In video editing, keyframes are markers that define the starting, intermediate, and ending points of a transition, effect or an animation applied to a video or an element within a video. These keyframes represent where changes occur, such as changes in position, scale, rotation, opacity, color, or any other attribute that can be altered over time.

An excellent illustration of this is the dynamic color change. In VSDC, we implement a distinct algorithm, detailed further in this tutorial. However, if your interest lies more with animation or effect customization, then proceed to the instruction below.

How to Access the Key Editor

To begin working with keyframes in VSDC, the first step is to select the effect or object you want to adjust. VSDC supports keyframe settings, always indicated by '...', across a broad range of video effects, filters, transitions, and even audio effects like Amplify for volume changes and Fade in/Fade out transitions. Keyframe modifications are also available for motion effects, such as movement animation in VSDC, described in detail in our guide accompanied by a video tutorial.

How to Start Working with Keyframes

Regardless of the effect chosen, the editing window for keyframes remains consistent across all options. In this guide, we'll use the popular Zoom effect as an example to demonstrate how to start working with keyframes:

1. Create a New Project: To begin, create a new project by selecting the Blank Project option from the startup window. Once created, you can easily drag and drop your files onto the timeline. Alternatively, if you have a pre-existing video file, use the Import Content feature.
2. Adjust the Object’s Parameters: Left-click the necessary file on the timeline, navigate to the Properties window and select Set the same size as the parent has. This step is crucial for creating the Zoom effect since it prevents possible pixelation when zooming a small object and allows to adjust other parameters correctly.
3. Apply Video Effects: Right-click the necessary file on the timeline and in the context menu that appears, navigate to Video effects >> Transforms >> Zoom.
4. Open Effect Options: The applied effect will appear on the timeline. Ensure that the effect is highlighted, then move to the Properties Window located to the right of the scene. If the Properties window is not visible, right-click on the effect and select Properties….
5. Configure Keyframing for Effects: In the Properties window, look for the parameter that allows keyframing, indicated by "…". In our example we select the Levels parameter and click on the three dots icon next to it. Note: If there is a straight line next to the "…" parameter, you can right-click on it to set specific parameter changes:
   • Constant parameter value: The parameter value you set remains unchanged throughout the duration of your media. For example, setting the zoom of a clip to 50% will maintain that level until the end, with only one keyframe.
   • Linear parameter change: The parameter changes at a constant rate over time. For instance, gradually increasing the size of a clip from 0% to 100% over 10 seconds involves setting two keyframes at the beginning and end.
   • Linear parameter change along a trajectory: The parameter change follows a specified path or trajectory, with three or more keyframes applied so that the object changes its parameters several times during its visibility on the scene.
   • Parameter change along a curve: This involves altering a parameter along a curved path, allowing for more nuanced changes between keyframes, such as smoothly zooming in or out.
   • Parameter change along a Bezier curve: A Bezier curve is a specific type of curve defined by keyframes, allowing for even more precise control over the trajectory of changes.
   • Templates: This option allows you to choose from pre-made templates for time-changing effects. Notably, there is a template for the Edit the beat effect, which we cover in a separate guide.
6. Go to the Key Editor Window As soon as you click the three dots icon next to a parameter or select the necessary template, the Key Editor window will open beneath the Properties window. You can adjust the location of this window as per your preference.

Working with Keyframes

In the Key Editor window, you'll see a timeline representing the duration of your object where you'll need to create key points to mark when the object should change. Above the timeline, there's a tab area, allowing you to open the Key editor for multiple objects simultaneously and switch between them using these tabs. Further above, there's a toolbar for adding, editing, and deleting key points on the timeline. Finally, there's a vertical panel on the right for scaling the area where the effect's change curve is located.

Let's create a simple Zoom in and out effect with a center offset, so the object transitions to the center of the scene from a corner upon zooming in and returns to another corner at the end, similar to video reactions often seen on YouTube.

1. Set the object size to 40% for the initial point. Select it on the curve and enter the value in the Point field on the toolbar.
2. Move the cursor to the position where the object should maintain the same Zoom value before changing. Double-click on the curve at this position to create a point and set the value for this point to 40%.
3. Move the cursor again, double-click on the curve, and assign a value of 100% to mark that at this position, the frame should grow from 40% to 100%.
4. Add another point with a value of 100%, indicating when the object should remain at this size.
5. Add one more point marking when the object will decrease again to 40%.
6. Set the value to 40% for the final point as well.

We now have a curve with a total of 6 points. You can enable project preview using the red button on the toolbar to see how the object changes over time. Next, let's change the center values so the object moves out from and back into the corner:

1. Select the Zoom effect on the timeline and navigate back to the Properties window. Find the Center X/Y parameter and click on the three-dot icon next to either of them; the editor will adjust the parameters automatically.
2. In the Key Editor window, click on the third icon Parameters in the tools section above the timeline and choose Levels from the dropdown menu. This will display the curve of that parameter with its key points, making it easier to adjust the center curve.
3. Create the key points on this new horizontal curve placing them just below the previous ones.
4. Place the red playhead cursor on the first point at the beginning of the curve and select the point, then move the object's center to the top-right corner of the scene, adjusting its position. Repeat this for the second and third points on the curve. Don’t forget to move the red playhead cursor each time to check the position of the object at each point.

   A quick tip: You can copy the Point value represented on the upper toolbar to keep the position of the object precisely as at the previous point.

5. Position the cursor on the fourth point when the object's size is still 100% and should begin to change to 40%, and move the object's center to the top-left corner. Set the same position for the object for the fifth and sixth points. The effect is ready!

Tools Available for Editing Keyframes

Now that we have created a simple effect using keyframes, let's explore all the tools available in the Key Editor window so you can enhance your effect or control it as needed:

• Copy points: Allows you to copy all points set on a curve.
• Paste points: Allows you to paste previously copied key points onto a new curve.
• Parameters: Displays the curve of another effect parameter in the background, which is useful for comparison.
• Preview: Launches a preview of the project in a separate window with selected quality.
• Play: Starts the project preview on the scene.
• Path properties: Allows you to change point properties for Parameter change along a curve and Parameter change along a Bezier curve options. For example, you can make a selected point an intermediate point on the curve or the last point of the trajectory. Additional options become available only when selecting Parameter change along a curve, enabling you to calculate parameters for your selected point based on past or upcoming points to smooth the transition.
• Lock point transition to the left edge: This option keeps the distance between key points on the curve when changing the duration of the effect on the timeline, altering only values between the last and the penultimate points on the curve.
• Scale point positions: Allows you to evenly change the distance between key points on the curve when adjusting the duration of the effect on the timeline to maintain the original composition.
• Lock point transition to the right edge: This option keeps the distance between key points on the curve when changing the duration of the effect on the timeline, altering only values between the first and second points on the curve.
• Insert point: Adds a key point at the cursor's position on the curve.
• Remove: Removes a selected key point or all points on the curve.
• Show time/frame: Displays time or frame values on the timeline.
• Point: Shows the current temporal location of a key point and allows its values to be set in percentages.
• Templates: Offers a selection of pre-set templates for changing object values.

Wrap-up

Using keyframes offers a vast canvas to unfold and bring all your creative ideas to life. We've provided a general overview of how it works, but imagine the possibilities if you apply different offsets, create combinations, and synchronize everything—achieving truly incredible visuals!

Take a look at combined effects like the Shake Transition, the Smoke Trail Effect, or Transitions Using Bezier Curves — and these are just a few examples. We wish you success and are always delighted to assist you on our social networks on Facebook, YouTube, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Finding a suitable audio track for your video that adds to the atmosphere might be a real challenge. Even when the track seems to be perfect, the music turns out to be too fast or too slow and distorting. But luckily, the magic of modern technology brings you plenty of ways to change video speed, especially with the right video editing software. Whether you're aiming to enhance the mood of your video, adjust the pace of your MP3s or simply experiment with the timing, VSDC offers a set of tools that you can master effortlessly. Continue reading as we guide you through increasing and decreasing audio speed in VSDC Video Editor!

Key Takeaways

In this article you will find out:

• Three methods of how to speed up audio in VSDC;
• Three methods of how to slow down audio in VSDC;
• Useful ideas for working with audio files in VSDC;
• A short FAQ guide.

How to Make Audio Faster

Method 1: The Speed Parameter

1. Create a new project and add your MP3 file to the timeline by dragging and dropping it from the file explorer or by using the Add object option on the Editor tab.
2. Select your audio file on the timeline and navigate to the Properties window. You'll see the Speed parameter there in the Audio object settings section, set at 100% by default. Increase this parameter to make your sound speed up (e.g. to double the speed, set it to 200%). Please note, that when you change the speed of your audio, the overall file duration decreases as well.

Method 2: The Loop Mode

This method is handy when you need to speed up your audio file to a particular duration.

1. Create a new project and add your MP3 file to the timeline by dragging and dropping it from the file explorer or by using the Add object option on the Editor tab.
2. Select your audio file on the timeline and stretch the end of the file left to shorten to the desired duration.
3. Navigate to the Properties and find the Loop mode parameter in the Audio object settings section. Set Play entire audio for the sound to speed up.

Method 3: The Tempo Change Effect

1. Create a new project and add your MP3 file to the timeline by dragging and dropping it from the file explorer or by using the Add object option on the Editor tab.
2. Right-click your audio file on the timeline and select Audio effects >> Time stretch / Pitch Shift >> Tempo Change.
3. Adjust the position and the duration of the Tempo change effect on the timeline and navigate to the Properties. Find the Speed parameter in the Tempo Change effect settings section and speed up music to the desired value. Keep in mind: the Tempo change effect preserves the duration of the audio file, and since the music goes faster, silence remains at the end of your audio file, so perhaps you’ll need to shorten it by moving the right border of the file.

How to Make Audio Slower

Method 1: The Speed Parameter

1. Create a new project and add your MP3 file to the timeline by dragging and dropping it from the file explorer or by using the Add object option on the Editor tab.
2. Select your audio file on the timeline and navigate to the Properties window. You'll see the Speed parameter there in the Audio object settings section, set at 100% by default. Decrease this parameter to slow down the sound (e.g. to slow the speed down by a factor of two, set it to 50%). Please note, that when you change the speed of your audio, the overall file duration increases as well.

Method 2: The Loop Mode

This method is handy when you need to slow down your audio file to a particular duration.

1. Create a new project and add your MP3 file to the timeline by dragging and dropping it from the file explorer or by using the Add object option on the Editor tab.
2. Select your audio file on the timeline and stretch the end of the file right to the desired duration.
3. Navigate to the Properties and find the Loop mode parameter in the Audio object settings section. Set Play entire audio for the sound to slow down.

Method 3: The Tempo Change Effect

1. Create a new project and add your MP3 file to the timeline by dragging and dropping it from the file explorer or by using the Add object option on the Editor tab.
2. Right-click your audio file on the timeline and select Audio effects >> Time stretch / Pitch Shift >> Tempo Change.
3. Adjust the position and the duration of the Tempo change effect on the timeline and navigate to the Properties. Find the Speed parameter in the Tempo Change effect settings section and decrease the speed to the desired value. Keep in mind: the Tempo change effect preserves the duration of the audio file, and since the music goes slower, the end of your audio file will be cut. To avoid this, stretch your audiofile one the timeline to increase the duration.

Export Your Project

As soon as you finish, export your project in one of the following ways:

• Export as a video: Go to the Export project tab and select the desired format on the Ribbon, then choose the Profile and adjust export settings (if necessary) and click the Export project icon above the scene. To learn more about advanced settings customization, check out our guide to making MP4 files.
• Export as audio: Go to the Export project tab and find your audio track in the Source files window. Right-click on it and select Export audio, adjust settings and hit Export.

Enhancing Your Projects: Creative Ways to Work with Audio in VSDC

VSDC offers lots of options for working with audio files that go far beyond simple speed adjustments. VSDC provides an extensive toolkit designed to elevate your audio editing capabilities. To start mastering your skills, consider our general guide, and then explore some interesting ideas:

• How to replace an audio track;
• How to Apply Audio Effects;
• Create an Audio Sync;
• Create a Circle Audio Spectrum;
• Synchronize Audio and Video;
• Turn Audio Waveform into a Mask;
• Reduce/Remove Noise from your Audio;
• How to use Edit the beat tool.

Audio editing often accompanies video manipulation, as the techniques for adjusting playback speed — either speeding up or slowing down — are notably similar. Therefore, exploring our guide on speed adjustments might provide some insightful tips and strategies that are applicable to audio editing as well.

Conclusion

From enhancing the mood of your videos to aligning audio tracks perfectly with visual elements, the methods and tools outlined in this article offer comprehensive solutions to speed up or slow down your MP3 file. With VSDC you’ve got the flexibility to achieve your vision. Exploring creative ways to work with audio in VSDC, including replacing audio tracks, applying effects, and synchronizing audio with video demonstrates our software’s vast capabilities beyond simple speed adjustments. We encourage you to experiment with these techniques to discover new dimensions in your video projects, making them compelling and captivating.

FAQ

Can I speed up or slow down only a portion of an audio track?

Surely, you can use the Split into part tool to make a separate section, select it on the timeline and then apply the Speed effect to it.

Will changing the speed affect the pitch of my audio?

The pitch of a sound is directly related to the frequency of its waves. Accelerating the playback increases the frequency, which in turn elevates the pitch. However, if you wish to alter your audio track's pitch, you might consider utilizing Pitch Shift, a sound effect that increases or reduces the pitch of your audio.

What are some common uses for speeding up audio?

A prime example is TikTok videos. Given TikTok's rapid-fire nature, viewers typically have a shorter attention span, necessitating the acceleration of a song's BPM [beats per minute] to ensure that listeners remain engaged through the most compelling portions of a track. However, in fact, the necessity to speed up an audio track depends on the idea of your video project whenever you change the speed of voice or a song. Keep creating!

If you’re a video creator, there are three reasons why it’s crucial to learn color correction. First, it helps you to enhance your videos and make them look professional. Second, it allows you to color-match several clips so they look more consistent. And finally, color correction can help you fix overexposed, underexposed, and washy footage — all three being the result of poor lighting conditions or wrong camera settings.

However, when you’re just getting started, you might not be ready to commit to purchasing expensive programs. Thankfully, there is free software you can use to practice.

For this article, we’ve reviewed 9 best color grading software. These video editors include all the essential tools for both primary and secondary color correction, as well as other features to help you create a beautiful movie.

Key Takeaways

We are going to consider 9 best free video editors with a rich set of color grading tools:

1. VSDC Free Video Editor
2. Adobe Premiere Pro
3. iMovie
4. Final Cut Pro
5. Red Giant Magic Bullet Suite
6. FilmConvert Nitrate
7. Baselight
8. ColorDirector
9. SpeedGrad

What Makes Great Color Grading Software

There’s no short answer to this question, and here is why. Technically speaking, color correction tools – such as color wheels, black-and-white balance pickers, HSL curves, and contrast, brightness & gamma controls – are either very similar or the same, regardless of the video editing software. As long as you understand the main principles of color correction, and how each of these tools works, you can perform it in any program.

Importance of Color Grading

Even when using professional cameras for shooting, the resulting video doesn’t always satisfy us: the picture might be gloomy or overexposed, there happen to be some glares, flashes of light and the overall atmosphere doesn’t look cinematic at all. There can be many reasons why your footage comes out in poor quality: bad lighting, wrong camera settings or it’s just impossible to create some particular environment. But what really matters is whether it can be fixed. Luckily, most video editors offer a wide variety of color grading instruments to improve the picture, setting the tone and enhancing the visual storytelling of the movie.

Color Grading vs Color Correction

Although in both cases you get to work with the colors of the video and these two notions are often used interchangeably, color correction and color grading are different techniques. When you perform color correction, it typically means that you want to enhance your video by making it look more natural and vibrant. If you’re merging several pieces of footage shot in different lighting conditions, color correction also means color-matching clips and making sure they have the same level of brightness, contrast, and gamma.

Color grading is also aimed at enhancing your video, but this technique doesn’t mean just color balance adjustment. Instead, editors use color grading to create a certain mood and visual aesthetics, express their artistic vision, so that the colors in the video become a part of the story. Color grading often means using filters and changing color tones; it always comes after color correction.

Some great examples of unique, memorable color grading works are Melancholia (dramatic cool color tones), Sin City (black-and-white effect, plus color isolation used to create a resemblance with a comic book), Batman (dimmed colors, dark tones), and, of course, movies like La La Land, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Scott Pilgrim.

Key Considerations Before Choosing

So how do you choose good color adjustment software? For starters, you can narrow your search by looking at system requirements. For example, if your computer is low on RAM, you may need to eliminate Adobe Premier because it requires a powerful machine to perform well; or if you’re a Mac user, you’ll have to eliminate VSDC because this video editing software only works on Windows PC (Though VSDC is definitely a compelling option with valuable features, accessibility and no need for powerful computers that makes VSDC a universal choice).

Next, think of other tools or effects you might need for your projects. For example, if you’re planning to use special effects a lot, no video editing software beats Final Cut Pro. If you need elaborate audio editing tools, iMovie might be an excellent choice.

Once you have 2-3 options left, go ahead and test the remaining programs. Only then will you be able to choose the software you’re comfortable with. And if you fail to find everything you need in a single program, it’s a common practice to use several solutions for video editing.

Best Top 9 Color Grading and Color Correction Software

1. VSDC Free Video Editor

VSDC is a free video editor for Windows that has firmly established itself as a highly effective tool for both color grading and color correction, as well as a versatile video editing suite that goes far beyond. Whether you're looking to correct footage with lighting issues or aiming to achieve a particular artistic style, VSDC equips you with a broad range of tools to master your video editing skills.

When it comes to color correction, creators usually refer to primary color correction and secondary color correction. Primary color correction implies “broad strokes,” or adjustments that affect the overall video aesthetics. Such adjustments include white balance, brightness and contrast levels, and color tone correction. In VSDC, you can perform primary color correction using the Lift, Gamma & Gain color wheels, black & white balance points, RGB and Hue & Saturation curves, as well as manual color controls (brightness, contrast, gamma, saturation, temperature, etc.). This means that you can fix overexposed or underexposed videos, correct highlights, midtones, and shadows, and just quickly enhance the way your video looks. To analyze the color distribution and perform clip color match, you can use the dedicated Color scopes window.

For secondary color correction, which implies correcting isolated colors or scopes of color tones, you can use the built-in LUT editor, which also allows for creation of custom LUTs. For example, you can adjust a specific color tone on the video by making it more saturated or less powerful — this works well for artifacts and skin tone correction. Also, you can entirely swap certain colors in the video or make them change dynamically and create cinematic effects like those in famous movies (check out to recreate Barbie or Oppenheimer look).

VSDC has a PRO version if you’re interested in using most popular video editing tools like masking, video stabilizer, or motion tracking. However, if you’re only looking for video color correction software, all the features are free, and you’ll be able to export your footage in up to 4K quality without format or duration limits. In addition to the video editing feature set, it includes add-ons like a video recorder, a screen recorder, and a voice recorder. All this makes VSDC a top choice — just download the program and see it for yourself!

Pros

- Primary and secondary color correction tools;
- Lift, Gamma & Gain color wheels;
- Black & white balance points;
- RGB and Hue & Saturation curves;
- Manual color controls;
- Color scopes window for color analysis and matching;
- Built-in LUT editor for custom adjustments;
- Applying LUTs to BRAW Files;
- 4K export without format or duration limits;
- A wide variety of additional features;
- Plenty of educational guides and tutorials on Youtube.

Cons

- Windows only.

DOWNLOAD VSDC VIDEO EDITOR

2. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is one of the most popular software worldwide that is truly appreciated for a wide array of professional-grade color correction tools designed to enhance video projects. Among the versatile color correction effects available, you'll discover such options as the Brightness & Contrast effect for adjustment of the tonal range of your video clip, enhancing highlights, shadows, and midtones simultaneously. Similarly, the Change Color effect provides control over hue, lightness, and saturation, allowing for targeted adjustments to specific color ranges within your footage, and achieving desired visual effects.

Moreover, Premiere Pro introduces advanced tools like the Lumetri color effect with comprehensive color grading and correction functionalities. With features like Basic correction for adjusting exposure and contrast, creative presets for quick stylistic adjustments, and curves for precise color manipulation, Lumetri Color empowers users to achieve professional-grade results efficiently.

Pros

- Channel mixer effect for advanced color adjustments;
- Lumetri color for comprehensive grading and correction functionalities;
- A built-in LUT editor;
- Regular updates and improvements;
- Integration within the Creative Cloud ecosystem.

Cons

- High system requirements;
- A steep learning curve for beginners;
- Only 7 days of free trial.

3. iMovie

iMovie is an easy-to-use video color grading app for Mac OS. It provides basic color correction tools that will work if you’re getting started and need to quickly adjust the look of your video without dealing with RGB curves. iMovie comes preinstalled on Mac computers and it’s completely free.

Color correction tools in iMovie can be divided into two groups: automatic adjustment and manual adjustment. The automatic adjustment toolset allows you to enhance video colors based on the skin tone, use the white balance picker, and match color tones in several clips. This third option comes in handy if you’re merging multiple videos shot in dramatically different light conditions. iMovie helps fine-tune the contrast and brightness settings and match all videos to the clip of your choice.

Essentially, automatic color correction tools in iMovie improve the contrast and remove a color cast in the video to make it look more professional. Manual color correction tools allow you to adjust shadows, contrast values, highlights, color saturation, and temperature values using sliders.

While iMovie doesn’t include color wheels, curves, or LUTs, its automatic adjustment algorithm can be sufficient for basic-level color correction.

Pros

- Perfect for beginners without complicated tools like RGB curves;
- Tools for both manual and automatic adjustments;
- A great variety of preset filters;
- Included with standard Mac OS;
- Integrates easily with YouTube and Facebook.

Cons

- Mac OS only;
- The program can slow down when working with large files;
- A wide but basic toolset without professional color grading features;
- Limited format compatibility.

4. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a non-linear video editor invented by Apple, and it has been the next step for those who have outgrown iMovie. Many Mac owners prefer using Final Cut Pro because of its convenient interface and rendering speed. Just like in iMovie, Final Cut Pro offers tools for both manual and automatic color correction for enhancing video quality. The software's Analyze and fix feature automatically balances colors, exposure, and contrast during import, while the Balance color tool allows for clip-by-clip adjustments. Additionally, the Match color feature enables users to replicate the look of one video file onto another one to speed up the editing process.

For more precise adjustments, Final Cut Pro offers manual color grading tools such as the Color board, Color wheels, Color curves, and Hue/Saturation curves. These tools allow users to fine-tune highlights, midtones, shadows, and overall color balance. Masks can be applied to specific areas of clips for targeted corrections, and effects can be layered and timed using keyframes for advanced editing. With real-time updates and visual representations through Video Scopes, Final Cut Pro facilitates a comprehensive and intuitive color grading process for professional-level video editing.

Pros

- Ability to replicate color grades;
- Automatic balance of colors;
- Manual adjustment of color, saturation, and exposure;
- Targeting specific colors or areas;
- Support for masks and layering effects for targeted corrections..

Cons

- Non-traditional timeline;
- Mac OS only;
- Some advanced features are overly simplified.

5. Red Giant Magic Bullet Suite

The Red Giant Magic Bullet Suite offers a comprehensive set of plugins designed to enhance the look of your footage directly on your editing timeline. Beyond simple color correction, Magic Bullet provides accurate simulations of lens filters and film stocks, allowing to achieve cinematic contrast and sophisticated color palettes reminiscent of big-budget movies. With customizable presets inspired by popular films and TV shows, you can achieve professional-quality results with Hollywood-like aesthetics.

Magic Bullet Suite excels in skin tone balancing and cosmetic cleanup, enabling you to quickly enhance the appearance of talent by reducing wrinkles and removing blemishes while maintaining a natural look.

The Magic Bullet Looks plugin offers over 300 fully customizable presets, allowing you to effortlessly apply professional-grade color grading to your footage. With support for over 30 new camera profiles and advanced color handling controls, Magic Bullet seamlessly integrates into high-end workflows, ensuring compatibility with any footage and editing process.

Pros

- Comprehensive plugin suite;
- Powerful color adjustments;
- Efficient skin tone balancing;
- Effective noise reduction;
- Customizable presets.

Cons

- Requires a powerful PC;
- High price tag.

6. FilmConvert Nitrate

FilmConvert Nitrate is a powerful color grading plugin for enhancing a simple digital footage with the aesthetic and texture of real film. By selecting from an extensive range of film stocks and grain presets, users can achieve precise, filmic color with ease. Nitrate’s distinctive feature is its camera-specific profiling, which tailors the color grading process to the particular make, model, and profile of the camera used for shooting. This ensures that any color adjustment is accurately aligned with the camera’s characteristics for more convenience.

Additionally, Nitrate allows to manage exposure, temperature, tint, and saturation, while its film settings introduce a suite of film stock emulations based on the Cineon LOG standard, ensuring dynamic range preservation. Unique features such as Grain Settings and Halation effects add depth and authenticity, simulating the physical properties of film. Furthermore, Nitrate’s Level option, Color Correction tools, and the capability to export LUTs offer comprehensive control over the grading process, making FilmConvert Nitrate an valuable tool for achieving cinematic color grades.

Pros

- Authentic film emulation;
- Comprehensive camera profiles;
- Grain customization;
- LUT export capability.

Cons

- Lacks comprehensive manuals;
- Limited NLE Compatibility.

7. Baselight

Baselight 6.0 introduces a broad spectrum of innovative features for color grading and correction. Key highlights include the revolutionary X Grade tool, which streamlines the selective color work process, enhancing productivity by simplifying interactions with imagery. It enables colorists to execute multiple localized and complex corrections in a single layer, eliminating the need for keys or mattes. Additionally, Chromogen allows for the adjustment and repair of parts of a LUT without "breaking" the footage, perfect for modern wide-dynamic-range camera data. The Face Track technology also transforms beauty work by offering precise facial tracking capabilities, significantly improving the efficiency of color correction tasks.

Pros

- Extended creative palette;
- Unique layer architecture;
- X grade tool;
- Face track technology;
- Customizable presets;
- Educating resources.

Cons

- High price tag.

8. ColorDirector

ColorDirector offers a comprehensive suite of tools for transforming any video footage into a cinematic production. It enables seamless color correction, enhancement, and styling to achieve the perfect color effect. Users can create multiple color variations within a single clip using keyframe controls and masks, export LUTs, reproduce color styles from reference clips and ensure color harmony across their videos. The platform supports automatic light source detection to enhance footage with customizable sparks, dynamic lighting effects like sunlight and lens flares, and atmospheric effects such as glow, bokeh, and black mist to add depth and texture to scenes.

ColorDirector also introduces advanced stylized visual effects, including grain, glitch, blur, vignette, and HDR, to add artistic textures or atmospheres to videos. Its professional color tools enhance productivity with features like histograms, RGB parades, waveform monitoring, and AI-powered motion tracking for targeted adjustments. The software includes a green screen maker, access to royalty-free stock assets, and AI color enhancement for precise control over the visual appearance.

Pros

- Support for many different file formats;
- Keyframe controls and masks;
- LUTs Support;
- Customizable presets;
- AI-powered motion tracking.

Cons

- Hardware acceleration doesn't operate for color and pixel adjustment;
- Lack of tutorials.

9. SpeedGrade

Adobe SpeedGrade is a powerful color grading tool that offers features for stylizing digital video projects. SpeedGrade provides with the ability to correct colors, match colors between shots, and apply unique, stylized looks to footage. Additionally, SpeedGrade is equipped with several film stock effects to achieve the look of traditional film on digital video, further enhancing the cinematic quality of projects.

Starting with Premiere Pro 2015.3, Adobe discontinued the Direct Link workflow between Premiere Pro and SpeedGrade, urging users to adopt the Lumetri color tool in Premiere Pro for color grading tasks. Despite this change, the legacy of SpeedGrade lives on through the Lumetri tool, allowing users to save and apply looks as Lumetri effects and offering a broad selection of export formats for various platforms, including YouTube and Vimeo.

SpeedGrade's capabilities, such as the Shot Matcher tool for applying consistent looks across clips and the ability to send graded projects back to Premiere Pro with all adjustments intact, highlight its significance in the evolution of color grading software.

Pros

- Integration with Premiere Pro;
- Multiple layers of grading, masks, and effects;
- Robust tools for correcting colors;
- Color grades edited sequences from Premiere Pro;
- Advanced 3D stereographic editing.

Cons

- Limited updates;
- Interface is not not intuitive for beginners.

Conclusion

Color grading and color correction stand out as crucial artistic mechanisms that shape the mood and style of your video, directly influencing audience reaction manipulating with light and color to evoke specific emotions. Mastery of these techniques can evoke emotions, engage the audience, and establish a unique, recognizable style in your work.

There’s a great variety of color grading and correction tools, each offering its own set of advanced features. Our choice is VSDC Free Video Editor as the best program for color grading for both beginners and professionals: its various color correction tools, including Lift, Gamma & Gain color wheels, black & white balance points, and a built-in LUT editor, make it exceptionally versatile for any color grading needs. Unlike other software that may require powerful hardware or come with a steep learning curve, VSDC offers a straightforward and user-friendly interface, ensuring that users can achieve professional-grade color grading without unnecessary complexity. Whether you're looking to fix lighting issues or create cinematic effects reminiscent of iconic films, VSDC provides all the necessary tools free of charge, making it the ultimate choice for enhancing the visual storytelling of your videos.

FAQ

I'm new to color grading. Where do I start?

VSDC is a great starting point because it offers a comprehensive set of tools for both primary and secondary color correction, without overwhelming beginners. To help you get started with VSDC, there's a wealth of resources available: our YouTube channel is packed with tutorials tailored to new users, guiding you through the software's features step by step. Additionally, the VSDC website hosts how-to articles that cover a wide range of topics, from basic color grading techniques to more advanced strategies. By leveraging these tutorials and articles, you'll not only learn the fundamentals of color grading but also how to apply them effectively using VSDC, allowing you to bring your creative vision to life.

I'm on a tight budget. Are there powerful free options?

VSDC offers both Free and Pro versions of its video editing software: while the PRO version boasts a broader spectrum of capabilities, the Free version is fully equipped to teach you the basics of video editing and color grading. It's an excellent starting point for those new to the field, providing all the necessary tools to learn the fundamentals and create engaging video content without the initial investment.

My computer is old. Can I still do color grading?

Absolutely! One of the great advantages of VSDC is its compatibility with older computer systems. VSDC is designed to be lightweight and efficient, allowing it to operate smoothly without lags even on older PCs. This means you can dive into color grading and video editing without needing the latest hardware. So, even if your computer is showing its age, VSDC makes color grading accessible and achievable.

Can I try these editors before buying?

Certainly! Many video editing software options, including those for color grading, offer free trials allowing users to test their features before making a purchase. This is a great way to explore various editors and find the one that best suits your needs. What sets VSDC apart in this context is the generosity of its free version. Unlike typical trials or limited versions, VSDC's free version is truly unlimited. It provides users with a comprehensive set of editing tools without time restrictions, making it an exceptional option for those looking to dive into video editing and color grading without financial commitment.

Video overlays are the best. We love this trick so much because it unlocks unlimited creativity in video editing.

Now you can discover this magic yourself. With this technique, you have the power to:

• overlay videos, pictures, texts or other elements on another video and vice versa;
• mix two or more pieces of footage into one composition;
• create an overlay for a selected area in a video.

And that's just scratching the surface! In this tutorial you’ll find out everything you need to master this fantastic feature and learn how to create beautiful video overlays in VSDC Video Editor.

What is an Overlay

Overlays are some elements that you add on top of your original footage, often referred to as picture-in-picture effect. However, the options are unlimited: these elements can be shapes, images, texts or other videos. In other words, these are elements incorporated on top of existing footage so that they play simultaneously to produce an original effect. You can layer videos and images in different configurations: position them one over another, place side by side or even diagonally on the same scene. You can also adjust the opacity level for each file, which means an image can serve as a half-transparent layer placed over a video – or vice versa.

Overlay’s Importance

Overlays can serve any purpose depending on what effect you need to achieve. They can be used as filters over a video to create a stunning effect, create a specific atmosphere in your footage or set some particular mood by adding romantic, creepy or mysterious elements.

Mastering overlays is one of the basic techniques, a must-know skill for every aspiring video creator that opens up unlimited video editing possibilities, ensuring every video project is polished and sophisticated.

Different Types of Video Overlay Effects

There are so many techniques that you can use to create overlays, from blurring backgrounds for a soft focus effect to incorporating gradients, natural elements, or tinted overlays, the right technique can transform the visual appeal of your footage.

Here are some popular ones:

• Enriching your footage with atmospheric effects like snowfall, rain, or lens flares to create a special atmosphere;
• Embedding text into your video to convey messages or emphasize points, making them stand out;
• Overlaying just some parts of a video to draw attention or create contrast;
• Introducing overlays of light or color effects to enhance the visual mood;
• Securing your content with a watermark;
• …and much more!

Each of these methods falls under the broad category of overlays, expanding the horizon of what you can achieve in video editing.

How to Add an Overlay

Now, when it comes to the technical side of the process, overlaying videos is incredibly straightforward. First, ensure you’ve downloaded VSDC Video Editor – a free video editing software for Windows. Then, follow these simple steps depending on what effect you want to achieve:

Method 1: Basic overlaying

1. Start with creating a new project using the Blank project button on the start screen. Adjust project settings in the appeared window (if necessary) and click Finish.
2. Add your video files by dragging and dropping them onto the scene from the file explorer.
3. Position your videos on the timeline, placing them on separate layers, one above the other. This setup serves as the foundation for overlaying, allowing you to experiment with various effects, such as:

   Applying transitions

   When you arrange the files on the timeline such that the beginning of one video overlaps the end of another, you create a place for a transition. Learn how we achieve the crossfade effect, and for detailed instructions on creating transitions, refer to our video guide.

   Creating a side-by-side effect

   If videos are layered one atop another on the timeline, they naturally overlap. However, by resizing one video on the scene and then the other, ensuring they do not overlap, you can view two videos simultaneously, creating a side by side effect.

   Making a picture-in-picture effect

   Using a similar approach, you can create a picture-in-picture effect. The key difference is that you leave one of the files at the size of the entire scene while positioning the second one atop, making it appear smaller.

   Overlaying text on a video

   Overlays can be created not only with media files, but also with objects and texts. Watch our video guides to discover how to add text to your video and place it on top or insert subtitles.

Method 2: Blending Mode

This method of creating overlays is also to be considered. Unlike the first one, this technique doesn't rely on layering files directly on the timeline but instead utilizes additional options to achieve the desired effect. For this, follow these steps:

1. Add your video file to the scene, just as described in the previous method. Double-click on it on the timeline and add your overlay video to the scene by dragging and dropping it from the file explorer.
2. Move to the left side of the timeline and open the Blend menu. Select Screen and watch how two files get blended.
3. Navigate to the Tools section on the Ribbon on the Editor tab and click on the wrench icon. Now your overlay is ready for editing: adjust the opacity level if you want to make it more transparent.
4. At this point, you can set your creative spirit free and start playing with the settings. For example, you may want to layer the effect partially or make the overlay gradually disappear. You may also use other blending modes to edit your overlay or follow some of our creative ideas presented below.

Creative Ideas for Using Overlays in VSDC

For your inspiration, here’s a list of what you can do in VSDC, when it comes to overlaying:

• Replace green screen in a video;
• Overlay to video a watermark;
• Make a double exposure effect;
• Place text behind an object;
• Add a pop-up tag;
• Create a light leak transition;
• Insert a custom ‘Subscribe’ button;
• Make a diagonal split screen effect;
• Apply masking;
• Add ready-made templates to your video.

What Makes Overlay Video so Popular?

Video overlays have gained so much popularity since they are able to transform ordinary footage into captivating, professional-looking content. They offer creative freedom and flexibility, allowing to merge different elements — text, images, and special effects — seamlessly with the main video. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal and engagement of the video but also makes the storytelling more immersive. Overlays are easy to apply and are available in the majority of video editing programs, enabling creators of all skill levels to experiment and innovate, further propelling their popularity in video production.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a standout yet simple technique to enhance your video projects and make them captivating, overlaying is the best. Ready to put it into practice? Then go ahead – download VSDC, a few overlay videos to experiment with, and let your creativity take over.

Enjoy!

FAQ

Why would I use video overlays?

Use text overlays to highlight key points and convey some additional information efficiently or create a stunning effect and make a unique atmosphere in your footage.

What types of overlays can I create in VSDC?

VSDC offers a wide set of basic and advanced tools to effortlessly create good quality overlays of any complexity. Whether you're looking to incorporate text, images, or special effects, VSDC has you covered. Just check out our YouTube channel to find inspiration and tutorials that meet your needs.

How do I control the timing and placement of my overlays?

Controlling the timing and placement of your overlays in VSDC is intuitive and flexible. When working with the timeline in VSDC, you can easily scale it, customize and use various buttons for quick and precise navigation. To learn more about all the timeline features, check out our comprehensive guide.