# iMessage Video — workflow skill for phone & app screens

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Pixel-perfect iMessage conversation videos from a JSON script: iOS 26 chrome, typing, tapbacks, group chats.

- **Type:** [Workflow](https://skills.varg.ai/workflows.md) · [Phone & app screens](https://skills.varg.ai/browse/skills/native-ui.md)
- **Slug:** `varg-imessage-video`
- **Status:** beta
- **Publisher:** varg (varg, verified)
- **License:** proprietary
- **Source:** vargHQ (internal: .agents/skills/imessage-video)
- **Works in:** Claude Code, Codex
- **Requires:** bun, Chrome (Puppeteer), ffmpeg, vargHQ/imessage-ad checkout (private), varg API key (only for in-chat screenshots)
- **Cost:** Free — local deterministic render; optional in-chat screenshots are billed per image by the varg image API.

## What it does

Renders a JSON conversation into a deterministic 1170×2532 mp4 that looks like a real iMessage screen recording, with bubble tails, typing indicators, input-bar typing, tapbacks, link cards, read receipts and group chats. The default `ios26-pro` engine draws every frame as a pure function of time, and reply delays and typing speed come from message length, so one `pace` value replaces hand-tuned delays. Optional in-chat screenshots come from the varg image API; the render itself is local. The engine lives in the private vargHQ/imessage-ad repo.

## Use when

- An "iMessage ad" or "text message video"
- A fake iMessage conversation or chat screen recording
- An iOS message mockup video
- Turning a scripted dialogue into a shareable vertical clip

## Install

Not published as a standalone skill yet. Source: vargHQ (internal: .agents/skills/imessage-video)

**Models it drives:** nano_banana_pro

## Example output

https://skills.varg.ai/previews/varg-imessage-video.mp4 — varg's own iMessage ad (video-ios26-pro-group.mp4, ios26-pro engine, 1170x2532, 24.8 s) from the founder's Notion board: a 'ski trip' group chat with typing indicators, tapbacks, a blue reply bubble and an in-chat varg screenshot. Cut 9-17 s. (credit: varg, https://varga.notion.site/add-3979b7e6f38680059a4eec16551e523f)

## Used for

- [Text-message story video](https://skills.varg.ai/use-cases/chat-story.md): A viral iMessage-style chat drama: bubbles appear with typing, sounds and a cliffhanger.
- [Trending AI video formats](https://skills.varg.ai/use-cases/trending-formats.md): What's going viral now — formats you can make for your brand today, with the skill for each.

## More phone & app screens skills

- [iPhone Duo Fold](https://skills.varg.ai/skills/iphone-duo-fold.md): Your screens on Apple's foldable iPhone Duo, unfolding in 3D with its progressive blur. Local, free.
- [Duo Foldable Phone](https://skills.varg.ai/skills/hyperframes-duo.md): Two HTML screens composited into a photo of hands holding an open foldable phone, for side-by-side meme videos.
- [X Posting License](https://skills.varg.ai/skills/hyperframes-x-posting-license.md): A 10-second animated 'posting license' card for an X profile, filled with real profile data into a locked template.
- [App Store Screenshots](https://skills.varg.ai/skills/inference-sh-app-store-screenshots.md): Make App Store and Google Play screenshots to exact specs: sizes, gallery order, mockups and previews.
- [Gooseworks Video (Apple Notes Ads)](https://skills.varg.ai/skills/gooseworks-apple-notes-ads.md): Video ads in chat from a reference ad or a ready style, including the viral HTML-only Apple Notes typing ad.