8 September 2026
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AI Studio is a free desktop app for motion graphics artists who want to experiment with AI — without the subscriptions, markups, or confusing credit systems used by the big aggregator platforms.
Bring your own API keys and get direct access to the latest AI models (image, video, 3D, audio and more) at the lowest available prices, all from one node-based workspace built specifically for a motion graphics workflow. Use it to generate moodboards, storyboards, textures, 3D assets, voiceovers, music, and more — or to speed up the repetitive, technical parts of the job so you can spend more time on the creative work.
In this video, I walk you through downloading and setting up AI Studio, connecting your fal.ai API key, generating your first images, and exploring the node-based canvas — including asset nodes, utility nodes, templates, and export tools.
AI Studio is free to download, with additional features available to CG Shortcuts members.
👉 Download it at cgshortcuts.com/ai
Ai Studio works with a CG Shortcuts account and your own fal.ai API key. You pay fal.ai directly for generations — Ai Studio does not add its own credit markup on top.
Free members can use Generate with fal.ai, browse Assets, check Analytics, open Recommended, and manage settings.
Pro members (any paid CG Shortcuts membership — Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime) unlock node-based Workflows, reusable Templates, and the Price Leaderboard.
Ai Studio is currently Windows-only. Create a free CG Shortcuts account if you do not already have one, then download the installer from cgshortcuts.com/ai.
Run the installer and finish the setup wizard. When it completes, launch Ai Studio from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.
On first launch you will see the sign-in screen. Click Connect CG Shortcuts account and sign in in your browser. Alternatively, paste an activation code from your account and click Activate.
Free, Monthly, Yearly, and Lifetime members can all use the app. By continuing, you agree to the Terms of Service.
After sign-in, Ai Studio asks for a fal.ai API key. fal.ai gives you access to a large library of image, video, audio, and 3D models through one API.
Create a fal.ai account (or sign in) if you need one.
Open your fal.ai dashboard and create an API key.
Add prepaid credits (recommended) so you stay in control of spending, or use pay-as-you-go.
Paste the key into Ai Studio and click Save API key.
The key is verified with fal.ai, then encrypted and stored on your computer only — it is never sent to CG Shortcuts. A model library sync starts automatically after connecting.
You can reconnect or update the key later under Models & Providers in the left sidebar.
Open Settings from the left sidebar. Under the assets path, click Browse… to pick a folder for generations and imports, then click Save path. Use Use default if you prefer the built-in location.
ffmpeg downloads automatically for video and audio thumbnails. If needed, you can install or check it from the same Settings page.
Open Generate in the left sidebar. This is the main experience for Free members — one-shot generation without a node graph.
Pick a media type (image, video, audio, or 3D).
Choose a fal.ai model from the model picker.
Write a prompt. You can attach references and mention assets with @ when the model supports them.
Adjust any model settings shown in the composer.
Click Generate to queue the job.
Jobs appear in the footer queue (Running, Queued, Done, Failed). Hover the footer to expand it. When fal.ai is connected, a credit chip in the footer shows your remaining balance where available.
Past generations stay on the same page so you can browse, filter, and reuse them.
Open Assets to search, filter, rename, star, or delete media. From here you can also drag assets into Generate or (for Pro) onto an open canvas tab.
Open Recommended for opinionated fal.ai picks by use case (video, image, upscalers, edit/extend, music, SFX, 3D) with notes on quality vs price.
Open Analytics for estimated spend and run stats based on local pricing data.
Pro members unlock the full canvas. Open Workflows, then create a new workflow from the + button in the tab bar (or double-click the tab bar where supported). Workflows open as canvas tabs and autosave as you work.
Press Tab (or use the empty-canvas menu) to add nodes.
Add a Prompt and/or Asset, then a Generator.
Drag between handles to connect nodes (prompt, media, and list channels).
Select a node to open the right-hand inspector and run actions like Generate, Apply, Extract, or Export.
Optional utility nodes: Crop, Rotate and Flip, Color Correct, Extract (frames/clips from video), List (batch variations), Export, and Sticky Note.
A typical flow is Prompt / Asset → Generator → optional edit nodes → Export. Cost estimates often appear on the generate action so you can see the price before you run.
Open Templates to browse bundled starters or your own saved graphs. On an active canvas tab, use the template icon to save the current workflow as a reusable template. You can also import or export templates as JSON.
Open Price Leaderboard for side-by-side cheapest verified routes across image, video, audio, and 3D. Use it when you want a clearer view of what a generation is likely to cost before you run it.
Open Keyboard Shortcuts for the full reference (tabs, canvas, assets, Generate, and more). Handy canvas shortcuts include Tab to add nodes and F to frame all nodes.
Open Help for beta notes, feedback, and support. Use Settings → sign out if you need to clear the local licence on this machine.
Stay on Free for as long as Generate covers your needs. When you want chained node graphs, saved pipelines, templates, and the price leaderboard, upgrade your CG Shortcuts membership at cgshortcuts.com/pricing. Locked Pro items in the sidebar show a lock icon with an upgrade hint.