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Ray 2

by Luma AI
  • What it is:Ray 2 is a large-scale video generative model from Luma AI that creates photorealistic 10-second 1080p clips with coherent motion from text, image, or video inputs.
  • Best for:Content creators and prosumers, Marketing and advertising teams, E-commerce businesses
  • Pricing:Free tier available, paid plans from Paid access required
  • Rating:75/100Good
  • Expert's conclusion:Ray 2 is ideal for companies and creatives who desire scalable, high-quality video creation, while also emphasizing the need for rapid generation and cost-effectiveness.
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Reviewed byMaxim Manylov·Web3 Engineer & Serial Founder

What Are Ray 2's Key Business Metrics?

📊
5-10 seconds
Video Length
📊
1080p HD
Video Quality
📊
Under 10 seconds
Generation Time
📊
16:9, 9:16, 3:4, 4:3
Aspect Ratios
📊
Paid subscribers only
Availability

How Credible and Trustworthy Is Ray 2?

75/100
Good

Advanced AI video generation model by established Luma AI, strong technical capabilities but very limited public metrics & new to market.

BREAKDOWN
Product Maturity65/100
Company Stability80/100
Security & Compliance70/100
User Reviews75/100
Transparency70/100
Support Quality75/100
TRUST SIGNALS
Powered by AWS infrastructure10x compute scale over previous modelIntegration with Amazon Bedrock

What Are the Key Features of Ray 2?

✨
Text-to-Video Generation
Creates realistic videos from natural language text prompts with logical event sequences and coherent motion.
✨
Multi-Modal Inputs
Supports text input, image input, and video input for versatile video generation capabilities.
✨
Enhanced Motion & Physics
Produces fast coherent motion, ultra-realistic details, and physics-aware animations with natural character interactions.
📊
Advanced Scene Understanding
Improves environmental consistency and shadow rendering by distinguishing between interactions of people, animals, and objects.
✨
High-Quality Output
Generates 1080p HD videos up to 10 seconds in under 10 seconds using multiple aspect ratios.
✨
Cinematic Effects
Simulates real world camera angles, lighting, dynamic effects, and style presets for professional results.
✨
Upcoming Capabilities
Image-to-video, video-to-video, and editing features planned for future release.

What Are the Best Use Cases for Ray 2?

Filmmakers & Content Creators
Rapid prototyping of cinematic sequences with realistic motion & lighting in seconds for storyboarding & visualization.
Marketers & Advertisers
Create brand-aligned promotional videos from text descriptions without the high cost of production or equipment.
Social Media Influencers
Generate engaging short form videos optimized for multiple aspect ratios including vertical 9:16 for TikTok & Reels.
Professional Video Editors
Use as a creative starting point for complex scenes then refine with traditional editing tools for production polish.
NOT FORReal-Time Live Streaming
Not suitable - only good for 5-10 second clips - insufficient for continuous live production needs.
NOT FORFeature Film Production
Limited scope - duration of short clip is not viable for full-length narrative films that require longer sequences.

How Much Does Ray 2 Cost and What Plans Are Available?

Pricing information with service tiers, costs, and details
☐Service$CostℹDetails🔗Source
Dream Machine Paid SubscriptionPaid access requiredRay2 available exclusively to paid subscribers on Luma AI Dream Machine platformOfficial announcement
Free Tier$0Access to older models only; Ray2 requires paid subscription—
Amazon Bedrock APIUsage-based pricingEnterprise access through AWS Bedrock with pay-per-use modelthelettertwo.com
Dream Machine Paid SubscriptionPaid access required
Ray2 available exclusively to paid subscribers on Luma AI Dream Machine platform
Official announcement
Free Tier$0
Access to older models only; Ray2 requires paid subscription
Amazon Bedrock APIUsage-based pricing
Enterprise access through AWS Bedrock with pay-per-use model
thelettertwo.com

How Does Ray 2 Compare to Competitors?

FeatureLuma Ray2Kling 1.6Hailuo MiniMaxHaiper
Text-to-VideoYesYesYesYes
Image-to-VideoYesYesYesYes
Video Length5-10sUp to 2minVariable5-10s
Generation Speed<10sFastFastFast
Motion QualityExcellentExcellentGoodGood
Physics SimulationAdvancedAdvancedGoodPartial
Resolution1080p1080p+540p+1080p
Aspect RatiosMultipleMultipleMultipleMultiple
Free TierNo (Ray2)LimitedYesYes
Enterprise APIAWS BedrockYesYesPartial
Text-to-Video
Luma Ray2Yes
Kling 1.6Yes
Hailuo MiniMaxYes
HaiperYes
Image-to-Video
Luma Ray2Yes
Kling 1.6Yes
Hailuo MiniMaxYes
HaiperYes
Video Length
Luma Ray25-10s
Kling 1.6Up to 2min
Hailuo MiniMaxVariable
Haiper5-10s
Generation Speed
Luma Ray2<10s
Kling 1.6Fast
Hailuo MiniMaxFast
HaiperFast
Motion Quality
Luma Ray2Excellent
Kling 1.6Excellent
Hailuo MiniMaxGood
HaiperGood
Physics Simulation
Luma Ray2Advanced
Kling 1.6Advanced
Hailuo MiniMaxGood
HaiperPartial
Resolution
Luma Ray21080p
Kling 1.61080p+
Hailuo MiniMax540p+
Haiper1080p
Aspect Ratios
Luma Ray2Multiple
Kling 1.6Multiple
Hailuo MiniMaxMultiple
HaiperMultiple
Free Tier
Luma Ray2No (Ray2)
Kling 1.6Limited
Hailuo MiniMaxYes
HaiperYes
Enterprise API
Luma Ray2AWS Bedrock
Kling 1.6Yes
Hailuo MiniMaxYes
HaiperPartial

How Does Ray 2 Compare to Competitors?

vs OpenAI Sora

Ray2 is currently available and production ready while Sora has not yet launched commercially. Ray2 supports up to 10 second clips at 1080p using multi-modal input (text, image, video). Both focus on photorealistic quality and coherent motion; however, Ray2 has first-mover advantage in accessibility.

Choose Ray2 for immediate commercial production needs; choose Sora when evaluating alternatives to see which one works best for your business.

vs Google Veo

The two generate photorealistic video using physics simulation as well. Veo is delivered via Vertex AI with a company focus. Ray2 is accessible through the Dream Machine platform and generates a strong sense of text understanding. Ray2 provides better motion coherence and physics realism than Veo.

Ray2 for creative professionals or companies; Veo for enterprises that are already using the full range of Google products.

vs Runway

Runway is a long-established provider with a wider tool set for creatives and a larger marketplace presence. Ray2 emphasizes production ready outputs with more accurate physics and smoother motion. Runway has many more editing options but Ray2 is focused on speed and quality of the generated content.

Ray2 for generating high quality images/videos; Runway for offering a full suite of creative tools including image/video editing.

vs Haiper and Kling

Ray2 believes it surpasses both in physics accuracy, scene understanding and motion coherence. Ray2 can also support longer videos (up to 10 seconds) and higher resolutions (1080p) compared to Runway. Marketing is touting Ray2 for its ability to provide consistent environments and realistic shadows.

Ray2 for generating high quality images/videos for commercial use; Haiper/Kling for providing lower cost options for those who don't need perfect quality.

vs Amazon Nova Reel

While Nova Reel is currently in beta and Ray2 is available commercially. Both are targeting commercial video creation. Ray2 has an established user base and is providing documented evidence of production ready results while Nova Reel is a representation of the potential future competitive advantage that AWS will bring to the table.

Ray2 now and keep an eye on Nova Reel for the next version that uses the full range of AWS integration.

What are the strengths and limitations of Ray 2?

Pros

  • Ready to use in production -- 10x faster than previous versions provides photorealistic images and/or video suitable for commercial use with little to no additional post processing.
  • Fast generation time -- produces 5-10 second clips within 30-53 seconds allowing for fast iterative design and quick turn around. The following is a list of what each number represents in terms of features of the Dream Machine AI that are related to video generation:
  • Natural Physics Simulation -- The AI can simulate how objects move when they interact with each other and also how light reacts to those movements.
  • Multiple Ways to Input -- Users can provide input to the AI in a variety of ways such as text, images and video.
  • Understanding Scenes -- The AI will be able to understand the actions that occur within scenes and use those to inform its decisions about how to generate video.
  • Higher Resolution Output -- The Dream Machine can produce video in higher resolutions (up to 1080p) than many lower-cost alternatives and has capabilities to make smooth transitions between shots and render detailed textures.
  • Easy To Use -- The Dream Machine is an easy-to-use platform for creatives regardless of their technical experience.
  • More Affordable Alternative -- A version of the Dream Machine called the Ray Flash 2 is designed to run three times as fast and cost one-third as much as the full version of the Dream Machine, making it easier for less experienced producers and individuals who have limited budgets to create quality video quickly.

Cons

  • Only Short Video Clips -- Currently the Dream Machine is capable of generating short video clips, which means there are limits to creating video narratives that are longer than 10 seconds.
  • Not Available On All Platforms -- The Dream Machine is currently available on most platforms, but is still being rolled out on some others (such as ImagineArt) and, at least for now, only works at 540p on some of these platforms.
  • Must Have Internet Connection -- The Dream Machine requires a constant internet connection to function because it relies on cloud computing technology and does not allow users to work on projects offline.
  • Pricing Structure May Be Expensive -- As with any subscription service, the price per clip generated by the Dream Machine may increase rapidly if users are producing a large volume of video content.
  • Possible Slow-Motion Artifacts -- While the Dream Machine has made improvements in this area compared to its predecessor (Ray1.6), users may still encounter problems where parts of their video appear to slow down during playback.
  • Silent Videos -- Because the Dream Machine generates silent video, users will need to obtain audio separately using tools like ElevenLabs or MMAudio.
  • Little Customization Options For Advanced Users -- Users who want to customize the output of the Dream Machine to achieve certain creative effects may find that they need to carefully craft their prompts in order to get the desired results.
  • Competition Coming -- The Dream Machine is likely to face significant competition from new products that are similar to itself and are funded by large amounts of money.

Who Is Ray 2 Best For?

Best For

  • Content creators and prosumers — Purposefully Created For Quick, High-Quality Video From Text And Images Without Spending Large Amounts Of Money Or Time Producing Video -- The Dream Machine was created specifically for the needs of producers and marketers who want to generate video that looks professional and is ready for consumption by their target audience as quickly as possible, without having to spend a lot of time or money.
  • Marketing and advertising teams — Output Ready For Commercial-Grade Video -- The Dream Machine is designed to generate video that is suitable for commercial use and is already being used to create video that is used by brands in campaigns and as social media content, without having to go through the normal process of producing video.
  • E-commerce businesses — Generates fast product demo videos, lifestyle photos and promotional content through conversion of still-product photos to animation
  • Video production studios — Expands your team's workflow for rapid visualizing concepts, quick turnaround and generating supporting content in addition to your traditional workflow
  • AI-native companies and developers — The strong API and multi-modal architecture of Ray2 allows you to create your own custom workflows and automated content pipelines using Ray2
  • Professionals seeking speed and efficiency — Ray2 enables iterative design and rapid prototyping because it can produce new versions of an animation every 10 seconds – this is much faster than any other form of video production

Not Suitable For

  • Long-form content creators — While 10 second max length of Ray2 works well for many applications (i.e., commercials, product demos), Ray2 does not support longer-form video content (e.g., films, documentaries). For these types of content, consider using Sora or traditional production methods.
  • Projects requiring audio synchronization — Ray2 produces video with no audio; therefore, projects require additional tools for accurate synchronization of the visual and audio components of your project. Alternatively, you may use platforms that integrate audio directly.
  • Highly budget-constrained solo creators — If you need to generate large volumes of video, the cost per generation can add up. In situations like these, Ray Flash 2 may be a more cost-effective alternative to Ray2, or, if you have a library of static images you want to convert to video, you could also simply edit those as static images.
  • Offline-first or low-connectivity workflows — Ray2 requires access to the Internet and processes all generations in the Cloud. This means Ray2 will not function properly in areas where there is no reliable Internet connection available, such as some remote locations.

Are There Usage Limits or Geographic Restrictions for Ray 2?

Video Length
Maximum 10 seconds per generated clip
Output Resolution
Up to 1080p at 720p standard; Ray Flash 2 limited to 720p
Generation Time
30-53 seconds average for 5-10 second clips; Ray Flash 2 approximately 32 seconds for 5-second video
Audio Generation
Not supported natively; requires integration with external audio tools
Input Formats
Supports text prompts, images, and video as input; specific format requirements vary by use case
Content Moderation
Content moderation system evaluates prompts and generated output against safety guidelines before finalization
Geographic Availability
Available through Dream Machine platform with no stated geographic restrictions mentioned in documentation
Concurrent Generation
Standard and Flash variants available; specific concurrent request limits not documented in provided sources

What APIs and Integrations Does Ray 2 Support?

API Type
Not explicitly documented in available sources; accessed primarily through Dream Machine web platform
Input Methods
Multi-modal architecture accepting text prompts, images, and video as input for video generation
Camera Controls
Supports cinematic controls including pan movements, orbit shots, zoom effects, and dolly techniques through natural language instruction
Output Customization
Supports video upscaling (improving resolution), remixing (altering elements), and extending (making videos longer) features
Third-party Integrations
Compatible with FLUX and Stable Diffusion for image generation pipelines; compatible with ElevenLabs and MMAudio for audio generation
Developer Documentation
FAQ guide and learning hub available at lumalabs.ai/learning-hub/dream-machine-guide-ray2
Use Cases
Text-to-video generation, image-to-video animation, product demonstrations, concept visualization, rapid prototyping, social media content creation
Workflow Integration
Streamlined workflow eliminating slow-motion playback issues seen in previous versions; designed for integration into automated content pipelines

What Are Common Questions About Ray 2?

Ray2 is a large-scale video generative model that creates photo-realistic videos with realistic motion based upon user input in the form of a prompt, one or multiple images, or a video. It has been developed using Luma’s multi-modal architecture which provides increased processing power over its predecessor to enable better comprehension of scenes, and more accurately simulate real-world physics for creating animations.

Ray2 can generate individual video clips of up to ten seconds in duration, and each clip can be produced in a resolution of 1080p. Generally, the length and complexity of the clip will determine how long the generation process will take. Typical generation times are 30-53 seconds.

Yes, Ray2 can generate video from images. You can provide either a beginning frame and/or an end frame and Ray2 will animate from or towards that image with a variety of cinematic camera control options.

Ray Flash 2 has been optimized for performance and price with a speed increase of 3x over the standard version of Ray 2 and priced approximately 1/3 lower than standard Ray2. The output from Ray2 are 720p videos that take approximately 5 – 9 seconds to produce. This makes Ray2 an excellent choice for high volume video content and rapid prototype testing.

Currently Ray2 is production ready, however Sora has not yet released commercially. Ray2 boasts superior motion coherence, physics accuracy, and scene understanding when compared to Runway, as well as to some of its competitors such as Haiper and Kling.

No, Ray2 produces silent videos only. You will have to manually add audio by utilizing tools such as Eleven Labs for voiceover or MMAudio for sound effects and background music.

Yes, Ray2 understands natural language very well, and will work well with both simple and detailed prompts. Generally simpler composition tends to provide better coherence. You can define camera movement (pan, zoom, dolly) and cinematography detail to generate more professional output.

Yes, Ray2 allows you to extend videos (make them longer), upscale (increase the resolution), and remix (change elements) after your original video was generated via the Dream Machine platform.

Yes, Ray2 is considered production ready with photorealistic quality that can be used for commercial grade videos, and does not suffer from slow-motion playback issues, and provides professional results without requiring extensive post processing.

Ray2 is available on the Dream Machine platform of Luma AI at lumalabs.ai. Video settings, including 16:9 aspect ratio, and 1080p HD quality can also be configured through the web interface.

Is Ray 2 Worth It?

Ray2 is a large step forward for AI video generation, providing production ready quality with fast generation times, and strong scene understanding. Therefore, Ray2 is positioned to meet the needs of creative professionals, and businesses looking for high quality video content, but do not want to pay expensive production costs; however, due to the rapidly evolving nature of this field, the ability to continually innovate will continue to be important.

Recommended For

  • Agencies and content creators who require rapid video production
  • Marketing departments developing video demonstrations of products
  • Developing animation for e-commerce products
  • Smaller to medium-sized studios with budget limitations
  • Individuals requiring short video clips that are 5-10 seconds
  • Departments utilizing both images and text-based video generation

!
Use With Caution

  • Videos greater than 10 seconds
  • Generating 1080p output (Ray 2 currently limits to 720p)
  • Companies with an emphasis on maintaining consistent branding
  • Departments requiring real-time video generation
  • Cost-constrained projects — Ray 2 Flash provides better value for 1/3 the price

Not Recommended For

  • Feature film or broadcast television production
  • Video generation applications that require less than 5 seconds
  • Companies with strict content moderation guidelines
  • Unlimited video length
  • Potential suitability of competing models (Sora, Veo)
Expert's Conclusion

Ray 2 is ideal for companies and creatives who desire scalable, high-quality video creation, while also emphasizing the need for rapid generation and cost-effectiveness.

Best For
Agencies and content creators who require rapid video productionMarketing departments developing video demonstrations of productsDeveloping animation for e-commerce products

What do expert reviews and research say about Ray 2?

Key Findings

Ray 2 is a large-scale video generative model trained using 10x the computing power of the original model, producing high-fidelity video clips at 720p for 5-10 seconds with physics simulations and scene coherency. Ray 2 offers both text-to-video and image-to-video generations with camera control and is available in two versions, including a standard version and the Ray 2 Flash version which has a 3x faster generation time with 1/3 the cost. The Ray 2 product announcement occurred during the 2024 AWS re:Invent conference as Luma AI's response to growing competition among emerging video generation models from OpenAI (Sora), Google DeepMind (Veo), etc.

Data Quality

Excellent — comprehensive information from official Luma Labs website, FAQ documentation updated June 2025, multiple third-party reviews and YouTube demonstrations, and press announcements from December 2024.

Risk Factors

!
Potential 10-second video limitation may be limiting some use cases
!
Resolution is capped at 720p, potentially lower than some competitors
!
There is an enormous amount of competition in this space with many very funded companies releasing their products simultaneously
!
Content moderation systems will limit your ability to create creative content
!
Even though there are a number of product claims about how fast video can be produced, Ray 2 takes 30 – 53 seconds to produce video
Last updated: February 2026

What Additional Information Is Available for Ray 2?

Product Variants

Ray 2 has two options: standard Ray 2 which provides maximum quality and Ray 2 Flash which offers speed and affordability. With Ray 2 Flash, you can generate videos three times as fast as with standard Ray 2 at approximately one-third the cost; this makes Ray 2 Flash a viable option for creating large amounts of content quickly and affordably, and still maintains quality

Technical Architecture

Ray 2 utilizes an accelerated frame interpolation architecture along with a cascaded diffusion system to generate initial frames, improve the realism of motion, and provide a logical sequence of events. In addition to these features, Ray 2 also incorporates sophisticated physics simulations, shadow rendering, and environmental consistency modeling to create realistic results

Key Features and Capabilities

Ray 2 supports both text-to-video and image-to-video generation, as well as a range of cinematic camera control functions (pan, orbit, zoom, dolly), facial expression refinement, physics-aware animation, and content moderation. Additionally, Ray 2 has a level of advanced scene understanding that allows for realistic interactions between characters and natural motion throughout all aspects of the video

Competitive Position

Ray 2 competes directly with Kling, Haiper, Hailuo, and emerging text-to-video models such as Sora (OpenAI), Veo (Google DeepMind), and Nova Reel (Amazon). Due to its focus on producing production-quality video in under 10 seconds, Ray 2 is positioned within the speed-focused category

Integration Ecosystem

Ray 2 seamlessly integrates with other tools including: image generators (FLUX, Stable Diffusion) to enable the creation of images to video content and audio tools (ElevenLabs) to enhance sound design capabilities. Ray 2 is available through Luma AI’s Dream Machine platform for consumer, prosumer, and professional users

Accessibility and Availability

The announcement was made during the AWS re:Invent conference held in December 2024; however, the release date was delayed and is now available through Dream Machine and other partner platforms (ImagineArt). A variety of subscription tier options were offered, ranging from a free trial to a premium subscription tier.

Use Case Examples

It is well-suited for creating e-commerce product animation, social media content, and marketing materials that include cinematic sequences, dynamic animations, character interactions, product demos, promotional videos, and realistic scene compositions.

What Are the Best Alternatives to Ray 2?

  • •
    OpenAI Sora: Frontier text-to-video model that can generate longer form content. Provides the highest quality visual output and a deep understanding of complex scenes. Suitable for companies who want the highest possible quality and are willing to wait until it becomes widely available. Currently under development, however, wider availability will take some time; Ray 2 is currently the most deployed text-to-video model. (openai.com)
  • •
    Google DeepMind Veo: Enterprise-grade video generation model accessible via Google’s Vertex AI platform. Provides exceptional physics simulation capabilities and scene coherence. Most suitable for companies already using Google Cloud Platform as its infrastructure costs may be higher than competitors. Integrates easily into all GCP-based workflow processes. (google.com)
  • •
    Runway Gen-3: Existing text-to-video generation platform that provides many additional features related to motion control and video editing. Allows users to have much finer control over individual elements within a video and allows for frame-by-frame editing. Most suitable for video editors and post-production professionals requiring a high level of detail when controlling elements of a video. A greater learning curve exists but offers many more options for those requiring advanced control. (runway.com)
  • •
    Kling AI: Competitive text-to-video and image-to-video model with an emphasis on motion quality. While providing similar functionality to Ray 2 at similar processing speeds, this model has the possibility of producing unique motion characteristics that could make it a better fit for certain applications or users. Availability may vary by region. (kling.kuaishou.com)
  • •
    Haiper AI: Text-to-video generation platform that focuses on utilizing physics simulations to create realistic motion in generated videos. Well-suited for film studios and other creative businesses that prioritize the production of cinematically accurate and physically realistic movement of characters in their videos. (haiper.ai)
  • •
    Amazon Nova Reel: Amazon’s new video generation model is being developed using AWS technology to help it connect to other AWS products as well as companies looking to use the AWS platform. It is a good option for companies that are already part of the AWS environment who want native video generation tools. This service is currently in limited release. (aws.amazon.com)

What Is Ray 2's Model Overview?

Developer
Luma AI
Version
Ray 2
Release Date
December 2024
Architecture
Multi-modal (10x compute of Ray1)
Open Source
No
Status
Available via Dream Machine

How Does Ray 2's Model Versions Compare?

VersionRelease DateKey Improvements
Ray 1Prior to Dec 2024Initial video generation
Ray 2December 202410x compute, coherent motion, ultra-realistic details, fast generation

What Is Ray 2's Video Generation Specs?

Max Resolution
1080p HD
Max Duration
5-10 seconds
Aspect Ratios
16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4
Generation Speed
Under 10 seconds

What Generation Modes Does Ray 2 Offer?

Text-to-Video

Video can be created based on text prompts.

Image-to-Video

Images can be animated into short videos (5-10 seconds).

Video-to-Video

The model accepts video input for generating videos.

What Is Ray 2's Audio Capabilities Status?

Built-in Audio GenerationNot supported
Lip SyncNot supported
Sound EffectsNot supported
Voice ReferenceNot supported
Music GenerationNot supported

How Does Ray 2's Benchmark Scores Compare?

BenchmarkScoreRankNotes
VBenchClaims to surpass Haiper, Kling, Hailuo
ELO RatingNo public benchmarks available
Human PreferenceProduction-ready quality claimed

What Is Ray 2's Access Licensing?

Open Source
No
License
Proprietary
GPU Requirements
Cloud only (AWS Bedrock)
Platforms
Dream Machine, Amazon Bedrock, ImagineArt, BasedLabs

How Does Ray 2's Generation Pricing Compare?

TierCostDurationResolutionNotes
Dream MachineSubscription-based5-10s1080pPlatform access required
Amazon BedrockPay-per-use5-10s1080pAPI access for developers
ImagineArtFree tier available5s540pPreset effects included

What Creative Tools Does Ray 2 Offer?

Camera Controls

The model will include cinematic camera movements and angles.

Style Presets

Model will generate dreamy slow-motion effects and dramatic lighting.

Upscaling

Improve the resolution of videos generated by this service.

Remixing

Users will have the ability to modify elements in the generated videos.

Extending

Users will be able to extend the length of their video clips that were generated by the service

What Is Ray 2's Content Safety Status?

NSFW Filter
Deepfake Prevention
C2PA Watermarking
Content ModerationPlatform-dependent
Usage Logging

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