> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://elarislabs.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Campaign modes

> Choose the right campaign mode — AI-only, with-assets, moodboard, video, or ad-template — based on what assets you have and what you want to produce.

Every campaign starts by selecting a mode. The mode determines what inputs you provide and what the wizard produces. Pick the one that best matches your current creative assets and output goal.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="AI-only">
    **Best for:** Exploration, ideation, and briefs where you don't yet have product photography or brand assets.

    The pipeline generates all visuals from your brief and the Brand Strategist's guidelines. No uploads required.

    <Tip>
      Start here when you're early in the creative process. Once you have hero product shots, rerun the campaign in **with-assets** mode to ground the visuals in real imagery.
    </Tip>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="With assets">
    **Best for:** Campaigns that must feature specific product photos, talent imagery, or existing brand assets.

    Upload your files in the brief step. The pipeline incorporates them into generated creatives while still applying the Brand Strategist's visual direction.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Moodboard">
    **Best for:** Aligning stakeholders on visual direction before committing to full production.

    Produces visual direction boards rather than finished ad variants. Use moodboards to validate a creative territory early and at lower credit cost.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Video">
    **Best for:** Campaign outputs that must be video — product demos, brand films, social video ads.

    Runs the full wizard pipeline and produces video outputs rather than static images. Distinct from [URL to Video](/docs/url-to-video/overview) (URL-driven) and Studio video nodes (freeform).
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Ad template">
    **Best for:** Consistent, layout-driven ads where you need the same frame structure across a set with swappable product and copy.

    Uses Magic Layers to decompose and rebuild ad layouts with AI template blocks. See [Ad Templates](/docs/ad-templates/overview) for more.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Which mode should I use?

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="I don't have product photos yet">
    Use **AI-only**. The pipeline generates everything from your brief and brand guidelines. Once you have real assets, rerun in **with-assets** mode to ground the visuals.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I need stakeholder sign-off before full production">
    Use **moodboard**. It produces visual direction boards at a lower credit cost, so you can align on creative direction early without committing to full generation.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My brief calls for video ads">
    Use **video** mode. For URL-driven product videos, consider [URL to Video](/docs/url-to-video/overview) instead — it's faster for single-product storytelling.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I need consistent ad layouts across a product line">
    Use **ad-template** mode. Magic Layers let you maintain consistent frames while swapping product imagery and copy across the full set.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>