Video editing has been immensely popular in recent years. Content creators are always on a hunt for fresh video editing tips. After all, shooting film for your next endeavor is only one piece of the jigsaw, and even the slickest 4K shots can miss the mark in the hands of an untrained, ill-equipped video editor.
It may appear difficult initially, but if you follow certain criteria, you will capture amazing footage. Creativity and imagination, together with appropriate video editing tools, guarantee positive outcomes.
The path to becoming a skilled video editor is complex, and learning all the hacks and methods is hard for a beginner. After all, we must remember the adage “Practice makes perfect,” and even skilled editors are constantly learning new things.
Furthermore, there are numerous ways to get the same visual effects using similar software in this eclectic era of ever-evolving innovation. Fine-tuning your creative process is all about assembling the correct tools. Any narrative can be shown and expressed in an infinite number of ways.
So, are you ready to begin your video editing journey? Continue reading for some basic — but vital — video editing tips everybody should know.
These tips assure to provide you with helpful information on editing videos with little or no experience.
1. Always Back up your Work
It may sound trivial, but backing up/ saving your edits is something you should keep in mind for every project. Nothing is more infuriating than waiting minutes to hours for a video to render, only to lose your most recent edits when you abruptly miss your file or your rendering gets interrupted. Most video editing software will automatically save your work to internal memory, but to keep those altered files safe, train yourself to save your backups regularly using one of the finest external drives and/or one of the most exemplary cloud backup programs. You will be glad that you did, notably if you are working in a team.
2. Choose the Video Editor Wisely
The use of a good video editor plays a vital role in the end output. You can use the online video editor or install the software on your device. If you choose to download the software, be sure your computer is robust enough to allow for quick editing.
There is both free and paid online video editor available, so you can use whatever you can afford and enjoy. Consider the application features you want to use to meet your needs. Furthermore, a user-friendly interface is essential for newcomers.
Consider the online video editor with essential features, economical price, and good user reviews to make the best decision. It’s sometimes a good idea to start with a basic online video editor. Do not spend a high price for an editing tool and instead train on free versions or at the very minimum priced ones or use a trial period.
3. Make the most of Keyboard Shortcuts
Most video editing software includes a plethora of handy keyboard shortcuts; you will be shocked how much time and effort you can save with some button clicks. Do some study to determine which shortcuts will most benefit your editing style, and keep a printout available until you have memorized them. This will help you avoid wasting time on research during the editing process. Consider the phrases J Cut, L Cut, Cutting on Action, Match Cut, Cutaways, and more.
You will not effectively utilize the editing software if you are unfamiliar with key phrases. Furthermore, you will interact with other editors and commissioners.
Keyboard shortcuts make the editing process easier and faster. You may either learn some basic editing shortcuts (such as K for stop or Z for zoom in) or get an editing keyboard or keyboard cover with customized icons. On the other hand, professional video editors might want to boost the ante with their keyboards.
4. Pay Attention to Lighting, Colour Correction, and Music
To captivate viewers and maximize their viewing experience, any video should be accompanied by proper lighting, apt color correction, and good music. Good music is a powerful instrument for eliciting desired feelings and emotions and bringing aesthetic enjoyment.
You may use music libraries included in online video editors and upload music from the internet. Consider royalty-free music suppliers or YouTube music videos.
To achieve harmonious compatibility of vision and sound, use separate tracks, loop, or chop the song. The music should not be overly loud to distract viewers from the message you want to convey.
When possible, use consistent three and four-point lighting for your images and shots to make your color correcting easier.
What exactly is color correcting, you may wonder? This refers to the procedure of ensuring that colors are constant. For instance, a scene may be shot with two separate lenses from two different perspectives. When displayed side by side, the resultant footage may look a little strange until the brightness, contrast, and white balancing have been corrected for uniformity. You should also become acquainted with color grading, which can significantly impact the tone of any given scene (e.g., by including orangish-tint to create a post-apocalyptic ambiance).
5. Use Transition and Effects
An amateur editor can be identified by the abuse or overuse of transitions and effects. When editing video online, attempt to make it look natural and appealing.
Video enhancement is necessary, but often, little is more. Use typical transitions such as fades, straight cuts, wipes, and flashes to avoid distracting viewers from the video rhythm. The same concept applies to effects, which must appear harmonic without bothering or disturbing the audience.
6. Follow the Specifications Required
There’s a lot you can accomplish with your smartphone these days, but professional video editing necessitates serious technology, which is thankfully becoming more affordable. While editing, make sure of certain specifications. Good software that includes a winning combination of high-resolution display/s, quick processing capacity, and a dedicated graphics card is just the right tool and a winning combination.
7. Don’t Ignore the Copyright
It may be tempting to intersperse your footage with some of the most recent Spotify songs to increase the virality of a certain project. On the other hand, social media platforms are becoming increasingly stringent about removing videos that contain copyrighted music. If you don’t hold the rights to the songs you use, your videos will vanish from the internet in no time. It’s time to get inventive, people. Using original content and music in your videos is a terrific way to produce original art.
Indeed, novice video editors face numerous challenges on the road to making high-quality, professional videos. Thankfully, these tips will enable anyone to produce stunning results and become acquainted with the most effective video editing strategies. So keep these in mind and unwaveringly get started on your next editing venture.