As short video content becomes increasingly popular, video editing apps are also evolving. Now, you no longer need a computer to edit videos. Simply use your phone and download an app like CapCut, and you’re ready to start editing videos.
Editing videos in CapCut is much easier compared to using software on a computer. However, before you start, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the buttons and features in this app, such as how to add stickers, text, and effects to your videos.
How to Edit Videos in CapCut
Generally, editing a video begins with selecting the clips you want to combine. After that, arrange the clips according to the concept you want to create. For the finishing touch, add effects, text, stickers, or anything else needed before finally saving and uploading the video.
Does it seem easy or difficult? With CapCut, all these steps will feel easier if you understand the basics, including the buttons and their functions.
Before you start, make sure you have downloaded the app. CapCut is available in both desktop versions for laptops and PCs, as well as mobile versions for phones.
1. Get to Know CapCut’s Features
Before you start editing, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the app first. You don’t need to learn everything at once, but at least you should know the basic buttons and their functions for video editing.
Start by understanding the initial layout. You’ll find menu buttons at the top like ‘Camera’ for taking pictures directly, ‘Adjust’ for editing existing images, and ‘Text’ to ‘Prompter’.
Next, there’s the ‘New Project’ button to start a new editing project. At the bottom, you’ll find buttons like ‘Edit’, ‘Template’ to discover ready-made video concepts, ‘Inbox’, and ‘Profile’.
After understanding the first page, let’s try to get to know the buttons within the editing page. Open the CapCut app, then check these out:
- Click the ‘New Project’ icon to add clips. Select random clips to enter the editing window.
- Try clicking the menu at the bottom and notice its functions.
Some of the buttons and their functions in the editing window are as follows:
- Audio and Text: Add background music and text
- Edit: To access the menu window below
- Split: Separate one clip into two
- Speed: Adjust the video speed. Speed it up for time-lapse, or slow it down for slow motion
- Animation: Add motion effects to the video
- Style: Edit photos with specific styles like adding a smile
- Delete: To remove a clip
- Crop: Remove the background and other parts
- Volume: Adjust the sound level in the video
Other buttons are available to add filters, edit clips, apply overlay effects, and more. It will be easier if you explore them directly on your own.
2. Adding Graphics to Videos
Make your content more engaging by adding graphics to your videos. These graphics will make the transition between keyframes smoother. Here’s how:
- Open the CapCut app
- Start a new project or open an existing one
- Select a point in the video where you want to add a zoom effect
- Click on the video layer so it’s active, and the edit menu appears at the bottom (indicated by the presence of split, speed, and other menus)
- Click the keyframe icon at the bottom
- Zoom and move the video clip to highlight what you want to focus on
- Click the ‘Play’ button to preview the video edit
Later, you can add more keyframes to the video as needed. Also, combine various videos with keyframes, then adjust the effects and movements in the ‘Graph’ menu to make the video even cooler.
3. Adding Text and Audio
The video editing process in CapCut can actually be completed at this stage. However, the video might feel incomplete without text and audio. Fortunately, CapCut is all-in-one, so you can add them directly without another app.
- Still in the editing window
- Leave the clip unselected
- Click ‘Text’ in the bottom menu to add writing or ‘Audio’ to add dubbing or background music
- Enter the text you want to display. Also, choose the audio you want to use. You can select from CapCut’s library or upload your own
- Click the checkmark to save your edits.
4. Adding Overlay Effects
Make the video more dramatic by adding overlay effects. This means you combine two or more videos, images, or even text in one frame. Here’s how:
- In the editing window, click the ‘Overlay’ menu at the bottom
- Click ‘Add Overlay’
- Add the image, video, or text you’ve prepared earlier
- Click ‘Splice Menu’
- Adjust the opacity or transparency level, and choose the overlay type according to your needs
- Preview the video by clicking the ‘Play’ button before saving it.
5. How to Use Templates
If you’re interested in using CapCut to edit photos with templates, follow these steps:
- Open the CapCut app installed on your smartphone
- Select the “template” option
- You can choose from various available templates. There’s even an option to create your own template
- Once in the template tool, upload some photos that you want to include in the template
- Tap the save icon at the top right corner of your screen when you’re done
- Wait for CapCut to finish editing your photos
6. Saving and Sharing Videos
The most important part after editing a video in CapCut is, of course, saving it. Here’s how to save your edited video to your gallery:
- Click the ‘1080p’ dropdown at the top right
- Adjust the resolution and fps rate as well as the smart HDR of the video output
- Click the upward-facing arrow, and wait until the export process is complete
- Select the social media platform you want to use for publication. Or, click ‘More’ > ‘Save to Gallery’ if you want to save it privately.
Do you find CapCut video editing easy or difficult? One thing is for sure, the more often you use it, the more skilled you’ll become at editing.