New tool
Seedance 2.5 Draft mode: 480p preview, 1080p final render
Seedance 2.5 Draft mode launched on September 22, and Runway added it on September 28. We went through the price list and worked out how many attempts it takes before the 480p preview saves you credits. We also cover what you can't sign off on at 480p.
By: Priya RamanModel comparisons, prices, new releases (News)
In short: Seedance 2.5 Draft mode went live on the Volcano Engine API on September 22, 2026. You first get a 480p draft, then a native 1080p render of the shot you pick. Runway has offered it in its API since September 28 and in its Agent since October 2. The cost savings and the "highly consistent" final image are the company's claims; there's no independent testing yet.
What is Seedance 2.5 Draft mode?
Seedance 2.5 Draft mode splits generation into two steps. According to Volcano Engine's announcement, you first get a 480p draft, and only the shot you choose is rendered at 1080p. Eyerys, reporting independently, says the second step is a native 1080p render, not an upscale of the draft. The expansion reuses the prompt, references, seed, aspect ratio and duration. In Jimeng, the same feature is called "sample mode."
Draft mode spread across platforms within days. Eyerys reports that Pika and Magnific supported it within a day, and Artlist documented it too. On Runway, drafts are available in Tools only, and since October 2 the Agent suggests draft mode automatically, though you can turn it off. ComfyUI got a new node and three templates on September 25. According to the ComfyUI Wiki, ByteDance bills a draft as a regular 480p render.
How much does the draft actually save?
Runway's help center lists Seedance 2.5 at 68 credits per second for 1080p, 20 for a draft and 68 to expand a draft. Input video costs extra: +10 credits per second for drafts and +34 for 1080p. A 5-second shot rendered straight at 1080p costs 340 credits; draft plus expansion costs 440. So on your first attempt, the draft is the pricier route, and it only pays off as attempts pile up. The table below is our own math based on Runway's prices, without input video.
| Attempts on a 5-second shot | Draft + expansion vs. straight 1080p |
|---|---|
| 1 attempt | 440 vs. 340 credits: the draft costs more |
| 4 attempts | 740 vs. 1,360 credits: the draft costs less |
| 20 attempts | 2,340 vs. 6,800 credits: the draft costs far less |
In Volcano Engine's own example, for the same 5-second clip, the company promises roughly 57% lower costs at four generations, about 77% at twenty, and nearly twice the speed. Those are vendor figures, and at Runway's prices the savings come out lower. Other platforms price it differently: in Picsart's AI Playground, a 5-second preview costs 20 credits and the 1080p final render 90. Higgsfield's pricing blog lists an 8-second clip at 24 credits in 480p and 128 in 1080p.
What does it mean for film planning?
In film planning, Draft mode is a cost workflow, not a new capability, so decide on it shot by shot. If a shot is predictable from a start frame or reference, the draft is an extra round you don't need. If the camera, the motion or the dialogue is still uncertain, the draft saves money. The expansion carries over the same prompt, references, seed and duration. So lock the prompt before the draft, for example by writing camera moves in meters and seconds.
- Shot that's predictable from a start frame or reference: go straight to 1080p.
- Uncertain camera, motion or dialogue: use a draft, since that's where the retries happen.
- Logo or caption shots: don't approve them at 480p. Per the company, small text, texture and crowds can change.
- Hand, face and text checks: always after the 1080p expansion.
- Sign-off: within 7 days, or you'll have to generate again.
The 7-day expiry also changes how you run approvals. Both Runway and Picsart say a draft can only be expanded for 7 days; after that, you'll have to generate again. If a client or director signs off on shots, the review round has to close inside that window. weblockai shows the credit cost and your remaining budget before every paid step and waits for your approval. The draft-or-1080p call fits right there, while generation runs in your own account.
What we don't know yet
Runway doesn't state how closely the expanded 1080p shot is expected to match the draft. There's no reliable source on which Runway plans include drafts; the help center only says "Tools only." No page lists the exact price of draft mode in the Agent. We haven't seen the official BytePlus documentation; Eyerys and the ComfyUI Wiki cite it.
Sources
- PANews: Seedance 2.5 API Officially Launches Draft Mode (September 22, 2026)
- Eyerys: Seedance 2.5 'Draft Mode' Changes AI Video Workflow (September 24, 2026)
- Runway Help Center: Creating with Seedance 2.5 (undated)
- Runway: API Changelog & Updates (September 28, 2026)
- Picsart: Seedance 2.5 Draft Mode Explained (September 24, 2026)
Common questions
What is Seedance 2.5 Draft mode?
It splits generation into two steps: first a 480p draft is made, and only the shot you select becomes a native 1080p render. The expansion reuses the prompt, the references, the seed, the aspect ratio and the duration. The mode launched on September 22, 2026 on the Volcano Engine API, and Runway has offered it since September 28.
Is Seedance 2.5 Draft mode cheaper than going straight to 1080p?
Only when a shot needs several attempts. Based on Runway's prices, a 5-second shot costs 340 credits directly on one attempt, and 440 as a draft plus expansion. At four attempts the draft costs 740 credits and direct 1080p costs 1,360. Anything predictable on the first try is better generated straight at 1080p.
What should I not approve at the 480p draft stage?
Shots with logos and text, because even the maker says small text, texture and volume can change. Always check hands, faces and text after the 1080p expansion. Draft mode suits uncertain camera work, movement or speech, where you expect many attempts.
How long can I wait before turning a Seedance draft into a 1080p render?
According to Runway and Picsart, only for 7 days, after which you have to generate again. If a client or a director approves the shots, the approval round has to be finished within that time. On Runway the draft costs 20 credits per second, and the expansion costs 68.