AI Shortcuts, Slash Commands and Camera Control: The Master Prompt Workflow for AI Video and Images (2026)

Updated October 24, 2026. Checked against vendor documentation and launch coverage.

Search for “secret AI video commands” and you will find endless lists promising a hidden code that unlocks cinematic output. Most of them are wrong in a structural way: they describe a control panel that does not exist.

Here is what actually exists. Google Flow has no slash-command console. Veo and Kling do not parse a secret grammar. Midjourney does have a literal grammar (parameters), and Claude Code has real slash commands that you can write yourself. Everything else sold as a “shortcut” is a well-built template, and a template is only as good as the director’s thinking behind it.

There is a second problem: most guides ranking today are stale. If your shortlist still includes Sora, you are working from an outdated map. OpenAI closed the Sora app on April 26, 2026 and switched off the Sora API on September 24, 2026.

This guide separates what is real from what is recycled. You will get a reusable shot brief for AI video, camera and lighting vocabulary that models respond to, current controls for Google Flow, Kling 4.0 and Midjourney, and a library of 95 custom shortcut commands (such as /e10, /explodeview, /ugcad and /problemsolvingad) that you can save in ChatGPT, Claude and Flow workflows.

Three Things People Mean by “AI Shortcut”

The phrase covers three very different mechanisms. Mixing them up is the root of most bad advice.

Layer	Where it lives	Example	Reliability
True slash commands	Claude Code, the interactive Ollama session	/shotlist, /show info	Deterministic: the software parses them
Parameters	Midjourney	--ar 9:16, --stylize 150	Deterministic, but version-specific
Structured prompt templates	Veo and Flow, Kling, Claude chat, ChatGPT	Subject, action, camera, light, audio	Probabilistic: the model interprets them

A command modifier is a real shortcut only when software parses it the same way every time. Everything in the third row is a checklist that forces you to say what you mean. That is still valuable, because vague prompts, not weak models, are the most common reason for flat footage. Later in this guide you will also learn how to turn that third row into your own short commands.

What Changed in 2026: A Fact Check

Before you copy any prompt library, verify it against this timeline.

• Sora has been discontinued. OpenAI announced the wind-down in March 2026, closed the app on April 26 and the API on September 24 (API Frame, Tech Insider). OpenAI support reportedly had no replacement product to point users to as of early October. A report on October 12 that OpenAI is in talks with a filmmaker-focused startup about Sora access is unconfirmed, so do not build a workflow on it.
• Google Flow became an image-and-video studio. Veo 3.1 arrived on October 15, 2025 with Ingredients to Video, Frames to Video, Extend and Insert. In January 2026 Google added native vertical 9:16 output and 1080p and 4K upscaling. At I/O on May 19, 2026 it introduced Gemini Omni Flash, Flow Agent, Flow Tools and dedicated mobile apps (9to5Google).
• Kling 4.0 launched on October 15, 2026, after an early-access Flash build opened on September 28. Headline specs: 30-second single-pass clips, up to 10 keyframes and up to 15 reference inputs.
• Claude Code merged custom commands into skills. A file at .claude/commands/review.md and a skill at .claude/skills/review/SKILL.md both create /review (Claude Code docs).
• Midjourney moved to V8.x. Parameter support shifted again, and some older advice (such as --q and --turbo) no longer applies to current versions.

One of those facts should change how you plan this quarter: if a tutorial teaches Sora prompting as a live skill, treat the rest of it with suspicion. The craft transfers; the tool does not.

The Master Prompt Workflow: A Six-Layer Shot Brief

Google’s own Veo prompting guide breaks a prompt into subject, action, scene or context, camera angle, camera movement, composition and ambiance, with style layered on top. OpenAI’s now-retired Sora guide pushed the same idea from another direction: brief the model the way you would brief a cinematographer. Two vendors, one lesson. Specific, separable instructions beat poetic paragraphs.

Use this brief for every shot, in any tool.

Layer	Question it answers	Example language
1. Subject	Who or what is on screen?	A tired baker in her fifties, flour-dusted navy apron
2. Action	What single thing happens?	Slides a tray of loaves out of the oven
3. Camera	Where is the lens and how does it move?	Medium shot, eye level, slow dolly-in
4. Lens and focus	How much of the frame is sharp?	50mm feel, shallow depth of field, focus on her hands
5. Light	Source, direction, quality, colour	Warm oven glow from camera right, cool window fill from left
6. Look and audio	Grade, palette, sound	Muted teal and amber, soft ambient hum, a single clink of metal

The template, ready to paste and adapt:

SHOT [number], [duration] seconds, [aspect ratio]
SUBJECT: [who/what, 2-3 identifying details]
ACTION: [one verb phrase, one beat]
CONTEXT: [where, when, weather]
CAMERA: [shot size] at [angle], [one movement], [speed]
LENS AND FOCUS: [focal length feel], [depth of field], [focus target]
LIGHT: [key source + direction + quality + colour temperature]
LOOK: [grade or film stock, 3-5 colour anchors]
AUDIO: [ambient, effects, one line of dialogue in quotes]
AVOID: [extra people, on-screen text, jump cuts]

Three rules make the template work.

One camera move and one light setup per shot. Generators drift when a prompt asks for a whip pan, a dolly and a rack focus inside six seconds. If you want complexity, cut to a second shot.

Repeat descriptors word for word. Character consistency starts with identical wording across shots, then gets reinforced by reference images.

Say “static” when you mean static. Models tend to add subtle motion on their own. A phrase like “locked-off tripod shot, no camera movement” removes the guesswork.

Camera Angles and Movements That Models Understand

Move	What it does	Phrase to use
Dolly in / out	Pushes toward or away from the subject	Slow dolly-in on her face
Tracking	Follows the subject sideways or from behind	Tracking shot alongside the cyclist at hip height
Pan / tilt	Rotates horizontally or vertically	Slow pan left across the skyline
Crane or jib	Rises or descends	Crane up from the street to rooftop level
Orbit	Circles the subject	Orbit 90 degrees clockwise around the watch
Handheld	Adds documentary wobble	Handheld, slight shake, close on the chef
Low / high angle	Changes power dynamics	Low-angle shot looking up at the statue
Rack focus	Shifts the sharp plane	Rack focus from the glass to her eyes

A caution from Google’s documentation: some advanced camera angles are not officially supported. When a phrase fails twice, simplify it instead of adding adjectives.

Lighting Vocabulary That Changes the Mood

• Golden hour: low warm sun, long shadows, friendly mood.
• Rembrandt lighting: a key light from one side that leaves a small triangle of light on the shadowed cheek.
• Rim or backlight: a bright edge that separates the subject from the background.
• Soft window light: diffused daylight, gentle contrast, natural portraits.
• Low-key: deep shadows with one controlled highlight, good for tension.
• Volumetric light: visible beams through haze or dust.
• Neon and practicals: coloured light from signs and lamps that appear in the frame.

Always name the direction, such as “from camera left.” Light without a direction produces flat results.

How to Use AI for Generating Videos: A Six-Step Workflow

The fastest way to waste credits is to type a long prompt and hope. Professionals work in stages.

1. Write the intent in one sentence. Audience, platform, emotion. “A 9:16 product teaser that feels calm and premium.”
2. Break it into shots. Four to six shots of five to eight seconds usually beat one long generation.
3. Generate keyframes as still images. Midjourney or Flow’s image tools let you lock composition and light before you spend video credits.
4. Animate with image to video. Feed the still in, then describe only the motion and sound.
5. Extend, edit or stitch. Flow’s Extend and Insert, or Kling’s keyframe and editing tools, carry the shot forward.
6. Grade and assemble. Finish in your editor. Check the audio, the hands and any text before publishing.

Why Image to Video Gives You More Control

A still image already decides subject, framing, palette and light. The video prompt can then focus on one thing: movement. Google’s Frames to Video lets you set a start image and an end image, and Flow generates the bridge between them. Kling 4.0 expands that to as many as ten keyframes placed anywhere on the timeline. Think of keyframes as waypoints. You decide where the shot must be at second 0, 12 and 28, and the model fills in the gaps.

When you write an image-to-video prompt, do not redescribe the picture. Describe what changes: “Slow push-in. Steam rises from the cup. Rain begins on the window. Soft piano under distant traffic.”

Google Flow: The Commands That Actually Exist

The search term “Google Flow commands” has a plain answer: there is no slash syntax. What Flow gives you instead is a set of named tools.

• Frames to Video: supply a first and last image.
• Ingredients to Video: use reference images, up to three in the original Veo 3.1 release, to steer characters, objects and style.
• Extend: continue a clip from its final second, which is how creators chain scenes toward a minute or more.
• Insert: add an object, with Flow adjusting shadows and scene lighting so it sits naturally.
• Flow Tools and Flow Agent (May 2026): Tools are reusable presets you create in plain language, such as a resize or a look. The Agent is a Gemini-based assistant that helps from idea to dialogue to edits.
• Gemini Omni Flash: supports conversational editing, where you ask for a change to a character or background and the rest of the video holds steady. Google says Omni videos carry SynthID watermarking (Decrypt).

On cost, a third-party tracker updated October 20, 2026 reports that Flow’s free tier gives 50 daily credits on Veo 3.1, with Fast generations costing roughly 20 credits and Quality roughly 100. Credit schemes change often, so confirm on Flow’s own plan page before you budget. If you are searching for AI shortcuts to use free, this is the legitimate route: spend free credits on short, well-briefed clips, not on experiments.

Kling 4.0: Direct Through Keyframes and References

Kling’s pitch for version 4.0 is control rather than raw quality. Reported specs include prompts up to 8,000 tokens, 30-second native clips, up to 10 keyframes and up to 15 combined references, with stereo audio and editing tools that change people, backgrounds or weather in existing footage (BigGo Finance, UnificAlly). Kuaishou also lists 4K and 10-bit HDR output, but several outlets describe those as still “coming soon,” so check the current plan page.

Camera language is where Kling has been getting attention. Coverage describes understanding of push-ins, pull-outs, pans, tracking and orbits. In one independent same-prompt test of five models, Kling was the only one whose camera orbited the subject, but that was a single seed, so treat it as a hint, not a verdict.

A useful pattern is a timed keyframe script:

Keyframe 1 (0s): wide establishing shot, empty night market, rain on awnings.
Keyframe 2 (8s): medium shot, vendor lifts the lid of a steaming pot, camera tracks left.
Keyframe 3 (18s): close-up on a child's hands taking a paper bowl, shallow focus.
Keyframe 4 (28s): slow pull-out to wide, lanterns glowing, crowd murmur fading.

Longer prompts do not mean better prompts. Use the extra space for structure, not adjectives.

Midjourney: The One Tool With a Real Command Grammar

Midjourney is the clearest case of a true command modifier. Per its parameter documentation, parameters go at the end of the prompt, start with two dashes, take a space before their value and use no punctuation. Text placed after a parameter breaks the prompt.

Parameter	Job	Notes
--ar 9:16	Aspect ratio	Set it before animating
--stylize or --s	Strength of Midjourney’s own aesthetic	0 to 1000, default 100
--style raw	Less default styling	Better for literal control
--sref and --sw	Style reference and its weight	Reuse a look across a series
--seed	Repeatable starting noise	Good for A/B tests
--no	Excludes elements	Keep the list short
--chaos and --weird	Variation and oddness	Use for exploration
--motion low or --motion high	Video movement	Low is the default
--loop and --end	Looping and end-frame control	For video jobs
--bs	Number of videos per prompt	Batch size

Version warning: parameter support changes. Midjourney’s documentation now describes --oref as replaced by the Edit Model in V8, and third-party guides disagree on which flags V8.1 and V8.2 still accept. Run a quick test on your version before you build a template around any flag.

A still-image example:

weathered fisherman mending a net on a wooden pier at blue hour, 50mm lens feel, shallow depth of field, rim light from a sodium street lamp, fine film grain --ar 3:2 --style raw --stylize 100 --no text

Then animate it with --motion low for a subtle push-in, or --motion high when you want big camera moves and can tolerate glitches.

Six Prompts You Can Use Today

1. Product teaser (Veo in Flow, text to video)

Smooth 360-degree orbit around a matte black wireless speaker on a pale stone pedestal, softbox key light from camera left with a thin rim light behind, shallow depth of field, minimal studio background, muted grey and warm sand palette, soft ambient room tone, 8 seconds, 9:16.

2. Image-to-video motion note

Keep the framing and light exactly as in the image. Slow dolly-in on the chef's face. Steam drifts upward from the pan. Quiet kitchen ambience and a low sizzle. No cuts, no added people.

3. Documentary handheld

Handheld medium shot following a street vendor through a crowded morning market, natural overcast light, slight camera shake, shallow focus on the vendor's shoulder, muffled chatter and a bicycle bell.

4. Dramatic reveal

Low-angle shot at dusk, an astronaut stands on a ridge, camera cranes up to reveal a vast red valley, backlit by a low sun with long shadows, dust drifting through the beams, a quiet wind and a faint radio crackle.

5. Locked-off interview look

Locked-off tripod shot, no camera movement, medium close-up of a woman at a desk, soft window light from camera left, subtle fill from the right, 85mm feel, blurred bookshelves, quiet room tone.

6. Style-matched series (Midjourney)

lighthouse keeper's kitchen, morning light through a small window, painterly, muted greens --ar 16:9 --sref [your reference image URL] --sw 100

Swap the nouns, keep the structure. That is what makes a prompt library reusable.

Claude as Your Prompt Director

Claude does not generate video, but it is an excellent shot-brief writer, because the job is structured language. Anthropic’s prompting guide recommends clear and direct instructions, three to five well-built examples wrapped in tags, and XML tags to separate instructions, context and input. That maps neatly onto video work.

<role>You are a commercial cinematographer briefing an AI video model.</role>
<goal>Turn the idea below into four shots of six seconds each.</goal>
<rules>
- One camera move and one lighting setup per shot.
- Describe only what the camera can see and hear.
- Repeat the subject description word for word in every shot.
</rules>
<idea>A quiet teaser for a handmade ceramic tea set, 9:16, premium and calm.</idea>
<format>For each shot: one paragraph of 60 to 90 words, then a line starting CAMERA:</format>

Paste your favourite example into <example> tags once and Claude will follow the pattern for every project.

Are There Secret Claude Prompt Shortcuts?

Not in the sense the internet means. There is no hidden phrase that flips a switch. What works is plain craft:

• State the purpose and audience. “For a 15-second Instagram ad aimed at first-time buyers” beats “make it good.”
• Show an example. Models generalise strongly from samples, so if every example is short, the output will be short.
• Use tags. <context>, <examples> and <format> keep long prompts unambiguous.
• Ask for revision passes. “Draft, critique against my rules, then rewrite” is a legitimate shortcut.
• Save the repeats. In claude.ai, Projects and custom styles hold your standing instructions. In Claude Code, skills do the same job. The shortcut library below shows how to turn those saved instructions into short commands.

Claude Code Slash Commands and Skills

This is the one place the phrase “custom slash commands” is literal. Claude Code’s documentation says custom slash commands have been merged into skills: a markdown file with instructions, plus optional YAML frontmatter, that becomes a /command. Existing files under .claude/commands/ keep working, but new automation should use skills, which add supporting files, automatic invocation and invocation controls.

Where they live

• Personal skills: ~/.claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md, available in every project.
• Project skills: .claude/skills/<name>/SKILL.md, committed with the repo so a team shares them.
• Plugin skills: inside an installed plugin.

A working example you can adapt for video planning

---
name: shotlist
description: Turn a one-line video idea into a numbered shot list with camera, light and audio notes.
argument-hint:

disable-model-invocation: true
---

Create a shot list for: $ARGUMENTS

Rules:
1. Four to six shots, five to eight seconds each.
2. One camera move and one lighting setup per shot.
3. Repeat the subject description word for word in every shot.
4. End each shot with an AUDIO line.

Output a table: Shot | Prompt (60-90 words) | Camera | Light | Audio.

Save that as ~/.claude/skills/shotlist/SKILL.md, then type /shotlist a calm teaser for a ceramic tea set. The $ARGUMENTS placeholder receives whatever you type after the command. If you leave the placeholder out, Claude Code appends your input to the skill content so nothing is lost. Setting disable-model-invocation: true turns the skill into a pure slash command that only runs when you call it, which is the right choice for anything with side effects.

Keep each SKILL.md focused. Community guidance suggests staying under about 500 lines and moving heavy reference material into separate files.

Ollama Commands: A Free Local Prompt Lab

Ollama runs open models on your own machine, which makes it a cheap sandbox for drafting and rewriting prompts. It will not render video, but it can pre-process your shot lists at zero per-token cost.

Command	What it does
ollama pull <model>	Downloads a model
ollama run <model>	Starts an interactive chat
ollama list	Shows installed models
ollama ps	Shows running models
ollama stop <model>	Unloads a running model
ollama show <model>	Displays model details
ollama create <name> -f Modelfile	Builds a custom variant
ollama serve	Starts the server

Inside an ollama run session, slash commands are real: /show info, /show system, /show modelfile, /set parameter and /bye.

To build your own shot-director model, create a file named Modelfile:

FROM llama3.2
SYSTEM You are a cinematographer. Convert any idea into one video prompt with subject, action, camera, light and audio.
PARAMETER temperature 0.7

Then run ollama create shot-director -f Modelfile followed by ollama run shot-director.

Ollama also speaks the Anthropic Messages API. Its documentation shows ollama launch claude configuring Claude Code to use a local or cloud model, or you can set ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL and ANTHROPIC_AUTH_TOKEN yourself. Expect gaps: Ollama says the API key is not validated, and some Anthropic features, such as the Batches API, are not supported. Developers also report mixed results with Claude Code on small local models, so test before you rely on it.

The Big Shortcut Library: 95 Custom Slash Commands for ChatGPT, Claude and Google Flow

Commands such as /e10 (explain to a 10th-class student), /explodeview (exploded-view image) and /ugcad (user-generated-style ad) are not built into any of these tools. You define each one once, and from then on a few characters trigger a full saved instruction. Think of them as text expanders that the model understands.

The library below is grouped by job. Every command has a one-line rule you can paste into your own dictionary and edit.

How to Make Custom Commands Work in Each Tool

Paste the command dictionary (it follows the tables) into the place below that matches your tool. Then start a message with the command and add your topic.

Tool	Where to save the dictionary	What you get
Claude (chat)	A Project’s instructions, or a custom style	Short commands applied to every chat in that Project
Claude Code	One skill per command, for example ~/.claude/skills/e10/SKILL.md	A true parsed /e10 with autocomplete
ChatGPT	Custom instructions, a Project or a custom GPT (menu names change, so check your account)	Short commands the model reads as instructions
Google Flow	No slash syntax exists. Keep snippets in a notes file, or save repeatable ones as Flow Tools	Paste-in snippets and plain-language presets

Check for name clashes first. In Claude Code, type / and look at the autocomplete list so your command does not collide with one that already exists.

Turning One Command Into a Real Claude Code Skill

If you want /e10 to be a true slash command in Claude Code, save this as ~/.claude/skills/e10/SKILL.md:

---
name: e10
description: Explain a topic for a 10th-class student.
argument-hint: [topic]
disable-model-invocation: true
---

Explain this for a 10th-class student: $ARGUMENTS

Use simple words, one everyday example and five short steps.
End with one question the student can answer to check understanding.

Write the Full Rule, Not Just the Name

A one-word command with no rule gets guessed at. Expand your most-used commands into a full brief. For example, /ugcad becomes:

/ugcad = Write a user-generated-style ad. Vertical 9:16, phone-shot feel, one real-looking person talking to camera, casual spoken script, a hook in the first two seconds, one product demo moment and a single call to action. Output a shot list, on-screen text and voice-over lines.

You can then chain commands in one message, for example /ugcad /9x16 /handheld /audio followed by your product details. Because these are saved instructions, results can vary between runs, so keep the rules specific.

The Commands

Teaching and Explaining Commands

Command	What it does
/e5	Explain for a young child using a short story or a simple analogy
/e10	Explain for a 10th-class student: simple words, one everyday example, five short steps
/e12	Explain at 12th-class level and define the key terms
/exam	Write exam notes: definition, five key points, three likely questions
/analogy	Explain using one everyday analogy only
/steps	Give numbered steps with one action per step
/quiz5	Create five multiple-choice questions with answers and one-line reasons
/flash	Make flashcards: question on one line, answer on the next
/mistakes	List the common beginner mistakes and the fix for each
/recap	Summarise in three lines, then name one thing to remember
/teachback	Ask me to explain it back, then correct my gaps
/local	Use examples from India and keep the English simple

Image and Visual Style Commands

Command	What it does
/explodeview	Create an exploded-view technical image: parts separated along one axis in mid-air, each labelled, clean background
/crosssection	Show a cutaway of the internal layers with labels
/isometric	Isometric 3D illustration with flat colours and soft shadows
/blueprint	White-on-blue technical drawing with dimension lines
/infographic	Icons, short labels, clear hierarchy and one colour palette
/flatlay	Overhead product flat lay in soft daylight
/hero	Studio hero shot: softbox key light, rim light, minimal background
/macro	Extreme close-up with shallow depth of field
/miniature	Tilt-shift miniature-world look
/clay	Claymation look with soft studio light
/papercraft	Layered paper-cut look with soft shadows
/3dicon	Glossy 3D icon on a plain background
/beforeafter	Split frame with the same angle and light on both sides
/neon	Dark scene lit by coloured neon signs

Video and Camera Commands

Command	What it does
/dolly	Add one slow dolly-in on the subject
/orbit	Add a 90-degree orbit around the subject
/track	Add a tracking shot alongside the subject
/crane	Add a camera that rises to reveal the scene
/handheld	Documentary handheld look with slight shake
/static	Locked-off tripod shot with no camera movement
/rack	Rack focus from the foreground to the subject
/goldenhour	Low warm sun with long shadows
/rembrandt	Key light from one side with a small triangle of light on the shadowed cheek
/lowkey	Deep shadows with one controlled highlight
/rimlight	Bright edge light that separates the subject from the background
/slowmo	Smooth slow-motion action
/9x16	Vertical framing with the subject kept inside the safe zone
/audio	Add ambient sound, one sound effect and one line of dialogue
/avoid	Add a no-list: extra people, on-screen text and jump cuts

Ad and Marketing Commands

Command	What it does
/ugcad	Write a user-generated-style ad: phone-shot feel, one real-looking person, casual spoken script, hook in the first two seconds
/problemsolvingad	Show the problem first, then the product fixing it in a clear demo, then the call to action
/hook3	Give three alternative opening hooks
/pas	Use the problem, agitate, solve structure
/aida	Use the attention, interest, desire, action structure
/testimonialad	Write in customer-testimonial style
/unboxing	Write in unboxing style
/beforeafterad	Tell a before-and-after story with proof
/offer	Lead with the offer, the price and the deadline
/cta5	Write five call-to-action lines
/objection	Answer the top three buyer objections
/reelscript	Write a 30-second reel script with shot, on-screen text and voice-over
/carousel	Write a seven-slide carousel with one idea per slide
/whatsapp	Write a short WhatsApp promo message
/localad	Write an ad for a local business with the city, a landmark, the phone number and a map line
/headline10	Write ten headline options

SEO and Writing Commands

Command	What it does
/outline	Build an H2/H3 outline from the keyword and its search intent
/faq	Write ten FAQs with short answers
/lsi	List related keywords and entities to include
/meta	Write a title under 60 characters and a description under 155
/schema	Write FAQ or Article JSON-LD
/gaps	List what the top-ranking pages miss
/interlink	Suggest internal links with anchor text
/human	Rewrite in plain, specific language and cut filler
/cut	Remove any sentence that could appear in any article about any topic
/factcheck	List every claim and mark which ones need a source

Output Control Commands

Command	What it does
/short	Answer in under 100 words
/table	Answer as a table
/json	Answer as valid JSON only
/ask	Ask me up to three questions before answering
/assume	State your assumptions first, then answer
/2options	Give two approaches with trade-offs
/critique	Find the weaknesses in my draft
/redteam	Argue against my plan
/sources	Name the source for each claim and say when you are unsure
/tldr	Give a one-sentence answer first

Business and Productivity Commands

Command	What it does
/email	Draft a professional email: subject line, three short paragraphs, one clear ask
/reply	Draft a polite reply that answers every question in the message
/meeting	Turn these notes into decisions, owners and deadlines
/plan7	Make a seven-day plan with one priority per day
/swot	Give a SWOT table with two items per box
/pricing	Suggest three pricing tiers with what each includes
/sop	Write a step-by-step standard operating procedure
/checklist	Turn this into a tick-box checklist
/negotiate	Suggest an opening position, a fallback and a walk-away point
/summarize	Summarise in five bullets, then list open questions

Creator and Social Media Commands

Command	What it does
/caption	Write three caption options in different tones
/hashtags	Suggest ten relevant hashtags, mixing broad and niche
/ytscript	Write a YouTube script with hook, three beats and outro
/thumbnail	Describe three thumbnail concepts with text of four words or fewer
/bio	Write a profile bio in under 150 characters
/replydm	Draft a friendly reply to this direct message
/trend	Suggest how to adapt this trend for my niche
/repurpose	Turn this into a reel, a carousel and a short post

Copy-Paste Command Dictionary

This block holds every command above in one place. Paste it into your Project instructions, custom instructions or notes file, then delete the commands you do not need.

COMMAND DICTIONARY
When my message starts with one of these commands, apply its rule to the rest of my message.
I may chain several commands. If no command is used, answer normally.
If I use a command that is not listed, ask me what it means.

# Teaching and Explaining
/e5 = Explain for a young child using a short story or a simple analogy
/e10 = Explain for a 10th-class student: simple words, one everyday example, five short steps
/e12 = Explain at 12th-class level and define the key terms
/exam = Write exam notes: definition, five key points, three likely questions
/analogy = Explain using one everyday analogy only
/steps = Give numbered steps with one action per step
/quiz5 = Create five multiple-choice questions with answers and one-line reasons
/flash = Make flashcards: question on one line, answer on the next
/mistakes = List the common beginner mistakes and the fix for each
/recap = Summarise in three lines, then name one thing to remember
/teachback = Ask me to explain it back, then correct my gaps
/local = Use examples from India and keep the English simple

# Image and Visual Style
/explodeview = Create an exploded-view technical image: parts separated along one axis in mid-air, each labelled, clean background
/crosssection = Show a cutaway of the internal layers with labels
/isometric = Isometric 3D illustration with flat colours and soft shadows
/blueprint = White-on-blue technical drawing with dimension lines
/infographic = Icons, short labels, clear hierarchy and one colour palette
/flatlay = Overhead product flat lay in soft daylight
/hero = Studio hero shot: softbox key light, rim light, minimal background
/macro = Extreme close-up with shallow depth of field
/miniature = Tilt-shift miniature-world look
/clay = Claymation look with soft studio light
/papercraft = Layered paper-cut look with soft shadows
/3dicon = Glossy 3D icon on a plain background
/beforeafter = Split frame with the same angle and light on both sides
/neon = Dark scene lit by coloured neon signs

# Video and Camera
/dolly = Add one slow dolly-in on the subject
/orbit = Add a 90-degree orbit around the subject
/track = Add a tracking shot alongside the subject
/crane = Add a camera that rises to reveal the scene
/handheld = Documentary handheld look with slight shake
/static = Locked-off tripod shot with no camera movement
/rack = Rack focus from the foreground to the subject
/goldenhour = Low warm sun with long shadows
/rembrandt = Key light from one side with a small triangle of light on the shadowed cheek
/lowkey = Deep shadows with one controlled highlight
/rimlight = Bright edge light that separates the subject from the background
/slowmo = Smooth slow-motion action
/9x16 = Vertical framing with the subject kept inside the safe zone
/audio = Add ambient sound, one sound effect and one line of dialogue
/avoid = Add a no-list: extra people, on-screen text and jump cuts

# Ad and Marketing
/ugcad = Write a user-generated-style ad: phone-shot feel, one real-looking person, casual spoken script, hook in the first two seconds
/problemsolvingad = Show the problem first, then the product fixing it in a clear demo, then the call to action
/hook3 = Give three alternative opening hooks
/pas = Use the problem, agitate, solve structure
/aida = Use the attention, interest, desire, action structure
/testimonialad = Write in customer-testimonial style
/unboxing = Write in unboxing style
/beforeafterad = Tell a before-and-after story with proof
/offer = Lead with the offer, the price and the deadline
/cta5 = Write five call-to-action lines
/objection = Answer the top three buyer objections
/reelscript = Write a 30-second reel script with shot, on-screen text and voice-over
/carousel = Write a seven-slide carousel with one idea per slide
/whatsapp = Write a short WhatsApp promo message
/localad = Write an ad for a local business with the city, a landmark, the phone number and a map line
/headline10 = Write ten headline options

# SEO and Writing
/outline = Build an H2/H3 outline from the keyword and its search intent
/faq = Write ten FAQs with short answers
/lsi = List related keywords and entities to include
/meta = Write a title under 60 characters and a description under 155
/schema = Write FAQ or Article JSON-LD
/gaps = List what the top-ranking pages miss
/interlink = Suggest internal links with anchor text
/human = Rewrite in plain, specific language and cut filler
/cut = Remove any sentence that could appear in any article about any topic
/factcheck = List every claim and mark which ones need a source

# Output Control
/short = Answer in under 100 words
/table = Answer as a table
/json = Answer as valid JSON only
/ask = Ask me up to three questions before answering
/assume = State your assumptions first, then answer
/2options = Give two approaches with trade-offs
/critique = Find the weaknesses in my draft
/redteam = Argue against my plan
/sources = Name the source for each claim and say when you are unsure
/tldr = Give a one-sentence answer first

# Business and Productivity
/email = Draft a professional email: subject line, three short paragraphs, one clear ask
/reply = Draft a polite reply that answers every question in the message
/meeting = Turn these notes into decisions, owners and deadlines
/plan7 = Make a seven-day plan with one priority per day
/swot = Give a SWOT table with two items per box
/pricing = Suggest three pricing tiers with what each includes
/sop = Write a step-by-step standard operating procedure
/checklist = Turn this into a tick-box checklist
/negotiate = Suggest an opening position, a fallback and a walk-away point
/summarize = Summarise in five bullets, then list open questions

# Creator and Social Media
/caption = Write three caption options in different tones
/hashtags = Suggest ten relevant hashtags, mixing broad and niche
/ytscript = Write a YouTube script with hook, three beats and outro
/thumbnail = Describe three thumbnail concepts with text of four words or fewer
/bio = Write a profile bio in under 150 characters
/replydm = Draft a friendly reply to this direct message
/trend = Suggest how to adapt this trend for my niche
/repurpose = Turn this into a reel, a carousel and a short post

Tips for Better Custom Commands

1. Keep names short and distinct. /e10 and /e12 are easy to mix up, so state the rule in the dictionary line.
2. Give each command one job. You can chain them, for example /e10 /quiz5 photosynthesis.
3. Test each command once and tighten the wording if the output drifts.
4. Do not promise identical results. Only Claude Code skills are true parsed commands; everywhere else the model interprets your rule.
5. Keep a version history. Save the dictionary in one document so you can update every tool from the same source.

How to “Trick” Claude to Do Anything

You cannot, and the framing is the wrong way to think about it. Anthropic designs Claude to decline a small set of harmful requests regardless of phrasing, so clever wording is not a durable skill, and this guide does not include jailbreak recipes.

What people usually experience as “Claude refused” is much more mundane: the request was ambiguous, missing its purpose, or too big. The fixes are legitimate and effective.

• Add the why. “I am a marketer writing a fictional villain monologue for a game trailer” gives Claude the context that a bare request lacks.
• Split the task. Ask for the outline, then each section.
• Name the format. Table, script, JSON, bullet list.
• Ask what is missing. “Before you answer, list any assumptions you are making.”

If you want Claude to do more, give it better inputs. Tricks expire. Clarity does not.

A Prompt for Claude to Write Like a Human

No prompt makes text undetectable, and chasing that goal produces worse writing. A better target is writing that sounds like a specific person with a specific job. Three moves matter most:

1. Show it your voice. In claude.ai, open the style menu, choose Create and edit styles, then upload a writing sample or describe the style. Claude analyses the sample and saves a reusable custom style.
2. Describe what you want, not only what to avoid. Anthropic’s guide demonstrates steering format by telling Claude what to produce, such as clear, flowing prose in complete paragraphs.
3. Demand specifics. Generic text comes from generic inputs. Feed it real numbers, names and a viewpoint.

A prompt that works:

Write as a working marketing consultant explaining this to a smart friend. Use plain words, varied sentence length, and one concrete example per point. Include a small opinion where I would normally hedge. Match the rhythm of the sample below. After drafting, cut any sentence that could appear in any article about any topic.

<sample>[paste 300-500 words of your own writing]</sample>
<topic>[your topic and the facts to include]</topic>

That last instruction, the “could appear anywhere” cut, removes most of what readers recognise as machine-written filler. You can also save it as the /human command from the library above.

Myths vs Reality

Myth	Reality
There are secret slash commands for Veo, Flow or Kling	No. They respond to descriptive prompts, references and keyframes
Longer prompts always win	Structure wins. Kling accepts very long prompts, but one move per shot still matters
Sora is the best option for cinematic prompts	Sora is shut down. Use the principles with Veo, Kling or others
Midjourney parameters are the same across versions	They are not. Test flags on your version
Claude Code commands and skills are separate systems	They are unified. Either file format creates the command
Short commands like /e10 are built into ChatGPT and Claude	No. You define them yourself in saved instructions
Local models match Claude for agent work	Sometimes for simple tasks, but results vary widely

Your Prompt Engineering Course Path

If you want structure, start with the free material from the source. Anthropic publishes an interactive prompt engineering tutorial that moves from basic prompt structure to reusable, complex prompts, and its Anthropic Academy hosts free self-paced courses, including Claude Code in Action for terminal-based workflows. For video craft, Google’s Veo prompt guide on Vertex AI is the best primary reference on prompt anatomy, camera angles and movements. Practise by taking one idea and building the same six-shot sequence in two different tools. The differences teach you more than any listicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use AI to generate videos?

Plan the shots, create still keyframes, animate them with image to video, then extend and edit. Use the six-layer brief for every prompt.

What are effective prompts for AI video generation?

Prompts that name one subject, one action, one camera move, one light setup and an audio cue. The six example prompts in this guide are templates you can adapt.

Are there free AI shortcuts and commands for video or image generation?

Flow offers a free credit tier, which a third-party tracker pegs at 50 daily credits as of October 2026. Custom command dictionaries, Ollama and Claude Code skills cost nothing extra, but check the limits on each plan page.

What are secret Claude prompt shortcuts?

None are secret. Tags, examples, custom styles, Projects and Claude Code skills are the real ones, and you can add your own short commands by saving a command dictionary.

How do I create custom slash commands in ChatGPT, Claude or Google Flow?

Save a command dictionary in the tool’s standing instructions, such as a Project, custom style or custom instructions. Flow has no slash syntax, so keep snippets in a notes file or save repeatable ones as Flow Tools. Only Claude Code skills create true parsed slash commands.

Can I make Claude do anything?

No. Claude declines a small set of harmful requests however they are worded. Give clearer context, a purpose and better inputs instead.

Does Google Flow have commands?

Not slash commands. It has Frames to Video, Ingredients to Video, Extend, Insert, Flow Tools and Flow Agent.

Is Sora still available?

No. OpenAI closed the Sora app on April 26, 2026 and the API on September 24, 2026.

Conclusion: Build a System, Not a Spell Book

The most useful “command” you can learn is a habit: say who is in the shot, what they do, where the camera sits, how it moves, where the light comes from, and what we hear. Everything else is packaging, including the shortcut library above.

To start today:

1. Copy the six-layer template and brief your next shot with it.
2. Generate a still first, then animate it.
3. Paste the command dictionary into your Claude Project or ChatGPT instructions, and trim it to the commands you really use.
4. Save your top commands as Claude Code skills so /shotlist and /e10 are one keystroke away.
5. Verify every tool claim against the vendor’s page before you invest, because this market now changes monthly. A tool that was central in January can be gone by April, as Sora showed.