Want to visualise your subject from every cinematic angle in a single frame?

Google's Nano Banana Pro can transform any image or concept into a 3x3 grid showcasing nine distinct camera shots, from extreme wide angles to intimate close-ups.

Here's how to create professional-looking cinematic grids that rival actual film production storyboards.

What You'll Need

  • Access to Google AI Studio or the Gemini app (free tier available), or access via any AI tool with Nano Banana Pro. I personally use Freepik (not affiliated) all tutorial images will be referencing there but the process is the same.

  • A clear source image or detailed description of your subject(s)

  • A reference image can be a real image or from AI.

  • Basic understanding of your subject composition (single person, group, vehicle, or object)

Understanding the 3x3 Grid Structure

A cinematic grid follows a specific hierarchy of camera shots arranged in three rows:

Row 1: Establishing Context

- Extreme Long Shot (ELS)

- Long Shot (LS)

- Medium Long Shot (MLS)

Row 2: Core Coverage

- Medium Shot (MS)

- Medium Close-Up (MCU)

- Close-Up (CU)

Row 3: Details & Angles

- Extreme Close-Up (ECU)

- Low Angle Shot

- High Angle Shot

Each panel must maintain consistency in subjects, clothing, lighting, and environment whilst varying only the camera distance and angle.

Step 1: Generate or Select Your Subject

First, create your base subject with Nano Banana Pro. For this tutorial, we'll use a Japanese samurai as our example.

A cinematic movie still of a Japanese samurai warrior in traditional armor standing in a bamboo forest, cinematic lighting

Generate your base image and review it. Once you're happy with the subject, you'll use this for the cinematic grid. Alternatively you can use an original image you’ve taken.

Step 2: Build Your Cinematic Grid Prompt

Use this template structure to create your grid. You can customise this to your specific scene/still.

A professional 3x3 cinematic storyboard grid containing 9 panels showing [subject description] in [environment description].

Row 1: Extreme long shot, full long shot, medium long shot (knees up).
Row 2: Medium shot (waist up), medium close-up (chest up), close-up (face/front).
Row 3: Extreme close-up (detail), low angle looking up, high angle looking down.

Same subject(s), same clothing, same lighting, consistent cinematic color grading, photorealistic textures, proper depth of field with bokeh in close-ups, professional cinematography.

You can also use the example I used for the Japanese Samurai image

### ROLE: Cinematic Continuity Director **OBJECTIVE:** Analyze image. Generate a 3x3 "Cinematic Contact Sheet" (9 panels) maintaining 100% subject consistency. ### 1. SUBJECT ANALYSIS * **Identity Lock:** Use the EXACT subject(s) from the input same face. * **Scene Lock:** Use the EXACT environment/lighting from the input. ### 2. GRID COMPOSITION (3x3) Generate a single image containing a 3x3 grid using this specific shot list: **ROW 1: ESTABLISHING (Wide)** 1. **Extreme Long Shot:** Subject tiny, emphasis on vast environment. 2. **Long Shot:** Full body view (Head to toe). 3. **American Shot:** 3/4 view (Knees up). **ROW 2: ACTION (Core)** 4. **Medium Shot:** Waist up. Focus on action/pose. 5. **Medium Close-Up:** Chest up. Focus on dialogue/expression. 6. **Close-Up:** Tight framing on face/main focal point. **ROW 3: DETAILS (Dynamic)** 7. **Extreme Close-Up (Macro):** Focus on specific detail logo. 8. **Low Angle:** Worm’s eye view looking up (Heroic). 9. **High Angle:** Bird’s eye view looking down (Vulnerable). ### 3. STYLE & TECH SPECS * **Aspect Ratio:** 16:9. * **Visuals:** Consistent color grading across all panels. * **Structure:** Clean borders between panels. No text overlays.

Step 3: Generate Your Cinematic Grid

Submit your prompt to Nano Banana Pro and wait for the complete 3x3 grid to generate (typically 10-30 seconds).

Review the result for:

  • All nine distinct panels visible and clearly defined

  • Proper progression from wide to tight shots in rows 1-2

  • Variety in angles for row 3

  • Consistency in subjects, clothing, and lighting across all panels

  • Realistic depth of field shifts (wider depth in establishing shots, shallow in close-ups)

If your grid needs adjustments, use follow-up prompts to refine specific aspects.

Step 4: Extract Individual Stills From Your Grid

Once you have your cinematic grid, you can extract any specific panel as a standalone high-resolution image.

Use this simple prompt format:

extract the still [row].[column]

The grid is numbered like this:

  • Row 1 (top): 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

  • Row 2 (middle): 2.1, 2.2, 2.3

  • Row 3 (bottom): 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Nano Banana Pro will generate a full resolution (up to 4K) version of that specific panel, perfect for use as a standalone image.

Pro tip: Extract multiple stills from the same grid to create a series of related images with perfect consistency. This is ideal for social media posts, presentations, or marketing materials.

Step 5: Refine for Consistency

If your initial result lacks consistency across panels, add these refinements to your prompt:

For better subject consistency:

  • Add "identical subject in all 9 panels"

  • Specify "same armor and styling throughout"

  • Include "continuous scene with consistent elements"

For better lighting consistency:

  • Specify exact lighting type: "same dawn mist lighting in all frames"

  • Add "consistent shadows and highlights across all panels"

  • Include specific lighting direction: "light from left in all shots"

For better composition:

  • Add "professional film storyboard layout"

  • Specify "clear separation between all 9 panels"

  • Include "traditional cinematography shot progression"

For better depth of field:

  • Add "realistic bokeh and shallow depth of field in close-up panels"

  • Specify "sharp focus throughout in wide shots, soft backgrounds in tight shots"

  • Include "cinematic lens characteristics for each shot type"

Additional Example Prompts

For a vehicle:

A professional 3x3 cinematic storyboard grid containing 9 panels showing a vintage 1967 red Mustang convertible on an empty desert highway at golden hour.

Row 1: Extreme long shot with car small on vast desert road, full long shot showing complete vehicle, 3/4 angle medium long shot.

Row 2: Medium shot of front half of vehicle, medium close-up of front grille and headlights, close-up of front badge and details.

Row 3: Extreme close-up of chrome details and reflections, low angle from ground level showing undercarriage, high angle bird's eye view from directly above.

Same red Mustang, same desert highway location, same golden hour lighting, consistent cinematic color grading, photorealistic textures, proper depth of field with bokeh in close-ups, professional automotive photography.

For a portrait:

A professional 3x3 cinematic storyboard grid containing 9 panels showing a female architect in her 30s wearing a white button-down shirt and dark trousers in a modern minimalist office with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Row 1: Extreme long shot with figure small in vast office space, full long shot showing complete figure head to toe, medium long shot framed from knees up.

Row 2: Medium shot framed from waist up at desk, medium close-up framed from chest up, close-up of face and shoulders.

Row 3: Extreme close-up of eyes with architectural blueprints reflected, low angle looking up for heroic framing, high angle looking down from above.

Same person, same white shirt and dark trousers, same natural window lighting, consistent cinematic color grading, photorealistic textures, proper depth of field with bokeh in close-ups, professional cinematography.

Adapting to Different Subject Types

The standard shot types need adaptation based on your subject:

For people:

  • ELS: Person small in environment

  • LS: Full body head to toe

  • MLS: Knees up (American shot)

  • MS: Waist up

  • MCU: Chest up

  • CU: Face and shoulders

  • ECU: Eyes, hands, or distinctive features

For vehicles:

  • ELS: Vehicle in vast landscape

  • LS: Complete vehicle profile

  • MLS: 3/4 view showing character

  • MS: Front half or rear half

  • MCU: Front grille or distinctive elements

  • CU: Badge, lights, or key features

  • ECU: Macro details, chrome, textures

For products:

  • ELS: Product in context/environment

  • LS: Complete product with space around

  • MLS: Product with immediate context

  • MS: Product filling 60% of frame

  • MCU: Key features visible

  • CU: Specific component or detail

  • ECU: Texture, material, craftsmanship

For groups:

  • Keep the group together in all shots

  • Adjust framing to include all members appropriately

  • In close-ups, focus on interaction or primary subject with others visible

  • Maintain spatial relationships between group members

Real-World Applications

For Filmmakers and Directors

Create pre-visualisation boards for scenes before shooting. Test different shot compositions and angles to plan coverage efficiently. Extract specific stills for shot lists.

For Photographers

Showcase your understanding of compositional range to clients. Demonstrate how you'll capture subjects from multiple perspectives in a shoot.

For Product Designers

Present products comprehensively to stakeholders, showing every angle and detail level in a single reference frame. Extract specific angles for marketing materials.

For Marketing Teams

Create visual shot lists for video production briefs. Generate consistent imagery across campaigns by extracting stills from the same grid.

For Content Creators

Generate reference boards for YouTube videos or social media content. Extract individual stills for carousel posts whilst maintaining perfect consistency.

For Character Designers

Develop character reference sheets showing your designs from every essential angle. Extract specific views for turnaround sheets.

Advanced Techniques

Themed Grids

Create genre-specific variations for your samurai or other subjects:

  • Film Noir: "high contrast black and white, dramatic shadows, venetian blind lighting"

  • Horror: "desaturated colors, ominous lighting, fog and atmosphere"

  • Sci-Fi: "cool blue tones, futuristic lighting, lens flares"

  • Period Drama: "warm natural lighting, authentic period details, cinematic grain"

Dynamic Action Grids

Instead of static poses, show progression:

A professional 3x3 cinematic storyboard grid showing a Japanese samurai drawing and striking with katana, progressing through the motion from panel 1 to 9, maintaining the shot type structure but showing sequential movement

Before/After Grids

Show transformation across the grid:

Row 1: Samurai in peaceful meditation with three camera angles

Row 2: Transition into battle stance with three camera angles

Row 3: Full combat mode with three camera angles

Next Steps

Once you've mastered basic cinematic grids, explore:

  • Creating multi-grid series showing scene progression

  • Combining multiple lighting setups (dawn/midday/dusk grids)

  • Generating character sheets with costume variations

  • Building location scouts showing spaces from all key angles

  • Creating product catalogs with consistent angle documentation

  • Extracting and curating stills for social media campaigns

Final Thoughts

Cinematic grids with Nano Banana Pro are powerful tools for visual planning and creative consistency. They let you explore every essential angle of your subject in a single generation, then extract exactly the stills you need.

The key to successful grids is absolute consistency. Every panel should feel like it belongs to the same shoot, with only camera position and focal length changing between frames.

Start with simple subjects like the samurai example, master consistency, then experiment with complex compositions. The extraction feature means you're not just creating reference grids - you're building a library of perfectly consistent images for any project.

Think like a cinematographer planning coverage: What do you need to capture to tell the complete visual story? The 3x3 grid forces you to think comprehensively about your subject from every essential angle, and the extraction feature turns those panels into production-ready images that can even be turned into videos.

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