Filmmaking tips featuring SANDMARC Filmmakers Reading 5 Creative Video Editing Hacks You Need to Try 1 minute Next iPhone 15 Series: Camera Rumors

5 Creative Video Editing Hacks You Need to Try

Are you looking to spice up your editing game? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

In this blog post, I'll unravel some cool video editing hacks that will make your videos go from “meh” to “wow.”

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, these creative hacks will take your editing skills to new heights.

It’s time to unleash your inner editing wizard and create videos that leave everyone saying:

“Wow! How did you do that?!”

Let’s get started.

Video Editing Hacks: 5 Cool Must-Try Techniques

Picture this: you've captured some awesome footage on your camera or smartphone. You’ve shot these amazing moments and scenes, but they're all scattered.

How do you convert this mess of random shots into a stunning video?

Through video editing, of course.

I'll give you 5 cool video editing hacks to transform your video into a masterpiece.

1. Split Screen

Split screen is a fantastic video editing hack that helps you combine videos by displaying two or more videos simultaneously on the same screen. It's like having multiple TVs playing different shows side by side, except it's all happening within a single frame.

Consider using split-screen effects to showcase multiple angles or perspectives simultaneously. It's a great way to compare different scenes or add a storytelling element to your videos.
2. Reverse Clip

Next on my list of video editing hacks is “Reverse Clipping.” It's a nifty way to add an element of surprise or create an intriguing effect in your videos.

Essentially, the reverse clipping hack involves playing a video clip backwards.

Say, you have a video of someone jumping into a swimming pool. With reverse clip editing, you can make it appear as if they're defying gravity, magically floating out of the water and back onto the diving board.

Don’t worry, creating reverse videos is a lot easier than it sounds. All you need is good video editing software, like Davinci Resolve.
3. Time Lapse and Slow Motion

Two very popular video editing hacks you must try are time lapse and slow motion.

Time lapse involves capturing a series of frames over an extended period of time and then speeding up the playback. This results in a compressed and accelerated version of events.

On the other hand, slow motion is achieved by capturing more frames per second than the standard rate. You then play them back at a normal speed, resulting in a slowed-down effect, giving more detail to things that happen quickly.

Time lapse videos are great for condensing long processes or events into shorter, more engaging sequences. For example, you can capture the coolest pictures and videos of your vacation over several days. You can then create a time lapse video that showcases the entire vacation in just a few minutes.

Similarly you can use slow motion for emphasizing detail, creating dramatic impact, or capturing fleeting moments. Whether it's a droplet of water falling in slow motion or a sports highlight replayed in exquisite detail, slow motion can add a sense of awe and beauty to any footage.

A brand that has effectively used time lapse and slow motion in their videos is GoPro. For instance, in this video, they have used time lapse and slow motion in several sequences.
4. Green Screen

Next on our list of video editing hacks is a technique that's widely used in movies, TV shows, and even in YouTube videos. And that's the green screen.

Green screen, also known as chroma keying, is a technique used to replace the background of a shot with a different image or footage.

So, how does it work?

Well, the key is in using a uniformly colored background, typically green or blue, which can be easily separated from the foreground subject.

Now, film the subject in front of this green screen. You can later use best video editors to remove the green color and replace it with any desired background. This creates the illusion of being in a different location or setting.

Besides a green screen backdrop, a very crucial element in this technique is lighting. You'll want to have a well-lit subject and a separate set of lights to evenly illuminate the green screen. This helps in achieving a clean separation between the subject and the background, making it easier to remove the green color later.

Consider investing in professional lighting kits or studio lights for this.

BMW has produced commercials like the one below where their cars are driving through various scenic landscapes and futuristic settings. All this is achieved using the green screen technique.
5. Text Animations

Yet another powerful video editing hack is text animations. It involves adding dynamic and visually appealing effects to text elements within a video.

From subtle motion effects like fading, scaling, or sliding to more complex ones like particle effects, kinetic typography, and 3D animations - the possibilities are endless. And the best part? Most video CMS solutions that offer simple editing features provide this one too.

In a contactless marketing scenario, where physical interactions are limited or not possible, text animations can be employed to create engaging virtual product demonstrations.

Apple very effectively uses text animations in its videos. In their product launch videos, Apple incorporates text animations to complement the visuals and narration, creating a seamless and captivating video viewing experience.
You can also use text animations with your logo, just the way Google does. During holidays like Christmas or New Year, Google might animate the letters of their logo to incorporate elements such as falling snowflakes, or twinkling lights.

You too can do something similar. Just use a professional logo maker to create a memorable logo for your brand, and get going.

Conclusion

Video editing has become an essential skill in this digital age for crafting visually stunning and engaging content. These 5 video editing hacks are a must-try to elevate your video production game.
Written by: Reena Aggarwal