In 2024, sharing fun and creative videos is more popular than ever. Short-form videos are seemingly everywhere, with much of this growth being fueled by the rise of social networks like TikTok and Instagram. If you want to join the fun, an intuitive video editor like CapCutis a huge advantage.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use CapCut to quickly edit videos. We’ll look at key features of the app itself. Then, we’ll walk through the production process, step by step. In moments, you’ll be able to use CapCut for your own amazing productions.
What Is CapCut?
So, what is CapCut? You may have heard the name, but what does the app really do? CapCut is a free, mobile-centric video-editing app. It’s owned by ByteDance, more famous for being the creator of TikTok. With CapCut, you can edit and produce stylish videos right from your phone.
CapCut goes beyond basic mobile editing. It packs a wide array of features, even in the free version, and it works across most popular platforms. You can download it for your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Plus, CapCut offers desktop versions for both Windows and Mac. This makes it a versatile choice for you, no matter your preferred platform.
In CapCut, key features include:
- Full-featured editing tools. With CapCut, you can make countless different edits to change the look and feel of your videos. These include text overlays, brightness adjustments, blurs, and more.
- Included templates and themes. CapCut comes with a library of included templates and themes. All you have to do is drop your own footage into place.
- Filters and style options. Filters change the aesthetic of your video. With CapCut, you can transform videos with shades of neon, grayscale, sunlight, and more.
- Music and sound effects. An included library of music lets you add an engaging soundtrack to any video. The songs are licensed to use, making it a convenient source for quality audio.
- Easy export and sharing processes. CapCut seamlessly links to popular social media apps like TikTok. And you can quickly download any video to save or share with others.
In summary, CapCut has professional-grade features at a free price point. It’s a compelling option to consider for editing videos in 2024 and beyond. Now, let’s learn how to use CapCut to make videos of your own.
Editing Videos in CapCut: How to Get Started
Using CapCut is easy. Thanks to the app’s intuitive interface, you don’t have to be a seasoned video editor to get started. It’s designed to be accessible and simple for everyone to use. This lets you edit quickly, without a steep learning curve.
As we work through our tutorial steps, you’ll see two stock video clips in use. Both are sourced from Envato Elements. Want to follow along? You can download these videos here:
1. Choose Videos to Edit
The first step in learning how to use CapCut is to select one or more videos to edit. In our example, we’ll use the two stock videos listed above. You can also use your own footage that you have stored on your device.
Begin by opening CapCut. In this example, we’ll use CapCut on an Apple iPhone. But remember, you can use CapCut on your computer or Android mobile device as well.
When you open CapCut, look at the bottom of your screen. This is where you’ll find the Toolbar menu. As you move through an editing workflow in CapCut, you’ll find yourself on the Toolbar again and again. This is where you’ll see the all-important menu controls that help you edit and share.
With CapCut open, the Toolbar options are Edit, Templates, Inbox, and Me. To begin the editing process, tap on Edit.
When you choose Edit, you’ll see any existing video projects displayed. At the top, notice the blue New project box. Here, go ahead and choose New project.
When you select New project, CapCut will open your video library. Tap on one or more videos to edit, and then click Add. In moments, the videos will be imported. You’ll see them displayed on CapCut’s Editor view. Now, you’re ready to start the process of an amazing edit!
2. Arrange Video Clips in CapCut
With the videos imported, familiarize yourself with the Editor view. At the top, you’ll see a preview of the selected frame. Below the preview is the Timeline. It looks like a filmstrip, and you can use it to scroll through and sequence your videos.
By default, imported videos will be placed back to back. One will finish playing, and CapCut will immediately move to the next one. But you can easily change the sequence.
To do that, simply press and hold on a clip in the Timeline. It will be selected, and you can move it into a new position. Drag it into place and release it. Here, for example, you can move the waterfall clip to play before the hot air balloons.
CapCut also lets you trim and more. Don’t want the full-length clip? Select the clip on the Timeline, and move the playbar to a frame where you want to trim the clip.
Then, find the Edit > Split button on the Toolbar. Press it, and watch as the clip splits in two. You can then remove any unwanted footage by selecting it and pressing Delete.
3. Use Edits and Effects in CapCut
Part of knowing how to use CapCut comes from exploring the variety of style edits that you can make. Many of these can be found by going to the Toolbar again. On the Toolbar, you’ll see options for Adjust, Effects, Filters, Text, Audio, and more.
These include creative options like:
- Adjust. Here, you can adjust the brightness, contrast, saturation, and more. Think of these as corrective tools to help any video look better.
- Effects. Among these are blurs, glows, camera shake, and so forth. You can even add lightning bolts and neon effects.
- Filters. Filters are overlays that change the hues and shades of a video. On this tab, you can add visuals like retro lighting and black-and-white shading.
- Text. With this tab, you can add text overlays like captions and subtitles. CapCut even has a smart AI feature to automatically generate captions from a recorded voiceover.
- Audio. Here, you’ll find the library of royalty-free music included with CapCut. It’s a key step in editing: the best videos deserve great sound effects!
Spend some time browsing these and other tabs. See an effect that you want to add? Simply tap on it with your finger. You’ll see it applied to your selected clips in real time.
Below, you can see several edits in action. I added a cool color filter, adjusted the brightness, and more. As you can see, it’s easy to dramatically transform any video in just a few seconds.
When you’ve made your style and corrective edits, you’re ready to share your finished video. To do that, find the Share button. It sits in the very upper right corner of CapCut.
Click Share, and CapCut will begin exporting your video. When it’s complete, a digital video file will be saved to your device. But your sharing options don’t end there. At the touch of a button, you can instantly share to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms.
CapCut is built for instant mobile sharing. This way, you can go from editing to promoting on social media in mere seconds. You won’t waste time exporting, importing, and adjusting across multiple apps.
How to Use CapCut Templates
Above, you saw how to edit in CapCut from start to finish. But what if you’re pressed for time? Or perhaps you want advanced graphics that you can’t build by yourself. If that sounds like you, this is where CapCut templates come in.
Think of templates as pre-built video themes. They’re graphics packages that only need your videos added. You can find CapCut templates by clicking on Templates on the Toolbar, right beside Edit. This option becomes visible when you’re back on CapCut’s home screen.
Choose Templates, and the Templates gallery will launch. These are grouped into several categories: For You, Following, Commercial Use, and more. Scroll through the gallery and explore your options. Plus, you can search for themed templates using the Search menu at the top of your screen.
Found a template that you want to use? Click on it, and then select Use template. CapCut will launch the Template Editor view. Here, you can import your video to use in the template. This is an incredibly fast way to create a visually appealing video. All of the complex graphics are built for you.
How to Use CapCut on PC or macOS
CapCut is most popular on mobile devices, but that isn’t your only option! Sometimes, it’s best to edit videos on your computer. There’s just no substitute for a larger display and more processing power.
CapCut now offers desktop versions. These are available whether you’re a Mac or Windows user. On the desktop version, you’ll enjoy a more fully featured AI experience, among other expanded features. It remains a free download that you can install in a few moments.
CapCut’s desktop versions make the app truly cross-platform. You won’t find yourself constrained by your preferred device brand or ecosystem. With options for everyone, it’s easy to choose a CapCut app that fits your needs, objectives, and goals. While they vary in design and platform, they all share the full CapCut feature set and simple, intuitive interface.
Plus, you can even use CapCut within your web browser. It's a very flexible platform to help you edit from practically any device.
More Great CapCut Resources (Tutorials, Tips, and Tricks)
Above, we walked through the steps for editing and producing videos in CapCut. As you can see, it’s a versatile app with many unique features. Want to learn even more about CapCut? Here are some great tutorials from Envato Tuts+:
- How to Quickly Remove a CapCut WatermarkAndrew Childress21 Jun 2024
- How to Quickly Apply Blur Effects to Videos in CapCutAndrew Childress18 Jun 2024
- CapCut: How to Quickly Use Green Screen (Chroma Key)Andrew Childress28 Jun 2024
- How Safe Is It to Use CapCut? What Are the Risks for Kids?Andrew Childress07 Jun 2024
- 10 Best Free Online Video Editors (Quick to Use for 2023)Marie Gardiner25 Oct 2023
Explore the CapCut Video Editor Today
In this tutorial, you learned how to use CapCut to produce amazing videos. With CapCut, you can edit from anywhere. Whether you prefer making videos on your phone or computer, CapCut has you covered.
Think of CapCut as a versatile option for video editing. It stands out for its free price, ease of use, and intuitive interface. All you have to do is import footage on your device. Then, sequence and style it with CapCut’s suite of editing features. Or skip the manual work and choose to use one of the included templates. Finally, share your work with the world via social media apps like TikTok.
