Video Effects Software Features
The technology behind video effects is constantly evolving; for evidence of this, compare the visuals in a movie today against one from previous generations. Not only are the standard features in these solutions both powerful and diverse, but thanks to video effects plugins, some solutions are customizable with new features from the vendor or third-party developers. If you integrate a video effects tool into your operation, you should keep your eyes out for effects plugins as they become available. With that said, you can expect to see these reliable features included in many of the products featured in this category.
Transitions – Transition effects are a simple but extremely effective method of blending scenes to create a flowing and seamless video. They can be subtle or flashy, depending on your desired end product or reaction from the viewer. Using something called "keyframes," the user can map out the beginning and ending of each transition. Then, you can select and tweak the exact transition effect based on what your chosen solution has to offer. Common examples includes wipes, dissolves, fades, and basic cuts. The variety of available video transitions depends on the effects tool you choose—you may even be able to create or customize transition options.
Objects – Adding a person, object, or piece of scenery to a shot gives users a great deal of freedom in their video editing process. A number of video effects platforms offer ways to paste images or cropped portions of other video files into a given scene. A popular process known as “image compositing" involves the picking and choosing of different elements to produce a patchwork scene that appears as a single, unified collection of images. In some cases, the production team will intentionally film objects separately to be merged together. One term for this is "chroma key." This may benefit from shooting certain subjects in front of a green screen or blue screen, which simplifies the process of isolating the images within a video effects platform or inserting external scenes or objects into the shot during the effects stage.
Filters & Colors – There are hundreds of different ways you could alter a video clip with the filters and layering tools available in certain video effects programs. With the push of a button, you can transform the entire color range in a particular scene, add or remove shadows, adjust the hue saturation of specific objects, and much more. Video editors will commonly leverage filter tools to bring objects in and out of focus, in addition to complete blurring; this is common when any sort of censoring is necessary. Color correction and lighting effects allow you to give the appearance of a certain time of day or certain environmental surroundings—you can also remove or add the illusion of "midtones," or indirect sources of light that illuminate an object in the video frame. Some other effects can include distortion, lens flare, reflections, and transforming objects or entire scenes to appear like paintings or cartoons.
No two products in this category offer the exact same toolset, and some may be more suited for your team’s particular needs or personal creative ambitions. Before deciding on a solution to buy, you are encouraged to visit the product website to learn more about its exact range of features. If you’re wondering about certain capabilities or possible lack thereof, you should reach out to the vendor with your questions.
