Reference media guidelines: Runway Recipes and Sume checks

Runway's reference media guide says references are the biggest lever on output quality: use the highest-resolution source, keep one clear subject, light it evenly and avoid clutter. The same habits help on Sume. Sume adds checks Runway's page does not cover: reference URLs must be public HTTPS, each model accepts only some reference types, and Gemini Omni video references are limited to 3 seconds each.

Runway rules are from its guide; Sume rules from Video generation and the Video Router docs, read 2026-10-01.

What does Runway say makes a good reference?

The guide lists resolution, isolation, lighting and one subject per reference. For product images it adds: center the product, prefer a plain background, and avoid heavy reflections, watermarks or overlaid text. For reference videos it asks for stable footage with steady motion over shaky or rapidly cut clips. For people, it says to use only references you have permission to depict.

What does Sume check on top of that?

How do I avoid a failed job?

Open each URL in a private browser window before submitting. If it asks for a login or lives on localhost, Sume cannot read it. Then read supported_input_references for the model you picked, because only a model that lists a type accepts that type. The docs also say to use high-quality, relevant reference images; that matches Runway's advice.

Do I need rights to the people in a reference?

Runway's guide puts the responsibility for likeness rights on the submitter. Treat the same rule as yours when you send a face to any generator. This is a practical note, not legal advice. For video clip limits, see the 3-second limit per clip.