Chapter 4 — Creativity Unleashed: Images, Music, and Video

Why a Creative Sandbox Works

Creativity loves constraints. A sandbox is a small, low-stakes space where you try ideas quickly: 1 poster, 1 music loop, and 1 short clip. The goal is momentum. We’ll ship tiny artifacts today, then iterate. You’ll learn prompt patterns you can reuse across tools.

Ethics & Safety First

Credit when you can, label synthetic media, avoid harmful likeness use, and respect platform terms. Don’t mimic a living artist’s signature style. Use original lyrics and brand assets you have rights to. When publishing, be transparent and kind.

Visual Prompt Pattern (IMAGE)

Subject + Style + Medium + Lens/Lighting + Composition + Details + Negative prompts Example: “Ultra-clean flat-lay photo of a green notebook and gold pen on a white marble desk, subtle emerald accents, soft daylight, overhead composition, high contrast but gentle shadows — no watermark, no text, no hands.”

Music Prompt Pattern (AUDIO)

Genre + Tempo/BPM + Mood + Instruments + Structure + Vocals (Y/N) + Lyric vibe (original) + Mix Example: “Warm neo-soul at 92 BPM, hopeful mood, Rhodes + soft bass + brushed drums, 12–15s intro, no vocals, gentle tape-saturated mix, ends on a tidy chord.”

Video Prompt Pattern (VIDEO)

Storyboard + Shot list + Aspect + Text overlays + Pacing + Transitions Example: “9:16 aspect. 12s promo: 3 shots (2s logo reveal with shimmer, 6s poster montage, 4s CTA). Overlay text: ‘Emerald City Tips’, ‘Make one tiny thing today’, CTA ‘Book a 1:1’. Smooth cross-dissolves; light grain.”

Platform Setup — iOS/Android

• Install Canva (mobile) and CapCut (mobile). Log in and enable high-quality exports. • Install Discord app if you’ll use Midjourney; enable notifications. • Create album/folder ‘Creative Sandbox’: Posters, Audio, Clips. Turn on auto-save in apps so exports land there. • Share Sheet: from Photos/Notes, share into Canva/CapCut for quick edits.

Platform Setup — Mac/Windows

• Use Canva on the web for layout; Suno (web) for songs; Runway/Pika (web) for AI video clips. • Create a Desktop folder—Creative_Sandbox—with subfolders: 01_Prompts, 02_Exports, 03_Brand. • Export defaults: Images PNG (or JPG for social), Video MP4 (H.264). Keep a naming scheme: EC_[artifact]_[v001].

Tool Walkthroughs (Free-First + Paid)

• Canva — free-first, perfect for posters/socials; brand kit, templates, quick exports. https://www.canva.com • Leonardo — free credits for high-quality image generations; many styles; negative prompts. https://leonardo.ai • Pika — AI video generation/editing, web-based, free-first. https://www.pika.art • Runway — advanced AI video editing/generation; paid trials. https://runwayml.com • Suno — text-to-music in seconds; free-first with limits. https://suno.ai • CapCut — free mobile/desktop editor with strong titles, effects, and audio ducking. https://www.capcut.com • Midjourney — high-end image gen via Discord (paid). https://www.midjourney.com

Brand Kit (Emerald City Example)

Colors: Emerald #009B77, Emerald Dark #0B3D2E, Off-White #F7FBF9, Ink #0E0F10. Fonts: Headline — a geometric sans; Body — a clean system sans. Rules: big titles, generous white space, rounded corners, soft shadows. Logo in a corner (not center) for minimal vibes.

Project 1 — Poster in Canva (15 Minutes)

1) Create new 1080×1350 (portrait). Background: Off-White. 2) Title: “Emerald City Tips” (large, bold). Subtitle: “Make one tiny thing today.” 3) Place a rounded card with emerald border and soft shadow; add three bullets. 4) Insert the logo top-right small; export PNG. Save as EC_poster_v001.png. 5) Optional: Duplicate for a 1080×1920 (story) variant.

Project 2 — Music Loop in Suno (10 Minutes)

1) Open Suno; create a 12–15s instrumental prompt using the Music Pattern. 2) Generate two versions; pick the warmer mix. Download. 3) Trim in CapCut if needed; export .mp3 or .wav as EC_loop_v001.wav. 4) Keep prompt + version notes in 01_Prompts/EC_loop_v001.txt.

Project 3 — 12s Clip in CapCut/Runway (15 Minutes)

1) New 9:16 project. Import the poster PNG and the Suno loop. 2) Add a logo intro (1.5–2s) with a light shimmer transition. 3) Hold poster on screen with 2–3 animated keywords; add CTA end card. 4) Export MP4 (H.264), 1080×1920. Name EC_clip_v001.mp4.

Prompt Pack — Images

• “Minimalist poster featuring a single emerald geometric shape, subtle paper texture, soft studio lighting — no watermark, no text.” • “Flat-lay shot of desk items in emerald palette; airy composition; daylight; crisp shadows; no hands, no reflections.” • “Simple icon set, rounded corners, outline style, emerald and ink colors, export as transparent PNG.”

Prompt Pack — Music

• “Warm lo-fi hip hop loop, 88–92 BPM, cozy vinyl crackle, Rhodes + soft bass + brushed drums, instrumental only, 12–15s, clean tail.” • “Upbeat electro-pop sting, 120 BPM, plucky synth + kick + clap, no vocals, 8s, resolves on tonic.” • “Calm piano arpeggio, 70 BPM, cinematic feel, strings pad, 15s, gentle reverb.”

Prompt Pack — Video

• “9:16 promo, 12s: logo reveal (2s), poster montage (6s), CTA (4s); smooth cross-dissolves; light grain; bold captions.” • “Lower-third title: ‘Emerald City Tips’ minimalist, soft drop shadow, bottom-left, 2.5s in/out.” • “Text animation: word-by-word reveal for the phrase ‘Make one tiny thing today.’”

Publishing & File Prep

Aspect ratios: Square 1:1, Portrait 4:5, Story/Reel 9:16, Landscape 16:9. Resolution: 1080 on the short side is fine for social. Export poster PNG; export video MP4 H.264 at 10–15 Mbps. Add alt text: describe the visual plainly. Write a short caption with a single CTA.

Do-Along Sprint — 30 Minutes

• Minute 0–10: Make the poster (Project 1). Ship v001. • Minute 10–20: Make the loop (Project 2). Pair it with the poster in CapCut. • Minute 20–30: Make the clip (Project 3). Export and save to 02_Exports. Post if you like — or just keep it for your win log.

Troubleshooting

• Images too busy? Increase white space; remove elements; specify 'minimalist' and 'no text'. • Music too harsh? Lower BPM, reduce high-frequency instruments, ask for 'gentle tape saturation'. • Video stutters? Keep transitions simple; cap duration at 12–15s; ensure 30fps export. • Tool refuses? Remove named-artist references; use descriptive adjectives instead.

Legal/Usage Notes

Avoid copyrighted lyrics/melodies; create original text. For commercial use, check each tool’s license. Do not imply endorsement by real people or brands. Label AI-generated elements when reasonable.

Diamond Tips

• Start with mood, not perfection. The vibe leads the build. • Iterate in tiny versions: v001 → v002. Save prompts with each version. • Release cadence beats inspiration. One small artifact per week builds a portfolio fast.

End-of-Chapter Checklist

□ I built a poster with a clear visual hierarchy. □ I generated a clean 12–15s loop. □ I exported a 9:16 clip with simple motion. □ I saved prompts and versions with names. □ I posted or logged today’s creative win.

Audiobook Cues

[VOICE: bright] Make something tiny and delightful. Share it with one person you trust. [PAUSE] Open your tools; let’s make a poster first. [SMILE] Momentum beats perfection.

Templates & Screenshots Pack

Use these visual templates and overlays to move faster in Canva, CapCut, and Suno. Click to open or right‑click to save.

Canva Layout Templates

CapCut Title Presets

Lower-third overlay (9×16 PNG, transparent): Download
Lower-third overlay (16×9 PNG, transparent): Download
Preset settings (JSON): Download
Caption sample (SRT): Download

Suno Prompt Cards

All three cards as a single PDF: Download PDF