Five Basic Video Editing Techniques Every Videographer Should Know

Creating a video needs several efforts. Needless to mention, some of them are painstaking and editing is the trickiest part of a video file. The techniques and the way it has been edited will shape the story and can be a deciding factor in whether that video will be accepted by the viewers or not. This is the main reason; video editing is a painstaking yet challenging job. As a video editor, you have to maintain the flow of the video as you thoroughly check the editing techniques and styles.

An experienced video editor can deliver the best result which is a crucial factor for the success of the video file. This is the main reason, it is essential to find a way to improve the quality of editing by following the basic video editing techniques. Here in this article, we have discussed 5 basic video editing techniques in detail.

Here is a list of five basic video editing techniques that every video editor should know.

1.Appropriate timing

Timing is the most important thing that a video editor should keep in mind. This is crucial to comprehend the length of every shot, the distance between the frames along with the precise pacing which are playing a crucial role to improve the quality of the video and impact positively on the audience. So, it is important to have deep knowledge of the ins and outs of the timing. In a few movies, SFX and sound effects play a huge role as part of the timing. If there is any song playing on screen that needs to be fit with the timing of the song appropriately. The editor should make sure that not even a single frame is lengthy from its original clip. In this way, when an actor does the lip sync, the onscreen effect will be rightly played.

2.Paying attention to the flow

Continuity editing is a part of the cutting which is mainly being used to maintain the flow of the video. Here is the list of the roles by which an editor can clear the narrative action. 

Reverse editing

According to the video technicians, shot-reverse-shot is a certain kind of film technique where one character is shown looking at another. It initially happens from on-screen to the offer screen and then the other character is shown looking.

Matching the eye line

Matching the eye line is another film editing technique that is being used to indicate to the audience what the character is seeing. So, the editor is tasked to keep the eye line among the characters in the scene persistent. In this way, it matches overall continuity and does not cause any slowness to the flow of the scene.

180-degree rule

This is a technique the filmmakers use that helps the audience track where the character moves on the scene. The editor is tasked to establish a 180-degree angle between two groups or two characters. This formula helps to provide a wider view of the scene to the audience.

3.Standard cut

When it comes to knowing about the film editing techniques, it is important to start from the initiation. The standard cut is known as one of the basic editing techniques that even an online video editor provides to its users. It mainly allows the editors to cut from a particular frame and instantly start the second frame where it fits better. The two clips are smartly put together connecting the last frame and starting with the next one. These kinds of cuts are made so smartly that no audience can track them out.

In most cases, the basic cut establishes a shot-reverse-shot. This is the continuous process of the previous clip which is being established from a different angle.

This kind of effect can be done by importing the respective video clips into the project and cutting the appropriate segment. Some editors also continue the trimming process either video clip or through the ripple. In this way, it will shorten the entire clip or can be moved by shortening the single clip when you extend the clip next to it by slashing two clips at once. This is also known as rolling edit.

4.Match cut

A match cut is a technique that is being used to cut one shot to another. Video editors mainly use this technique where the composition of the two shots is matched by the action or subject to subject.

Different shots that are being connected by the match cut technique, are certain types of shots that need to be thoroughly planned out in advance. It helps the videographers to create a similar composition for the match cut edit during the production process. While following the match cut technique, there are various factors to take into consideration. These include color, composition, lighting, camera, and movement sequence. Video editors need to keep these factors in mind while editing video.

As a video editor, if you are working in a video editor, the initial step would be to find two similar shots from the media you have imported. While sorting that out, make sure that you have also kept attention to the color, composition, object, and frames.

5.Invisible editing

Invisible editing is one of the most popular and tricky video editing techniques that editors should know about. To achieve the supreme goal of a scene, this editing technique is used. It is also known as seamless editing and the objective of this kind of editing technique is to merge the audience into the film.

This editing technique starts from finding two clips along with similar themes. There are a lot of research and post-production efforts required for the transition to be achieved. While working with the editing software, there mainly two tool options are needed. One is the adjustment layer and the second one is the keyframe.

Final Thought

Video editing involves several tricks and techniques. So, it is important to learn them properly to produce a good quality video.