This chapter explains how video rendering works and how to start creating CPVs.
What is CPV rendering
Rendering is the process of:
Creating video files from your selected Template Set
Uploading them automatically to the correct Meta catalog
Making them available for ad delivery
There is no manual export or upload required. Once you apply a Template Set, Creative Factory handles everything automatically.
How video creation works
Creative Factory creates videos in one of two modes:
On-Demand (default) — videos are created as Meta requests products, with no rendering limits.
Pre-Render — videos are created up front for all products in a segment. Used in specific cases (low segment overlap, or templates with dynamic fields) and requires Segmented Creative.
The sections below explain each mode and when it applies.
On-Demand rendering (default)
In Creative Factory, videos are created as campaigns begin delivering. This means campaigns can start immediately, while video creation happens in the background and expands over time based on delivery performance.
How it works
Rendering starts after you click Apply Changes, which activates video creation for the selected ads.
Meta decides which products receive videos from the connected catalog.
You don’t manually select products - video creation is fully automated.
Videos are created only when Meta requests them, not for the entire catalog at once.
Videos are typically available within 24 hours, with coverage expanding over time.
No manual exports or uploads are required, as Creative Factory handles the process automatically.
Benefits
✅ No daily rendering limits.
✅ No catalog size restrictions.
✅ No waiting for full segment rendering.
✅ Videos are created automatically when Meta requests them.
This allows you to scale CPVs across entire catalogs, multiple markets and multiple campaigns instanty.
Best for:
Full catalog promotion
Multi-market expansion
Ongoing performance campaigns
Fast launches without operational delays
Segmented Creative (choose which products get videos)
By default, Meta selects products from your entire catalog for video creation. If you want to limit video rendering to a specific segment, enable Segmented Creative and choose a segment. The rest of your catalog will continue serving with images.
Segmented Creative controls which products are eligible for videos; it is separate from how videos are rendered (On-Demand vs Pre-Render).
This allows you to align specific creative messaging with a selected product group (e.g. a New Arrivals segment paired with a custom "New Collection" video template).
Note: templates that use dynamic fields (e.g. price) require Segmented Creative — see Pre-Render below.
Best for:
When you have a creative highlighting a specific product segment:
Product categories
Items on sale
Bestselling items
How It Works
Enable Segmented Creative
Select a product segment (e.g. New Arrivals)
❗️Note: Segmented Creative can only be enabled for new Template Sets. ❗️
From that moment:
Only products within the selected segment are eligible for video creation
Meta still decides which products inside the segment receive videos
The rest of the catalog continues serving with images
⚠️ Important: Segment is locked to the Template Set ⚠️
When you enable Segmented Creative and choose a segment, the selected segment becomes part of that Template Set.
This means:
If you reuse the same Template Set later, it will always render videos only for that segment
The segment cannot be edited or replaced
If you need to use a different segment, create a new Template Set.
Pre-Render
Pre-Render creates videos up front for all products in a segment, rather than only those Meta requests. It applies in two cases:
Low overlap: Meta selects only a few products from your segment — you can opt to render all of them.
Dynamic fields: your template uses a field not supported by On-Demand — Pre-Render is applied automatically and Segmented Creative is required (see "When Pre-Render is used by default").
Rendering all products in a segment (low overlap)
When using Segmented Creative, Meta selects only products from within your chosen segment. In some cases, Meta may select only a small number of products from that segment.
If this happens, the system may offer you the option to create videos for all products in the segment. This option appears in the Videos Dashboard when low overlap between Meta’s selection and your segment is detected.
How this option works
Videos are created for all products in the selected segment.
Meta does not control selection.
Rendering happens gradually.
❗️Limit❗️
Maximum 500 videos per day across all catalogs.
Large segments may take multiple days.
Example: If your segment has 1,000 products, rendering will take approximately 2 days.
Used for:
Small specific segments of products or when Meta doesn’t promote the products yet
Small capsule collections
New Arrivals
Hidden gems and hero products
⚠️ When Pre-Render is used by default ⚠️
On-Demand rendering (the default for new CPVs) works only when your templates use a fixed set of stable product fields. If a template uses any field outside this list, On-Demand rendering is not available — Pre-Render is selected automatically, which also requires Segmented Creative.
Fields supported for On-Demand rendering:
• Name
• Brand
• Description
• Category
• Availability
• Image URLs
• Video URLs
Any other field triggers Pre-Render, most commonly:
• Price / sale price
• Frequently updated custom fields
Why?
The supported fields rarely change, so videos created on demand stay accurate. Fields like price change often; to prevent inconsistencies (e.g. an outdated price baked into a video), the system pre-renders videos for all products in the selected segment so they always reflect the latest values.
Be aware:
Frequent price updates can trigger repeated re-rendering.
Possible solutions:
• Remove the dynamic field (e.g. price) from the template if it isn't essential
• Reduce how often that field updates
Troubleshooting rendering issues
Some products don’t have videos
Possible reasons:
Meta hasn’t requested them yet
If you're using Segmented Creative, product not in selected segment
Rendering is still in progress
Segment overlap with Meta selection is low
✅ Solution:
Consider enabling Pre-Render if guaranteed coverage is required.
Rendering takes too long
Possible reasons:
Large segment with Pre-Render option enabled
Daily 500-video limit was reached
Frequent feed updates triggering re-renders
✅ Solution:
Reduce segment size
Prioritize high-impact products
Check the dynamic fields in your template (see "When Pre-Render is used by default")
Videos don’t appear in ads
Check:
Was Apply Changes confirmed?
Is Dynamic Media enabled at ad level?
Has rendering finished?
Is the correct catalog selected?
Glossary
Template Set:
A group of up to three video templates (one per aspect ratio) that can be applied and reused across multiple ads.
Aspect Ratio:
The proportional relationship between a video's width and height, such as 1:1 (square), 4:5 (vertical), or 9:16 (story format).
Segment:
A subset of products in your catalog, such as "New Arrivals" or "Top Sellers".
Segmented Creative:
An option that lets you apply video templates to specific product segments instead of the whole catalog.
On-Demand rendering:
The default mode for new CPVs. Videos are created only when Meta requests a product, with no rendering limits. Supports a fixed set of stable fields (name, brand, description, category, availability, image URLs, video URLs); any other field forces Pre-Render.
Pre-Render:
A mode where videos are proactively rendered for all products in a segment, not just those selected by Meta. Subject to the 500 videos/day limit.
Dynamic Media:
A Meta Ads feature that automatically mixes images and videos for each product, optimizing creative delivery based on user behavior.
Catalog Product Videos (CPVs):
Short video creatives assigned to individual products in your Meta product catalog.