Construction time-lapse from two site photos: Wan 3.0, $1.25

A time-lapse between two real photos is a first-frame and last-frame job: send the empty lot as first_frame and the finished building as last_frame to wan-3.0. Ten seconds costs $0.63 at 480p, $1.25 at 720p and $2.50 at 1080p on Sume.

The model invents the in-between, so this is an illustration of progress and not a record of it. Label it that way if it will sit next to real project updates.

Request

frame_images carries both photos, and frame_type says which is which (video generation docs). Keep the camera position the same in both photos, or the model will have to fake a camera move as well as a build.

{
  "model": "wan-3.0",
  "prompt": "Time-lapse of construction, clouds moving fast, scaffolding rises, fixed camera",
  "duration": 10,
  "resolution": "720p",
  "generate_audio": false,
  "frame_images": [
    {"type": "image_url", "image_url": {"url": "https://example.com/site-start.jpg"}, "frame_type": "first_frame"},
    {"type": "image_url", "image_url": {"url": "https://example.com/site-done.jpg"}, "frame_type": "last_frame"}
  ]
}

Price

Wan 3.0 lists at $0.05, $0.10 and $0.20 per second. Sume bills list times 1.25 and rounds up to the cent (video router docs).

Tips for a believable result

Match the two photos in angle, time of day and framing. Ask for a fixed camera, and keep the prompt about the change: clouds, light, work crews as blurs. If the building appears to grow in the wrong order, shorten the prompt rather than adding detail.

Where this fits

It suits a marketing page or a pitch deck where the point is a sense of progress. It does not suit a progress report to a client or a lender. Use real photos on a schedule for those.

Practical notes

If the first run looks wrong, try a shorter clip. A 6-second time-lapse at 720p is $0.75 and gives the model less room to wander between the two photos.

Keep your originals. The two photos are the evidence; the clip is a presentation of them.