Automate editable video templates and MP4 export

Start with an editable template

Use the MCP video tools to copy a template into an editable design, inspect its layers, make specific changes, and export an MP4. Copying and exporting a design does not publish it. AI Scripts, Cut, and Cast generation are separate parked features and are not prerequisites for editing a video template.

• list_video_templates with an optional query returns template slugs, editable parts, duration, and preview_url.
• use_video_template takes slug, optional brand_id, and an optional destination supported by that template.
• get_layers returns the design's layout_version, visual layers, and timeline summary.
• edit_layers changes the copy, colors, timing, stacking, or owned image/video assets.
• preview_design returns still pages or at-rest timeline views. Video clips show their poster frames; motion is not rendered.
• export_video starts an asynchronous render; job_status reports the outcome.

Choose a destination the template supports

The destination vocabulary includes instagram_reel, instagram_story, facebook_story, tiktok_reel, youtube_reel, pinterest_reel, threads_video, bluesky_video, and landscape_video. A particular template supports a subset; inspect its catalog entry. A design destination controls format and layout and does not promise that the account can publish to that platform.

Pass brand_id to keep ownership explicit. use_video_template copies the template into the user's design and substitutes the brand's handle. Preserve its separate title, caption, footage, and music objects so the recipient can keep editing them.

Edit stable clips with a current layout version

{
  "post_id": "YOUR_DESIGN_ID",
  "layout_version": 4,
  "ops": [
    {"op": "set", "clip_id": "CLIP_ID_FROM_GET_LAYERS", "fields": {"text": "A clearer repair estimate starts here"}}
  ]
}

Use the returned clip_id and version instead of the sample values. edit_layers supports up to 40 operations applied in order, all or nothing. set changes selected fields; add supplies a whole new layer; delete removes one; move changes stacking. You cannot change a layer's kind, cid, or clip_id with set.

For continuous video designs, visual layers use global time and track membership. Adding a layer requires valid timing and a track_id from get_layers. There is one shared visual layer list, with a maximum of 160. Do not copy a clip into every scene just to keep it visible across scene boundaries.

Inspect before rendering the entire video

{
  "post_id": "YOUR_DESIGN_ID",
  "times": [0, 2.5, 5]
}

Pass these arguments to preview_design for a continuous video timeline, choosing times within its duration. It accepts up to eight times and defaults to six evenly spaced views. Each view shows the layers and caption line active at that time, at rest; footage uses its poster frame and motion is not drawn. Inspect text wrapping, placement, and poster crop here. Page-based video returns one image per page without a per-second preview. Review the exported MP4 to check actual footage, animation, transitions, the ending, and audio before posting.

Export and wait for the MP4

export_video requires generate and takes post_id. The design must contain layout.timeline. Only one video export can run at a time for an account. Poll job_status using read, inspect progress when provided, and wait for status: done. The completed result carries the video URL and the design's media becomes the MP4.

Short bounded video exports and long-form exports have different plan limits. Exports over 180 seconds, non-native output resolutions, and larger source workflows can require Ultra or higher. The public export_video tool takes only post_id; it does not expose custom resolution or duration override fields.

After export, review the video and create or schedule a post through the supported post workflow. An exported MP4, an accepted draft, and a published social post are three different states; retain the identifiers for each step you use.

Frequently asked questions