vidmoat MODULE 02 · LESSON 02.02 · 20 MIN WITH PRACTICE
Use a style reference without copying everything
About this video
Alex is a fictional illustrated presenter with audio-reactive animation. Narration is AI-generated. Editor visuals are screenshot walkthroughs; inspect the interactive demonstrations below as you follow along.
Attach a reference and explain exactly which qualities should influence your edit.
A reference works best when you can name what you like. You might admire the large opening title, the space around the subject, or the way a review uses a brief close-up to support a claim. Those are decisions you can describe and adapt. “Do exactly this” often imports details that do not fit your footage.
Use Style reference for an image or video that guides the edit. Use Add footage for material that should appear in the finished video. These are separate actions. In this course edition, style references support images and videos, with up to four attached references. Video inspection covers the first two minutes. If the useful moment is later, supply a short excerpt you are entitled to use.
A style reference is also different from a character or product reference used during generation. The first guides an edit’s look; the second guides the appearance of newly generated media. Neither guarantees an exact copy. The agent may fail to inspect a reference, in which case you should retry or describe it yourself rather than assume it was understood.
SEE IT IN VIDMOAT · INTERACTIVE WALKTHROUGH
Give the agent a useful reference
Real editor screenshots · September 2026 · Select a step, then tap the image to zoom.
Check the target of your request
Open Ask AI. A selected-clip chip scopes the request to that clip. Remove the chip when your brief applies to the whole edit. These screenshots show the composer before sending.
The Clean Title chip in this capture means the title is selected.
Separate inspiration from footage
Choose + Style reference for inspiration. Use the regular upload path for material that belongs in the video. Explain what you want to borrow: text placement, pace, palette or mood.
The captured UI accepts reference images or the first two minutes of a reference video. Check the current limit in your app.
Find the same task on a phone
In the phone browser, use AI in the bottom navigation to reach the chat. Open the relevant panel instead of trying to fit the entire desktop workspace on screen.
This is the responsive web editor. Native app arrangements may differ.
Step 1 of 3
Follow along in Vidmoat
- Open Style reference in the dashboard or project chat.
- Attach resources/style-layout.png, or your own permitted example.
- Wait for upload and inspection. Read any failure message.
- Describe two qualities to borrow and one quality to avoid.
- Check the next edit against those specific qualities, not against an imagined perfect match.
A prompt you can adapt
Use this reference for its large left-aligned title and generous space around the product. Keep my own footage, wording and orange accent. Do not copy its logo, soundtrack or subject. If you cannot inspect the attachment, tell me before editing.
Your turn
Attach one example. Write “Borrow…” and “Keep…” statements. If attachment access is unavailable, write the same guidance in plain text and complete the exercise without it.
What a successful attempt looks like
You can point to the borrowed layout decision in your result while the content remains yours.
A common trap
Attaching a whole ten-minute video does not mean every moment was inspected. Narrow the example to the part that matters.
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IN THIS LESSON
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