Reference media, links and assets

Seedance 2.5 and 2.0 can follow reference images, videos and audio. There are three ways to give them a reference.

Way	How it works	Needs
Connect a node	Connect an image, video or audio output to the reference slots.	Images and audio: nothing extra. Videos: a Comfy.org login.
Paste an asset ID or `asset://` link	Put it in an `asset_N` input.	The private asset library for new assets.
Paste a public `https://` link	Put it in an `asset_N` input.	A link BytePlus can reach.

Connected images and audio

Connected images and audio are sent inside the request itself. Nothing is uploaded anywhere else.

Connected videos

Seedance only accepts reference videos as links. A video you connect to Seedance 2.5 Reference to Video is therefore uploaded first to Comfy.org storage, and BytePlus fetches it from there.

You must be logged in to Comfy.org in ComfyUI (or have a Comfy.org API key). It does not work if ComfyUI runs with --disable-api-nodes.
Uploads are deleted after about 24 hours. The pack reuses an upload of the same file for up to 12 hours.
Trimming or cropping the video creates a different upload.
To skip the upload, use a link or an asset instead (below).

Local media is never added to your private asset library automatically.

`asset_N` slots

Reference to Video has asset_N inputs, and First-Last-Frame to Video has first_frame_asset_id and last_frame_asset_id. Each takes one of:

an asset ID, for example the asset_id output of Create Image Asset;
an asset://<ASSET_ID> link, for example from Asset Library;
a public https:// link to an image, video or audio file. Type it into a String node and connect it.

For asset_N, a link is recognized by its file extension or content type. Asset IDs and asset:// links are looked up in your asset library to find out whether they are images, videos or audio, and that lookup needs the IAM keys. In first_frame_asset_id and last_frame_asset_id the type is already known: with IAM keys saved the asset is also checked to be an Active image, and without them the ID is sent as it is.

Using links as a bypass

A link or asset ID skips the Comfy.org upload completely. That is the way to use reference videos without a Comfy.org login, or to reuse a file you already host. The file must be a public link that BytePlus can open.

Naming references in the prompt

Refer to media by position with @Image 1, @Video 1 and @Audio 1. Numbering is separate for each media type: image_1 is @Image 1, and video_1 is @Video 1. These labels identify the media you supplied, not filenames. Connected inputs come first, then the asset_N entries. You can also write asset1, asset2 in the prompt, and the node replaces them with the matching position.

See Image and Video References for a template that uses an image for appearance and a video for camera motion.

The private asset library

With Dreamina Seedance Advanced Creation Rights you can keep authorized media, such as virtual portraits or verified real people, in a private asset library and use it in Seedance 2.5 and 2.0.

Save an IAM access key and secret key with asset-library permission in Settings → BytePlus (API keys).
Add Create Image Asset (or Video or Audio). Connect the media or set a public HTTPS link.
Give an existing group_id, or leave it empty and set group_name to find or create a virtual-portrait group.
Run. The node waits until the asset is Active and outputs asset_id, group_id and asset_uri. Running again with the same image reuses the asset.
Connect asset_id to an asset_N input.

Good to know:

BytePlus verifies real people only in the ModelArk console. Create those groups there and pass their group_id.
Asset Library lists the assets you already have.
Connected media for a new asset is uploaded to Comfy.org storage first. A URL input skips the upload.
CreateAsset is rate limited by your tier: 3, 120 or 300 requests per minute (Entry, Advanced, Premium).

See the templates Virtual Portrait - Existing Asset and Virtual Portrait - New Asset for working examples.