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Photo Motion Maker

One image. A moving story. Guide the camera, pause on a detail, and turn a still photo into motion.

Local processingYour route, your rhythmMotion photo · MP4 · GIF

Give your photo a little direction.

Drop an image here, or choose one from your device.

One JPEG, PNG or WebP · still images only · up to 20 MiB and 24 MP

Your image stays in your browser. No account needed.

THE EDITING ROOM

Make every move count.

Your frame

PREVIEW

Set your motion, then generate a preview.

0.0 s

Nothing renders while you edit. Generate a fresh preview when you are ready to see your changes.

Choose a starting move

Start with a preset. Every point and move is yours to adjust.

Map your camera path

7 points · 6 moves

Points connect in order. Add a point to continue the route; select a point to adjust its view.

Camera points

Position · zoom · pause

Selected point

X position (%)Y position (%)Zoom (×)Pause

Moves between points

Timing · rhythm

Selected move

Duration (s)Speed (×)Rhythm

A little help, right here.

Keep creating. Open a topic whenever you need a hand.

Build a route

Start a custom route and click two positions for your first move. Add another endpoint to continue, up to 7 points and 6 straight moves. Click a number to select a point; use Select / move to drag it, or edit its coordinates. Use the point buttons when positions overlap. The × at the top right of a point card removes that point and updates the route. Undo restores an accidental deletion.

Frame your image

Fill frame keeps the camera inside your image. At 1×, the selected frame is already filled; zoom in for more room to move. Whole-image mode can leave borders. High zoom can soften fine text.

Set the pace and pauses

Higher speed shortens the selected move. Editing its duration directly resets speed to 1×. Rhythm controls how it accelerates and slows down. Each point can pause for 1–5 seconds or not at all. Pauses count toward the total and stay unchanged when you adjust speed.

Preview and choose a cover

Editing does not render automatically. Select Generate preview when ready, then generate again after changing your settings. Play or seek to a frame you like and select Use this frame as cover. Export always uses your current settings.

Choose the right export

Preview and MP4 support up to 30 seconds. Android motion photos, Apple resource pairs and GIF support up to 10 seconds, including pauses. Shorten your moves or pauses, or choose MP4 if you need more time. Nothing is silently cut.

Transfer files and save your work

Transfer the original file or ZIP to your phone; chat image compression can remove motion. Android gallery support varies. Apple exports contain paired JPEG/MOV resources; preserve their matching names and Live Photo metadata during import. Save project keeps settings, so keep the same original image to reopen your work.

Keyboard shortcuts

Use Ctrl on Windows / Linux and ⌘ on Mac. Inputs keep their normal editing shortcuts. Project undo and redo pause while an image loads or the export dialog is open.

Ctrl / ⌘ + Z: Undo the last change, including point deletion.
Ctrl / ⌘ + Shift + Z: Redo the change you just undid.
Arrow keys: With the route canvas focused, move the selected point by 0.5 percentage points.
Shift + Arrow keys: With the route canvas focused, move the selected point by 5 percentage points. Image-edge protection still applies.
Enter / Space: With Add points active and the route canvas focused, add a point at the center.
Esc: Cancel image loading, or close the export dialog and cancel an active export.
Tab / Shift + Tab: Move focus between controls. Shift + Tab moves backward. Use Enter / Space on buttons and help headings.

Tab to the route canvas, or select a point on it, before using arrow keys. Focusing a point card alone does not enable arrow-key movement.

HOW IT WORKS

From still to story, in three steps.

Bring one image

Choose a photo, illustration or a detailed image. It opens in your local editing room.

Direct the camera

Choose a move or place points. Adjust each view, set the pace and pause where it matters.

Preview, then export

Generate a preview when ready. Pick a format in the export dialog and save the result.

WHY USE IT

A small move can reveal a lot.

Make a large image easier to explore, or give a single moment a different rhythm.

The detail gets its moment

Move from the whole picture to a chosen detail, then hold the camera still for a closer look.

Simple controls, deliberate motion

Straight paths, editable zoom and separate timing for every move keep the route easy to understand.

Create on your own device

Your image and project stay in the browser. Preview only when you choose, then export for your next step.

A FEW GOOD HABITS

Leave room for the viewer.

A clear route and a short pause often work better than rushing through every corner.

Start wide, then move closer. Check the selected point's frame before generating a preview.
Use pauses sparingly. They count toward the total duration and stay still when you change a move's speed.
For a phone gallery, transfer the original motion photo or ZIP as a file. Image compression can remove its dynamic content.
Keep the JPEG and MOV in an Apple export together. Preserve their original names and metadata, and use an import workflow that supports Live Photo resource pairs.

FAQ

A little more detail.

What can I make from one photo?

Create a camera animation that pans, zooms and pauses across a still image. Export an Android motion photo, Apple JPEG/MOV resource pair, MP4 video or GIF. The route guides the camera and is not drawn into the output.

Are my images uploaded?

No. Your image and project are processed in your browser and are not uploaded to ToolKnit. Loading the website and export components can use the network.

Which images can I use?

Choose one JPEG, PNG or WebP image up to 20 MiB and 24 megapixels, with neither side exceeding 16,384 pixels. Animated PNG and WebP are not supported. A motion JPEG is treated as a still image. Large images and long animations require more device memory.

Will the motion photo work in my phone gallery?

A short Xiaomi compatibility sample was confirmed by the user on Xiaomi 17 Pro with HyperOS 3.0.318.0, including the gallery and Douyin image-post workflow. Other devices, app versions and durations can behave differently. Transfer the original file or ZIP without image compression.

Can I save directly to Apple Photos?

The tool exports a ZIP containing paired JPEG and MOV files with Live Photo metadata. Keep both files together and use an importer that preserves Live Photo pairing. A browser download saves the resource package; it does not automatically add a Live Photo to the Photos library.

Does changing a setting regenerate the preview?

No. Click Generate preview to render the current settings. Editing marks the old preview as out of date. Export uses your current settings and begins only after you confirm Generate in the export dialog.

Which browsers can generate previews and video exports?

Previews, MP4 and motion-photo exports require WebCodecs with H.264 encoding support. Availability depends on your browser and device. If encoding is unavailable, try an up-to-date Chrome or Edge browser, or export a GIF. GIF export does not require H.264.