Raw AI video output from Kling 3.0, Runway Gen-4, or Veo 3 is never ad-ready. Every clip needs a post-processing pass that fixes artifacts, matches brand color, syncs audio, and formats for platform specs. Here is the exact AI video post-processing workflow for ads that we run at Adsome on every DTC campaign.

This workflow assumes you already have raw clips generated from your model of choice. It covers the six stages between raw output and a platform-ready ad asset.

1. Select and organize usable takes

Most AI video generations produce 3-5 variants per prompt. Before touching any editing software, screen every clip at full resolution and tag them in three buckets: hero (best motion, no visible artifacts), backup (usable with fixes), and reject (hands melting, physics breaking, logo distortion). We use DaVinci Resolve bins or a simple folder structure. Spending 10 minutes here saves hours downstream because you stop polishing clips that will never ship.

Flag specific frames where you spot common AI artifacts: texture flickering on product surfaces, unnatural hand movement, or background warping during camera motion. These frame ranges become your fix list for stage three.

2. Upscale and sharpen before editing

AI video models typically output at 720p or 1080p. For paid social, you want clean 1080x1920 (9:16) or 1920x1080 (16:9) at minimum. Run your hero clips through Topaz Video AI using the Proteus model at 2x upscale. This adds real detail recovery rather than the blurry scaling you get from a simple resize in Premiere.

Apply sharpening conservatively. AI-generated footage already has a slightly over-processed look, and aggressive sharpening amplifies that. A value of 15-25 in Topaz (on a 0-100 scale) works for most product footage. Skin and fabric textures tolerate less, around 10-15.

Export these upscaled clips as ProRes 422 or DNxHR intermediates. Editing compressed H.264 files through multiple render passes introduces generation loss that shows up as banding in gradients.

3. Fix artifacts and composite corrections

This is where most teams skip steps and regret it. Open your flagged frame ranges in After Effects or Fusion (inside DaVinci Resolve). Common fixes include:

  • Texture flicker on products: Apply temporal median filtering across 3-5 frames. In Resolve, the Temporal Noise Reduction tool at a threshold of 10-15 smooths flicker without destroying detail.
  • Edge wobble on hard surfaces: Track the object and apply a subtle stabilization pass. Warp Stabilizer in After Effects set to "Position only" with 5-10% smoothing handles this without introducing the jelly effect.
  • Background inconsistency: If a background element shifts between frames, freeze-frame the cleanest version and composite it behind your tracked foreground subject.

For Veo 3 clips that include native audio, check whether the audio track has artifacts of its own (robotic reverb, unnatural room tone). Strip it if you plan to add a proper voiceover or licensed music in stage five.

4. Color grade to match brand guidelines

AI models each have a default color signature. Kling 3.0 tends warm and slightly saturated. Runway Gen-4 leans cooler with higher contrast. Veo 3 sits somewhere neutral but can shift scene to scene. When you cut clips from multiple models into one ad (which happens often), the color mismatch is obvious.

Use a LUT as a starting point, then manually adjust in Resolve's Color page. Match to a reference frame from your brand's existing creative library. Pay attention to skin tones and product color accuracy. A lipstick that shifts from coral to salmon between cuts destroys credibility.

Shoot for Rec. 709 output. Nobody in DTC paid social needs HDR delivery.

5. Add audio, text overlays, and motion graphics

Layer your audio mix: background music at -18 to -20 dB, voiceover at -6 to -3 dB, and sound effects at -12 to -15 dB. These levels ensure the voiceover cuts through on mobile speakers where most DTC ads are consumed.

Burn in captions for any spoken content. 65-75% of Meta and TikTok viewers watch with sound off. Use your brand font at a readable size (minimum 40px at 1080p). Animate text with simple fades or slides that match the pacing of cuts.

6. Export per platform with correct specs

Platform Resolution Aspect Ratio Max File Size Codec Frame Rate
Meta (Feed) 1080x1080 1:1 4 GB H.264 30 fps
Meta (Stories/Reels) 1080x1920 9:16 4 GB H.264 30 fps
TikTok 1080x1920 9:16 500 MB H.264 30 fps
YouTube 1920x1080 16:9 128 GB H.264 30 fps

Export at a bitrate of 15-20 Mbps for 1080p delivery. Lower bitrates introduce macroblocking in areas where AI footage already struggles with fine detail.