Unlike most other editing software, Canva is completely cloud-based. You don’t need to install anything to use it, just sign up for a free account. Once that’s done, you can log in from any computer or even use the Canva mobile app to generate beautiful designs.
At its inception, this software mainly focused on graphic design, allowing you to create a logo with no design knowledge or produce slick photo books. However, with the launch of its dedicated video editor, Canva has transformed into a full-blown video editing software.
With a user-friendly interface that includes templates, drag-and-drop features, and a library of assets, even the novice creator can produce a high-quality video in a matter of minutes, not hours. Here are the steps you need to go through.
Start a New Project
The first step (after you sign up for an account) is to pick the project type you want to make. Since videos for different platforms have different dimensions, it’s essential to decide this right away. You’d be able to resize later with a pro account, but it’s not as easy in the free version.
If you know the dimensions of your video, you can click Create a design > Custom size and input the correct details. If you’re not sure, then click the Video button after the title What will you design?. This will show you the options available in the software, from Instagram Reels to LinkedIn Videos. For this article, we picked a TikTok video.
Choose a Template, or Make Your Own
After you choose your project type, the software opens a blank window. At the bottom of the window, you can see your timeline. This allows you to add multiple frames to the video and determine their length.
One of the best features Canva offers to beginners is the templates. You can see these on the left-hand side of the screen. They can be incredibly helpful if you want to create an opening sequence or a presentation. You can also use the search bar to look for a template to match your specific needs, such as New Year’s or Promotion.
Add Your Content
Now, let’s discuss the content you can include within the video. First, on the left side of the screen, you can find the tabs for stock Videos, Photos, and Audio, as well as Elements (such as shapes and stickers) and text.
Some of these are free to use, and some require a small payment or signing up to a pro account. You can drag and drop either one into the screen, resize, and move them around.
If you want to create something more structured (but don’t want to use the templates), you can pick Elements and scroll to Grids or Frames. When you drag those into the screen, they create a shape for you to drop items into to organize them more neatly.
Edit to Perfection
With regard to editing, the software offers multiple options. First, there’s the timeline at the bottom of the screen that we’ve already mentioned. With the big + button, you can add new frames to the video. Then, you can edit the length of each frame when you drag the lines on each side of it.
The timeline also lets you add transitions between frames. Click on the + in-between frames, and click Add Transition. Double-click a transition to add it and see additional options.
When you add an audio track to the project, it also appears under the video frames in the timeline. There, you can drag it to a specific location in the video and crop it by moving the edges.
Download and Publish
After you finish playing with all the features, it’s time to see your creation. You can preview it before you download it, with the Play button at the top-right of the screen. If you want to get your friend’s opinion before publishing, you can also share the project and even provide editing privileges.
Once you’re happy with the work, you can either click the Download button and pick your desired file format, or use the three dots and share directly to various social media platforms.
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