> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.memorystring.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.memorystring.app/style-and-motion/looks.md).

# Looks

The eight MemoryString Looks, Energy, Photo Size, and Dark or Light stage. One chip styles the whole movie.

A **Look** sets the whole movie style from one chip in Inspector → **Style**: grade, border, stage, backdrop, lens effects, Photo Size, transitions, music mood, and which multi-photo groups run.

![Style tab: Look chips, Energy, Photo Size, and Stage](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6ca275826dc11f421ab3af0cd7e42122cfd2e55d%2Finspector-style.png?alt=media)

![Eight Look chips](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2ac66b228495ec4fb1ffda3bc64e8a8e1e5ad0fe%2Finspector-looks.png?alt=media)

![Energy, Photo Size, and Stage Intensity](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f1dff8eb74b598b2ade38750741e5b9ed8df36f4%2Finspector-masters.png?alt=media)

**⌘Z** undoes Style changes. **Reset Style to Defaults** restores this tab (caption style, not caption text). With captions present, choose **Reset Styles Only** or **Reset Styles and Clear \[N] Captions…**.

## The eight chips

Click a chip. The card border changes with the Look, including while you scrub. MemoryString deals a short list of transitions for that Look, more kinds as the show gets longer, and applies group settings for that Look. A group kind you turned off, such as **Perspective Pair**, stays off. Check it again under **Motion → Transitions** to bring it back.

**Click the same Look again** for a new random deal: lens effects (every Look except **Clean**), transitions, and Music Follows Show tracks if the playlist is still auto-seeded. A **Lens Effect** pinned on a slide stays.

Editing **Customize**, **Stage**, **Photo Size**, or **Motion** switches the chip to **Custom**.

Energy, export format, opening on/off, opening text, chosen opening background, closing words, and per-photo overrides are not reset. A Look **does** change opening-card styling.

Looks do not turn on **Atmosphere** or **Decals** by themselves.

A Look with many lens boxes still plays **at most one** lens effect per photo. See [Customize](/style-and-motion/customize.md#lens-effects).

### Clean

Minimal style. White matte, soft shadow, **Large** Photo Size, grayscale backdrop, **Light** stage, soft transitions (Ken Burns, depth dissolve, reveal from depth). Stacks + carousel at defaults; **Perspective Pair** every 6. A new show starts here.

![Clean Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-109dde6c1117a95f9af0a00bef0d8b5ad1ec5cfe%2Flook-clean.jpg?alt=media)

### Polaroid

Instant-print feel. White matte with thick bottom margin, curl, gentle wind, playful transitions (card flip, slide, sparks, contact sheet). Dense stacks; carousel; **Perspective Pair** every 8.

![Polaroid Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-4d9c119f56f95d676088f2b54a1d68c7d0cd9f6f%2Flook-polaroid.jpg?alt=media)

### Vintage

Aged album. Black mat, torn edge, warm leak, grayscale backdrop, grain and scratches, soft transitions (layers, same-photo fan, card flip). Sparse stacks and ribbon; Filmstrip on.

![Vintage Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bd081b57236a95058596717349050950d502d1fe%2Flook-vintage.jpg?alt=media)

### Cinematic

Wide cinematic grade. Thin black frame, strong shadow, fine grain, grayscale backdrop, **Dark** stage, dramatic transitions (spiral-in, punch-in, accordion), **Large** Photo Size. Carousel and ribbon; Filmstrip and **Scatter & Settle** on some cadences.

![Cinematic Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-66708ed78cb212ab37f65140e0ff283f6abc7666%2Flook-cinematic.jpg?alt=media)

### Noir

Moody black-and-white. Soft mono grade, black frame, vignette, soft transitions; no spark trails. **Perspective Pair** every 7. Mats stay white or black paper.

![Noir Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d5b754e93c3d6409e7206c4f5de4c5109034ef0f%2Flook-noir.jpg?alt=media)

### B\&W

Soft documentary grayscale. White mat, rounded corners, soft transitions; no spark trails. **Perspective Pair** every 8. Gentler than **Noir**.

![B\&W Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7d4984038e45ab158178270a826ee9b1ceb66dff%2Flook-bw.jpg?alt=media)

### Golden Hour

Warm late-day color. White mat, warm leak, stage sun wash, soft transitions. **Perspective Pair** every 8.

![Golden Hour Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c7bad8329199b0b35d8432581e51b122ba8cb6b9%2Flook-golden-hour.jpg?alt=media)

### Crisp

Cool editorial look. Thin white frame, strong shadow, grayscale backdrop, dramatic transitions (punch-in, flying card, spiral-in). **Perspective Pair** and Filmstrip every 8.

![Crisp Look example frame](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9b86e7961e89dd84379d6347b4e15331ef974dc5%2Flook-crisp.jpg?alt=media)

## Energy

Slider from **Calm** to **Intense**. Labels: **Calm · Steady · Lively · Energetic · Intense**.

Photo still duration scales with Energy, about **7.6s** at Calm, **4.0s** at default, **2.0s** at Intense. The **opening card** uses separate timing: about **7s / 6s / 4s**. Energy does not clear hand-picked Motion checkboxes.

**Fit Show to Music** on the Audio tab moves this same Energy slider so the song covers the whole film, including the end card. See [Music → Length](/build-your-movie/music.md#length).

**Spiral-in** and **Reveal from depth** play at every Energy. Their slides run a little longer so the slow wind-in still lands.

## Photo Size

How large the hero photo sits on stage. Inspector → **Style**, under Energy. Labels: **Smallest · Small · Medium · Large · Largest**. Default for every Look: **Large**.

Sets size for single slides. Groups may fit slightly smaller to stay on stage. [Social Safe](/share/export.md#social-safe) clamps Photo Size to about **85–98%** on tall exports.

## Stage

**Dark** (black) or **Light** (cream gallery). Inspector → **Style**, under Photo Size. A new show is **Clean** on **Light**. **Cinematic** is the Look that starts on **Dark**. **Polaroid** and **Golden Hour** keep a colored backdrop. The other Looks use grayscale. Changing Stage marks Style as **Custom**.

**Studio:** **Stage Intensity** under Dark / Light controls how strong the stage background reads. Photos in front are not dimmed. Preview and export match.

A new show starts at **50%** on **Dark** and **80%** on **Light**. If you already moved the slider, that show keeps your setting.

![Stage: Dark or Light, and Stage Intensity](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-2b6811895b62b5da2ed4d8f80f91e8d25c67dd7e%2Finspector-stage.png?alt=media)

**Dark**

![Dark stage](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8632dbb15f50a804197aca873c646d4651bdc195%2Fstage-dark.jpg?alt=media)

**Light**

![Light stage](https://316881897-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F6lG8Zi4VdmddHJ8jUOT5%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f5942ad49f31a9cf904b6ddad9d76b15a9d2bad8%2Fstage-light.jpg?alt=media)

## Captions on this tab

Bulk **Auto Caption** / **Clear**, and (**Studio**) **Type & Placement** (every installed font, each name in its own type). See [Titles and captions](/build-your-movie/intro-captions.md#set-a-caption-in-the-inspector).


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.memorystring.app/style-and-motion/looks.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.