What is Synthesys?
Synthesys is an AI-powered tool designed for generating visual media, specifically images and videos. For a small business owner or marketer, this translates to an on-demand content creation assistant. The platform aims to streamline the production of marketing materials, social media posts, and other digital assets. Instead of sourcing stock images or hiring videographers, Synthesys proposes a workflow where users can generate unique visuals from text prompts or transform existing images. The core value proposition is the reduction of time, effort, and cost typically associated with creating professional-grade visual content, allowing businesses to maintain a high output of engaging material without a large creative team or budget.
Key Features and How It Works
Synthesys operates on a foundation of generative AI models. Users interact with a straightforward interface to access its primary functions, each aimed at solving a common content challenge for businesses.
- Advanced Image Replication: This feature allows you to provide an online image as a reference. The AI then generates a new, visually similar image. The intended benefit is creating original, copyright-free assets that capture a specific style or theme without the cost of stock photography licenses. This is particularly useful for blog posts, ads, and website visuals.
- Character Consistency: For businesses with a mascot or brand persona, this function is critical. It can take a source image of a character and generate new images of that same character in different poses or scenarios. This maintains brand consistency across marketing campaigns without needing to commission new illustrations for every variation.
- Image to Video Conversion: A standout feature, this tool converts a static portrait or character image into an animated video. It incorporates lip-sync technology, enabling the character to speak audio that you provide. This allows for the creation of talking avatars for explainer videos, social media updates, or personalized messages without any filming.
- Audio Translation: To support global business operations, the tool can translate an audio file into 29 different languages. When combined with the image-to-video feature, this allows a single video message to be repurposed for multiple international markets, significantly reducing localization costs.
Pros and Cons
Evaluating Synthesys requires a practical look at its advantages and potential drawbacks from a business investment perspective.
Pros:
- Workflow Efficiency: A direct integration with Canva allows users to generate AI visuals within a familiar design environment. This reduces the learning curve and streamlines the process of adding unique images and videos to established marketing templates.
- Speed of Production: The ability to quickly generate images and turn them into talking-head videos can drastically cut down content creation timelines. What might take days in traditional production can potentially be accomplished in minutes.
- Cost-Effectiveness: For businesses that consistently need new visual content, a flat-rate subscription model can offer significant savings compared to paying for individual stock photos, video shoots, or design contractors.
Cons:
- Initial Learning Investment: While the interface is designed to be user-friendly, mastering the advanced features to achieve specific, high-quality results will require an initial time investment.
- Customization Limits: The tool offers speed and convenience, but it may not match the granular control of professional design software like Adobe Photoshop or After Effects. Businesses with very specific branding guidelines might find the creative options restrictive.
Who Should Consider Synthesys?
Synthesys is best suited for individuals and teams who need to produce a high volume of quality visual content efficiently and affordably. The ideal users are those who value speed and cost-savings over absolute creative control.
- Small Business Owners: Entrepreneurs who manage their own marketing can use Synthesys to create professional-looking social media content, ads, and website visuals without significant design skills.
- Digital Marketers: Marketing teams can leverage the tool to quickly generate assets for A/B testing ad campaigns, creating engaging video content, and populating content calendars without relying on a dedicated design team.
- Content Creators & Educators: Individuals producing online courses, tutorials, or social media content can use the image-to-video feature to create engaging avatars and multilingual educational materials.
Pricing and Plans
Synthesys operates on a subscription model, positioning itself as an operational tool rather than a one-off purchase. The pricing structure is straightforward, focusing on providing access to its full suite of features.
- Standard Plan: Priced at $30 per month, this plan is designed for individual professionals and small teams, offering access to the core AI generation tools for images and videos.
- Business Plan: For larger organizations or teams with specific needs, a custom plan is available. Pricing is tailored based on usage requirements, team size, and any desired premium support or features.
Disclaimer: Pricing is subject to change. For the most current and accurate information, please consult the official Synthesys website.
What makes Synthesys great?
The standout capability of Synthesys is its direct image-to-video conversion, which creates talking avatars with synchronized lip movements from a single static picture. This feature is a significant efficiency gain for any business. It removes the need for cameras, actors, and complex animation software to create spokesperson-style videos. A company can use a headshot of a CEO for an internal announcement or a generated character for a series of marketing videos, all by uploading an image and an audio file. This direct, functional approach to video creation, combined with its practical integration into Canva, makes it a powerful tool for scaling content production without scaling costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the content generated by Synthesys truly copyright-free for commercial use?
- Synthesys claims its image replication feature produces original, copyright-free visuals. However, businesses should always exercise due diligence, especially when using images of recognizable people or properties as a reference, to avoid potential infringement issues.
- How much time does it take to create a talking avatar video?
- Once you have a source image and an audio file, the generation process itself is relatively quick, often taking only a few minutes. The main time investment is in crafting the script and recording the audio you wish to use.
- Can I use my own voice for the video avatars?
- Yes. The platform’s functionality is designed for you to upload your own audio files, whether it’s your own voice, a professional voiceover, or an AI-generated voice, which the avatar will then lip-sync to.
- Does the Canva integration require a separate Canva subscription?
- Yes, the integration connects Synthesys to your Canva account. To use Canva’s full range of features, you will need a separate Canva account, which may be free or a paid subscription depending on your needs.