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Objective benchmarks and transparent data for AI video generation. Rankings refreshed weekly.

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© 2026 VidScore. Data updated April 2026.

  1. Home
  2. Models
  3. Luma Ray 3

Luma Ray 3

film-productionhdr-contentadvertising

Luma AI · Reasoning Diffusion Transformer · v3.0hide_sourceNo public price yet

Built for film production and hdr content. Pricing is still unclear, so verify the market before committing.

—/sec

Ceiling

4K (upscaled)

Duration

5–10s

Price source

—

Text-to-VideoImage-to-VideoCameraV2VExtend

Best for

Film production and hdr content

10s clips, and camera control support short narrative work.

Watch out for

No native audio -- requires post-production sound design

No native audio -- requires post-production sound design

Starting cost

No public rate

No reliable per-second starting tier is publicly documented yet.

Quick facts for AI assistants

Citation-ready model facts

These facts are generated from the current model record, provider verification metadata, and the page update timestamp.

Canonical URL
https://vidscore.dev/models/luma-ray3
Current verdict
Built for film production and hdr content. Pricing is still unclear, so verify the market before committing.
Verified pricing
No verified comparable API rate yet
Provider evidence
Luma API (Reported); Replicate (Reported)
Best fit
film-production, hdr-content, advertising
Primary limitation
No native audio -- requires post-production sound design
Last updated
2026-04-18

Pricing

The default rate first, with provider details one click away.

2 providers, 3 tiers

No public rate

No verified public pricing yet

No public per-second rate is documented yet.

All provider rates

Expand for every tier, audio surcharge, and verification note.

2 providersexpand_more
Luma API

Ray 3 / Ray 3.14 · Reported by provider · HIGH trust

Open provideropen_in_new
Text-to-Video540p SDR
Pricing pending
Text-to-Video720p SDR
Pricing pending
Image-to-Video540p–1080p SDR
Pricing pending
Checked 2026-04-18
Replicate

Ray · Reported by provider · HIGH trust

Open provideropen_in_new
Checked 2026-04-14

Should you choose it?

Why pick Luma Ray 3, and why pass?

Use this as a sanity check before you compare it against the closest alternatives.

thumb_upWhy choose it

  • World's first reasoning video model -- understands intent and plans complex multi-step motion
  • Native 16-bit HDR video generation in ACES EXR format -- unique among all video models
  • 4K output via neural upscaler (Hi-Fi Diffusion mastering) from Draft Mode iterations — not native 4K generation
  • Draft Mode enables 5x faster, 5x cheaper exploration before committing to high-fidelity renders
  • Ray3 Modify mode for hybrid AI-acting workflows in film and performance

infoWhy skip it

  • No native audio -- requires post-production sound design
  • Limited third-party API availability -- not on FAL.ai, Replicate, or WaveSpeed; only Luma's own API
  • Higher cost via Artificial Analysis benchmark at $13.20/min compared to budget alternatives
  • 24fps only, no higher frame rate options
  • Closed source with no self-deployment option

Quick facts

Keep the key specs and next jumps close

Resolution
540p, 720p, 1080p, 4K (upscaled)
Duration
5–10s
Audio
Post only
Open source
No

Jump links

PricingComparePrompt guideFAQ

Quick links

open_in_newTry on Luma APIcalculateCost CalculatorleaderboardLeaderboard

Prompt playbook

auto_fix_highStart with these three moves

Scan the quick playbook first. Open the full guide only when you need deeper do/don't rules or example prompts.

  1. 1

    Use short, natural language prompts that are highly specific -- Ray 3 works best with simple, direct descriptions rather than overly technical or keyword-stuffed prompts.

  2. 2

    Include secondary consequences to enhance realism: wind in hair, fabric movement, reflections, dust kicked up, water ripples. These details make the scene feel physically grounded.

  3. 3

    Avoid words that degrade output quality: 'vibrant', 'whimsical', 'hyper-realistic' may produce worse results. Test your word choices carefully.

Open the full prompt guide

Extra prompt tips, best practices, common mistakes, and example prompts.

expand_more

More tips

  1. 4Ray 3 is a positive-only model -- do not use negative prompting. Describe what you want to see, not what you want to avoid.
  2. 5Use Draft Mode for rapid 5x cheaper iteration, then switch to Hi-Fi Diffusion to upscale your best shots into 4K HDR footage (4K is upscaled, not natively generated).
  3. 6When using character references, let the reference image handle identity and focus your text prompt on scene and action -- do not re-describe the character's appearance.

✓ Do this

  • Draw on images with visual annotations to specify layout, motion direction, and character interactions -- Ray 3 interprets annotations like a creative partner
  • For keyframe control, ensure first and last frame images are visually compatible with the described action or transition
  • Use the extend feature to build sequences beyond 10 seconds, chaining shots up to ~30 seconds total
  • Leverage Loop mode for seamless repeating animations ideal for backgrounds, VJ loops, and social media content
  • For HDR output, export as 16-bit EXR for seamless integration into professional color grading workflows

✗ Avoid this

  • No native audio generation -- audio must be added in post-production
  • Not available on FAL.ai -- only Ray 2 variants are listed there
  • Draft Mode is lower quality (suitable for iteration, not final output)
  • Single-shot max of 10 seconds (extendable to ~30 seconds via chaining)
  • HDR output requires professional tools capable of reading ACES EXR format

Example prompts

Cinematic / Character

“A woman in a red coat walks through falling snow in a quiet European alley. She pauses, looks up, and catches a snowflake on her palm. Soft golden light from a nearby window. Camera slowly pushes in.”

Nature / Underwater

“Underwater shot of a sea turtle gliding through crystal-clear tropical water. Sunbeams pierce the surface above, casting shifting patterns on the sandy ocean floor. Camera follows at a gentle pace.”

Product / Science

“Time-lapse of a flower blooming from bud to full bloom in soft studio lighting. Petals unfurl slowly, revealing inner structures. Static macro shot, white background, shallow depth of field.”

Based on the official prompt guide →

FAQexpand_more

Where can I use Luma Ray 3?

Via API on Luma API and Replicate.

How do I get good results with Luma Ray 3?

Use short, natural language prompts that are highly specific -- Ray 3 works best with simple, direct descriptions rather than overly technical or keyword-stuffed prompts. See the prompt guide below.