# City Folding troubleshooting.
Find where the shot breaks.

> Use a frame-by-frame review to distinguish a geometry problem from a camera problem. The checklist explains what to inspect; it does not guarantee a successful retry.

Source: https://cityfolding.com/city-folding-troubleshooting · Updated: 2026-10-09 · Publisher: City Folding

## Why do City Folding buildings melt instead of bend?

A melting skyline means the rendered architecture changes shape without a readable connected fold. The prompt may be ambiguous, the source may hide the road, or the rendering model may not handle the transformation. Review the original photo and the full output before choosing a change. This checklist is editorial diagnosis; no failure-rate study or tested repair is claimed.

## Match the visible symptom to a smaller revision

| Symptom | Inspect first | Direction to try |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Towers melt or stretch | Are distinct building edges visible in the source? | Ask the road and building blocks to bend as one connected surface |
| Road splits into separate pieces | Can you trace the near road into the distance? | Keep road markings continuous across the bend |
| Whole picture rotates | Does the near pavement rotate with the skyline? | Remove roll or orbit clauses; specify a stable near horizon |
| Foreground object deforms | Is it cropped, overlapped or very close to the fold? | Choose a cleaner reference and keep the near region flat |
| Transformation appears as a cut | Do objects jump between consecutive frames? | Request one uninterrupted architectural movement |

These revisions narrow the brief. They cannot make a general model behave like a dedicated City Folding effect, and a repeated failure may require a different rendering workflow.

## Inspect continuity with stable landmarks

Begin with the source image. Pick a near curb and a distant building corner, then follow them through the rendered clip. If the near curb rotates with everything else, you may be seeing camera motion rather than the intended architectural bend.

Pause where the fold begins and where it becomes steepest. Check whether the same road is still connected, windows retain a readable layout and background objects do not appear from nowhere. Do not grade the effect only by its most dramatic frame.

Keep a short note beside each revision: source unchanged, camera locked, one fold clause changed. That record helps you understand the next result. The local prompt download saves the direction; it does not store a rendering history or attach your photo.

## Revise one part of the City Folding brief

1. **Save the visible issue** Describe the frame where the problem starts, such as a road breaking at the horizon. Separate that observation from a guess about its cause.
2. **Simplify the shot** Use a locked camera, a stable foreground and one connected fold. Remove destruction, explosions and several competing transformations.
3. **Check the reference** Compare the scene with the [photo and shot guide](https://cityfolding.com/how-to-make-city-folding-video). A new photo is a separate experiment from a rewritten prompt.
4. **Review before publishing** Use the rendering service’s preview and inspect the whole video. Only publish footage you are authorized to use and that meets your visual requirements.

## When a folding shot fails

### Will a negative prompt fix every distorted building?

No. An avoid clause describes unwanted results, but a model can still produce them. A simpler scene or a dedicated effect may be a more useful next test.

### Does this site refund failed City Folding videos?

This site does not render or charge for City Folding videos. The service that renders your clip sets its own payment and refund terms.

### Can I upload a failed video here for repair?

No. The City Folding tool reviews a local still reference and exports a prompt. It has no video repair, outpainting or editing input.

### Should I change the source and prompt together?

Changing both makes it harder to tell what affected the next result. Keep a record and change one part when practical.

## Scope and next step

This independent site reviews a local reference and exports a text prompt. It does not render a City Folding video. The directions below are editorial suggestions, not measured results from an effect model.

The [Pollo effect guide](https://pollo.ai/hub/how-to-clone-city-folding-viral-video) is the external reference for the shot concept. The diagnoses here are our proposed review criteria. Compare [camera choices](https://cityfolding.com/city-folding-camera-movement), then revise your direction in the [City Folding prompt studio](https://cityfolding.com/#generate).

## See the planning examples

The [reference-image gallery and browser check](https://cityfolding.com/city-folding-reference-gallery) show the visual planning criteria, current local controls and an exact downloaded prompt.