# Edit 3D Scene

> Change a 3D clay scene with a plain instruction or free direct edits, lock the objects that must stay the same, and keep every revision to compare or restore.

Source: https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/edit-3d-scene

The **Edit 3D Scene** node makes a new version of an existing 3D scene. You describe the change in plain words, such as "Move the pillar back one meter and keep the suitcase path unchanged". An AI model applies it, and the objects you lock stay exactly as they are. Connect a scene from [Generate 3D Scene](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/generate-3d-scene) to its **Scene** input, and export the result with [Render Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/render-video).

- Found in: Video › Titles, Graphics & Captions
- Output: data
- API type: `edit-3d-scene`

## When to use it
- The blocking is almost right, and you want to change the camera, one object or the timing without starting again.
- You want to try variations of one scene and keep each version.
- You want to add reference images or a video to guide a change.

## Where it is available

Edit 3D Scene is in the node picker on every edition, under **Video › Titles, Graphics & Captions**. Code and AI assistants can run it through the API, the SDK and the `edit_3d_scene` MCP tool.

## Quick start
### Add the node

Press Tab on the canvas and choose **Video › Titles, Graphics & Captions › Edit 3D Scene**.

### Connect a scene

Drag from the **Composition** output of Generate 3D Scene, or of another Edit 3D Scene, to the **Scene** input.

### Lock what must not change

In the preview's object list, lock every object that must come back unchanged.

### Write the change and run it

Under **Edit instruction**, describe the change, for example `Move the camera lower and push the back wall two metres further away`. Click **Run**. The new revision appears in the preview.

Workflow: A generated scene is revised with an edit instruction, then exported as a clay MP4.

- Generate 3D Scene → Edit 3D Scene (scene)
- Edit 3D Scene → Render Video (composition)

## Inputs
| Input | Accepts | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Scene** | The **Composition** output of Generate 3D Scene, Edit 3D Scene or 3D Render Pro | The scene to change. Required. |
| **References** | Image and video nodes | Optional. More guidance for the change: appearance, layout or motion. The combined references stay within the limits of Generate 3D Scene: up to 8, including at most 1 video. |

The output, **Composition**, is the new revision. Connect it to [Render Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/render-video), or to another Edit 3D Scene.

## Settings
| Setting | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Authoring engine** | Shown only when your install offers an advanced engine. A scene made by an advanced engine is edited on that engine: Basic is disabled for it. |
| **AI Model** | The language model that applies the instruction. The default is **Claude Sonnet 4.6**. The model's tier (**Economy**, **Standard** or **Premium**) sets the price. |
| **Reasoning Effort** | Shown for models that can reason. **Very high** and **Max** may bill one tier up. |
| **Edit instruction** | The change, in plain words. |
| **References** | One role for each connected reference: **appearance**, **layout** or **motion**. |
| **Pre & post text** | Text added before and after the instruction at run time. See [Prompt pre and post text](https://nodaro.ai/docs/concepts/prompt-pre-post-text). |

Under the instruction, the panel says how many objects are locked. The locks are checked after the model answers: every locked object must come back unchanged.

## Two ways to edit

| | Edit instruction | Direct edits |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **How** | Write the change and click **Run** | Change values in the preview, or send edit operations through the API |
| **AI model** | Yes, the model you choose | No |
| **Credits** | 10, 30 or 40 on Nodaro Cloud, by model tier | Free |
| **Result** | A new revision | A new revision |

Direct edits in the preview work on the frame you see. On an animated channel, a change updates or inserts a keyframe at the current frame. On a channel that is not animated, a change moves the object at every frame.

Every edit is checked against the whole scene: object ids, the hierarchy of objects and the animation frames. An edit can never leave a parent or a reference pointing at nothing. The scene you started from stays unchanged, and the new revision records it as its parent.

## Revisions

- **Nothing is overwritten.** Each edit creates a new revision. The revision list keeps the earlier ones, so you can compare them or restore one.
- **Your edits win.** If a model edit finishes after you changed the scene by hand, your changes stay active. A notice offers **Use the new one** or **Keep mine**.
- **Each MP4 uses one revision.** Render Video exports the revision that is active when it runs.

An MP4 is not an editable scene. To work from a video, connect it as a reference to [Generate 3D Scene](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/generate-3d-scene) and edit the scene it builds.

## Credits
| Action | Credits on Nodaro Cloud |
| --- | --- |
| Direct edits and API edit operations | 0 |
| An edit instruction | 10, 30 or 40 for an Economy, Standard or Premium model |
| A video reference | The [Video Analysis](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/video-analysis#credits) price for that video |
| Rendering the new revision with Render Video | 50 up to 1920 pixels on the longest side, 75 up to 5.12 megapixels, 125 above that |

Rendering is always a separate step. See [What a 3D scene render costs](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/render-video#what-a-3d-scene-render-costs). Community and Business editions do not use credit billing.

## Tips
- **Lock before you instruct.** A locked object must come back unchanged, and Nodaro checks it after the model answers.
- **Use direct edits for exact values.** When you know the number, such as a camera height or an object's position, type it in the preview. It is instant and free.
- **Compare before you render.** Earlier revisions stay in the revision list, so you can compare versions and restore one before you export.
- **Trim video references first.** A video reference is used as a whole clip. Use [Trim Video](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/trim-video) to keep only the part you need.

## From the API
`POST /v1/3d-scene/edit` takes the `scenePlan`, the `expectedRevisionId` and either a `prompt` or a list of `operations`. A request based on an outdated revision is refused. A successful edit returns a job whose `output_data.scenePlan` holds the new revision, together with a `changeSummary`.

| Operation | Fields |
| --- | --- |
| `set-object` | `objectId`, `changes` (any object field except the id) |
| `add-object` | `object` |
| `remove-object` | `objectId` |
| `set-camera` | `changes` |
| `set-lighting` | `changes` |
| `set-background` | `color` |

```typescript
const edited = await client.nodes.runAndWait("edit-3d-scene", {
scenePlan: scene.scenePlan,
expectedRevisionId: scene.scenePlan.revisionId,
operations: [{ op: "set-camera", changes: { focalLengthMm: 50 } }],
});
```

- **Operations change exactly the fields you send.** To change a keyed pose, include its keyframe changes.
- **Locks.** `lockedObjectIds` lists the objects that must come back unchanged.
- **References.** New references merge with the existing ones by id, and the same id replaces a reference. Send `replaceReferences: true` with the complete list to replace them all, or with an empty list to clear them.
- **Advanced engines.** A scene made by an advanced engine is edited on that engine, and asking for Basic is refused. An instruction edit on an advanced engine reports the same details as a new scene, including results delivered without the visual review's approval and drafts kept from failed runs. See [3D Render Pro](https://nodaro.ai/docs/nodes/video/pro-3d-render#what-happens-when-a-run-does-not-pass).

AI assistants use the `edit_3d_scene` MCP tool, with `locked_object_ids` for the locks. See [3D scenes through MCP](https://nodaro.ai/docs/mcp/3d-scenes).

## Frequently asked questions

### Does editing a 3D scene cost credits?

Direct edits in the preview and the API's edit operations are free, because no model runs. An edit instruction calls the AI model and costs 10, 30 or 40 credits on Nodaro Cloud for an Economy, Standard or Premium model.

### How do I keep an object exactly as it is?

Lock it in the preview's object list before you run the instruction. Nodaro checks after the model answers that every locked object came back unchanged.

### Can I edit an MP4 with Edit 3D Scene?

No. An MP4 is not an editable scene. To work from a video, connect it as a reference to Generate 3D Scene and edit the scene it builds.

### Can I go back to an earlier version?

Yes. Every edit makes a new revision and keeps the old one. Choose any revision in the revision list to make it active again.

### What happens if a model edit finishes after I changed the scene by hand?

Your edits stay active. A notice offers Use the new one or Keep mine, so nothing you did by hand is lost.