What is Video Editing?
Video editing is the process of editing motion picture and video footage. This activity is both an art and technique. In addition to those who are taking up careers in video editing, it is essential to know the basic skills involved in the profession. Among these skills is cutting and arranging clips. Why is cutting and arranging clips so important? Cutting and arranging clips in your video improve the overall flow of your video. Cutting and arranging also help to communicate a message, display an emotion, tell a story, etc. The actual act of editing a video is decision making.
A cut is a decision, a decision on what to show, how long to show it, and how to move from one time and place to another. If you are a beginner, these are principles that you should master before you can proceed with special effects, etc. Cutting and arranging clips in your video will make it more comfortable for viewers to watch, your video will look more professional, and you will communicate your ideas better.
Organize your Clips
Before you start cutting, it is essential to organize your clips. First, import your clips into your editing platform. You can import all your clips or a selection of your clips. Once you have imported your clips into the editing platform, the next step is to label your files. Identify the different clips. Arrange your clips into groups. You can arrange your clips according to scenes, topics, etc. If you have clips of a specific event, you can group them separately. You can also group the clips according to topics or scenes. When you arrange your clips into groups, it will make it easier for you to identify your clips.
This will save you time because you will not have to search for your clips. Arrange the clips according to the order that they will appear in your video. You can also group them according to the beginning, middle, and end. Save each group of clips into a bin. This will make it easier for you to identify your clips as you proceed with editing your video. Organizing your clips saves time, prevents confusion, and prevents mistakes.
Review and Select Your Clips
Once you have organized your clips, the next step is to review your clips. Go through your clips and watch each one of them. As you watch your clips, take note of the essential parts of your clips. Take note of the parts that are not essential. Beginners tend to retain many clips that are not essential. As a result, their video becomes long and not interesting. As you review your clips, select the clips that are in focus, the parts that are well exposed, and the parts that display the intended action. Retain the parts of your clips that are not shaky, not blurred, and not redundant. This will make your video clear and interesting.
During this process, you can start marking where you would like the start and end of each clip to be. This gives you an idea of the flow of your video. In the subsequent steps, we will discuss how you can trim your clips into the exact length that you want. Once you have reviewed your clips and selected the best ones, you can proceed to the next step.
What is cutting? Cutting is the process of removing unwanted parts of a clip to make the clip the intended length. Cutting also involves making your clips flow. Different editing platforms have different cutting tools. The best way to learn about the cutting tools available on your editing platform is to read the manual. Most of the editing platforms have a cut tool. A cut tool allows you to cut a clip into two separate clips at any point. You can then proceed to remove or trim any of the two clips. Cutting is the first part of editing your video. When cutting your clips, consider the timing and the pace. The length of a clip should be long enough for the viewer to understand what is happening.
At the same time, a clip should not be too long. If a clip is too long, it becomes boring. Consider the length of time that you want a clip to be. When cutting a clip, there are several factors that you need to consider. For example, you can consider the movement of the subject. If the clip is a dialogue, you can cut immediately after one of the actors has said a line. Consider the rhythm of the actors’ speech. Avoid cutting abruptly. Instead, ensure that your clips flow smoothly. Unless you want to cut abruptly for effect, always ensure that there is a smooth transition between clips. A smooth transition makes your video look professional. In this step, you have cut your clips according to the intended length.
You may realize that some parts of your clips are still not smooth. In the next step, we will discuss how you can trim your clips to make them smoother. Now that you’ve cut your clips down, it’s time to start assembling them into a rough timeline. If you’re editing an interview or narrative sequence, arrange the clips in the correct order. If you’re editing a series of events, assemble the clips in a logical progression. Keep in mind the continuity of ideas, action, lighting, and settings between clips.
When placing clips on the timeline, don’t worry if there are small gaps between them. You can insert transitions, effects, or voiceovers in the gaps later. Tweak the Edits Watch your edited timeline from beginning to end. Look for awkward jumps, abrupt edits, and timing issues. Try to smooth out the editing by slightly shortening or lengthening individual clips.
You should also check to see if the audio is correctly aligned with the new clip sequence. To keep the video looking cohesive and natural, you may want to adjust individual clip lengths to match the audio cues. If necessary, experiment with moving clips around in your timeline. There’s usually a little trial-and-error involved with getting the right timing. Add Transitions Transitions can be useful to bridge the gaps between clips, but they should be used sparingly. As a beginner, you should default to jump cuts. When you do need to use transitions, use simple ones like a cross-fades or dissolves to transition between locations or time jumps. Avoid “flashy” transitions as they can distract from the message.
Review the Edits Watch your edited video several times. Look for places where the pacing feels off, or individual clips feel too long or too short. Make small tweaks to timing, order, and alignment to finalize the edit. It’s also helpful to get feedback from someone who’s never seen your video before. Sometimes you might miss awkward jump cuts or unclear sequences. Keep tweaking until the edit feels smooth and cohesive. Export and Review Export the final video in the right settings for the platform you’re using. After export, take a moment to review the final video on your computer. Make sure the cuts look right and the audio is still aligned. If possible, watch the final video on other devices to ensure that it looks correct on different screens. The more you practice cutting and arranging clips, the more comfortable you will feel.