a mid-sized city at golden hour. People walk across the striped crosswalk from both directions, slightly backlit by low evening sun from directly ahead. Warm amber light, long shadows stretching toward camera. Static wide shot, slightly elevated angle as if from a first-floor window. Shallow depth of field on mid-ground pedestrians.
Crowds at a distance are good background b-roll; individual faces at this size will be soft, so don't plan a cut to a close-up from it.
2. Nature establishing shot
Tall pine forest on a misty morning. Dense fog sits low between tree trunks, roughly 2 feet above the ground. Dappled early light filtering through the canopy from directly above, cool 4000K. Camera very slowly pans right, barely perceptible movement, almost static. No animals, no human elements.
Slow moves and atmosphere suit budget models. For a longer background layer under a title, use Wan 3.0, which runs 2 to 30 seconds; Wan 2.5 makes 5-second clips.
3. Abstract texture for transitions
Extreme close-up of rippling water surface with light from above refracting into shifting gold caustic patterns. No horizon, no sky, no objects below surface, pure abstract texture. Camera static, straight down. Warm 4500K light source directly overhead. Gentle continuous ripple motion from a light breeze.
Abstract texture hides the difference between cheap and expensive models better than faces or architecture do. Generate three variants at 480p and keep the best.
4. Coffee/cafe vignette
A red ceramic pour-over coffee dripper sitting on a light wood table. Hot water pours slowly from a gooseneck kettle into the dripper from above, steam rising from the coffee bloom. Soft window light from the left, warm 3200K, gentle bokeh on the background. Static macro shot, camera level with the table surface. No branding visible on the dripper.
Set 9:16 on the node for a vertical insert. Liquids and steam are worth two or three tries; pick the take where they move naturally.
5. Office workspace
A minimal desk setup near a large window. A closed laptop, a small plant, and a ceramic mug sit on the surface. Soft overcast daylight from the window on the right, cool 6000K, no direct sun. No people visible. Camera starts static, then does a slow dolly-in toward the desk surface.
Neutral workspace shots are a staple b-roll category, and a slow dolly is a simple enough move for any Wan version.
6. Tech gadget close-up
A black wireless earbud resting on a dark grey matte surface. Camera angle from 30 degrees above and slightly to the right. Subtle studio light from the upper left, single soft source, small highlight catch on the top curve of the earbud. Static shot. No branding on the earbud. No motion except a gentle focus breathe.
Set 1:1 on the node for a feed overlay. Static product shots with minimal motion are the safest category for any budget model.
7. Weather/sky time of day
Time-lapse style, a wide shot of an open field with a low horizon. Heavy cumulus clouds roll from left to right across a late afternoon sky, lit from below in orange and pink. The field is dry grass, slightly swaying. No structures or human elements. Camera static, locked wide.
Skies are forgiving b-roll for travel and documentary edits. If the colour comes out pale, name it more strongly rather than adding more adjectives.
8. Travel/location moment
A narrow cobblestone street in an old European town. Stone buildings on both sides, weathered plaster in muted earth tones. A single scooter is parked along the right wall. Soft overcast daylight, diffuse shadows, mid-morning feel. Camera does a slow forward walk at street level, moving toward a bright piazza visible at the far end of the street.
Forward walks are harder than pans because everything has to scale with perspective. Keep the move slow, and check the edges of the frame for warping before you use the clip.
Common failures, and what to do
Soft fine detail. Text, logos, thin architecture and faces at a distance come out soft on budget settings. Generate the keeper at 1080p (Wan 3.0 or Wan 2.5), or move that shot to a stronger model.
Flat light. If the prompt doesn't name direction, temperature and quality of light, expect an evenly lit, dull scene. Lighting language is not optional.
Blur on fast motion. Fast crowds, vehicles and whip pans blur. Design around slow or moderate motion: "slow push-in" beats "dynamic handheld energy."
Long takes drift. The longer the clip, the more room for colour and shape to wander. For b-roll, several 5-second shots cut together usually beat one 15-second take.
Step-by-step on 8frame
- Open the canvas, add a Video node, and pick Wan in the model picker. 3.0 is the default; 2.5 and 2.2 are in the same list.
- Set aspect ratio and length on the node: 16:9 for landscape b-roll, 9:16 for vertical inserts, 1:1 for feed overlays.
- Write the prompt with Subject + Environment + Light + Camera motion.
- Draft at 480p on Wan 3.0 (24 credits for 5 seconds). If motion or composition is wrong, change one variable at a time.
- Regenerate the shots you keep at 720p (48) or 1080p (95).
Wan 3.0's full price table, including Prime and reference-to-video, is in Wan 3 pricing explained.
FAQ
Is Wan 2.5 actually free on 8frame?
No. Generation on 8frame is paid: Wan 2.5 is 102 credits for 5 seconds, Wan 2.2 is 50, and Wan 3.0 is 24 to 95 depending on resolution. The canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month. You cannot self-host Wan 2.5: its weights were not published when we last checked, on 2026-08-28. Self-hosting Wan 2.2 is free per clip, but you pay in hardware and setup time.
What is the cheapest Wan for b-roll?
On 8frame, Wan 3.0 at 480p: 24 credits for 5 seconds, about $0.24 at pack rate. It runs 2 to 30 seconds per clip.
Can you use Wan outputs commercially?
For hosted models, the platform's terms govern you; generation on 8frame is on paid plans, and commercial use is cleared on paid plans. Wan 2.2's published weights are Apache 2.0; read the card for the exact repository you download.
How does Wan compare to Kling v3 for b-roll?
Kling v3 Standard is 57 credits for 5 silent seconds and 86 with audio; Wan 3.0 is 24 at 480p and 48 at 720p. For budget b-roll where nobody talks, Wan 3.0 is cheaper. For a shot that plays full-screen in a client edit, try both on the same prompt and compare; that costs less than guessing.
Sources
- Wan 2.2 weights, licence, resolution and GPU requirement: huggingface.co/Wan-AI, checked 2026-08-28
- Wan 2.2 input requirement on 8frame (start image or input video): 8frame video generation code, read 2026-10-01
- 8frame prices, resolutions and lengths: the 8frame tool registry, 2026-09-29
- Wan 2.5's 5-second 1080p output on 8frame: 8frame video generation code, read 2026-10-02
Draft cheap, keep the best, regenerate the keepers. The 8frame canvas is free and unlimited; generation is paid from $19/month.