Clone yourself in your videos

In video editing, cloning refers to the process of duplicating a subject or object to create the illusion of multiple versions. While it may sound like a niche editing trick, cloning is actually common across visual media. If you’ve ever seen a movie where an actor plays their own twin, you’ve seen an example of cloning.
In fact, cloning yourself in a video is like cloning yourself in real life—minus the ethical questions. When you create a video clone, you can keep it identical to the original, or you can tweak it by adding effects or rotating it.
There are a few different ways to create a video clone. The quickest option—and the one that Runway’s AI uses—is to create a mask of the subject and duplicate it as many times as you want. Making a mask involves selecting the person or thing you want to clone with Runway’s Green Screen magic tool, then separating it from the background. Once you have your separated mask, you can replicate it endlessly to create multiple layers, move it around, resize it, and more.

Cloning has numerous purposes, but they all exist in one of two categories: practical or creative.
From a practical perspective, cloning can save you time and money. Instead of finding two actors that look the same for your twin-based romcom, you can find one actor and clone him in post-production. Instead of hiring thirty extras, you can fill the space behind your main character with a handful of clones. If you need to whip up a conversational video and you’re on your own, you can clone yourself and have a spirited debate. These cloning tricks (and others like them) can help you create a Hollywood-worthy product on a DIY budget.
In terms of creative uses, cloning can drive the plot, introduce psychological intrigue, and create mind-bending effects that, until fairly recently, weren’t possible in video production. With cloning, you can add a shadow figure that stalks your lead actor, build a psychedelic house of mirrors effect, or develop a dystopic sci-fi world—filled with doubles.

As with most aspects of video editing, there are no rules. You can use cloning anytime you want to enhance a project.
With that said, there are some classic moments where cloning can really help your video stand out. To help you turn that creative spark into a roaring fire, let’s look at a few potential use cases for video cloning:

• Emphasizing action shots – Imagine a snowboarder nailing a backflip off a 20-foot kicker or a figure skater landing a triple axel. These are incredible athletic feats—and they also go by in the blink of an eye. To make sure a specific moment makes a lasting impression on your audience, you can clone the subject of the video (the mask) and duplicate it several times. The result? Several repeating instances of a jaw-dropping moment.
• Personifying your conscience – If a character in your film spends a lot of time talking to themselves, you could use a voiceover to let the audience in on these moments. However, for a more visually engaging option, you can try creating a clone of your character. Now, instead of simply speaking with their inner demons, your actor can interact with another version of themselves.
• Visual interest in advertisements – Cloning can make a scene with a single actor much more compelling. Let’s say you’re making a TV spot for a yogurt company. If you want to show how delicious that blueberry yogurt is, the predictable route would be to have your actor lift a spoonful to their mouth and smile at the camera. For something more memorable, why not create a hundred clones of your yogurt enthusiast the moment the spoon reaches their lips? Now you’re implying that the yogurt isn’t just good; it’s life-changing.

The bottom line is that cloning allows you to subvert your audience’s expectations—and isn’t that the whole point of creating art? Use Runway to play around with cloning and see where it works for you. It’s free and easy, so you can experiment to your heart’s content.

Cloning is a complex process. When you’re working by hand, there’s always the possibility that you’ll create a less-than-perfect rendering. All it can take is a slight slip-up—say you accidentally omit a part of your subject—to make your duplication appear unfinished. There’s also the chance that you clone your subject perfectly, but the footage behind the subject appears glitchy or blurry.
However, when you clone correctly (for example, by using Runway’s foolproof AI-powered cloning tool, you can create seamless duplications that wouldn’t be out of place in a billion-dollar film. In a click or two, Runway automatically creates a mask of your subject, allowing you to clone yourself as often as you want—without the choppy backgrounds or missing parts.

Nope! At least, not if you’re using Runway. While you can use a green screen to facilitate the cloning process, Runway’s smart cloning Green Screen tool can identify and duplicate a subject in your video—regardless of the background. Whether you’re in the heart of downtown, an overgrown forest, or a bone-dry desert, you can clone your subject in a snap.
That being said, you’ll find your best results occur when your background is static. A little movement is okay, but using a tripod to film your scene will ensure that your video clone looks picture-perfect.
Finally, if you wish you had used a green screen, it’s not too late! Runway has a green screen feature built into its all-in-one video editing suite. Whether you want to remove the background or clone your lead actor, if you can dream it—you can do it.

If you’re wondering how to duplicate yourself in a video without spending days—or weeks—finessing a new technique, rest assured. With Runway, you can create and duplicate a mask in under a minute. Choose a frame where your subject appears clearly, click on them, and watch while Runway’s AI works its magic. In moments, you’ll have the ability to clone yourself, your actors, or a product.
Once you have your mask, you can take your time tweaking, duplicating, and applying the clone throughout your project. Add effects to your clone with a tap, move it to another spot in the frame, or resize it by clicking and dragging. Mastering all of these actions takes only a few seconds, and applying your new knowledge is even quicker.