Some people still think that graphic design involves mostly print design, but the world has changed. Whether you are an experienced Graphic Designer or thinking about changing careers, you should also think about adding video editing to your skill set. The popularity of videos on social media platforms is soaring and that is the way that products and brands are marketed today. Marketing videos make up over 82% of internet traffic, so this is a trend that is definitely worth joining.
People Remember Pictures
High-quality video is a powerful marketing tool because people remember more of what they learn when the information is moving than through static text or photographs. However, the quality of the video is key; you need to capture the attention of the audience within the first 10 seconds, or they will scroll on by. This is where editing comes in and that is why Graphic Designers need to learn to edit videos.
Popularity of Video Is Growing
Right now, social media is where it’s at for video, but video marketing has been around since television ads. How many images and jingles do you recall from your childhood? That is the power of video marketing and it is only going to grow in the future. Whether you are an entrepreneur who wants to boost your own brand or are planning to become a Digital Marketer, video is the future, and It is time to get on board.
Poorly Edited Video Can Hurt
While getting videos out there is important, a poorly produced video actually does more harm than good. People either won’t watch it or will remember how bad it was rather than anything about the product. Editing highlights the most important parts of the video and makes everything flow smoothly. Editors cut out the extraneous ums, ahs, and fillers that everyone uses in speech so viewers will focus on the message and not get stuck on the mistakes.
Video editing is also a creative process. People want to see the story behind the product or brand. Editors craft a narrative from video footage and then add music and perhaps some special effects to enhance the story.
Paying an Editor vs. Learning to Edit
When you decide to branch into videos, you need to choose between paying someone else to create or edit a video for you and learning to do it yourself. Paying someone saves you time. They have spent the time and money to learn how to edit, so when you hire them, you can spend more time on your product or other marketing activities.
But there are also advantages to learning to produce videos yourself. You control the narrative and you can bring your unique vision to reality. You also control the quality of the video and can work on it until it looks just like you want it to.
If you want to change careers and become a Graphic Designer, learning to edit video is worth your time, effort, and let’s be honest, money. Learning to edit video also makes you more valuable to potential employers.
Become a Video Editor
If you are already working as a Graphic Designer and want to add video editing to your list of skills, you are probably in luck. Most Graphic Designers are familiar with at least one product that is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud. That could be Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign. This is a head start because the Adobe software is designed to work together, so the interfaces of the software all look fairly familiar.
If you are planning to switch careers and want to edit videos, you will need to learn to use the editing software. There are many tutorials out there to get you started for the different types of software, so if you are a “dig in and figure it out” type of person, you have a lot to choose from, but that may not be your best course of action.
There is no way around it, professional editing software is expensive and can be difficult to learn. Products like Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer cost hundreds of dollars and have a very steep learning curve. There are many free video editing products out there that can get you started, but they do have limitations.
Free Tools for Video Editing
There are many free versions of video software available. Here are a few suggestions:
- VideoPad - This is a good one for absolute beginners. It is far less intimidating than many of the others. You can create 3D effects and it has a sound effects library. There are also presets for different social media platforms, which is very convenient.
- Lightworks - With an intuitive user interface and lots of tutorials, Lightworks is another good choice for getting started with video editing. You will have access to stock videos and licensed music clips to add to your own footage.
- DaVinci Resolve - This is a more complicated and more powerful program, but it is generally considered the best free tool by experienced editors. You can accomplish a lot in DaVinci Resolve and when you are ready, you can move up to the professional studio version.
- Hitfilm Express - This is another one with a steep learning curve. Once you get some experience with editing, Hitfilm Express can do a lot. It includes animation tools and it has the capability to produce Hollywood-quality videos.
- Shotcut - Originally designed for Linux, Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor that works across many platforms. It feels a little awkward to people who have video editing experience, but it’s good for beginners. It has a large collection of tutorials and is great for audio editing.
- Movie Maker Online - Movie Maker is a simple video editor. The advantage to this one is that you are editing online instead of on your computer. Video editing software demands a lot of computing power and if you are not ready to buy a new computer, this is one way around that.
- Apple iMovie - Apple iMovie comes with macOS. It is the best free editor for Apple products.
Learning Video Editing for a New Career
You can get started with video editing using some of the free tools that are available, but even though they are simpler than the professional versions, they can be complicated to learn. If your goal is to change careers and become a Graphic Designer, your best bet is to take some classes.
You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other relevant software. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.
The best way to prepare for a career shift to a technical field like video editing for graphic design is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run for a few weeks to a few months and will cover video editing in much more depth than tutorials can. Another plus of training is that you will leave class with a professional-quality portfolio of sample videos that you can show to prospective employers.
It’s easy to learn video editing and start a new career. Check out Noble Desktop’s video editing classes. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online video editing courses and attend from anywhere. Use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me to find other courses in video editing in your area.