Whether you’re creating training videos or an instructional YouTube video, there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself needing to merge videos together.
Merging videos occurs when you combine two or more clips to make one cohesive video. By doing this, you will save yourself and your employees time and energy.
Merging videos may seem like a daunting task at first, but don’t panic, we’ll walk you through this process in Camtasia!
Here’s what you learn:
- What to consider when merging video clips
- Tips for adding a professional polish to your final merged video
- How to merge video clips
What to consider when merging video clips
Merging video clips can seem like an overwhelming task, no matter how experienced you are with video. Here are some of the obstacles you might need to deal with:
Quality
Be aware of the video quality when merging to separate videos together. If one clip has a lower resolution, you may want to lower the resolution in your project settings to match before moving forward.
Trimming and cutting
Not every clip you want to use is perfect from start to finish. This is where the trimming and cutting tools will come in handy. Use these tools to clean up your clips so that the transitions are seamless.
Color correction
Most video clips will not look the exact same. If you are filming in different locations, the overall lighting might be different. Adjust the color temperature of your clips to keep them consistent when you combine the videos together.
You can do this by using any of the color effects options, or by adding a Color LUT to all of your clips to give them a cohesive look.
Tips for adding a professional polish to your final merged video
Create a storyboard
A storyboard is a visual representation of your video sketched out. This can help you get organized, especially if you are merging two or more videos into one.
Not every video will require a storyboard. Quick tutorial videos that are shared internally or brief share-outs in place of meetings likely won’t need one. But if your video is reaching a wider audience, it would probably benefit from starting with a storyboard.
Keep your clips organized
Always keep your video clips and images organized in folders when you are working on a project. This will ensure that nothing gets lost during the editing process.
In Camtasia, you can import certain clips from your computer to the library. This way, you can have easy access to all the clips you plan on using in your project.
And with Camtasia 2021 we introduced Standalone Projects. Simply check that box when saving your project and Camtasia will make sure that all of your clips are included in your project file to avoid losing them later on.
Include transitions and animations
Some video clips might not merge seamlessly. Including transitions and animations can make your video more cohesive and less choppy as well as making the video more interesting for your viewer.
Make sure your animations provide clarity, draw appropriate attention, and are worth the extra effort on your end and don’t include transitions simply for the sake of adding effects.
Include images
Having images dispersed throughout your video can be a great way to keep your audience’s attention by breaking up the visual monotony on screen.
With most video editing software, like Camtasia, you can import images the same way you import videos. Extend or shorten them to the duration you think works best. If they’re on screen too long, add an animation to slowly zoom in or out on them to add visual interest.
How to merge two videos together
Step 1. Start a New Project
Open Camtasia and choose New Project.
Step 2. Import Videos
Before you can merge videos, you need to add them to the Camtasia project you created.
With your new project open, choose File > Import > Media, then select the videos you want to merge. Camtasia will add the videos to the media bin and they will be ready to be used in your project.
Step 3. Add videos to the timeline
To merge videos together, you must add them to the timeline in the order you want them to appear. To add videos to the timeline, click and drag them from the media bin to the timeline. To reorder your videos on the timeline, click and drag them to the desired location.
Click the play button above the timeline to preview your merged media. If there are gaps between your clips, make sure to move them together until they are touching. It’s important to note that Camtasia will only produce the videos that are on the timeline.
Step 4. Save your video
Once you’ve added your videos to the timeline and they are arranged in the desired order, export your video by clicking on the green share button.
This will merge all of your videos together and allow you to choose where you’d like to save your merged video, and in what format.
Learning how to incorporate video clips and images together to make a cohesive video can seem overwhelming if you don’t know how to do it. You might not make the perfect video on the first try so take your time to get familiar with the editing process.
Use all of the information we discussed above to go get started and don’t be afraid to get creative!
