Capability before preference
Eliminate incompatible models before comparing aesthetics.
The best route for a shot must first accept the required inputs, duration, resolution, endpoint, character, motion, and budget. Only then does a same-brief visual comparison answer a useful question.
Evidence basis: current TrueCut catalog capabilities checked 2026-08-25. This guide does not rank visual quality and does not substitute catalog data for a controlled benchmark.
Current capability matrix
| Route | Max | Resolution | End frame | Character | Motion transfer | Base credits/sec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TrueCut DoP | 10s | 480p, 720p, 1080p | Yes | Yes | No | 6 |
| Seedance 2.0 | 15s | 480p, 720p, 1080p | Yes | Yes | No | 10 |
| Seedance 2.5 | 30s | 480p, 720p, 1080p | Yes | Yes | No | 10 |
| Kling 3.0 | 10s | 480p, 720p, 1080p | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6 |
| Kling 2.5 | 10s | 480p, 720p, 1080p | Yes | Yes | No | 6 |
| Sora 2 | 10s | 720p, 1080p | No | No | No | 20 |
| Veo 3.1 | 8s | 720p, 1080p, 4k | No | No | No | 20 |
| Hailuo | 6s | 480p, 720p | No | Yes | No | 4 |
| Wan 2.5 | 10s | 480p, 720p, 1080p | Yes | No | No | 4 |
Rates are planning inputs before resolution multipliers. The estimate shown immediately before submission is the billing source of truth.
A defensible six-step decision
- Step 1
Lock required inputs
Decide whether the shot begins from text, one frame, start and end frames, a character reference, or a motion reference.
- Step 2
Set delivery constraints
Name duration, aspect ratio, minimum acceptable resolution, audio requirement, and any fixed destination frame.
- Step 3
Remove incompatible routes
Use the capability matrix to eliminate models that cannot accept a non-negotiable input or output requirement.
- Step 4
Normalize the comparison
Keep prompt, source, duration, aspect ratio, resolution, and candidate count as equivalent as the routes permit.
- Step 5
Score the shot purpose
Judge only criteria that matter for this shot: identity, geometry, trajectory, prompt adherence, temporal consistency, audio, latency, and cost.
- Step 6
Record route and date
Preserve the exact route, settings, result, failure, and test date so later model updates create history instead of rewriting it.
What this matrix cannot tell you
Visual quality
A capability flag does not measure realism, taste, identity stability, product accuracy, or camera adherence.
Provider equivalence
Routes can expose different controls, durations, resolutions, and defaults; state every mismatch in a comparison.
Future behavior
Provider models change. Preserve dated tests and do not update a review date unless the underlying evidence changes.
Your usable-shot rate
A public test helps choose a starting route, but your source material and acceptance criteria still require a small controlled trial.