To improve your video, editors are ready for anything. After all, it increases the cost of their work. They are looking for new techniques on YouTube, Instagram, or Tik Tok. They follow their fellow competitors to find something they haven’t seen before. In this “hunting” for new technical techniques, video editors often forget about the main thing – the basic techniques that make videos of a professional level. This is something that every editor can and should be able to do. As these skills are improved, the amount that the video editor receives for his work increases. And this is a proven fact!
Music and sound effects
Sound is just as important in a video as images. Every video editor who creates good content knows this. It takes a lot of time to choose the right and high-quality soundtrack. You need to follow musical trends and know what the audience likes. You need to learn to create and feel the atmosphere of the video. Be able to enhance certain moments in the video. The more a video editor practices with audio, the more he can emphasize his editing. And thereby improve your video editing skills!
Choosing the right music and sound accompaniment not only strengthens your video emotionally but also creates a basis for new ideas in editing. Dynamic music allows you to adjust all the editing yourself. The result can be a video that will not only attract the attention of the viewer but will make him watch to the end! Or vice versa – properly selected lyrical music will make the viewer experience strong emotions, which also contributes to a long viewing time.
Music selection is a very important stage. Therefore, he needs to spend a lot of time. It is often necessary to find several options to choose the one that best emphasizes the editing and the idea of the video during editing. Here you should pay attention to everything: tempo, duration, presence of certain instruments, presence or absence of vocals, etc. All this affects the final result. If we are talking about a video created for a client, then all these nuances must be discussed with him.
Why is this so important
The video may have audio accompaniment (interview, voice-over, etc.), so the music must be a background to it, and not draw attention to itself. Therefore, in this case, instrumental music will be used, preferably without drums. And if there is only music in the video, then you should choose something with vocals. Then we pay attention to the text of the song, the voice (female, male, whether it is a duet or a choir), playing instruments, etc. Here it is important to find the music in which accents will be placed at the necessary moments. This will strengthen video editing.
The same applies to additional sounds in the video. Their presence is simply not enough. It is necessary to correctly place this or that sound in the video, adjust its volume and choose the right sound. For example, the sound of walking may differ depending on the surface you are walking on and the soles you are walking on. Whether it’s a man or a woman, or high heels. And maybe they walk up the stairs. Is the person walking around or receding in the frame? The volume of each step will depend on this.
When watching movies, you can pay attention to what noises are used in them, how they sound, etc. This can train your auditory attention and help you gain experience in the types of sounds that you can use in your work.
Color grading
When talking about color in the video, you should pay attention to three main things: contrast, brightness, and shades that are present in the “raw material”.
What is mean
Before you start coloring your video, you need to know what was filmed, in which profile the camera shot, and what settings it had when shooting. This is necessary to properly prepare your video for painting and giving it the final look. For example, the camera shot in cloudy weather, is a Canon camera and it shot in a standard profile. From this information, we can understand that our video will have a low contrast because in cloudy weather the shadows are not as dark as in sunny weather. The Canon camera has its characteristics in color (like cameras of other brands), which will allow us to understand whether the white balance was set correctly or whether it needs to be adjusted. And the standard profile means that the video was immediately shot in color, without any coding. We don’t need to adjust the saturation and contrast of the image to restore its color. Having this information makes it clear what can be done next.
Coloring the video is an important aspect during viewing because it depends on whether the image will look attractive. Will it attract the attention of the viewer. Therefore, the video should be clear, bright (but without white spots, they don’t have any information), have a good color palette, etc. To improve their skills, video editors must know and understand color theory and its effect on humans. Know what colors are trending now and what the audience likes to use this knowledge in your work. You also need to be able to correctly change the color scheme in the video (LUTs will help here) and understand why this is done. Because blue leaves on trees can become both a unique technique in your video and a drawback that will scare away the viewer.
With the development and constant improvement of skills in video color correction, a video editor must compete not only with his colleagues but also with a new profession that is increasingly in demand in the market – video colorist.
Text and titles
Text and titles can convey information, set the tone, and create a visual hierarchy. The text can complement the voice and emphasize certain points in the video. For example, if it is commercial, then the text can include the product name, brand name, price, sales dates, etc. This information is most important to the audience.
In video editing, the text is widely used in different variations. Such several varieties help the editor to choose one or another style depending on the needs and ideas of the video. To improve his skills, the video editor must understand fonts, color schemes, the construction of the composition in the frame, etc. An editor must be able to use the different styles of titles and headings that exist and appear.
Text and titles styles
Basic text
This is the simplest form of text and titles and is typically used to convey basic information. It consists of one or more words so that you can quickly read it and then focus your attention on the video. Headlines, product names, and names of main actors – these are examples of the main headline.
Lower thirds
It is a popular style of text and titles that appear at the bottom of the screen. This is usually a small text, with a clear font so that it can be read. The size of the text can be from one word to 2-3 small sentences. Its purpose is not to distract the viewer’s attention, but at the same time to provide additional information. The name of the location, the date, the name of the narrator, subtitles, or a one-time voiceover are the main examples of such titles.
Kinetic typography
This style involves animating the text to create dynamic and engaging visual effects. Kinetic typography can be used to emphasize specific words or phrases to enhance the perception of information in the video. The viewer may not even read the text, but understand what is written there. Usually, such text occupies a large part of the video but is short in length.
3D text
This style of text is fairly new to use in video. It gained popularity due to its unusual and voluminous appearance. The 3D text adds depth and dimension to text and titles, creating a more visually engaging effect. Video with 3D text is used in creating videos that want to attract the attention of the viewer. The text itself may not be as important as its appearance. This style is typically used for opening credits or title sequences.
Varieties of text and titles
Opening credits
This is a specific type of title sequence that appears at the beginning of a film or TV show, video presentations, video reports, short films, less often – in music videos or commercial videos. Typically featuring the names of the actors, producers, editors, and other key members of the crew. It can also be the title of the video, a brief backstory, or a quote.
Closing credits
It is a sequence of text and titles that appear at the end of a video. Unlike the opening credits, the closing credits are longer and include much more information. These are not only the names of the main people but also the entire team that worked, including sponsors, music copyrights, etc. End credits can also be a text that tells the story after the video.
Captions
These are subtitles that appear at the bottom of the screen, often used to provide translations or accompanying voice that is in the video. Also, they help the hearing-impaired.
Title sequences
These are long opening titles that are often used to set the tone and mood of the video. Title sequences can be designed in various styles, from simple text with background music to elaborate animations with multiple layers and effects. Usually used in music videos or movies.
Overlays
These are text or graphics that appear over the video footage, usually used to provide additional information or to create visual interest. Overlays can be static or animated and can include different font styles, colors, and backgrounds. Their purpose is to emphasize or supplement the main information in the video.
Text and titles can be used in a variety of ways to enhance dynamic or lyrical videos. For dynamic videos, bold and impactful text, with the use of animation, can be used to emphasize key points, add drama, and create a sense of urgency. The text should be large and bright so that it can be read quickly. For example, in a dynamic video that showcases a new product, lower thirds can be used to provide additional information about the product, while bold animated titles can be used to highlight its key features.
In lyrical videos, more subtle and artistic text can be used to complement the music and lyrics, creating a cohesive visual and auditory experience. Using pastel colors with simple animations that complement the video will be the right choice. In a lyrical video that showcases a music performance, subtle captions can be used to highlight key lyrics or add context to the performance.
If the visuals and audio in the video already convey the necessary information or emotion, adding text and titles can be distracting and take away from the overall impression. Excessive or inappropriate use of titles distracts the viewer’s attention from the video, thereby impairing the acquisition of the necessary information. For example, if a video already has strong visuals and music that convey the emotion of the scene, adding too many titles or animated text may be overwhelming. It’s important to use them wisely and creatively to avoid redundancy and keep the focus on the main message of the video.
Transitions
Transitions in video editing refer to how one video clip flows into the next. They can be used to create a seamless flow between clips. Also to add visual interest to your video. In dynamic and lyrical videos, transitions can be used to create a sense of movement and flow, helping to keep the viewer engaged and interested. There are a variety of transition styles available in video editing software, each with its unique characteristics and uses.
Cut
Not to mention him would be wrong. This is the basic transition most often used by video editors in their work. Cut is a simple transition in which one clip ends abruptly and the next clip begins.
Fade and crossfade
This is a gradual change from one clip to the next.
The transition is smooth, regardless of its duration. Fade and Crossfade create a smooth transition that is less jarring than a cut. It can be done by fading the first clip out, fading the second clip in, or a combination of the two, which involves blending the end of one clip with the beginning of the next clip. Usually, the duration of the transition does not exceed one second.
Dissolve
This is a similar transition to the previous one, but in this case, one clip gradually fades out while the next clip gradually fades in. Such a transition can be long in duration (1-3 seconds) to be visible in the video. This creates a dreamy, ethereal effect and is often used in romantic or sentimental videos.
Wipe
A wipe is a transition in which one clip is replaced by another by sweeping across the screen. It is visually voluminous, but short, which enhances the effect of surprise and attracts the attention of the viewer. This is a more dynamic and visually interesting transition than a simple cut or fade. It can be used in dynamic commercial videos.
Zoom
A zoom transition is a transition that involves zooming in or out of the first clip to reveal the second clip. At the same time, the second clip can also be scaled. Usually used in shots where the terrain is used (take-in or take-off from a building, etc.). This is a creative transition that can be used to draw attention to a specific element in the video. It takes a few milliseconds in duration because the transition process itself is not important, but the effect it creates.
However, transitions can become redundant in a video if they are overused or used inappropriately. For example, using too many flashy transitions can be distracting and take away from the content of the video. It’s important to use transitions sparingly and only when they add value to the video. In some cases, a simple cut may be all that is needed to transition between clips.
Motion graphics
If text and titles refer to static or moving text that is superimposed over a video, then graphic design is not only text, but also images, graphics, typography, shapes, illustrations, and other design elements that are animated to move and interact with each other. These graphics can be used to add visual interest and dynamic movement to a video or to convey complex information in a visually engaging way. It can be used as an addition to the narrator’s voice to make the video shorter. In contrast to text and titles, motion graphics are often more complex and visually dynamic, and are designed to engage the viewer and enhance the overall visual experience of the video. They can be used to create a sense of movement and energy, helping to keep the viewer engaged and interested.
Below are some of the most common motion graphics styles every video editor should know.
Kinetic typography
Includes text and supporting figures, that use movement to convey a message. Kinetic typography can be used in a variety of ways, from simple text movements to complex sequences that match the rhythm and pace of the video. This type is used to show small amounts of information, to focus on important details, or to supplement audio in a video.
Animated infographics
These are motion graphics that use data visualization and animation to present complex information in a visually engaging way. It is used to concisely show large volumes of information. Animated infographics can be used to explain statistics, data trends, or other information that would be difficult to understand with static graphics.
Character and objects animation
This is a style of motion graphics that involves animating characters or objects to tell a story or convey a message. It can range from simple movements to complex sequences with multiple characters or objects on backgrounds. These are usually dynamic animations used in commercial videos to show the product instead of describing it.
Particle effects
These are motion graphics that use small particles to create visual effects, such as smoke, fire, or explosions. Particle effects can add an element of excitement and drama to a video, to give it comic or absurdity. This is a method that has a very wide variety of applications.
3D animation
This is a style of motion graphics that involves creating three-dimensional objects and animating them to move and interact with each other. It is a complex way of graphic design that requires a lot of time and software resources. 3D animation can be used to create realistic scenes and objects or to add a surreal and fantastical element to a video.
Conclusion
Although video editors are always looking for new and innovative techniques to improve their work, it’s important not to forget about the basics. What is available at the basic level should be honed the most.
By mastering fundamental techniques like sound, color, text and titles, transitions, and motion graphics, editors can create more professional and engaging videos. And at the same time, without spending a lot of resources and money on sharpening these skills. It’s also important to remember that these techniques are not one-size-fits-all, and must be adapted to fit the specific needs and goals of each project. With practice and attention to detail, video editors can continue to improve their skills and increase their earning potential.