Making videos that stand out from the rest is not an easy task. It’s not just how you shoot the video but also how you edit it that can affect the final results. Editing videos is a really critical part of producing something that is closest to your planned results. With creativity and proper know-how, you can create masterpieces. This link takes you to one of our favorite online video editor, Promo. To learn more about video editing tricks for beginners, take a look below.
10 Editing Tricks For Beginners
- Choose the right software.
Choosing the right editing software can significantly improve and speed up the editing process. Different editing programs offer different features, including ease of use and functionality. So make sure that whichever tool you use works well with your editing style.
You don’t need to invest in highly expensive or pro-level video editing software. An online video editor can also be used for this purpose, especially if you are a beginner in the video editing field.
- Work on a fast computer
No matter which operating system or brand you choose, make sure it’s fast enough to handle both your editing software and the video footage. Video editing includes working with huge files, so it is better to work on a computer with good storage capacity and processing speed.
If you’re intending to improve your computer’s speed, invest in a good quality SSD and graphic cards and a RAM of at least 8GB.
- Learn how to implement transitions into your videos
There are many tutorials online for all sorts of videos that you can learn different transitions techniques and effects. The step-by-step demonstration allows beginners to easily learn through practice and use these skills in their videos. The best thing about these tutorials is that you can easily find them free of cost on platforms like Youtube.
- Use B-roll footage
B-roll footage can make your video look more professional and well put together. The B-roll shots are 1.5 to 2 seconds long. They’re usually used to give the audience a realistic experience of the surroundings.
Switching to a video from the second camera allows you to look at the same thing from a different perspective and also gives you the chance to replace any other poor footage. However, too many cuts and clips feel distracting.
- Follow the 3-2-1 rule.
Losing footage is one of the biggest nightmares of filmmakers. This is why many videographers and editors follow the 3-2-1 rule. The 3-2-1 rule says that video editors should keep three copies of all the footage in two different locations and one at a physically different location. This is useful in case you lose data while working or run into some computer problems.
Many online video editor tools allow you to store your data in their cloud or even in your cloud storage. This can be helpful in keeping the data safe and also in accessing it from anywhere, anytime.
- Stabilize the video using an online video editor
Shaky clips can ruin the video. But luckily, most video editors now have a stabilizing feature that lets you remove the shakiness from your videos. Try to use only stable shots in the final footage, and if you do want to add any shaky ones, stabilize them using an online video editor.
- Use keyboard shortcuts
Most video editors allow you to use keyboard shortcuts to perform a wide range of operations quickly. Most of them also allow you to customize these shortcuts to your frequently used functions. Learning keyboard shortcuts can speed up your editing process and also be convenient while working.
- Color correct your footage.
If your video includes multiple clips combined for the final footage, there is a chance of colors appearing different in shots due to different lighting and camera angles. To make sure that you’re always focusing on the main features and the colors are depicting the mood of the video, use color grading and correcting.
In color correction, you ensure that the colors are consistent in all the clips. While in color grading, you set the look and feel of your footage.
- Choose the right music.
No doubt visuals are important in a great video, but so is the background music. Correctly chosen music can significantly uplift the mood and aesthetic of your video. It can help trigger emotions and bring a dramatic touch that keeps the viewers engaged. Editing the video according to the beat of the music can take your video to another level.
No matter what type of video you’re making, you can easily find royalty-free music from online libraries.
- Use text and graphics.
You might need to add text and graphics to the video in order to convey information that is not shown in the video. You can also use text to provide subtitles or captions to the videos. The best idea is to use a simple and easy-to-read font that isn’t too distracting for the viewers. With different effects, you can add transitions to your text and graphics as well.
Conclusion
Video editing is all about experimenting with different tools and effects. A perfect editing process can create a meaningful video that keeps the viewers hooked.
The vital part of becoming an expert video editor is to keep trying new things and practicing new techniques. A good video editor knows how to trigger emotions and thoughts in the viewer’s mind.
Once you learn what you’re capable of doing with these video editors, you can get inspiration from other filmmakers and editors too. With the tricks mentioned above, you can easily get started with video editing and learn more as you progress.