Video Editing, Animation and Vlogging

History of Editing

 Film Splicing

It is an old technique where film reels were used. You manually cut them and paste
where wanted.

 Linear Editing

It was used earlier. Editing was linear in a row only.

 Non-linear Editing

It is used now-a-days with the help of computers and software. It is digitized.

 Live Editing

It is used in live talk shows and sports. You used software and hardware (Vision mixer).

Phases
There are five phases:

1. Development

At this stage, project is just an idea. You will think about it as partnerships, topic,
message, how to execute it and basic things about it.

2. Pre-production

At this stage, things come in paper form. Cast equipment, crew members, shooting
dates, location, weather, logistics, budget etc. Most of the time is required at this level.
Everything is lined up officially.

3. Production

This is main part as main action is done at this level. The better the pre-production is,
the better the production is. The less time than pre-production is required here. You
film/shoot your content.

4. Post-production
 It includes video editing, animation, visual effects, sound effects, color grading,
animation etc. The better and organized the production is, the simpler is the post-
production. Least time is required here.

5. Distribution

Export your content in different formats. How you release it, market it, which industry
you release it, at what level is it released, where are promotions done and how it is
promoted and distributed etc.

Video Editing
Video editing is just a part of post-production.

Definition:

“The process of manipulating and rearranging video shots to create a new work is called video
editing.”

Stages of Editing
Stages of editing are:

 Acquire (Ingest, Capture, Digitize, Capture)

You can have data in any form. You have to bring it in editing system.

o If data is recorded in tape, we digitize/capture it. You require hardware or

patching to connect hardware to system. This process is called digitizing/acquire.
o Now-a-days, DSLR has card that is connected to computer. Content is copied and
edited simply.
o If content is shot in another format/compression, convert it in editing software.
The term used for it is ingest.
 Organize

The data you imported must be organized in backend because it is required. Benefits
are:


Smooth workflow

In case your system damages, it must be organized in back to get back to it.

Editor doesn’t know anything, so it must be organized so he has an idea what is
going on.
 Preview
 Preview all shots to know what possibilities are there in editing.

 Select

Okay takes are selected/labeled/imported and placed somewhere.

 Assemble

Proper in and out points of okay takes are selected and sequenced on timeline. This is
the final material used in edit. You just assemble them on timeline not cut it.

 Edit – Rough

You make initial structure because:

o If anything is missing you will know it and change it.

o You will show it to client for preview.
 Edit – Fine

Add audio, color correction etc.

 Edit – Final

Picture locked, sound balance, leveled sound effects, color grading balance, content
looked perfect. Film is done and ready for export.

 Deliver/Export/Render

Export timeline/content in format you require.

Goals of Editing
Some goals of editing are:

 Remove Unwanted Footage

Ok take: Take that is ok is okay take.

Engie take: Take that is not okay is engie take.

There are many takes taken. Some are ok some are not. The footage you don’t require
can be removed and ok takes can be selected.

 Choose the best shot

 You will take different types of shot like medium, long, very long shot. You can then
select which shot type is best in editing.

 Create a Workflow

Schedule of film can vary. What is your first shot may be shot last. So you can shoot any
day and arrange it later in editing.

 Give a video a particular angle

You can make video feel happy or sad with music, slowmo, color etc. Its feel will change.

Software
Some important editing software are:

 iMovie (Mac)
 Final Cut Pro (Mac)
 Filmora
 Power Director
 Edius X
 Adobe Premier Pro (for Mac and PC)

Creative Cloud App

Requirements:

Go to https://helpx.adobe.com/creativecloud/system-requirements.html --> Software 

Requirements

Installations:

Go to Google  type “download adobe creative cloud app” 

https://adobe.com/creativecloud/desktop-apps.html --> click “Download Creative Cloud” 
setup  install it  try it  buy after 7 days

Download these software:

 Adobe Premiere
 Adobe Aftereffects
 Adobe Encoder
 Adobe Audition
 Adobe Photoshop
Purchase:

Adobe is not in Pakistan, so you buy it from vendors here.

To buy go to https://adobedealreg.secure.force.com/PartnerSearch/ (Adobe Partner

Connection Portal)  apply filters (country)  contact resellers from list

Understanding Footage and Aspect Ratio

Different images/frame captured by camera person is called shot. They get edit and shown on
screen to you.

There are different types of shots and editor need to understand them too.

There are two basic types of shots:

 Basic shots

These are static shots and there is not much movement.

o Long shot
 Extreme long shot

You can see your subject and all the surrounding but not in detail. It is a
wide shot.

 Very long shot

It also contains your subject and surrounding but tighter/ zooms in than
extreme long shot.

 Long shot

Complete subject can be seen from head to toe and there is room around
that subject.

o Medium shot
 Medium long shot

Subject has decent head room and can be seen from head to up to knees.
Some surrounding is also shown.

 Medium shot

Subject is shown from head to waist line.

  Medium close-up

Subject can be from head to below chest.

o Close-up
 Simple close-up

You can see complete face of your subject from head to chin.

 Big close-up

Head is cut off and started from forehead to chin.

 Extreme close-up

Only a part is shown fully like eyes, lips, ear etc. It is used for showing
expression, whisper etc.

o Over the shoulder

Two people are talking. Camera is placed behind the shoulder of one person.
Face of one person and shoulder of another is shown. It is usually used in
conversations. You get to know whom they are talking, at what angle they are
sitting and what is their eye line.

o Two shots

Two people are in the same frame in this shot.

 Complex shots

In these shots, there is movement. It can be of subject, camera or lens.

o Lens movement

Camera is placed at one place and focal length of lens is changing. Zoom in
and zoom out.

 Lens + pan movement

 Lens movement + Tilt
o Camera movement
You can move your camera.
 Pan movement

Up and down movement

  Tilt movement

Right or left movement

 Pan + Tilt movement

o Camera + lens movement
Camera is also moving (on track) and lens is also moved.
o Subject movement

Subject can be moved with static camera or with camera or lens movement
or both.

 Subject movement + pan

 Subject movement + tilt

Video Formats
Video resolution

How big and crisp your image appears is video resolution. It is because of pixels (small digital
elements that make up your image). More pixels mean better video. It can make your video
better or worst.

Bit rate

It stores video data signals digitally per second. It maintains quality of your video. Too many bit
rates can make your file heavy, so it must be at normal rate.

Standard resolution

o Standard Resolution: 640*480

o 720 HD (High Definition): 1280*720
o Full HD: 1920*1080
o 2K: 2048*1080
o 4K: 3840*2160

Formats:

To store your data digitally in your computer, hard drive etc, there are some formats required.
You can export them from one resolution or format to other.

Frame rates:

“Frequency of consecutive images per second is called frame rate.”

At how much frequency frames are recorded.

Standard frame rate is 25 fps (frame per second) that means there are 25 frames/images you
can see in one second in a video.

Commonly used Formats:

 Quick Time (MOV):

It is commonly used for broadcast. Its drawback is that it stores a lot of data
requiring too much space but that makes its quality better.

 MP4:

It maintains resolution at maximum within minimum size. It is good for size, quality
and different medium. It is best format for working professionally and personally.

Transitions
“How can we go from one shot to another shot is called transition.”

There are four ways of transition:

o Cut
A shot reached it end point and is cut and simultaneously next shot is in.
o Dissolve
First shot’s opacity decreases and opacity of second shot increases at the same
time. It is usually used to show that time is passing.
o Fade
It uses the same technique as dissolve. In this technique, opacity fluctuates
between zero and maximum.
 Fade In
Opacity increases from zero to maximum.
 Fade Out
Opacity drops from maximum to zero.
o Wipe
In this type, one shot pushes the other shot and takes its place. Mostly used in
funny scenarios or must have a purpose of it.

Adobe Premier Pro

Import Footage
 o Go to your Project Window. It has your project name with label “Import media to start”.
o Open import tab.
1) Go to File  Import.
2) Press Ctrl + I.
3) Left click on blank area of Project Window.
o Import tab is opened. Go to your assets folder and import.
 Import one or more files.
 Import full folder by single clicking on folder and click “Import Folder” below.
 Drag and drop from browser window to editing software.
o You can also import them directly in source or timeline Window by drag and drop from
browser.

Organizing Assets
Assets are organized in backend in folders and bins. If you import complete folder, they are
already organized.

If you import different files, you can make folder and bins in software. This will not affect
backend organization.

Bin Creation

 To create folders, click New Bin from below icon.

 Then name it and select files to insert in it.
 Then drag and drop those file in that bin.

Sub-Bin Creation

 Double click on any bin icon. A new tab will open.

 You can create new bins in this tab.

Import files View

There are different views to view imported files:

 List view
Names of files and other important information are shown here.
 Icon view
First frame is visible. If you hovers your mouse in it, complete preview of video
can be seen.
 Freeform view
One frame of video in big screen is available.
 Full screen
To make any tab appear on full screen with expanded information, click on that
tab to appear blue border around it then click ~. It is revered by same icon.

Labels

You can organize your files better by color label. You can change label by right clicking on file 
Label  color selection.

Preview and Select Assets

To preview any asset:

Double click on it in project window.

It will open in source window.
Sequence (Timeline)
Timeline
“Visual representation of assets to arrange them is on timeline.”
“The place where we are rearranging or manipulating asset is called timeline.”
Final product of storytelling is done here.
Project Window  New item  Sequence  Sequence Presents  Select any default
sequence / Settings  Create your own sequence.
Select any file you want on timeline.
Whatever resolution you want in final video is specified in all videos.
Drag and drop file from project/source window to timeline window. You can select only
Video/Audio input from buttons in source window to import in timeline window.
In timeline window, first three tabs are of video files and next three tabs are of audio files.
 – key
It horizontally zooms out timeline.
 + key
It horizontally zooms in timeline.
 Ctrl + - key
It vertically zooms out video timeline.
 Ctrl + + key
It vertically zooms in video timeline.
 Alt + - key
It vertically zooms out audio timeline.
 Alt + + key
It vertically zooms in audio timeline.
  All controls and shortcut keys of source window are used here. Buttons for these
controls are given in Program Window same as source window.

Source Window
You can expand the window by key ~.

More options can be revealed by pressing + button at end of window.

Some controls of source window are:

CTI (Current Time Indicator)

We can call it a cursor in simple terms.
Time stamps:
On left side 00:00:00:00 indicates hour: minute: second: frame (full file) and on right
side 00:00:00:00 shows hour: minute: second: frame (in/out duration).
Add Marker:
1. Click on any point in file and add marker to it.
2. Then double click it. It will open a panel.
3. You can edit marker further. You can name and comment about it.
Play/stop Toggle (Space)
It plays or stop file.
Step Forward 1 Frame ( key)
One click of  key shows one step previous frame. It shows frame by frame preview
of file.
Step Backward 1 Frame ( key)
One click of  key shows one step forward frame.
Mark In (I)
It specifies in point of any video you want.
Mark Out (O)
It specifies out point of any video you want.
Go to In (Shift + I key)
You will move to your selected in point.
Go to Out (Shift + O key)
You will move to your selected out point.
Insert (,)
It inserts selected frame in timeline window next to where CTI is.
Overwrite (.)
It inserts selected frame in timeline window and overlaps any file already present
there disturbing it’s in point.
 Export Frame
It exports still image of single frame where CTI is. Specify its settings and click ok.
Fit
It allows you to zoom in video to see details.
Full
It allows you to make quality down if it has many effects on it so it may not stop.
Settings
It has many other options to explore.
J key
Move video in reverse direction. You can press it 6 times to increase Playback Speed.
K
It works same as Space bar.
L
Move video in forward direction. You can press it 6 times to increase Playback
Speed.
Shift +  key
Clicking Shift +  key shows five step previous frame.
Shift +  key
Clicking Shift +  key shows five step ahead frame.
Drag Audio only
Drag Video only

Tools Panel
Few tools in tool panel are:

Selection Tool (V)

It is selected by default. It works for Selection (by clicking), multiple selection (by
dragging), changing in and out point in timeline window (by dragging it),
Track Select Tool (A)
It selects all the files in all layers/tracks of timeline from where it is placed and
clicked. You can make them all at once to create space for new one.
If pressed with Shift, it selects only one track.
 Track Select Forward Tool
 Track Select Backward Tool
Rolling Edit Tool (N)
It increases one file out point and decreases other file in point.
Ripple Edit Tool (B)
It cut a specific portion of files and attaches remaining portions.
 Rate Stretch Tool (R)
It cuts a portion of file and attaches next portion with the remaining part but
with slow speed to avoid making spaces. It can be used to make slowmo or
making it speed up.
Razor Tool (C)
It splits one file into multiple files and can treat them separately then.
Slip Tool (Y)
It slips in or out point while file is not changed.
Slide Tool (U)
Previous file doesn’t change but next file is overlapped by it and in point is
changed.
Pen Tool (P)
You can work on opacity of video file (fade in, fade out), level of audio in audio
file, create shape on program window on output screen (you can edit this shape
in Effect Control window) etc.
Rectangle Tool
Same as pen tool
Ellipse Tool
Same as pen tool
Hand Tool (H)
It helps you move your timeline physically left or right.
Zoom Tool (Z)
Zoom in
Zoom out (Alt)
Type Tool (T)
You can type on your output screen where your CTI is. You can customize it in
Effect control window.
Working on Timeline
Sequence  Sequence Settings can change sequence settings of output file.
File containing both audio and video can be dragged in timeline by only video or audio or both.
If both are dragged, you can left click on it on timeline and click Unlink to unlink them or link to
link them back.
You can press Alt while selecting audio or video to select them individually.
You can cut and paste, copy and paste files in timeline.
Down arrow key:
It moves you to next cut in timeline.
Up arrow key:
It moves you to previous cut in timeline.
Home key
It moves you to start of timeline.
Ctrl + Shift + V
It paste any file between two cuts.
Many different layers of audio and video are used for:
Multi cam editing (different layers have different camera angles)
Overlapping any content on top of file
Split screen
Multi view

When to cut and why?

Four transitions already discussed are used to cut and move from one shot to other.

Reasons to cut a shot and move to the next shot:

New information
Motivation
Composition
Camera angle
Continuity

Video Transitions
o Import and drag some files in timeline.
o Go to Effect Window -> Video Transitions  different transitions available to use
o The transition you required, drag it and drop it between the two shots where required.

Most used transition is Video Transition  Dissolve  Cross Dissolve (Ctrl + D)

If there is space between clips, it will start/end at black.

If transitions are selected on timeline, Effect Control window shows its properties as:

o Duration (time transition takes)

Can be set by:

 Effect Control window

 Double click on transition in timeline
 Drag transition in timeline
o Alignment (in which direction transition must take place) and so on
 Video Effects
Go to Effects window  Video Effects  folder  sub-folder

To apply effect on timeline files:

 Drag effect and drop on required file.

 Select the file and double click on effect.

You can apply multiple effects.

It will appear in Effect Control window and can change its properties. Every effect can have
different properties.

You can click fx to unable or enable effect.

You can also search effects in top search bar of effect window.

Key Frames

You can turn on animation on effects by clicking button “Toggle Animation”.

By clicking on Toggle Animation, a key frame is added. You can specify effect here.
Where you want to change effect again, click “Add/remove key frame” button to create
another key frame and change values.
To go on previous key frame, click on “Go on Previous Key frame”.
To go on next key frame, click on “Go on Next Key frame”.
To shorten the timing of animation, mark the key frame close. Click on key frame and
drag it close.
You can add as many key frames as you want.

Opacity and Blending Modes

Opacity is transparency. By default any video is 100% transparent. If you reduce it, it will turn
into black slowly. If it is on top of any other file, its content will appear slowly.

Go to Effect Control window  Opacity.

Change opacity from 0-100. It will move from dark to full details. It can be done by:
o Effect Control Window
o Moving line on timeline on file.
Make more than one layer on files in timeline. Change opacity and adjust settings to
your liking.
Go to Blend Mode option below and try different options.
Important websites for images etc. are:

o Pexel.com
o Pixabay.com
o Mixkit.com

How to Stabilize Shaky Footage

Any movement/jerk in handheld camera is called shaky footage.

To solve this, Camera must be mounted. Today gimble is used for mobile and DSLR. In
complex shots, Steady jacket and tripod are used.

Go to Effect window  Video Effects –> Distort  Wrap Stabilizer.

It is added in Effect Control window. It will analyze and stabilize it.

If speed is increased, stabilizer effect will not be applied. Wrap stabilizer and speed cant be
applied on same clip.

Left click on clip and click Nest. Name it.

It will create a new fresh clip with speed option. Now you can apply stabilizer.
By clicking on nest sequence you can go back to previous original clip.

You can change its properties like:

o Stabilization Result
Smooth Motion
o Smoothness
No Motion
o Stabilization Method
Position
Position, Scale, Rotation
Perspective
Subspace Wrap
o Borders Framing
Stabilize Only
Stabilize, Crop
Stabilize, Crop, Auto-Scale
Stabilize, Synthesize Edges

Adding Mask
You can select any specific area/shape in your file by masking.

 Select any file.

 Go to Effect Control Window  Opacity  symbols 
o Create Ellipse mask
o Create 4-point Polygon mask
o Free draw Bezier
Click Alt to add more points.
 You can customize:
o Mask path
You can toggle animation in it.
o Mask Feather
You can soften/smoothen the edges of mask.
o Mask Opacity
It controls transparency of mask.
o Mask expansion
It controls the area of mask.
 You can check inverted to invert select shape.

You can apply it with other effects. Different applications explained in it.

Different Types of Cuts in Video Editing

Continuity of Action

Action Edit

Audio Editing
Diegetic Sound Non-diegetic Sound
The sound in which the source of sound can The sound in which the source of sound can’t
be seen on screen is diegetic sound. be seen on screen is non-diegetic sound.
Audio Meter

Audio is measured in db. Standard level for broadcast is -12 db. If an audio crosses 0 db,
audio will blast and can’t be recovered. If it’s below 0db, it can be fixed.

Control Audio Level

 Right click on audio  Audio Gain  Adjust Gain  -(low)/high  Ok

 Selection Tool  Drag Audio line up/down to adjust audio
 Specific Area Adjustment
Select Pen Tool  Add key frames  Select Selection Tool  drag line above/below
to adjust audio
Audio Recording
Connect your Microphone  Go to Window  Audio Track Mixer  Enable specific
Track for Recording  Record  Play  Stop
Effects
Effects  Audio Effects  Categories  Adjust in Effect Control window
Noise Reduction
 Adobe Audition is used for working on sounds.
 When working on other software, copy your files in Timeline to avoid losing
original document in case of error. Then after done editing, you can disable it.
Copy audio file in Adobe Audition  select Noisy area  Go to Effects  Noise
Reduction/Restoration  Capture Noise Print (You can select all audio by Ctrl + A)
Then Go to Effects  Noise Reduction/Restoration  Noise Reduction (process) 
Adjust Noise reduction strength (%age) + Reduce by amount  Apply

Working with Supporting Software for Sound Design

We have shots from multiple cam and audio. We need to synchronize them together in layers.
A third party software PluralEyes is used for it.
Add Media  Synchronize  Export Timeline  Name xml file and Export for Premiere Pro
Import in Premiere Pro  Check
Multi Camera Editing
Edit sync file that you need. Delete all audio files except main audio file.
Right click  Nest  Ok
Right click  Multi Camera  Enable
Program Window  Toggle Multi-Camera View -> click on camera you want  Timeline Edited
You can adjust timeline later too. You can assign numbers to cameras.
It works same like Vision Mixer.
Edit Music Videos