Use when the user wants to apply a named Higgsfield motion preset, asks about VFX presets, transformation effects, elemental effects, or transition presets. Contains the full named preset library with descriptions and prompt usage.
Use when the user wants to apply a named Higgsfield motion preset, asks about VFX presets, transformation effects, elemental effects, or transition presets. Contains the full named preset library with descriptions and prompt usage.
Higgsfield has 100+ named motion presets. Reference them by exact name in your prompt
and the platform applies the preset's signature effect. Think of these as VFX macros —
one name triggers a complete pre-built visual effect.
Scope caveat[FIELD — 13-project community harvest + live preset-catalog pull, both 2026-07-18]: motion presets are the
viral-effects / social product, not the film grammar. None of the 13
harvested community film/ad productions used a single motion preset —
serious film work free-prompts its camera through Cinema Studio /
Seedance block briefs (../higgsfield-camera/SKILL.md,
../higgsfield-seedance/SKILL.md). Separately, the live catalog pull
showed ~100 unique preset names expanded into ~1,900 per-model variants
(kling / higgsfield / wan / minimax / seedance families with baked
params); category weights at pull time skewed to effects/viral/vfx/ugc. Route preset requests here as ever — but don't
steer a filmmaking request into presets when free-prompted camera language
is the production-proven path.
How to use in a prompt:
[Your scene description.] Apply the [Preset Name] preset.
Transformation & Body Effects
Preset
What it does
Best for
Animalization
Subject transforms into an animal
Werewolf, shapeshifter, fantasy
Werewolf
Human-to-werewolf transformation sequence
Horror, fantasy, supernatural
Cyborg
Subject gains mechanical/cybernetic components
Sci-fi, body augmentation
Turning Metal
Subject or object transforms into metal
Sci-fi, industrial, transformation
Disintegration
Subject breaks apart into particles
Dramatic death, magic, sci-fi
Gas Transformation
Subject dissolves into gas or smoke
Mystery, supernatural, horror
Clone Explosion
Subject multiplies and explodes outward
Action, surreal, energetic
Monstrosity
Subject transforms into a monstrous form
Horror, dark fantasy
X-Ray
Subject shown with visible internal structure
Medical, sci-fi, surreal
Freezing
Subject or scene freezes into ice
Winter, magic, time-stop
Tattoo Animation
Tattoos on skin come alive and move
Artistic, body art, fantasy
Hair Style
Subject's hair rapidly changes style
Fashion, fun, transformation
Luminous Gaze
Eyes emit powerful glowing light
Supernatural, power awakening
Black Tears
Subject cries dark/black tears
Emotional horror, dark drama
Head Off
Subject's head appears separated from body
Surreal, horror, dark humor
Head Explosion
Subject's head explodes dramatically
Action, horror, surreal
Duplicate
Subject is duplicated/cloned in frame
Surreal, sci-fi, artistic
Ghoulgao
Subject transforms into a ghoul
Halloween, horror
Elemental Effects
Preset
What it does
Best for
Air Bending
Subject controls and bends air currents
Fantasy, martial arts, elemental
Water Bending
Subject controls flowing water
Fantasy, elemental, mystical
Earth Wave
Ground ripples and waves like water
Earthquake, power, epic
Fire Element
Fire surrounds or emanates from subject
Action, elemental, power
Water Element
Water surrounds or flows around subject
Mystical, elemental
Earth Element
Earth/rock forms around subject
Fantasy, elemental warrior
Air Element
Air currents visibly swirl around subject
Elemental, windmaster
Firelava
Fire and lava merge in the scene
Volcanic, epic destruction
Explosion
Large-scale explosion effect
Action, war, destruction
Building Explosion
Entire building explodes
Disaster, action blockbuster
Plasma Explosion
Subject or object explodes in plasma
Sci-fi, energy weapon hit
Atomic
Nuclear-scale blast and shockwave
Post-apocalyptic, epic
Flame On
Subject ignites and burns without harm
Superhero, elemental, fantasy
Flame Transition
Fire sweeps across frame as transition
Action transition, drama
Northern Lights
Aurora borealis fills the sky
Nature, mystical, atmospheric
Nature Bloom
Flowers and plants rapidly bloom
Spring, life, time-lapse feel
Transitions
Preset
What it does
Best for
Raven Transition
Dark, dramatic wipe transition
Horror, thriller, intense drama
Splash Transition
Water splash sweeps across frame
Aquatic, fresh, energetic
Flame Transition
Fire sweeps across frame
Action, intensity
Melt Transition
Scene melts away into the next
Surreal, dreamy, artistic
Smoke Transition
Smoke fills frame then clears to new scene
Mysterious, atmospheric
Seamless Transition
Clean invisible cut between scenes
Any genre, professional
Jump Transition
Quick kinetic jump cut
Action, energy
Hole Transition
A hole appears and expands to new scene
Surreal, portal, sci-fi
Roll Transition
Frame rolls like a scroll
Artistic, playful
Fly Cam Transition
Camera flies through space to new scene
Cinematic, epic
Display Transition
Screen/display device reveals new scene
Tech, modern, meta
Hand Transition
A hand wipes/sweeps to new scene
Stylized, editorial
Stranger Transition
Mysterious figure triggers transition
Thriller, mystery
Column Wipe
Columns of image wipe to reveal new scene
Stylized, editorial
Intermission
Old-cinema intermission card style
Retro, playful, meta
Action & Motion Effects
Preset
What it does
Best for
Fast Sprint
Subject sprints at superhuman speed
Action, chase, power
Giant Grab
Enormous hand or creature grabs subject
Horror, monster, scale
I Can Fly
Subject lifts off and flies
Superhero, fantasy, joy
Hero Flight
Cinematic superhero-style flight arc
Superhero, action
Train Rush
High-speed train rushes past
Action, transport, speed
Bullet Time Scene
Matrix-style frozen moment camera sweep
Action climax, impact
Bullet Time White
Bullet time with white flash
Action, high contrast
Bullet Time Splash
Bullet time with liquid splash
Combat, impact
Levitation
Subject levitates upward
Magic, supernatural, zen
Shadow Smoke
Subject's shadow takes on smoke quality
Dark, supernatural
Shadow
Dramatic shadow play in scene
Noir, mystery, drama
Glow Trace
Moving subject leaves glowing trail
Dance, action, energy
Live Concert
Concert atmosphere with stage lighting
Music, performance
3D Rotation
Subject or object rotates in 3D space
Product, logo, artistic
Surreal / Artistic
Preset
What it does
Best for
Multiverse
Scene fractures into parallel versions
Sci-fi, surreal, mind-bending
Wonderland
Dreamlike Alice-in-Wonderland reality
Fantasy, children, surreal
Portal
A portal opens to another dimension
Sci-fi, fantasy, travel
Glitch
Digital glitch artifacts across the image
Cyberpunk, tech, artistic
Point Cloud
Scene rendered as floating particles
Artistic, sci-fi, abstract
Wireframe
Subject shown as 3D wireframe
Tech, sci-fi, design
Diamond
Subject or scene crystallizes to diamond
Fashion, luxury, artistic
Innerlight
Warm inner glow emanates from subject
Spiritual, emotional, warm
Polygon
Scene fragments into geometric polygons
Abstract, digital, art
Nature / Environment
Preset
What it does
Best for
Earth Zoom Out
Camera pulls back from earth's surface
Epic reveal, scale, planet
Cotton Cloud
Soft clouds form and drift through scene
Dreamy, peaceful, sky
Sakura Petals
Cherry blossom petals fill the air
Japanese aesthetic, romance
Garden Bloom
Garden bursts into bloom
Spring, life, beauty
Aquarium
Scene takes on underwater aquarium quality
Nature, peaceful, aquatic
Ice Rose
Rose or subject freezes in crystalline ice
Winter, beauty, time-stop
Color Rain
Colorful rain falls through the scene
Artistic, joyful, musical
Glowing Fish
Bioluminescent fish swim through scene
Underwater, mystical
Bubbles
Bubbles float upward through the scene
Dreamy, underwater, child-like
Horror / Dark
Preset
What it does
Best for
Horror Face
Subject's face takes on horror distortion
Horror, psychological, jump scare
Spiders from Mouth
Spiders pour from subject's mouth
Body horror, extreme horror
Storm Creature
A creature emerges from a storm
Horror, monster reveal
Sand Worm
Giant sandworm erupts from ground
Sci-fi horror, Dune-style
Social / Fun
Preset
What it does
Best for
Money Rain
Cash rains down from above
Celebration, success, hip-hop
Group Photo
Scene freezes in a group photo pose
Comedy, social, fun
Firework
Fireworks burst in the sky/scene
Celebration, new year, joy
Starship Troopers
Sci-fi military action aesthetic
Sci-fi action, parody
Thunder God
Subject wields thunder/lightning power
Fantasy, power, epic
Objects Around
Objects orbit around the subject
Cartoon, playful, magic
Balloon
Balloons fill the scene
Party, joyful, celebration
Saint Glow
Halo and saintly glow around subject
Spiritual, ironic, artistic
How to Request a Preset in a Prompt
A woman stands at the edge of a cliff at sunset, hair flowing in the wind.
She raises her hands slowly as energy builds around her.
Camera: Crane Up revealing the ocean below.
Style: Cinematic, golden hour, 16:9.
Apply the Plasma Explosion preset at the moment her hands reach full extension.
Two fighters face each other in a rain-soaked alley.
Camera: Bullet Time as the first punch lands.
Style: Anamorphic, desaturated, high contrast.
Apply the Flame Transition preset to cut to the next scene.
Negative constraints: For motion/VFX artifacts (preset not visible, VFX looks cartoonish,
jittery motion) and their prevention phrases, see ../shared/negative-constraints.md —
Body/Motion Artifacts and Temporal/Consistency Artifacts sections.
Intent-First Choreography (Cinema Studio 3.0 / Seedance 2.0 Best Practices)
These principles apply to Cinema Studio 3.0's generation engine (Business/Team plan only) and complement the motion preset library above.
Intent over Timestamps
Describe the INTENT and CONSEQUENCE of action, not precise frame-by-frame choreography. Let the AI director handle interpolation between key moments.
Wrong:At 0s: character raises right arm. At 1s: arm reaches 45 degrees. At 2s: arm fully extended. At 3s: energy ball forms.
Right:The character raises her arm slowly, energy gathering in her palm until it erupts in a blinding flash. Sparks scatter across the floor.
@Video Reference as Primary Method
For all action and fight scenes, @Video reference is the most reliable approach:
Upload a reference clip showing the movement you want
Reference @Video1 for movement choreography.
A swordsman draws his blade explosively, cutting through three bamboo stalks in rapid succession.
Stalks topple, leaves scatter, blade gleams in the sunlight.
Capability boundary: For what @Video reference reads reliably vs. less reliably
across world / texture / camera character / production feel — and what it can't do at
all — see ../higgsfield-camera/SKILL.md § Video Reference — What It Reads, and What
It Can't. The action-specific guidance above remains the primary method for fight
and chase scenes.
One Action Per Shot Rule
For text-only action (no video reference), do not chain multiple distinct actions into one sentence. Break them down per shot:
Wrong:She jumps over the wall, rolls on landing, draws her weapon, and fires three shots while running.
Right (as separate Cinema Studio 3.0 shots):
Shot 1: She leaps over the wall, coat flaring. Landing hard, she rolls forward.
Shot 2: Rising from the roll, she draws her weapon in one fluid motion.
Shot 3: Running at full sprint, she fires three shots. Muzzle flash lights up the alley.
Beat Density Diagnostic
If output is blurry, jittery, or morphing: too many actions packed into too short a duration.
The model handles 1–2 distinct action beats every 5 seconds. If your prompt has 4+ actions in a 5-second window, the model can't resolve them all and produces artifacts.
Duration
Max Beats
Example
3–5s
1–2
Jump + land
5–8s
2–3
Jump + land + draw weapon
8–12s
3–5
Jump + land + draw + fire + take cover
12–15s
4–6
Full action sequence (use multi-shot)
Fix: Split dense action across multiple shots, or extend the duration to give each beat more time.
Related skills
higgsfield-camera — Camera controls (combine with motion presets)
higgsfield-style — Visual styles (pair with motion effects)
higgsfield-mixed-media — Artistic preset overlays (different from motion presets)
higgsfield-recipes — Genre templates referencing specific presets
templates/ — Annotated templates showing preset usage in context
Kling 3.0 Motion Control — When and How to Run It
Important: This is NOT a named motion preset. Everything above in this
sub-skill is the VFX preset library — Explosion, Werewolf, Air Bending, and so
on — where the preset name triggers a pre-built effect. Kling 3.0 Motion Control
is a different system entirely: a reference-video motion transfer workflow. You
upload a character image plus a short clip of the motion you want, and the model
transfers that motion onto the character. The prompt describes the world around
the motion — not the motion itself.
When to Choose Motion Control
Reach for Motion Control when the generation needs directed, repeatable motion
rather than a loose interpretation. Typical cases: dance choreography, sports or
athletic beats, acting or reaction beats, precise gestures for a talking head,
and transferring the same motion pattern across different characters (e.g., one
captured performance applied to multiple hero images). It's also useful as a
scene prototyping step before a heavier Kling 3.0 assembly — you can lock the
motion first, then build the surrounding scene around it.
The 8-Step Higgsfield Workflow
Run Motion Control through the Higgsfield UI in this order:
Open the Video tab in Higgsfield.
Choose Kling Motion Control 3.0 from the model selector.
Upload the motion reference video — the short clip carrying the
performance you want transferred.
Upload the character image — face and body should both be readable; this
is what the motion gets mapped onto.
Pick the output resolution — 720p for faster iteration, 1080p for final
delivery.
Set the Scene source — decide whether the environment should come from
the motion video's background or from the character image's background.
Open Advanced Settings — describe the lighting, atmosphere, and
background treatment in the prompt field here, and select the orientation
mode (Image Orientation for camera-driven shots with a mostly static body;
Video Orientation for full-body movement like dance or action).
Generate — review the result and iterate on the reference clip first if
the motion reads wrong, and on the prompt second if the scene reads wrong.
Motion Reference Input Checklist
Input quality determines output quality. If the reference clip is noisy, the
transfer will be noisy — no amount of prompt refinement fixes a bad source.
Before clicking Generate, confirm the reference clip against this pre-flight
checklist:
One clear subject in frame. Multi-person clips confuse the motion
extraction; crop or trim to a single performer.
Head and body both visible. If either is cut off, the motion transfer
loses the connection between facial performance and body motion.
Real human motion. Stylized animation, rotoscoped footage, and heavily
filtered clips transfer unreliably. Natural performance reads best.
No cuts, dissolves, or hard camera transitions. The reference must be
one continuous shot — any cut inside the clip will show up as a jump or
snap in the generated output.
Avoid very fast actions. Movement that reads as a blur in the source
will fail to transfer cleanly. Slow-moderate speed performs best.
Clip duration 3–30 seconds. Below 3s there isn't enough motion data;
above 30s is outside Motion Control's supported range.
Rule of thumb: if you'd struggle to describe what's happening frame-by-frame
in the reference clip, the model will too. Trim, re-shoot, or re-select the
reference before burning credits on a generation that was always going to fail.
Binding modes, motion source, and the shortfall diagnostic
A few controls and one diagnostic round out the Motion Control workflow:
Motion source — uploaded clip OR motion library. The motion can come
from your own uploaded reference clip or from Higgsfield's built-in motion
library. The library is the faster path when you want a known-good
performance (a dance, a sports beat) without sourcing your own footage.
Matches Video vs Matches Image. The transfer binds the result either to
the motion video or to the character image. Matches Video tracks the
reference clip's full-body movement and timing; Matches Image keeps the
result anchored to the character image (better for camera-driven shots where
the body stays mostly static). This is the same axis as the
Image-Orientation / Video-Orientation choice in step 7 of the workflow —
pick the one that matches whether the body or the camera is doing the moving.
Element binding (Matches Video only). Binding individual elements of the
performance is available only in Matches Video mode. If you need element-
level binding, you must be in Matches Video.
Close-up face input + emotional transitions. A close-up face input
carries emotional transitions well — reach for it when the beat is an acting
or reaction moment rather than full-body motion.
The shortfall diagnostic. If the output is suddenly shorter than the
source clip, the motion is usually too fast or too complex for a clean
continuous transfer. Slow the reference, simplify the action, or re-trim
before regenerating — a shorter-than-source output is the model telling you
the input exceeded what it can transfer cleanly.