Image to Live Photo

Bring a still photo to life: generate a short video of about 4 seconds in which whatever should move (water, foliage, mist, a person's breathing and blinking, and so on) moves naturally according to the content, with slight camera movement, as if a brief clip had been filmed on location.

Two delivery formats are available via output_format: an MP4 video by default, or an Android motion photo — a single .jpg file with the video embedded after the still image, which supported Android galleries play on long press. Both formats cost the same.

Notes: the output uses a standard aspect ratio, which may not exactly match the source image; the resulting video has no audio track.

Before / After

Before

After

Create Task

Basic Information

Item	Value
Request Method	`POST`
Request Path	`/task/image_to_live`
Content-Type	`application/json`
Authentication	Raw API key in the `Authorization` header

Request Body

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
`file_id`	`string`	Yes	-	Uploaded image file ID
`output_format`	`string`	No	`mp4`	Delivery format. `mp4` = a short video of about 4 seconds; `motion_photo` = an Android motion photo (a single `.jpg`, with the video also returned separately). See Output Specification

Request Example

curl -X POST https://api.ai-mcn.tv:10000/task/image_to_live \
  -H "Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"file_id": "537489015178246"}'

Requesting an Android motion photo:

curl -X POST https://api.ai-mcn.tv:10000/task/image_to_live \
  -H "Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"file_id": "537489015178246", "output_format": "motion_photo"}'

Success Example

{
  "code": 200,
  "msg": "success",
  "data": {
    "task_id": "537489015178247",
    "task_type": "image_to_live",
    "status": "queued"
  }
}

Query Task Result

Basic Information

Item	Value
Request Method	`GET`
Request Path	`/task/image_to_live/{task_id}`
Authentication	Raw API key in the `Authorization` header

Output Result (`output_result`)

Parameter	Type	Description
`file_id`	`string`	Primary output file ID — the video when `output_format=mp4`, the motion photo (`.jpg`) when `output_format=motion_photo`
`download_url`	`string`	Download path for the primary output
`video_file_id`	`string`	File ID of the video itself (only when `output_format=motion_photo`)
`video_download_url`	`string`	Download path for the video itself (only when `output_format=motion_photo`)

Success Example

{
  "code": 200,
  "msg": "success",
  "data": {
    "task_id": "537489015178247",
    "status": "completed",
    "progress": 100,
    "output_result": {
      "file_id": "537489015178248",
      "download_url": "/download/a1/output.mp4"
    },
    "create_time": "2026-04-05T08:00:00Z",
    "update_time": "2026-04-05T08:00:30Z"
  }
}

With output_format=motion_photo, the motion photo is the primary output and the video is returned alongside it:

{
  "code": 200,
  "msg": "success",
  "data": {
    "task_id": "537489015178247",
    "status": "completed",
    "progress": 100,
    "output_result": {
      "file_id": "537489015178248",
      "download_url": "/download/a1/output.jpg",
      "video_file_id": "537489015178249",
      "video_download_url": "/download/a1/output.mp4"
    },
    "create_time": "2026-04-05T08:00:00Z",
    "update_time": "2026-04-05T08:00:30Z"
  }
}

Output Specification

Item	Details
Container / codec	MP4 (H.264)
Duration	About 4.5 seconds
Frame rate	24 fps
Audio	None (the output is a silent video)
Resolution	720P tier, selected automatically from the input aspect ratio (see below)
File size	Typically 1–4 MB, depending on visual complexity

Output Aspect Ratios

The service reads the aspect ratio of the input image and generates at the closest standard ratio:

Input aspect ratio	Output size
16:9 (landscape)	1280 × 736
4:3 (landscape)	1280 × 960
3:4 (portrait)	736 × 1280
1:1 (square)	Square tier

Note: the output uses a standard aspect ratio, which may not exactly match the source image, so the edges of the frame can be cropped slightly. This is most noticeable for portrait images — a 3:4 source is rendered as a taller portrait video, with some of the left and right edges cropped away. If the composition matters, use Image Aspect Ratio Conversion to bring the source to the target ratio before calling this endpoint.

Android Motion Photo (`output_format=motion_photo`)

The primary output is a single .jpg file: the video above is embedded verbatim after the still image, with its position declared in the image metadata. It is also an ordinary picture — any image viewer opens it normally, while Android galleries that support the standard recognise it as a motion photo and play it on long press.

Item	Description
Container	JPEG (still image + embedded MP4, single file)
Still image	Keeps the source resolution, centre-cropped to the video's aspect ratio so the still and the motion share one composition
Embedded video	Byte-for-byte identical to the `output_format=mp4` output; never re-encoded
File size	Typically 5-10 MB (still image plus video)
Companion output	The video itself is also returned as `video_file_id` / `video_download_url` and can be downloaded separately

Compatibility boundaries (please confirm these fit your use case before integrating):

Android: galleries on Pixel, Xiaomi, Samsung and other devices that support the standard recognise and play it.

iOS: Apple uses a different format (a Live Photo is a HEIC + MOV pair), so iOS does not recognise this output. It appears as an ordinary still image, which opens normally without errors.

Some devices: vendor implementations vary, and a few models may show the file as a still image only.

What the Motion Looks Like

Elements that would naturally move do so according to the content: ripples on water, foliage swaying in the wind, drifting clouds and mist, moving traffic and pedestrians, rising steam, a person's natural breathing and blinking, and so on.
The camera moves slightly (a slow push-in, a gentle pan, or a subtle handheld drift), so the result feels like a brief clip filmed on location rather than a frozen frame.
The subject's appearance, pose, clothing and the overall composition stay consistent with the source image; no people or objects are added or removed.

Processing Time

A single task usually takes 6–9 minutes, including queueing. Tasks run asynchronously — poll status through the query endpoint instead of waiting synchronously.

Usage Notes

Input image: jpg / jpeg / png / bmp / webp are supported. Photos with a clear subject and complete composition work best; scenes containing water, foliage, clouds or crowds produce the most natural motion.
Regenerating: submitting the same image again produces a different result, so you can retry if you are not satisfied with the output.
Billing: charged per call, regardless of the output duration. See the pricing guide for the current price.

Error Codes

Error Code	HTTP Status	Description	Resolution
`6013`	400	Missing `file_id`	Pass the `file_id` field
`6016`	400	Invalid `output_format` value	Use either `mp4` or `motion_photo`
`6014`	400	File type does not match the task	Upload an image file
`6004`	404	File not found	Verify the `file_id`
`6502`	401	Authentication failed	Check the `Authorization` header
`6202`	402	Insufficient balance	Recharge in the Dashboard

Image to Live Photo

Before / After

Create Task

Basic Information

Request Body

Request Example

Success Example

Query Task Result

Basic Information

Output Result (output_result)

Success Example

Output Specification

Output Aspect Ratios

Android Motion Photo (output_format=motion_photo)

What the Motion Looks Like

Processing Time

Usage Notes

Error Codes

Output Result (`output_result`)

Android Motion Photo (`output_format=motion_photo`)