---
title: "Make your first video"
description: "Make your first video in Cardboard: choose a Recipe or prepare your clips, write a prompt, refine the first cut and export the finished video."
canonical: "https://www.cardboard.ai/learn/make-your-first-video"
---

# Make your first video

Make your first video in Cardboard: choose a Recipe or prepare your clips, write a prompt, refine the first cut and export the finished video.

## Start with a [recipe](https://www.cardboard.ai/recipes)

Making your first video can be overwhelming sometimes, so the easiest way to create on Cardboard is with Recipes: a set of curated templates we've put together to get you to a great video as fast as possible. Simply pick one you like and make it yours.

Browse [Recipes](https://www.cardboard.ai/recipes), pick an edit you like and remake it with your own footage.

If you would rather make your own montage from scratch, let's get you set up.

## Step 01: Prepare

All you need to make a video on Cardboard is an idea. Choose the one that sounds like you and we will take it from there.

If you know what you want, gather your idea, a reference video, music and clips. If you are unsure, start with a Recipe, or bring an idea and a reference. You can ask Cardboard to source B-roll and generate music when you do not have your own.

## Step 02: Prompt

If you choose a Recipe, the prompt is baked into the template, but if you’re starting from scratch, this is how to get started.

Prepare the video length, subject, target platform, feel, reference links, music link and clips before writing your montage prompt.

Once you have what you need, plug the info into the prompt and paste it into Cardboard:

> **Steal this prompt:** Make a **[length]** montage about **[subject]** for **[platform]**. The feel is **[feel]**. Reference 1: **[reference link]** (what I like: **[the text, the pacing]**). Use this music: **[music link]**.

If you don’t have any clips, add this line to the end:

> **Steal this prompt:** I have no clips of my own, so source B-roll that fits the subject. Match the look and pacing of the reference, and keep the shots varied so no two in a row feel the same.

[Writing a montage prompt with clips and links attached](https://www.cardboard.ai/images/learn/first-video-prompt.mp4)

## Step 03: Refine

Your first cut is only a draft. You can keep talking to the Cardboard agent, until you get the version you want.

Change one thing at a time. If the pacing is off, fix that first. Say what to keep and point to the exact moment you want changed.

To learn more about refining, read [How to refine your edit](https://www.cardboard.ai/learn/how-to-refine-your-edit).

## Step 04: Export

When you are happy with your edit, press **Export** at the top. Choose the quality and format, then press **Export**.

[Pressing Export in the top bar and choosing a resolution](https://www.cardboard.ai/images/learn/first-video-export.mp4)

### Want to post on two platforms?

Once you have exported for one platform, paste this into the same project to get a version for another.

After exporting one version, ask the agent to adapt the same project to the aspect ratio and framing of your next platform.

## All done!

Congrats on your first video on Cardboard! The next guide covers how to prompt really well, so you can make literally any video you like.

[How to prompt in Cardboard](https://www.cardboard.ai/learn/how-to-prompt-in-cardboard) · [Start from a recipe](https://www.cardboard.ai/learn/start-from-a-recipe)