Ever watched a YouTube or TikTok video and thought, “I might create one thing like that”? Nicely, that’s simpler mentioned than finished once you haven’t created a video earlier than.
Whereas our limitless entry to content material makes video creation seem easy (if there are such a lot of movies on the market, it could actually’t be that tough, proper?), there are just a few widespread pitfalls first-time video makers typically run into.
We spoke with video modifying skilled, Kwangsub Kim, to get the professional ideas it is advisable to create a tremendous first video. After being within the enterprise for over 20 years, Kim turned vp of GOM & Firm, a corporation that’s been within the software program enterprise for over 20 years. Their new video modifying software program, GOM Mix Max, simply launched this yr with a raft of recent options.
Right here’s what he needed to say…
Edit for effectivity
There are eight widespread varieties of video modifying methods together with L & J cuts, cross-cuts, cutaways, and extra. To your first video, Kim suggests setting your self up for effectivity by utilizing ‘primary minimize’ modifying, in any other case often known as onerous minimize.
That is the only modifying approach which entails chopping from the start of 1 clip to the tip of the subsequent clip. You need to grasp this earlier than transferring on to extra complicated types. Kim shared:
After I was modifying film movies, modifying was finished by chopping precise movie rolls with scissors, discarding pointless elements, and attaching the required elements collectively. Primary minimize modifying ought to create a significant video inside the set timeline. The elements that may be made up with subtitles, graphics, and results have limitations, and take a whole lot of effort and time.
If you wish to make an excellent video simply with minimize modifying, I like to recommend you consider the detailed composition of the video earlier than sitting in entrance of the pc.
Edit to inform a narrative
All the time take into account how your modifying will have an effect on your story. Which components do you need to emphasize as key takeaways or turning factors?
This would possibly contain enhancing your audio modifying (extra on that later) to spotlight an important messages in your video. It might imply utilizing sharp cuts to create a fast-paced and speedy really feel or utilizing fades and different transitions to create a extra playful vibe to your story.
The kind of story you need to inform will form your modifying course of past the essential minimize. Fortunately, your modifying software program will help you keep organized and structured. As an illustration, with GOM Mix Max, you’ll be able to customise the modifying options to fit your modifying preferences.
In case your story is straightforward, you should use present templates. If in case you have a extra complicated ultimate product that may incorporate pictures, music, narration, and different components, limitless multi-track modifying will enable you inform your distinctive story.
Add a splash of coloration grading and coloration correcting
Whether or not you’re going for a green-tinted “Matrix” aesthetic or a hotter summer-esque vibe, coloration grading your video can provide it a cinematic really feel that attracts viewers in. To get began, you’ll want to paint right. Coloration correcting is the method of adjusting the colours in your video clips to seem as pure as attainable.
When you’ve adjusted the video recordsdata in order that they’re degree of their coloration composition, the subsequent step is to edit the saturation, which determines the depth of coloration. You may then regulate for the brightness and distinction in tones. That is adopted by the white stability, which can change how pure or unnatural the colours seem within the video.
If all this sounds sophisticated, fret not! You may add look-up tables, or LUTS as they’re extra generally recognized, to your video modifying software program. These instruments assist you to create a selected coloration grading aesthetic to your movies with out going by way of the guide technique of tweaking the settings every time.
Improve the audio components
Sound is such a vital facet of video creation. It might change the emotional tone of your video and assist add a way of drama, romance, or intrigue to your story. Crisp and clear audio is a primary modifying requirement, so take away distracting audio that doesn’t transfer your story ahead.
Along with your modifying software program, you’ll be able to scale back white noise and normalize the audio in order that the quantity is constant all through, and doesn’t unexpectedly change. In keeping with Kim:
In video modifying, sound results can impression greater than 50% of the ultimate high quality. It’s fairly troublesome to report and edit movies with good sound. There are a lot of issues to contemplate comparable to, learn how to: preserve the standard of distanced sound, take away the sound of the wind from a windy location, and stop the rupture sound when recording narration. The extra you take note of the unseeable elements of your video, the higher the ultimate finish product will likely be.
You may also undertake sound transitions (e.g., music fading out or musical interludes) so as to add extra vibrance to your video and take the viewer on a journey that pairs with the visible components on display screen. Kim advises utilizing narration to your benefit:
Recording along with your voice and including narration to the video is a really efficient modifying technique. You may even use your smartphone to report a narration, so long as you do it in a quiet house. There’s no higher sound supply than your individual voice.
When you incorporate audio modifying, including subtitles for individuals who are onerous of listening to is an effective way to make your video extra accessible. Be sure your video modifying software program has the choice so as to add subtitles that replicate the totally different audio inputs – whether or not it’s dialogue, narration, musical interludes, or sound results.
Not sufficient footage? No downside
If you happen to’re within the midst of modifying your video and instantly discover you’re lacking 20 seconds of footage, to not fear! As an alternative of getting to drag your digicam, hope for good climate, and head off to movie but once more, take into account filling the hole with pictures. In keeping with Kim:
There are numerous methods to edit photos, comparable to image slide format and multi-screen. Above all, if you wish to edit photos in order that they appear to be a video.
First, regulate the images to make them look smaller than the display screen, nearly making a body. Second, add lengthy, effective and gradual flowing actions (zooming, shrinking, left and proper motion, and many others.) to the image. Third, prepare the images repeatedly with music and rhythm. Arranging three to 4 consecutive photos of a scene in a row also can make it appear to be a video clip.
Search inspiration exterior the everyday sources
Feeling impressed to create a video is commonly essentially the most gratifying a part of the inventive course of. It’s the buildup of the hours of content material you’ve watched, blended with the hopeful aspiration to recreate among the fascinating work you’ve come throughout. The issue is that everybody else is watching the identical issues, and consciously or subconsciously, you’ll start to see related types and traits seep into movies.
Trying past the web world and taking in your bodily settings will help you method your modifying with a contemporary lens. As Kim says:
In my case, I get inspiration from the signboards of fairly cafes on the road, the editorial design of magazines, the stunning animals, the beautiful flowers, and the fantastic surroundings.
With the following pointers in hand, creating your first video ought to be smoother and extra gratifying, making ready you for extra adventurous video modifying methods. If you happen to’re in want of some easy-to-use video modifying software program, take a look at what GOM Combine Max has to supply right here.
