A purple-themed desk with video editing tool Clipchamp open on a laptop.

How to edit your first video with Clipchamp

november 13, 2023

Do you want to create compelling and engaging videos but don’t know where to start?

Meet Clipchamp, the easy-to-use video editor that is designed for beginners and experts alike. With templates, royalty-free footage and audio, Clipchamp is integrated with your favorite Microsoft devices and everyday apps like OneDrive, Photos and Windows Media Player, so that you can easily edit videos in minutes.

Get started with Clipchamp: edit your video online or on your device

Clipchamp is part of the Microsoft 365 suite of creation tools – meaning it’s automatically available on Windows 11 devices.

If you’re not using a Windows 11 device, you can head to the app store and download Clipchamp. You can also edit videos online, by going to https://app.clipchamp.com/ in Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome browser.

1. Use templates to get inspired

So, you’ve arrived in Clipchamp, and you’re wondering – where do I start? On the homepage, you’ll find lots of different features to explore, and browsing the template options can be a great place to begin.

Clipchamp’s templates are specifically designed for every genre of video, from simple slideshow videos to social and gaming content. Get inspired with a template by opening the timeline editor and selecting a template from the categories in the template library.

You can personalize your template straight away, by uploading your own images and videos. Or you can add in royalty-free media from the stock library, which can also be found in the editor. For those who enjoy a little background music, you can also search for the perfect royalty-free tune.

Templates offer adjustable text, with a variety of fonts, sizes and colors, and you can even apply a unique color palette to your video, by using the brand kit function, keeping your videos consistent.

Pro tip:

Use keywords to search the stock library, which has over 1 million stock videos, audio and images.

2. Experiment with the beginner-friendly video timeline

Clipchamp has an easy video editing interface that’s perfect for beginners. Start by uploading your videos, images and audio files to the Your media tab on the left side of the editor. If you don’t have media to upload, don’t stress – the free stock assets are simple to navigate. The video editor also allows for screen, audio and webcam recording, so you can create media on the spot! If you’re new to recording webcam clips, try these tips to create confidently.

You can drag and drop your media to add it to the timeline, before rearranging it in the order you prefer. If you need to trim your media, simply click to highlight the asset, and drag the green handles to adjust. You can also combine videos directly on the timeline, by adding transitions between your clips, so that they flow together.

Pro tip:

Replace existing stock or assets on your timeline by dragging and dropping the media in the exact position of the existing media. If blank spaces appear on your timeline, click on the trash can icon to remove any gaps between your clips.

3. Add filters, transitions, and effects

Once you get the hang of the video editor, it’s time to sprinkle in some movie magic that makes your videos unique.

Experiment with overlays, transitions, filters and effects, to change the color, appearance and behavior of your media. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, try the advanced creative features, like creating an AI voiceover.

A visual showing the video editing experience in Clipchamp, focusing on voice customization.

Pro tip:

Accessibility is a crucial part of video creation. Make sure that everyone can enjoy your content by adding captions to your videos.

4. Finish, export – then publish!

Once you’ve put the final touches on your video, it’s time to share it.

Every video needs a name, so make sure you give it a title before selecting the Export button to save your video.

You can choose from a range of video resolutions, including 480p, 720p, or 1080p, and you can also save any video under 15 seconds as a GIF.

Next, you can download your video to your device and share it privately or on social media with an embed code. You can also use the Share page link to view the video hosted privately on Clipchamp. This is a great option for those who want to share it with team members or friends to get feedback before sharing it more widely.

Congratulations on finishing your first video – we’re sure there will be many more in your future!

Pro tip:

You can save videos directly to and from OneDrive, Google Drive, Google Photos and Dropbox. Clipchamp is also integrated with YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and LinkedIn, so you can share your videos directly to those platforms too.

Clipchamp makes it a breeze to create and share your stories. Its user-friendly editor, impressive features, and secure integrations make it a one-stop-shop for your video editing needs. Try Clipchamp today for an effortless way to bring your video content to life.

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