AI has revolutionized video production by transforming storytelling, helping creators to produce stunning videos with ease.
AI-driven video editing tools enable super-fast post-production workflows and can be especially useful for producing short-form video content.
The main advantage of using AI tools in the post-production phase is that no reshoot is needed, even if the quality of the film is below par. AI tools also automate many video editing processes, streamlining video production.
The quality of post-production will determine the success or failure of your video project. In this crucial phase, raw footage is transformed into a polished and impactful final product.
In this detailed blog post, we will explore the different steps and AI tools used in the post-production of videos.
Why Is Post-Production So Important in the Creation of Videos?
Transforming raw footage into a cohesive, eye-catching video is a huge challenge. Hence, the real magic happens during post-production, as it enables creators to fully realize their true creative vision.
Post-production typically includes editing out unwanted footage, color grading, sound design, visual effects, animation, compositing, rotoscoping, and more. This elaborate process can take many days or even a few weeks to complete, generally taking much longer than the actual video shooting.
Post-production places video clips in the right narrative sequence. Effective post-production can correct errors, ensure brand consistency, enhance visual appeal, create a compelling narrative, and engage the audience.
As a result, the final video will be more impactful and resonate better with viewers, creating a lasting impression.
Post-Production Activities and Tools
1. Video Editing
Video editing involves manipulating and assembling video clips in the right sequence to create a coherent final product. So, to start with, you need a perfect understanding of your editing software to cut and arrange clips in the correct sequence.
Linear and non-linear are the two types of video editing. In linear video editing, a predetermined sequence for adding or deleting video clips is followed. In non-linear video editing, you can freely manipulate the entire footage and work on several clips together.
AI tools offer non-linear video editing, helping you organize, rearrange, and edit the footage flexibly.
Skilled editing is vital for the success of your video, as it will convey your message clearly to viewers.
Making Selects / Cuts
Making selects/cuts involves reviewing raw footage meticulously. Only the best takes or scenes are selected to include in the final edit. Unnecessary or poor-quality footage is cut to focus on the most compelling shots.
Examples include choosing the best angles of a wedding ceremony, cutting between different camera perspectives in a music video, or trimming down hours of documentary footage to fit a concise story.
The Essential Steps of Successful Video Editing
Rough cut, fine cut, and final cut are the three essential steps of video editing.
Rough cut uses your preferred NLE (non-linear editing) tool to organize the footage, allowing easy access for editing. Video clips are first imported into the NLE tool. Next, they are marked, arranged, and edited in the right sequences.
Fine cut emphasizes attention to detail. The existing structures of the video in order are reinforced to create a more professional look. The manner in which each frame impacts emotion or message is carefully considered. The footage is then manipulated accordingly with the right proportions and rhythms.
Final cut is when the completed video takes shape. A “picture lock” is achieved during this step, with only the absolutely necessary changes remaining to be made.
AI Tools Used for Video Editing
Adobe Premiere Pro:
DaVinci Resolve:
Final Cut Pro:
2. Color Grading
Color grading involves manipulating aspects, such as color, contrast, hue, saturation, highlights, and shadows, to match various scenes shot under different conditions.
First-rate color grading can significantly influence the overall emotional impact of your video. It is crucial for the success of your video because it creates the desired visual style, mood, and atmosphere within the video.
Color Grading and Correction Examples
While color grading enhances the overall look and mood of the video, color correction ensures consistent tones and accurate colors across all footage.
Some common examples include adjusting white balance in a real estate walkthrough to match natural lighting, applying cinematic color grades to indie films, or ensuring a fashion commercial’s colors align with brand guidelines.
Color Grading Techniques That Guarantee Stunning Results
Effective color grading necessitates understanding color theory and selecting a suitable color palette. Therefore, video producers must select the right hues and shades to create a harmonious visual experience.
For instance, combining monochromatic schemes can result in a dramatic effect. Likewise, using complementary colors can enhance visual tension, or introducing pastel hues can result in a dreamy atmosphere.
AI tools offer unmatched control and flexibility for creating breathtaking visuals.
AI Tools Used for Color Grading
DaVinci Resolve Studio:
Adobe Premiere Pro Lumetri:
3. Sound Design
Sound Design and Audio Post Production
Sound design involves creating or enhancing sound effects, balancing audio levels, and cleaning up noise to ensure high-quality sound that complements the visuals.
Examples include adding footsteps and ambient sounds to a short film, removing wind noise from outdoor interviews, or designing custom sound effects for an animated sequence.
The Essential Elements of Successful Sound Design
Four important elements come together to make a perfect soundtrack. They are natural sound (Nat Sound), music, narration, and sound effects. All of them must be used together effectively. Only then the viewer won’t notice them. But when the sound mix isn’t smooth, the viewer will notice the subtle difference immediately.
Natural sound (labeled nat sound or wild sound) includes the ambient audio recorded with the video clips that you shoot. For instance, when you shoot a scene on a beach, the sound of waves crashing in the background is part of the natural sound in that environment.
Music has immense power, impacting viewers emotionally. Music can be used to elicit joy, excitement, or sadness. Similarly, you can use it to build tension and fear.
Narration is priceless in travel videos, documentaries, personal histories, instructional videos, and how-to videos. Narration shouldn’t seem like off-the-cuff rambling. Instead, it must be well-scripted and match the visuals in the video.
Sound effects consist of diverse sounds related to specific objects—such as a firing gun, a ringing cellphone, or a revving car engine. The addition of subtle sound effects can enhance your videos.
AI Tools Used for Sound Design
Adobe Audition:
iZotope RX:
4. Visual Effects (VFX)
Visual Effects, labeled VFX, include a wide range of innovative processes used to create or manipulate video clips and imagery outside the realm of a live-action shot.
VFX is used to create the illusion of reality in unbelievable scenarios. For example, you can use VFX to create realistic objects, characters, creatures, and environments that would typically be impractical or impossible to capture on film.
The chief advantage of VFX is that creators can use it to enhance storytelling by blending real-world video footage with CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery). So, VFX enables creators to push the frontiers of visual storytelling. The final magical touch will add depth and creativity to your video.
Visual Effects & Motion Graphics
Key Points to Consider to Create Stunning Visual Effects (VFX) in Your Video
Visual effects introduce an additional layer of creativity. It could be simple text overlays or complex animations. The key consideration is that these elements must serve the narrative, not detract from it. Keep in mind that subtlety can speak louder than overt techniques.
Since VFX is essentially making something fake look real, the key point to consider is how best to blend the fine line between real and unreal. So, creating quality VFX requires professional-grade software.
AI Tools Used for Visual Effects and Motion Graphics
After Effects:
Runway AI:
5. Animation
Animation Examples
Animation is creating entirely animated sequences, often using 2D or 3D techniques, to visualize stories or concepts.
Examples include producing animated shorts for children’s entertainment, designing 3D product demos for marketing, or creating character animations for a video game trailer.
The Main Elements That Make an Animated Video Successful
Storytelling: Strong storytelling allows you to connect with your audience instantly. Animation makes your video highly memorable, engaging, and shareable.
Unique Character Design: Your visual style must be unique to your brand. A template-based animation video that resembles hundreds of others will not be visually appealing.
Timing and Pacing: Timing is the number of frames an action requires, and pacing is the animation’s appearance of speed and smoothness. Modifying the number of frames will add realism.
Avoid Excessive Animated Scenes: Never over-animate your scenes. Pay attention to background details, maintain a consistent art style, and select an appropriate color palette.
Start Strong, End Strong: The first five seconds must captivate the audience. At the end of the video, present the audience with a clear call to action.
AI Tools Used for Animation
Adobe Animate:
Runway:
6. Compositing
Compositing is the technique of taking two or more images from different sources and blending them into a single video. The VFX (video effects) technique is typically used to imply that the visual elements are from the same scene.
Compositing can remove unwanted elements from a scene, such as wires or crew members in the background inadvertently captured in the frame. Compositing can also be used to adjust and color-correct footage, ensuring visual consistency throughout a video.
Compositing Examples
The Essential Elements of Successful Compositing
The primary principles of compositing include layering, blending, and masking. Implementing all of these principles correctly is essential for effective visual storytelling. Also, using layers intelligently can create depth and dimension, ensuring more intricate and engaging designs.
The essential steps in compositing are color grading and correction. When these steps are followed meticulously, all aspects of the final video will have a consistent look and feel.
AI Tools Used for Compositing
Nuke by Foundry:
DaVinci Resolve:
7. Rotoscoping
Rotoscoping Examples
Rotoscoping is manually tracing over video footage to isolate subjects or remove unwanted elements frame by frame.
Examples include removing a boom mic accidentally captured in a scene, isolating an actor from a background for compositing, or adding a glowing aura effect around a character.
The Advantages of Rotoscoping
Rotoscoping is simple and versatile. This powerful technique is user-friendly and produces realistic action for animations.
Rotoscoping can easily make complex and difficult animations. This technique can also effectively fix shots with unwanted elements.
AI Tools Used for Rotoscoping
Adobe After Effects:
Nuke by Foundry:
8. Match Moving and Tracking
Match Moving and Tracking Examples
Match moving and tracking involves tracking the movement of objects or the camera in a video so that CGI elements can be seamlessly integrated.
Examples include adding a digital billboard to a moving aerial shot, tracking a car to insert visual effects, or stabilizing shaky footage in post-production.
AI Tools Used for Match Moving and Tracking
Adobe After Effects:
Syntheyes:
9. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Post Production
AR and VR Post-Production Examples
AR and VR involve creating and editing immersive content for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) platforms, often involving 360-degree footage or interactive elements.
Examples of AR and VR are stitching 360-degree footage for a virtual real estate tour, creating AR overlays for product demonstrations, or developing VR experiences for gaming.
AI Tools Used for Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Adobe Aero:
Unity by Unity Technologies:
10. Localization Services
Localization Examples
Localization is basically adapting video content for different languages, regions, or cultural audiences, including translating text and adjusting visuals to fit local preferences.
Examples of localization include translating dialogue and adding culturally relevant graphics for an international commercial or adapting a U.S. product ad for the Japanese market.
AI Tools Used for Localization
Wondershare UniConverter:
Veed.io
11. Subtitling and Closed Captioning
Closed Captions
Subtitles
Outsource Photo Editing Services
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Subtitling is adding on-screen text to display spoken dialogue or sound descriptions for accessibility and international audiences.
Examples include adding subtitles to a foreign film, creating closed captions for a corporate training video, or enabling YouTube auto-captioning for educational content.
AI Tools Used for Subtitling and Closed Captioning
Descript:
Kapwing:
12. Finalizing Output
After the completion of editing, color grading, sound design, visual effects, and other activities, the post-production journey approaches its final destination: preparing the finished video for delivery and distribution. A series of technical steps in this stage will ensure that the final product fulfills the stipulated guidelines for various distribution platforms.
The closing tasks are to render and export the final master file. All the individual elements—audio, video, graphics, and effects—are compiled into one high-quality digital file format. The appropriate codec and settings are selected to strike the right balance between visual quality, compatibility with different playback systems, and file size.
Summary
Instead of attempting to do everything yourself, get an expert like Picsera to complete your multifaceted post-production video project. You can count on our professional editing team to execute your project with perfection from start to finish and transform your raw clips/camera footage into a masterpiece.
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Picsera was founded in 2014 by David Sinai, a serious ameteur photographer who spent the first 20 years of his career working in the financial technology space. With a track record of building innovative solutions and working with offshore partners, David started Picsera to help photographers work more efficiently by enabling them to outsource their image editing. With very affordable rates and incredibly fast turnaround times, photographers from a variety of industries (eCommerce, real estate, weddings and portrait studios) enjoy larger, more successful businesses while still maintaining more time for their families, friends, and hobbies. Today, David and his team at Picsera assist all kinds of content creators with 3D modeling and rendering and video editing. When David is not working you’ll find him spending time with his family, mountain biking, or capturing landscapes throughout South Florida with either his pro cameras or drone.