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

# Credits

> How Ozu bills generation work — held, settled, or released — and how to top up when you need more.

**Credits** are Ozu's usage currency. Every generation — a character's hero look, a storyboard frame, a voiceover line — consumes credits. Verifying your email at sign-up grants you **200 free credits**, which is enough to take a short scene all the way through the pipeline.

## How the meter runs

Each generation has a credit cost that depends on the model, resolution, and how many variants you ask for. Bigger models and higher resolutions cost more; a quick image preview costs less than a high-fidelity final.

You can see the credit cost on every generation button before you commit. No generation kicks off silently.

<Tip>
  **A short scene usually fits inside the free tier.** A 6-beat scene with two actors and one set typically costs well under 200 credits — enough to learn the pipeline before you top up.
</Tip>

## Held, settled, released

Credits move through three states. This matters because it means **you never pay for generations that fail**.

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Held">
    When a generation starts, Ozu reserves the credits for that job. Your balance drops, but the credits are parked — not yet spent.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Settled">
    On success, the hold turns into a real debit. The credits are gone; the generation is yours.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Released">
    On failure, the hold is released back to your balance. You're not charged. This includes timeouts, provider errors, and content-safety blocks.
  </Card>
</Columns>

### What this looks like in practice

* You hit **Generate** on an Actor. 3 credits get held.
* The job runs. If it succeeds, your balance drops by 3 credits — settled.
* If the job fails, the 3 credits return to your balance — released.
* Either way, the node shows you the outcome. No silent deductions.

## What consumes credits

Anything that calls an AI model costs credits. That includes:

* Script analysis (the Script Node's Ozu consult + full analysis pass)
* Asset generation (Actor hero, wardrobe variants, Prop, Set)
* Storyboard frames (one per beat)
* Reshots and regenerates (a reshot of an asset rebuilds all its downstream frames)
* Audio generation (voiceover, SFX)
* Music generation (the Song Node, when used with AI sources)

Things that don't consume credits:

* Editing text, notes, or structure (Script Node analysis view, Timeline arrangement, DRB notes)
* Playback, scrubbing, exports of already-generated frames
* Importing your own images, video, or audio

## Free and paid tiers

Every new account starts on the free tier with its initial 200-credit grant. When you need more, you can upgrade from the user menu.

Paid tiers — **Studio**, **Studio Pro**, and **Studio+** — bump your monthly credit allotment, raise resolution caps, and unlock more powerful models. The exact credits-per-tier and monthly price are shown in the upgrade screen so you always see current numbers.

Payment is handled by Stripe. Upgrade, downgrade, or cancel from the user menu at any time.

<Note>
  **Keep it simple**

  You don't have to commit to a subscription to keep working. One-time credit top-ups are available if you just need a buffer for a specific project.
</Note>

## What happens when you run out

If a job would push your balance below zero, the generation is blocked before it starts — no surprise overages. The node shows a clear "insufficient credits" state and prompts you to top up.

Existing frames, assets, and projects are never deleted because you ran out of credits. You can still edit, rearrange, and export anything you've already generated; you just can't kick off new generation work until you top up.

## Related

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Scene, Shot, Beat" href="/user/concepts/scene-shot-beat">
    Beat count is the biggest driver of per-scene credit cost.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pipeline and Nodes" href="/user/concepts/pipeline-and-nodes">
    Where credits get spent at each pipeline stage.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Frames and Animatics" href="/user/concepts/frames-and-animatics">
    Every rendered frame is one beat's worth of credits.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Getting Started" href="/user/getting-started">
    Your first project — the 200 free credits, and how to use them well.
  </Card>
</Columns>

## FAQ

**How many credits does a typical scene cost?**
It depends on beat count, model choice, and resolution. A 6-beat scene with two actors and one set usually runs well under 200 credits. Longer scenes or higher-fidelity models cost proportionally more. The Generate button shows you the cost before you commit.

**Do I get charged for a failed generation?**
No. Credits are held when the job starts and released when it fails. Your balance returns to what it was before. This includes safety blocks, provider errors, and timeouts.

**What's the difference between a regenerate and a reshot?**
A **regenerate** rebuilds a single frame and costs one frame's worth of credits. A **reshot** rebuilds an asset (say, an Actor) plus every downstream frame that used that asset. A reshot costs more because it's more work — Ozu shows the total before you confirm.

**Can I see where my credits went?**
Yes. Your account history shows each generation, what it cost, and whether it settled or was released.

**Do unused credits roll over?**
Bundled credits from a subscription tier refresh monthly. One-time top-up credits don't expire — they stick around until you use them.

**Do I pay for script analysis or just generated images?**
Script analysis does consume credits — the AI reads, reasons, and extracts structure. It's typically a small fraction of a full pipeline's total cost. You'll see the cost on the Analyze button before you run it.

**Can I bring my own AI provider keys?**
Bring-your-own-keys (BYOK) is available to a limited set of partners and isn't part of the standard account experience. Most creators use the bundled credit model.