Quick answer
Paste the video prompt into an image-to-video tool with a full-body photo of a person or a pet: it asks for the subject to round out like a balloon and float, with cartoon physics. Swap the last sentence for a float-away or a confetti pop. AI Inflate does the effect from a photo without a prompt.
An inflate prompt has one job beyond the effect itself: keeping it a balloon. Video models are literal, and a body that grows realistically can tip into body horror in a second. The prompt below leans on balloon words and cartoon physics, and keeps the face the same size while the rest rounds out.
It isn’t the prompt the Reelfie template uses; that one is set for its own model.
The video prompt
Vertical 9:16 video, 8 seconds. The subject in the photo stands in bright daylight, full body in frame. After a second, their body slowly puffs up like a balloon, round, smooth and bouncy, while their face and clothes stay the same, just stretched. They lift gently off the ground and bob in the air, drifting a little. Soft cartoon physics, playful and silly, not creepy. Steady camera, no text.
- “The subject in the photo”: works for a person or a pet without editing the prompt.
- “After a second”: the change has to happen on camera; tools that start mid-puff lose the surprise.
- “Face and clothes stay the same, just stretched”: keeps it recognizably you rather than a generic balloon.
- “Lift gently off the ground and bob”: the float is the ending. Without it the clip just stops.
- “Soft cartoon physics… not creepy”: the line that holds the tone.
Words that keep it a balloon
Use
Balloon, round, bouncy, smooth, puff up, float, bob, cartoon physics, playful.
Avoid
Swell, bloat, expand realistically, skin stretching, heavy. They pull the model toward a real body changing.
Three endings
Replace the sentence that starts “They lift gently” with one of these.
Float away
Keep rising until you’re a dot.
They rise higher and higher until they drift out of frame into the blue sky.
Confetti pop
A soft pop at the top.
At the top they pop softly into a burst of confetti.
Pet balloon
Legs paddling in the air.
The dog in the photo puffs up into a round, fluffy balloon and floats with its legs paddling.
A still: you as a parade balloon
Turn the person in this photo into a giant inflatable parade balloon of themselves: glossy, round and smooth, same face, hair colors and outfit, held down by ropes above a sunny city street with a small crowd looking up. Cheerful, cartoon proportions, realistic lighting. Vertical 4:5.
Chat apps that edit images handle this well. The ropes and the crowd give it scale, so it reads as a balloon rather than a person who grew.
Which tool to use
The still goes into Gemini or ChatGPT. The video prompt needs an image-to-video tool; expect two or three runs before the face holds steady through the puff-up. ChatGPT or Gemini can shorten the prompt if your video tool caps its length.
AI Inflate has the effect, the daylight and the float set already:
- 1Choose Solo or Pet and add one full-body photo.
- 2Check the button: 80 credits.
- 3Press make; the MP4 lands in Assets, and a failed run is refunded.
Common problems
It looks creepy
Add “cartoon physics, playful” and remove “swell” or “bloat”.
The face stretches out of shape
Say “the face stays the same size and shape; only the body rounds out”.
Nothing inflates; the camera just zooms in
Remove camera directions other than “steady camera”, and put the puff-up in its own sentence with “after a second”.
FAQ
What prompt makes the AI inflate effect?
Ask for the subject to puff up like a balloon, round and bouncy, with the face unchanged, then lift off the ground and bob, with cartoon physics. The full prompt is above.
Why does my inflate video look disturbing?
Realistic body words push the model that way. Use balloon words and say “cartoon physics, not creepy”.
Can I inflate a pet with this prompt?
Yes. “The subject in the photo” covers pets, and the pet ending adds paddling legs.
Is this the prompt behind Reelfie’s inflate effect?
No. The template runs its own prompt for its model; you don’t write one there.
Make your first one
Inflate: Puff up like a balloon and float off.
Try InflateYour photos are deleted 7 days after upload and never used to train AI.
