🖼 Photo Animation · Cards

Animated Greeting Cards and Invitations With AI: A Simple Workflow

📅 Oct 2026·⏱ 4 min read·PulseMotionHub Team

A card that moves feels like a small gift. With an image generator and a short animation you can make a birthday card, a holiday greeting or a party invitation in a few minutes. The one rule: keep the important details, dates, addresses and names, as real text added in an editor, not as lettering the AI draws.

Key takeaways

Make the artwork with AI, then add names, dates and addresses as text in an editor.
A card costs about 2 to 9 credits including a song.
Presets such as Snowfall, Embers and Sunset Timelapse add instant atmosphere.
Include a plain-text version of the details for people who cannot play the video.

What You Can Make

Card	Artwork idea	Preset or tool
Birthday	A bright illustrated cake or balloons	Image to Video, Hailuo Live for illustrated art
Holiday	A cozy winter scene	Snowfall preset
Party invitation	A themed illustration with room for text	Cinematic Push-In
Save the date or wedding	A romantic landscape or portrait	Wind & Golden Light, Sunset Timelapse
Thank-you card	A friendly illustration or photo	Photo Comes Alive
Announcement	A baby, new home or move graphic	Gentle push-in

A Simple Workflow

Create the artwork. Use Text to Image (1 credit). Recraft v3 suits illustration; FLUX suits realistic scenes. Leave an empty area where text will go.

Do not ask the AI for the words. Generated lettering is often wrong. You will add text yourself.

Animate it. Use a preset (1 credit) or Image to Video. See presets explained.

Add music. A short happy or cozy instrumental from AI Music is 5 credits, or use a track you have the rights to.

Add text in an editor. Names, date, time, address and any RSVP details, in a clear font with strong contrast.

Export a short MP4 and test it on a phone before sending.

Make one card.
An image and a preset together are 2 credits.

Prompts for Card Artwork

A cheerful illustrated birthday cake with candles on a pastel table, balloons floating above, warm light, soft colors. A clear empty space at the top for text. A cozy snow-covered cabin with warm lit windows at dusk, pine trees, gentle atmosphere. Wide composition with space at the bottom for a message. A hand-painted style watercolor of wildflowers on a cream background, empty space in the center for a title.

Then use Snowfall or another effect from the preset list to bring it to life.

Cost Examples

Card	Calculation	Credits
Simple card with one preset	1 + 1	2
Card, 3 artwork tries and 2 animation tries	3 x 1 + 2 x 1	5
Card with a song	1 + 1 + 5	7
Invitation set: 3 designs, 2 attempts each, a song	3 x 2 x (1 + 1) + 5	17

Accessibility and Delivery

Include the details as plain text in your message, so everyone can read the date, time and place.
Keep it short. Five to ten seconds is plenty, and files stay small for messaging.
Avoid fast flashing. It can bother some viewers.
Check the format. 9:16 suits phones and Stories, 1:1 suits messages, 16:9 suits email and web. See aspect ratios.

Using Photos of People

If the card includes a photo of someone, ask them first. For a birthday card with a friend’s photo, check they are happy to be animated. Photo Comes Alive and Warm Smile are gentle options; see Photo Comes Alive. Do not use photos of other people’s children without permission, and keep private invitations private.

Music and Rights

Popular songs are copyrighted, so using them in cards you post publicly can lead to takedowns. A private message to friends is different, but when in doubt, make your own with AI Music. See AI video with music.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make an animated greeting card with AI?

Create the artwork in Text to Image, animate it with a preset or Image to Video, add a short song and add names, dates and addresses as text in an editor.

Why should I add the text myself?

AI-generated lettering is often wrong or unstable in video. Adding text in an editor keeps it sharp and correct.

How much does an animated card cost?

A card with one preset is 2 credits. With a song it is 7 credits.

Can I use a photo of a friend?

Yes, with their permission. Photo Comes Alive and Warm Smile are gentle options.

What format should I use?

9:16 for phones and Stories, 1:1 for messages and 16:9 for email and web. Keep it to 5 to 10 seconds.

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