Have you ever shot a video but wanted to enhance it with titles and screen transitions, or perhaps add a soundtrack? Perhaps there are some scenes which you wish to cut of the final video production. These can all be done through the power of a video editing software program. This article provides a brief introduction to video editing in general and how you can add special effects to an otherwise boring video production.

To edit video files in your computer, you will need a video editing software package. There's a huge array of video editing programs in the market. The de-facto standard in video editing is Adobe Premiere (for PCs) and Final Cut Pro (for Macs). These packages have an extremely full video editing feature set and can do just about anything to your video. It is, however, expensive so I would not recommend it unless you're a into professional video editing.

For the average home user, it is better to get something like Pinnacle Studio Plus which is very user-friendly and will let you edit your videos with a minimum of hassle.
 

You may want to read more in my guide to selecting a good video editing program. Also, if you're just starting out in digital videography, check out my scoop of the 7 best video editing programs for beginners.
 

OK - you've purchased that video editing package, ripped out the shrink wrap and install the program. Now what? The first step in editing video files is to import the video file into the program. The input video file is typically in AVI format (after being captured into the computer). Once imported, the video file is ready to be edited and manipulated at will.
 

Moving between different scenes in a video production may take some work if the original video was badly shot. Very often, we may shoot a video carelessly, cutting from one scene to another suddenly. Adding screen transitions will help to solve these problems. A screen transition is essentially an animated way of linking one video scene to the next. You can choose to dissolve one scene into another, or have one scene 'flying away' to reveal the next scene. The ability to add screen transitions is a standard feature in most video editing programs.

 

Adding titles to your video helps to clarify what each segment of the video is about. It is especially useful for wedding videos where titles can describe where you've been at a particular time (e.g. 'At the Wedding Reception ...'). I like to use titles to classify or organize various segments of my video production. Combined with properly timed screen transitions, it really gives the video a more professional look.
 

Let's face it - we will never get the videos shot correctly the first time. Something usually goes wrong, either its bad lighting, way too much background noise or some other factor. The good news is that video editing can help you remove those scenes which are unwanted. Simply use the timebar (available on most video editing programs) to locate the scene to be deleted and enter the Delete command.
 

A soundtrack is also an important element in a video production. It can only be added after the video is shot. Soundtracks are especially important in wedding videos because it sets the mood of the occasion. It is however not so important for a simple home video of the kids or parents. You can usually add soundtracks in the form of MP3 or WAV files using a good video editing program.
 

Well, I hope you've learnt a thing or two about what video editing is. If you're an average home user, video editing need not take a long time - just add some titles or screen transitions. Once you become more experienced, you may then want to move on to more advanced features like adding soundtracks. If you currently looking for a good video editing program, be sure to check out my guide to selecting a good video editing program.

Pinnacle Studio Plus is a video editing program that allows you to easily capture video from camcorders into your computer. You can add great-looking transitions, special effects and background music to your plain old home videos. Start converting your videos into Hollywood productions now!

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