How it works

From one line of text to a finished video

Updated 23 July 2026

Short answer: explain.ink takes a topic, a script or a document, works out the order the idea should be explained in, splits it into scenes, draws each scene stroke by stroke in the style you picked, records the narration to match, and renders a 16:9 MP4 without a watermark that you download.

What do you give it?

Whichever form your content is already in. Nothing has to be prepared first.

What happens after you press go?

1. The story gets an order. Before anything is drawn, the content is turned into a sequence: what the viewer needs first, what only makes sense after that, and what can be left out. This is the step that decides whether the finished video is followable, and it is why a twenty page document does not become twenty minutes of video.

2. The script is split into scenes. Each scene is one idea, cut at the natural break in the writing, so a single frame never has to carry three claims at once.

3. Every scene is drawn. The artwork is generated for that specific line, stroke by stroke, in the style you chose. Because it is generated rather than picked from a library, an unusual subject still gets a drawing about itself.

4. The narration is recorded. The voiceover follows the script, and the timing of the drawing follows the narration, so a line that needs a beat gets one.

5. The video is rendered. You get a 16:9 MP4 with no watermark, ready to upload, embed, or hand to a client. If the render fails you are not charged for it.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take?

Minutes rather than days for a short explainer. The writing is the part that takes your time; the drawing and the narration are produced for you.

Do I need to draw or edit anything?

No. You choose the input and the style. The script, the artwork, the narration and the final file are produced for you.

Can I change the style after the fact?

Yes. Pick another style and the same script is redrawn in it, so the words stay as approved while the look changes.

What format do I get?

A 16:9 MP4 with narration and no watermark, which plays anywhere and uploads to any platform without conversion.

How long should the video be?

Up to five minutes is supported, and most explainers work best between one and three, because that is how long a single idea holds attention.