Getting started with video can be a little intimidating, especially when you hear so many technical-sounding terms, like frame rate or fps. 

Even if you’ve heard of frame rate, it can be hard to know what would be best for your videos. There are, after all, many factors to take into account when choosing a frame rate.

Lucky for you, in this beginner’s guide, we’ll break down the definition of what a frame rate is and why it matters. So, to sum up, here’s what we’ll be discussing: 

• What is a frame rate?
• Why does frame rate matter?
• How do I choose the best frame rate for my video?
• What are the different types of frame rates?

Edit your own videos like a Pro

Camtasia is the best screen recorder and video editor on the market. Create content your viewers actually watch.

Download now!

What is frame rate?

Remember those cool little flipbooks where a pad of paper had an image on every page, and when you flipped through the pages quickly, the image would appear to move? 

This is how video works. Whether it’s digital or film, a video is essentially a series of still images that, when viewed in order at a certain speed, give the illusion of motion. Each of those images is called a “frame”. 

Frame rate, then, is the speed at which those images are shown, or how fast you “flip” through the book. It’s usually expressed as “frames per second,” or FPS. In the most simple terms, frame per second means how many frames are squeezed into one second of video. So, if a video is captured and played back at 24fps, that means each second of the video shows 24 distinct still images.

The speed at which they’re shown tricks your brain into perceiving smooth motion. Magical isn’t it? 

Why does the frame rate matter?

Frame rates can greatly impact the style and viewing experience of a video. Different frame rates yield different viewing experiences, and choosing a frame rate often means thinking about multiple factors, such as how realistic you want your video to look and whether you plan to use slow-motion or motion-blur effects.

For example, Hollywood-style movies are usually displayed at 24fps, since this frame rate is similar to how we see the world and creates a very cinematic look. Live videos or videos with a lot of motion, such as sporting events and video game recordings, often have higher frame rates because there’s a lot happening at once — this keeps the motion smooth and the details crisp.

Meanwhile, people who create animated GIFs will often sacrifice detail for a smaller file size and choose a low frame rate.

Frame rate is different than video speed, but they are related. You can change the speed of your video when you’re editing it, it’s always best to capture footage at your preferred frame rate. 

The most common video frame rates

Every art form has its standards, and in the world of video, frame rates have been central to the viewing experience. Historically, these standards have evolved not just from artistic decisions but also from technological and practical considerations.

The cinematic world settled on its standards early on. Movies, with their desire to emulate real-life motion, chose to capture film at 24fps and display it at 48fps or 72fps as this mimics the way our eyes naturally process movement. This standard has stood the test of time and is deeply rooted in the film industry’s legacy.

In contrast, TV broadcasters had to contend with technical constraints related to power standards, which influenced the frame rates used. This led to regional variations based on the electricity specifications of different countries.

Fast forward to today, and technology has broadened the horizon. Modern filming equipment allows filmmakers and videographers the flexibility to explore beyond traditional frame rates, especially when pursuing specific visual effects or storytelling techniques.

In essence, while there are common frame rates that the industry leans on, the ultimate choice often rests on the blend of an artist’s intent and the technical demands of the project.

What is the best video frame rate?

There’s no such thing as the “best” frame rate. As mentioned, different frame rates yield different results, so selecting the best one means going with the option that best fits what you’re trying to create.

Even though frame rate is a relatively straightforward concept, there’s a fair amount of controversy around which rates provide the best viewing experience, and there’s research that builds the case for just about any frame rate. Controversy aside, here are four things you need to keep in mind when choosing a frame rate.

The Marketer’s Ultimate Guide to Video

In our FREE ebook, we’ve put together practical strategies to get out of the woods and create engaging, powerful video content on your own that reaches your audience.

Download now!

Style/Realism

The frame rate of a video greatly impacts the way it looks and feels, which in turn determines how realistic the video appears. This concept ties directly to how we see the world.

When we see motion, such as a person throwing a ball or a car driving by, we naturally see a certain amount of motion blur. Ideally, the frame rate you choose will mimic this motion blur, keeping the experience as realistic as possible. 

If you choose a frame rate that’s too high, things will start to look unnatural and the video will suffer from what’s called the “soap opera effect” — which is when a video shows so much detail that it looks odd. On the other hand, if you choose a frame rate that’s too low, the video will start to look choppy and will provide a poor viewing experience. 

To help figure out which frame rate is best for you, let’s look at a few common options and how they’re used.

24fps

This is the standard for movies and TV shows, and it was determined to be the minimum speed needed to capture video while still maintaining realistic motion. Even if a film is shot at a higher frame rate, it’s often produced and displayed at 24fps. 

30fps

As mentioned, this has been the standard for television since the early days, and is still widely used despite producers moving toward a more cinematic 24fps. Videos with a lot of motion, such as sports, will often benefit from the extra frames per second.

The reasons for using 30fps are complicated and, as mentioned are mostly to do with television and electricity standards set in the days of yore.

60+fps

Anything higher than 30fps is mainly used to create slow-motion video or to record video game footage. Additionally, as technology continues to evolve, many smartphones are now capable of recording at 60 fps as well.

Motion

The next key variable to take into consideration when choosing a frame rate is the amount of motion in your video. This one’s pretty straightforward. If you have a lot of movement, you’ll probably want to capture at a higher frame rate.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll want to produce at a higher frame rate, but capturing at a higher frame rate ensures a higher level of detail for the amount of motion captured. The higher frame rate also allows for more flexibility when editing your video. 

To help you decide what’s best for you, here are a few common options.

24fps 

As stated above, this is the minimum speed needed to capture video while still maintaining realistic motion. If you capture a really busy scene at 24fps, you’ll see a lot of motion blur.

30fps 

With six more frames a second than 24fps, you’ll see more detail during scenes with high motion; however, the motion might start to look unnatural and suffer from the “soap opera effect.”

60+fps 

Anything higher than 30fps is usually reserved for recording busy scenes with lots of motion, such as video games, athletics, or anything you want to show in slow motion.

Gamers record at this rate because there’s a lot happening on their screen at once, and more frames equals more detail. Sports are often recorded at a high frame rate too so they can be slowed down to show replays while still maintaining crisp, clear video.

Frame Rate Delivery

The way a video is delivered, such as via YouTube or broadcast television, and the device a person uses to view your video can greatly impact the options you have for frame rate.

Not all devices and delivery methods support all frame rates, so it’s best to look into this before you start filming.

To help tackle delivery, let’s look at a few of the most common places people watch videos and how the video is delivered.

Streaming video on the Internet

This is quickly becoming the most common way to deliver video, and many streaming services support a wide array of frame rates. 

If, for example, you’re making a YouTube video, you can relax a little with the knowledge that viewers aren’t as bothered by frame rates when watching online. However, keep in mind that older TVs and computer monitors might not have a screen refresh rate that can handle high frame rates.

Television

When you produce a video for television, it’s best to stick between 24 and 30fps. This ensures that your videos look realistic and fit what people expect from broadcast television. Live broadcasts, such as news and sports, are almost always shot at 30fps, whereas TV shows and movies are usually shot at 24fps.

Film Projectors

Movie theaters, and projectors in general, are still an incredibly popular way to consume video. Much like TV broadcasts, the frame rate should be kept to 24fps as this will give your video that “cinematic” look and feel. You’ll also be able to rest easy knowing that your video will be displayed properly on most projectors.

Edit your own videos like a Pro

Camtasia is the best screen recorder and video editor on the market. Create content your viewers actually watch.

Download now!

Frame Rate File Size & Export Times

The final factors to consider when choosing a frame rate are file size and export times. These two are pretty straightforward — the higher the frame rate, the more still images are packed into each second of video.

More images mean more information, and more information means bigger files and longer export times. This is especially important to consider when uploading videos to online streaming sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, and TechSmith’s Screencast.

Higher-quality video is always the most desirable, but larger file sizes require better internet connections and computer hardware to stream at its highest quality. This means that people who aren’t using the most modern equipment or the fastest services might suffer from a poor experience.

Final Thoughts on Frame Rates

Choosing a frame rate requires some thought, but if you consider the four key points outlined in this guide, it should be pretty easy to find the best frame rate for you. Of course, the best way to really get to grips with frame rates and understand how they work is to play around with them. Try recording similar footage at different frame rates, and then using software like TechSmith’s Camtasia to edit your videos. 

Camtasia comes with a professional editing suite that’s intuitive and easy to use for beginners and experts alike. With it, you can add music to your videos, create closed captions, and even synchronize different audio and video sources. 

But Camtasia isn’t just an editing suite, it’s a screen and webcam recorder too. This means you can use it to film your own videos, record live streams, and make training videos. 

If you don’t have Camtasia already, you can download a free trial here. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and make some great videos! Check out the video below for a great walkthrough on making your first video with Camtasia.

FAQs about Frame Rates

Whether you’re bringing in vertical footage from your phone, looking to create a unique perspective, or just want to fix a crooked clip, it’s always good to know how to rotate videos.

Fortunately, it’s super easy to rotate a video. In fact, with the right tools, you can do it in under a minute and in this post, we’re going to show you how. 

How to rotate a video with Camtasia

As frustrating as it can be, recording a video with the wrong orientation isn’t the end of the world. So, rather than start recording all over again, you can use the rotation properties to rotate your video and save time in the long run.

1. Open a video editing program

You’ll be glad to know that even if you’ve never edited a video before, knowing how to change the orientation of a video is as easy to learn as it is valuable. The first step to rotate a video is to open up a video editing program on your computer. We recommend choosing software that’s easy to use, like TechSmith’s Camtasia, especially if you’re new to editing. 

Camtasia has been designed with both beginners and professionals in mind. While it comes packed with a wide range of advanced editing tools, its user interface is sleek and intuitive without being overwhelming. So whether you’re a pro and you know exactly what you want to do with your footage or an amateur who wants to learn along the way, Camtasia has you covered. 

We’ve also got loads of online resources, from the TechSmith Academy, to our blog where you can learn how to do things like add music to your video, change the speed of your footage, and add captions to your video. Best of all, you can start using Camtasia to edit your videos for free! Download the free trial today. 

Edit your own videos like a Pro

Camtasia is the best screen recorder and video editor on the market. Create content your viewers actually watch.

Download now!

2. Find the video you want to rotate

With Camtasia open, click on Import Media and browse to find the video you want use. You can grab a clip from your computer, camera, or network. Next, click Open to add it to your Media Bin.

3. Get it ready to edit

Now that you’ve imported your footage, you can drag your video from the Media Bin to your Timeline.

4. Rotate your video

Lastly, click on the video in the large Preview pane. In the center of the video, you’ll see two hollow circles. Hover over the circle on the right until your cursor turns into a rotation symbol. Click and move your mouse to tilt your video.

That’s all there is to turning a video around! Pretty quick, right? 

There’s more than one way to rotate a video though, and depending on what your video is for, you might want to try out these other techniques:

• For more precise rotation, you can click and hold the rotation symbol while moving your mouse near the outer edge of your video. This wider radius will provide you with more accuracy in your rotation movements.
  This is especially helpful when you are rotating videos from a smartphone or iPad/tablet that was taken just slightly askew.
• Have a specific angle in mind? You can type in the exact degrees. Just select the video in the Preview pane and click the Properties button on the right. Then, under the Rotation heading, the Z axis is where you enter the number of degrees.
  Hint: Enter 90º or 270º if you want to rotate vertical footage to be horizontal, or 180º if you want to turn it upside down.

Remember, if you’re turning a horizontal video into a vertical one, you might want to crop your clip after rotating it.

Bonus tip: Fill the space

Of course, there may come a time when you don’t want to rotate your video, but you do want to play a vertical recording in a horizontal space — without leaving big blank spaces on either side of your content. 

One great way to do this is to duplicate the layer and scale the background video up until it completely fills the space.

Then, either add a simple blur effect from inside the annotations tab – or adjust the opacity down to 25% to really make that top layer stand out.

This works in reverse too! So if you wanted to make a video for Instagram where vertical video is the norm, or even on YouTube where many people watch vertically on their phones — you can! 

Simply go into your Project Settings, reverse the 1920×1080 aspect ratio to make it 1080×1920, and rotate your video to fit!

Ready to start rotating video?

Now you really do know all there is to know about using Camtasia to rotate videos horizontally, vertically, and everything in between, as well as ‘flip’ them upside down and backward. But remember, there is still a whole lot more you can do with Camtasia. From making split screen videos to synchronizing video and audio sources — the world (of editing) is your oyster!

The Marketer’s Ultimate Guide to Video

In our FREE ebook, we’ve put together practical strategies to get out of the woods and create engaging, powerful video content on your own that reaches your audience.

Download now!

Whether you’re creating training videos for your staff or a YouTube video for your vlog, sooner or later you’ll probably find yourself needing to merge videos. 

What does merging videos mean? Well, it’s pretty simple, whether it’s two clips or more, you can combine videos together to make a single cohesive video. Learning how to merge videos is easy, but will save you a ton of time and effort in the future. 

While editing beyond basic techniques such as cropping and rotating can be daunting, there’s no need to panic. In this post, we’ll show you how to combine videos together using TechSmith’s Camtasia. 

Never used Camtasia before? Then download the free trial today and find out just how easy it is. 

Camtasia comes with a sophisticated, but incredibly intuitive editing suite that makes it easy to create professional-quality videos. Whether you want to add music to a video, change the speed of your footage, or add closed captions, with Camtasia it only takes a few clicks. You can even synchronize separate audio and visual sources. 

But back to how to combine videos! Here’s what this post will cover: 

• What to consider when you combine video clips
• Tips for adding a professional polish to your final merged video
• How to merge video clips

It’s worth noting that merging two or more videos together is not the same as creating a split-screen video. However, if that’s what you’re looking to learn then this is your lucky day as we have another post on how to make a split-screen video. 

What to consider when merging video clips

No matter how experienced you are with video editing, it can still be hard to seamlessly merge videos in a way that keeps your videos looking professional. With that in mind, here are some of the obstacles you might need to work around: 

Quality

Be aware of the video quality when merging two separate videos. If one clip has a lower resolution, you may want to lower the resolution in your project settings to match that of the lowest-quality clip, before moving forward. 

Trimming and cutting

There’s a good chance that not every clip you want to use will be perfect from start to finish. This is where the trimming and cutting tools come in handy. You can use these tools to clean up your clips so that the transitions between them are seamless.

Color correction

Most video clips won’t look exactly the same. If you’re filming in different locations or at different times of day, the overall lighting might be different. 

While getting the perfect lighting before you film can help maintain consistency, you can also adjust the color temperature of your clips to ensure they share the same aesthetic before you merge them. You can do this by using any of the color effects options, or by adding a color filter (which you can learn more about here) to all of your clips to give them a cohesive look.

Edit videos like a pro

Camtasia is the best screen recorder and video editor on the market. Create content your viewers actually watch.

Download now!

Tips for adding a professional polish to your final merged video

Create a storyboard

Without going into too much detail, storyboards act as visual representations of a video. They’re often hand-sketched, but that doesn’t mean they have to be picture-perfect — even stick people can make a good storyboard.  

While not every video will need a storyboard, they can go a long way in helping you get organized, especially if you’re merging two or more videos into one.

If you’re only making a quick tutorial video to be shared internally, then you probably don’t need a storyboard. But if your video is reaching a wider audience, it would likely benefit from being visualised in advance.

Keep your clips organized

Always keep your video clips and images organized in folders when you’re 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. What’s more, Camtasia’s Standalone Projects feature makes it easier than ever to make sure all your clips are included in your project file, which lowers the risk of losing them later on.

Include transitions and animations

Things don’t always go to plan when you’re trying to combine videos as they won’t always merge seamlessly. 

However, with the help of transitions and animations you can hide the moment when one clip ends and another begins. This will make your footage more cohesive and less choppy while adding more visual interest to the video. 

Make sure your animations provide clarity, draw appropriate attention, and are worth the extra effort. If you’re adding animations simply for the sake of having some cool effects, there’s a chance they’ll do more harm than good — trust us.

The Marketer’s Ultimate Guide to Video

In our FREE ebook, we’ve put together practical strategies to get out of the woods and create engaging, powerful video content on your own that reaches your audience.

Download now!

Include images

Having images dispersed throughout your video can be a great way to break up the visual monotony and better keep your audience’s attention. 

With most video editing software, including Camtasia, you can import images the same way you import videos and adjust the amount of time they appear on screen to a duration that you think works best. 

If you feel an image is on screen for too long, you might try adding an animation to slowly zoom in or out on the picture, as this will add more visual interest. 

How to merge two videos together in Camtasia

Step 1. Start a New Project

First, open Camtasia and select 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 added to 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. 

Pretty easy, right?

Now you can click the Play button above the Timeline to preview your merged videos. If there are gaps between your clips, be sure to move them together until they’re 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’re arranged in the order you want them, you can export your video by clicking on the green Export button (who’d have guessed!). 

This will merge all your videos together and give you options for where you’d like to save your merged video, and in what format.

Learning how to stitch videos together to make one complete video can seem overwhelming if you don’t know how to do it — but now you do! Be sure to use all of the information we discussed to get started, and don’t be afraid to get creative!

Edit videos like a pro

Camtasia is the best screen recorder and video editor on the market. Create content your viewers actually watch.

Download now!

When you start creating videos, there’s often a lot of preparation before you can even think about hitting the record button. If you will recording using a camera, you need to find a set, adjust lighting, and have the proper camera angles.

The best way to organize this preparation is with a shot list.

Even if your video will only use screen recordings without any camera footage, it’s helpful to have a shot list to help you identify and plan for everything you want to record.

What is a shot list?

A shot list is a document that maps out exactly what will occur and what will be used in that particular shot, or scene, of the video.

And, while your video probably isn’t a big Hollywood production, a shot list helps organize your thoughts and begin with a solid plan.

Shot lists go hand-in-hand as part of writing the script, creating a storyboard, and the overall pre-production process.

Make your own videos today!

Make professional-quality videos quickly and easily with Camtasia. Record your screen or upload an existing video, then bring the “Wow!” with effects, music, and much more.

Download for free now

Why are shot lists important?

If you’re asking yourself whether a shot list is really worth the effort, then allow us to answer that question for you: Yes it is!  

A shot list is like a blueprint that acts as a roadmap for your entire project, offering a structured plan that everyone can follow. It ensures that all team members are aligned, setting the stage (quite literally!) for a successful shoot.  

But why are they so important?  

Firstly, shot lists save time. Having a predetermined list of shots helps you utilize your shooting hours more efficiently. It provides quick answers to questions like, “What are we shooting next?” or “Who will be on camera for this part?” Having this information in hand eliminates guesswork, speeding up the shoot and maintaining focus throughout production.  

Secondly, a well-constructed shot list helps keep you prepared because it outlines what to expect at each step. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings and ensures the shoot runs as smoothly as possible.  

In essence, a shot list helps streamline the creative and logistical aspects of making a video. It’s a guide to staying organized, saving time, and most importantly, capturing the footage that will bring your story to life.

The essential elements of a shot list

Now that we know why a shot list is so important, let’s take a look at how to make a shot list, starting with a breakdown of each of the key elements you should include: 

• Script / SB reference: Indicates which part of the script or storyboard the shot corresponds to, ensuring alignment between planning and execution.
• Shot Number: The reference number assigned to each shot. This is essential for easy identification and organization.
• Interior / Exterior: Specifies whether the shot takes place indoors or outdoors. This is crucial for lighting and equipment planning.
• Shot: Identifies the type of shot — such as Wide Shot (WS), Medium Close-Up (MCU), or Very Wide Shot (VWS) — to establish the shot’s visual style.
• Camera Angle: Specifies the perspective from which the camera will capture the shot — like eye level, high angle, or even birds-eye view — adding layers of meaning to the scene.
• Camera Move: States whether the camera will remain static or employ a specific movement like panning, which affects the energy and pacing of the scene.
• Audio: Indicates if the shot includes specific audio elements like a voice-over (VO), an important note for post-production.
• Subject: Listing any people needed in the shot is an important detail for scheduling and ensures all team members know what should be captured.
• Description of Shot: This is a detailed summary of the shot in question, including the visual elements and type of shot to help guide the director, cinematographer, and crew. 

While there is fundamental information that should be included on every shot list, there’s no right or wrong way for you to put yours together. This is a tool for your production and the most important thing for you is to make sure you have all the information you and your crew will need. 

With that in mind, you may wish to add, or even swap out, some columns to list other bits of information, such as: 

• The Scene Number: This is a number to identify each scene, which will help with the organization and workflow of the shoot. 
• Location: Specifying the set or location for each shot will help when planning logistics.
• Framing: This should indicate how you want a shot to be composed, which will help maintain artistic coherence and consistency.
• Action/Dialogue: This is where you’ll describe what you want to happen in the shot, such as character actions and important lines, ensuring key parts of the story are captured.
• Props Needed: It’s also worth detailing the props required for each shot.
• Extra Notes: You can also add a section for miscellaneous (yet essential) information, like special camera instructions, lighting requirements, or anything else that needs to be conveyed to the crew.

Make your own videos today!

Make professional-quality videos quickly and easily with Camtasia. Record your screen or upload an existing video, then bring the “Wow!” with effects, music, and much more.

Download for free now

Shot list template

Now let’s take a closer look at what a shot list might actually look like.

In the screenshot below, you can see a clear shot list example, complete with information about each shot to help convey to the crew who’s needed on set, details of the action, and where each shot will be filmed. 

We’d recommend organizing your shots based on location. Grouping shots this way will make it easier to film because you’ll be able to film everything you need at one given time. 

For example, if you’re going to shoot a scene at a lake for the beginning and end of the video, it would make sense to film these shots at the same time, rather than separately. While you won’t be filming in order of the storyboard, this makes filming much more convenient. 

The different types of shots

Perhaps one of the most important aspects to consider when creating your shot list is how you want each shot to be captured. This includes information about the types of shots you want to film, as well as camera angles and movements. 

For example, do you want a wide shot (WS) or a close-up (CU)? Will the camera be static or panning? 

Meanwhile, camera angles could include high and/or low-level shots, whereas a move may be on a handheld camera, a crane, or a dolly. Once you’ve decided on your camera work, it’s also important to think about how you’ll record the audio, whether it’s using a boom mic or a voice-over — and don’t forget about your B-roll, the secret sauce of all great videos! 

We’ve put together a quick and easy chart that you can refer to below for more shot types, camera angles, camera moves, and audio.

There’s a lot to consider, but all of these details are vital to creating a shot list that ensures your shoot runs smoothly. 

How to create a shot list in 5 steps:

Now, we’ve already covered enough information to make any video creator’s head spin. But, don’t worry if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of creating your own shot list because we’re going to make it easy for you. 

Whether you’re making a training video, a software demo video, an animated explainer video (yes, animations need shot lists too!), or any other type of video, we’re going to show you how to make a shot list in five easy steps. 

Now for the actual process of creating your shot list, we suggest opening a spreadsheet. The layout makes it easy to compartmentalize all the information while keeping everything organized and easy to rearrange if and when needed. 

1. Pick a scene

The first step in creating a shot list is choosing a scene from your script to focus on. Then, in your spreadsheet create column headings using the nine essential elements of a shot list that we’ve discussed above, such as the scene and shot numbers, location, framing, etc. 

Next, each individual shot you have planned for that scene should be given its own row. Pretty easy so far, right? 

2. Break down each capture

Now that you have your scene and spreadsheet ready, it’s time to dissect each shot. This means going through them one at a time and thinking about how you’d like to capture each one.

This is the time to use your understanding of shot type and camera movements to fill in each column in your spreadsheet with the specifics that will guide your crew during production.

3. Number your shots

Clarity is key when organizing your shot list, which is why it’s so important to number your shots. Start with the number 1 for your first shot, and for each subsequent shot, create a new row in your spreadsheet and give it a unique number.

This simple system makes it much easier to reference specific shots during a busy shoot and also helps in the editing process later on.

The ultimate guide to making amazing videos

Watch our video and get great advice on how to start making videos, promotion, and more.

Watch more

4. Assign a shot for every part of the scene

There’s nothing worse than wrapping up production, only to realize later on that you forgot to take an important shot — but it’s a mistake that’s as common as it is avoidable. 

While it can be really tempting to skip a “minor” shot when creating your shot list, with an “it-will-all-work-itself-out” mentality, the whole point of your shot list is to list all your shots. So, make sure that each part of your scene, no matter how small, has its own spot on your spreadsheet. By being meticulous in this way, you’ll eliminate ambiguities and ensure that every element in your scene gets the attention it deserves during filming.

5. Draw rough sketches

Even if you’re not an artist, drawing rough sketches or storyboards for your shot list can be incredibly useful. This visual aid will help you and your crew better understand how a scene will unfold. It’s also a good way to try and spot any potential issues before you’re on set. If something doesn’t look quite right in the sketch, you can adjust your shot list accordingly. 

You might want to think of these drawings as a second layer of planning, offering another opportunity to fine-tune your vision before the cameras start rolling.

And that’s all there is to it! Your shot list can be as simple or as detailed as you see fit. The most important thing is making sure you have a shot list in the first place—while it might seem like a lot of work upfront, it will make both shooting and editing your video much easier in the long run. 

Speaking of editing, once you’ve got all your footage together, consider using TechSmith’s Camtasia — which comes with a 30-day free trial! If you’re new to editing, you might also want to check out our guide on how to edit a video.

How to write a shot list, the FAQ

Do you need to change the focus of your video clip without having to re-shoot your footage all over again? This post is going to teach you all you need to know about how to crop a video.

While it’s often used for photo editing, cropping is just as useful when it comes to editing video. With cropping, you can remove unnecessary or distracting portions of a video clip or change its dimensions to fit within a certain area. 

Camera footage is often cropped to change the emphasis of a shot or remove unwanted and distracting portions. So, whether you’re working with footage from a camera or a screen recording, there will likely be plenty of times that you need to crop these clips. 

Edit your own videos like a Pro

Camtasia is the best screen recorder and video editor on the market. Create content your viewers actually watch.

Download now!

What is video cropping?

In a nutshell, video cropping refers to the process of removing unwanted portions from the outer edges of a video to focus on a specific subject or area. For example, if you have a photograph, and you cut out the parts you don’t need so you can zoom in on what’s most important — that’s essentially what you’re doing when you crop a video.

While you might think that cropping sounds similar to trimming or cutting, it’s not. Trimming and cutting generally refers to shortening the length of a video by removing bits of footage. Cropping, on the other hand, doesn’t alter the duration of the video; it simply changes the dimensions and the framing to center the viewer’s attention where you want it.

So, why do people crop videos? Well, there are a few reasons, such as removing distractions from the edge of a frame or changing the aspect ratio of your video so that it’s better suited to platforms like Instagram and YouTube. 

Whatever the reason, knowing how to crop a video is an essential skill for any budding video editor! 

How to crop a video with Camtasia

One of the fastest, simplest (and best) ways to crop a video is with TechSmith’s Camtasia. Our user-friendly editing suite comes with a wide range of advanced tools that are super easy to use — making it perfect for professional and novice editors alike! 

With Camtasia, you can change the speed of your videos, add music to your footage, and even create closed captions and subtitles. But, before we talk about all the wonderful ways you can use Camtasia, let’s get back to the matter at hand. 

Here are step-by-step instructions to crop a video using Camtasia:

Step 1:

With a video clip, or image, selected on the canvas, you can select the Crop tool.

Step 2: 

With the Crop button selected, select the video clip or image that you want to crop. 

Step 3:

A thin blue line (and handles) will appear on your clip, which shows that Crop mode has been enabled. Click and hold the handles to drag the edges of the clip or image until your frame looks exactly how you want it. 

Step 4:

When you’re finished, toggle back to Edit mode by clicking the cursor icon above the canvas. 

Once a clip has been cropped, you can move it to wherever you need it on the canvas.

How to un-crop a video

Using Camtasia to crop a clip is particularly useful because it’s “non-destructive.” This means that when you crop your footage, the original clip remains intact. So, if you look back on your edits at a later stage and realize the shot looked better as it was, or want to crop it differently, you can! 

Simply follow the steps above to toggle Crop mode back on and make the necessary changes by adjusting the edges.

How is cropping different from zooming and trimming?

As we mentioned above, cropping is the process of moving or adjusting the edges of an image. Of course, there are other ways to edit your video that don’t involve cropping images or parts of your video, such as splitting and trimming. 

While these editing terms are sometimes used interchangeably with cropping, they do, in fact, mean completely different things. So, to avoid any confusion, let us talk you through the differences of each: 

What is zooming?

With Camtasia, you can zoom in or out on your videos by changing the size or scale of clips and images. Zooming is perfect for software tutorials and demonstrations when you need to display a detailed view of a user interface. 

What is trimming?

On the other hand, trimming refers to removing part of the beginning or end of a clip and is sometimes, this is referred to as trimming the top or tail. Trimming is critical to making sure that your video starts quickly and you don’t lose your audience’s attention. 

Best of all, with Camtasia’s video cutter, you can trim video and audio files separately.

Edit your own videos like a Pro

Camtasia is the best screen recorder and video editor on the market. Create content your viewers actually watch.

Download now!

What is video scaling?

While we’re here, let’s quickly cover scaling too! 

Scaling an image will change the overall size of that image. If you’re using Camtasia, it’s always best to display media at 100% scale, but camera footage can sometimes be scaled down without losing as much clarity, which could help reduce the file size of your video. 

The scale of a clip or image in Camtasia can be viewed and edited in the Properties panel.

However, please note that stretching a video or image larger than its natural size can cause pixelation — which is why it’s important to learn how to resize an image correctly.

That’s all there is to it, but don’t forget that as well as zooming, trimming, and scaling, Camtasia has all the editing tools you could ever ask for. Whether you want to blur your footage, rotate the final video, or merge two videos into one, Camtasia has got everything you need! 

When you should crop a video

Here are a few ways that cropping can be a helpful technique to have in your toolbox:

• Fitting footage in a specific frame — like the screen on a smartphone or tablet.
• Patching a mistake or irregularity in a screen recording.
• Removing black bars from mobile videos.
• Showing simultaneous actions happening in separate areas of your screen.
• Displaying multiple clips on screen at the same time.
• Isolating part of a user interface.

Now that you have learned how to crop a video in Camtasia, get out there and work some video magic!

The ultimate guide to making amazing videos

Watch our video and get great advice on how to start making videos, promotion, and more.

Watch more

Croping a video, the FAQs

Have you ever wondered how to add that extra flair to your video presentations or educational content? Whether you’re trying to glide through a lengthy instructional video or slow down a product demo, altering the speed of your video is a great way to keep your audience engaged. 

The best part? You don’t need to be a professional video editor to pull it off. With the right tools and a dash of creativity, you can learn how to speed up a video, or slow it down, to add that little extra panache that will make your videos stand out.

There are several video editors out there to help you adjust video speed, but we think that Techsmith’s Camtasia is the simplest and most user-friendly. As well as speed up and slow down videos, Camtasia let’s you trim videos to make them shorter, crop the frame for better composition, and even make a split screen video — and that’s just the beginning! 

But before we get too ahead of ourselves, it’s important to understand precisely what video speed is.

Make your own videos today!

Create dozens of engaging, trending and impactful clips from your long videos with Camtasia. Record your screen or upload an existing video, then bring the “Wow!” with effects, music, and much more.

Download for free now

What is video speed?

Being able to control the speed of your videos can dramatically enhance your video content. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about “video speed”? 

Video speed refers to the pace at which the frames in your video are played back. Think of each video as a series of still images (or “frames”) that are displayed in rapid succession to create the illusion of motion. The number of these frames shown per second is known as the “frame rate”, often referred to as FPS (frames per second).

By adjusting the video speed, you’re essentially modifying the frame rate at which your video plays. Speeding a video up can give it more energy and or even add a comedic element. Meanwhile, slowing videos down can build suspense and add tension — it’s the difference between a Benny Hill sketch and The Matrix. 

So, whether you’re a vlogger trying to create an engaging narrative, a marketer aiming to highlight a product feature, or simply someone having fun with home videos, controlling the speed can make your content more compelling. And with tools like Camtasia, changing video speed couldn’t be easier.

Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at how to slow down a video (or speed one up!). 

How to speed up or slow down a video with Camtasia

With Camtasia, there’s more than one way to change the speed of your videos, but both of them are super easy and simple…

Method 1: Add clip speed

Clip speed allows you to play a video clip faster or slower than its original speed. To apply the clip speed effect, click and drag it from the tools panel to a clip on the timeline.

Open the effects tray and drag the clip speed handles to adjust the speed of a clip.

Method 2: Go to properties, then adjust clip speed

Another way to speed up or slow down a video is to select your chosen clip on the timeline with clip speed added, and simply adjust the speed in the properties panel.

It’s that simple! Camtasia gives you the power to create clips and videos at whatever speed you want. So now you know how to make a video slow motion, or lightening fast! 

Do you want viewers to change the video speed themselves?

One thing to note is that adjusting the video speed in an editor is different from the playback speed. If you want to allow your viewers to adjust whether the video plays faster or slower, simply upload your video file to the platform of your choice. 

Most hosting platforms — including YouTube, Vimeo, Screencast, and Wistia — allow users to adjust the video playback speed. 

That’s right, you don’t even have to do anything and your audience will be able to watch your videos at the best speed for them! 

Why speed up a video?

Speeding up a video isn’t just a way to show off your editing skills, it serves a variety of purposes that can take your content to the next level. 

Whether you’re trying to make a lengthy process easier to digest, tell a captivating story, or add humor to your video, speeding up your footage can be a magic ingredient if you know how to use it, and understand how it can affect your audience. 

Showing a long process

We’ve all been eager to learn something new, only to be met with an endlessly long, step-by-step tutorial. When it comes to demonstrating inherently lengthy processes — be it a software installation or a cooking recipe — speeding up your video can be great for you, and your audience. 

By transforming what could be an hour-long ordeal into a captivating two-minute overview, you not only make your content more palatable but also show respect for your viewers’ time. This is done a lot with cooking videos where you can swiftly move from prepping the ingredients to pulling a delicious dish out of the oven, all in a matter of minutes!

While cutting an hour-long video down to 120 seconds might seem like a tall order (and might not apply to your content), we’ve seen plenty of unnecessarily long videos out there. Remember, most people want instructional videos to be less than 20 minutes, with a preference for 3-6 minutes long. Click here to find out more about video lengths. 

Increasing footage’s production value

Vloggers and filmmakers will often speed up parts of a video strategically to introduce a dynamic rhythm that can make their content go from ‘good’ to ‘awesome’ quicker than you can say “FPS”. 

But remember, contrast is key. When high-speed footage is juxtaposed with slower shots, they enhance each other. Imagine pairing a fast-paced montage of a cityscape with slower shots of an intimate conversation. The result isn’t just a video, but an experience that holds your viewer’s attention and leaves a lasting impression.

This blend of pacing can evoke different emotions and emphasize different aspects of your content, which will also enrich the production value of your entire video.

Telling a story

Storytelling isn’t reserved for movies and TV shows, it’s a powerful and important component for almost all types of videos. Whether you’re making a YouTube video or educational content, most videos have an element of storytelling — and speeding up your footage can help tell the story better. 

Imagine using a time-lapse to show a product being assembled, or being used over time to show off its durability. This essentially sets the stage for the problem your product solves, or its superior quality. Time-lapses and sped-up segments act as a narrative device that can fast-forward your story to its crucial points, allowing you to focus on key moments that resonate with viewers. 

In essence, speeding up your video serves as a storytelling shortcut, offering a quicker route to the emotional or informational payoff that keeps audiences engaged. 

Make your own videos today!

Create dozens of engaging, trending and impactful clips from your long videos with Camtasia. Record your screen or upload an existing video, then bring the “Wow!” with effects, music, and much more.

Download for free now

Creating a comedic effect

Have you ever watched a video that was sped up just enough to make an ordinary situation quirkily funny? Whether you’re creating a vlog, producing a skit, or even adding a sprinkle of humor to corporate content, this simple technique can be surprisingly effective. 

Consider a sped-up sequence where colleagues race against the clock to meet a deadline, their rapid movements turning a stressful scenario into a laugh-out-loud moment. Or how about a quick cooking segment that spirals into a whirlwind of culinary chaos? When you turn up the speed, you don’t just hasten the action — you amplify the comedy.

Why slow down a video?

While speeding up a video can inject some humor or make your content more digestible, turning the speed dial in the other direction has its own benefits. Whether you’re looking to emphasize intricate details or build suspense, slowing down your footage can offer a deeper, more nuanced viewer experience. 

The power of slow motion, or reduced speed, isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating moments that invite viewers to engage more thoughtfully with your content. So let’s explore some of the key reasons why you might want to dial down the speed in your next video.

Emphasizing details

With so much happening on screen at any one time, it’s all too easy for intricate details to go unnoticed. Slowing down your video footage offers the perfect opportunity to highlight these finer points, whether it’s the craftsmanship in a handmade product, or the expressions on people’s faces during an important moment. 

By reducing the speed, you give your audience the time to fully absorb these elements, turning what might have been a blink-and-you-miss-it moment into a scene that’s memorable and impactful.

Showing a specific skill

Sometimes, the beauty or complexity of a skill can only be fully appreciated when viewed in slow motion. Whether you’re capturing a musician’s intricate fingerwork, or the precise movements of an athlete, slowing down footage allows audiences to fully grasp the magic of what they’re watching. It’s the reason why sports channels show so many slow-motion replays!

Slowing down a video turns a fleeting moment into a detailed study of skill and precision. Whether you’re a coach, a musician, or simply a fan, slow motion reveals those details that are easy to miss but make all the difference.

Adding suspense

Going back to the power of good storytelling, slowing down your video can add a whole new layer of tension and drama. By drawing out key moments (and the build-up to them) with slow motion, you heighten the emotional stakes of the story you’re telling, and pull your audience to the edge of their seats.

The psychological impact of a slowed-down scene can be tremendous, keeping viewers glued to the screen in anticipation of what’s to come. Used strategically, slow motion can turn ordinary footage into a suspenseful narrative that deeply resonates with your audience.

The ultimate guide to making amazing videos

Watch our video and get great advice on how to start making videos, promotion, and more.

Watch more

Focusing on an experiment

If you’re conducting a science experiment, the devil is often in the details. 

For example, you might want to film a chemical reaction — where elements combine and transform in a matter of seconds — to study exactly what’s happening one frame at a time, or simply for fun. 

Slow motion videos provide a unique way to focus on the intricacies of the reaction that might otherwise be missed (and it will probably look really cool). This focused viewing can be both educational and awe-inspiring, because in slow motion, even the ordinary can become extraordinary.

Make your own videos today!

Create dozens of engaging, trending and impactful clips from your long videos with Camtasia. Record your screen or upload an existing video, then bring the “Wow!” with effects, music, and much more.

Download for free now

Tips and tricks to change video speed

So, now you know how and why to speed up and slow down your videos, as well as the effect it can have on your audience. While you might be raring to jump straight into the editing suite, we’ve got a few final tips to share that will help you create videos that both look and feel professional.

• Choose Your Moments Wisely: The art of speed alteration lies in its strategic use. Don’t just speed up or slow down footage at random, instead use these effects where they’ll make the most impact, such as to highlight key moments or to maintain interest.
  
• Be Subtle, Be Smart: Slow motion doesn’t mean snail-motion, and fast doesn’t mean frantic. When slowing down or speeding up your video, aim for a pace that enhances, rather than distracts from, your content.
  
• Pair With the Right Audio: The right soundtrack can make or break your video’s mood, so if you’re going to add music to your video, make sure that it complements the change in speed. For slow-motion scenes, consider soft, atmospheric music; for fast-paced moments, something energetic may work better.
  
• Narrate When Necessary: A well-placed voiceover can add depth to your video, especially if your sped-up or slowed-down scenes lack audio clarity. Narration can guide your viewers through the action in a way that provides context and enhances storytelling.
  
  If you do plan on narrating your video, you might want to check out our guide to the best microphones for recording videos.
  
• Background Matters: The choice of background can drastically affect your video’s impact. We suggest keeping your background as uncluttered as possible to allow your viewers to focus on the action, especially when you’re manipulating speed.
  
• Add Closed Captions: Adding captions and subtitles to your videos is a great way to increase engagement and make your content accessible to a wider audience.
  
• Review Before Publishing: As with any video you ever make, be sure to always preview your edits before publishing online. This gives you a chance to double-check the video speed changes, as well as branding, captions, and other edits you’ve made.

Trust us, it’s much better to spot potential mistakes before your audience does!