Have you ever wondered what you'd look like in 10 or 15 years? Well, working with AI video has aged me enough already—but I thought it’d be fun to take it one step further and actually visualize the process using AI.
In this quick tutorial, I’ll walk you through how I used Runway’s new Restyle feature to age myself in a driving video. The process was surprisingly smooth and opened up a ton of creative possibilities, so let’s dive in.
Step 1: Start with Your Source Video
I began by loading a simple driving video into Runway. Once uploaded, I clicked the little button that allows you to download the first frame of the video. This is key because Restyle uses that reference image to guide the transformation.
Step 2: Upscale the Frame
The downloaded frame was decent, but I wanted to upscale it for better results. For that, I ran it through Topaz Photo AI, which did a fantastic job enhancing the resolution.
Step 3: Age Yourself in Photoshop
With the enhanced image ready, I jumped into Photoshop, utilizing their Neural Filters—specifically the Smart Portrait filter. I tweaked the age sliders until I got a version of myself that felt believable as “older Gabe.” Quick adjustments, nothing too heavy, but enough to sell the effect.
Step 4: Upload Back to Runway
Once happy with the aged frame, I re-uploaded it into Runway’s Restyle tool. I didn’t even bother adding any prompts—just uploaded the image and hit Generate. A few minutes later, Runway spit out a fully aged version of my video.
Step 5: Match Resolution & Prep in Premiere
The generated clip needed some upscaling, so I ran it through Topaz Video AI to match the original video’s resolution (1080p). Then, I brought both the original and aged videos into Adobe Premiere.
Here’s where the magic happens:
I layered the aged video on top of the original driving video.
I masked my aged face and fine-tuned the mask, aligning my new "older" face to the movement in the original clip.
Some minor adjustments were needed to ensure both layers matched perfectly.
Step 6: Color Correction & Polish
Next, I nested the sequence and applied color correction, blending the two layers for consistent skin tones and lighting. I also went back to tweak the original clip a bit to ensure continuity.
Step 7: Subtle Camera Blur
To soften the effect and avoid harsh edges, I duplicated the top layer, applied a slight Gaussian blur, and pulled back the opacity. It’s a subtle touch—barely noticeable—but it adds a bit of natural camera blur, making the transition more seamless.
Final Result
And there you have it! A smooth transition from young me to older me, all powered by AI tools. It’s wild how accessible this kind of effect has become.
I can’t wait to explore more of what Runway’s Restyle can do, especially combined with other AI tools in the creative pipeline. If you're experimenting with it too, I’d love to see what you’re creating—feel free to hit me up.
As always,
Be well, do good, and make awesome things.
- Gabe Michael
PS. Need help with AI Video Production? Visit gabemichael.ai for more.
About the Author
Gabe Michael is an award-winning AI filmmaker and creative technologist shaping the future of production with AI. He currently serves as VP and Executive Producer of AI at Edelman, where he consults internal and external teams, enhances production workflows and explores new creative possibilities with AI.
As an early adopter of AI technology in film, video and creative production, Gabe’s work has earned accolades for ‘Best Odyssey’ at Project Odyssey, ‘Best Character’ and ‘Best Art Direction’ at the Runway Gen:48 AI Film Competitions, leading to his entry into many creative partner programs with top AI video tools.
With extensive experience as a director and producer in the creator economy, Gabe collaborates with top film studios, brands, and digital platforms, and shares his expertise on LinkedIn, YouTube, and in classrooms at UCLA.
📍 Website: gabemichael.ai
📺 YouTube: Gabe Michael’s Channel
📷 Instagram: @gabemichael_ai
📝 Substack: AI and the Creative Possible
💼 LinkedIn: Gabe Michael
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