A Shotcut Tutorial for New Users: Edit Videos with No Watermarks

Learn video editing easily with our Shotcut tutorial which covers everything that you need to know for creating videos. Use standout features to make professional edits. Alternatively, use the CapCut desktop video editor for more advanced tools.

shotcut tutorial
CapCut
CapCut2024-10-28
0 min(s)

When it comes to video editing, opting for the right software is vital for producing professional content. Among the many options available, Shotcut stands out as a popular choice, attracting around 90,000 searches per month. If you're new to this software, a shotcut tutorial for beginners can be valuable.

In this article, we've provided a complete Shotcut tutorial to guide you through editing videos smoothly, whether you're using a PC or smartphone.

Table of content

An introduction to Shotcut for creating quality content

Shotcut is a free, open-source video editing tool that helps you create great content easily. It has a simple layout, which makes it perfect for both beginners and those with more experience. Shotcut supports many video formats and provides useful features like color correction and audio editing, along with various filters and effects to improve your videos. Plus, there's no watermark, so your finished videos look professional.

Shotcut video editor tutorial: AI features to explore

Here are some of the AI features in the Shotcut video editor that you can explore:

  • AI-powered filters
  • Shotcut uses artificial intelligence to apply advanced filters that can automatically adjust the color balance, brightness, and contrast to make your videos look more polished. These filters analyze the footage and provide the most suitable visual enhancements.
  • Auto-enhance tools
  • This feature uses AI to enhance video quality by reducing noise, adjusting lighting, and improving sharpness, which makes it easier for users to enhance their video without needing manual adjustments.
  • Smart audio adjustment
  • Shotcuts AI-powered audio tools help balance audio levels, automatically adjusting background noise, voiceovers, and music tracks for a more professional sound.
  • Scene detection
  • The AI-powered scene detection feature recognizes transitions between different shots in your footage and lets users easily cut and arrange scenes for smooth storytelling.
  • AI-driven effects
  • From motion tracking to advanced visual effects, Shotcut uses AI to add creativity to your projects. These effects include automatic object recognition and enhancements that align with the video's motion.

Shotcut video editing tutorial for PC users

Now that you're familiar with Shotcuts AI features that enable you to enhance your content to a professional level, let’s explore how to use these tools effectively.

Here's a Shotcut advanced tutorial for PC users:

    Step
  1. Start a new project
  2. Open Shotcut and start a new project by selecting the project folder path, naming your project, and choosing video mode. Afterward, set the editing layout as it provides versatile tools for managing multiple clips and tracks.
  3. 
    Shotcut tutorial for beginners showing how to create a new project
  4. Step
  5. Import media
  6. Click the "Open File" to import your media files, such as videos, images, or audio. You can either drag and drop them into the timeline or use the menu to add the files to your project.
  7. 
    Shotcut tutorial showing how to import media
  8. Step
  9. Edit video
  10. To start editing your video in Shotcut, navigate to the timeline at the bottom and move the play head to the spot where you want to make adjustments. Click the "Split at Playhead" button or press S to divide the video into segments for easy trimming and rearranging. To enhance your footage, select "Filters" from the toolbar and then go to the "Video" tab to add visual effects like brightness, contrast, or color adjustments. If needed, you can also adjust playback speed, crop your video, and fine-tune audio settings by exploring the additional options in the "Properties" panel
  11. 
    Shotcut tutorial for YouTubers showing how to edit videos
  12. Step
  13. Export the video

Once your clip is ready, click the "Export" at the top. Here, you can select the format, resolution, and frame rate that best suits your project. Shotcut provides preset options for social media platforms, which make it easier to export videos optimized for different audiences.


Exporting video from the Shotcut desktop app

Shotcut beginner tutorial for mobile users

With the rising popularity of mobile phones, more users are turning to their smartphones for tasks traditionally done on PCs. Recognizing this shift, Shotcut has introduced its mobile app, which matches the functionality and appeal of its desktop counterpart. This app empowers users to create stunning content anytime, anywhere.

Here's a Shotcut video editor tutorial for beginners:

    Step
  1. Create a new project
  2. Open the app and tap on "Create" to start a new project. Select the photos or videos you want to edit from your device's media library and add them to the timeline.
  3. Step
  4. Edit your video
  5. To edit your video, use the "Edit" option to trim, crop, and adjust its speed to fit your needs. You can also embellish the video by adding music or voiceovers, applying effects, overlays, text, and filters like Hollywood or Retro for a professional finish. These options will let you refine your video's look to a professional level.
  6. Step
  7. Export the video
  8. Once editing is complete, click the "Export" button at the top of the screen. Select your desired resolution, format, and export quality, depending on your target platform.
  9. 
    Interface showing mobile app Shotcut tutorial for beginners

Tips for managing system resources in Shotcut

To ensure smooth performance while working in Shotcut, it's important to manage your system resources effectively. Here are some helpful tips to keep your video editing workflow efficient:

  • Close unnecessary applications
  • Free up memory and processing power by shutting down background apps that aren't essential during your editing session.
  • Use proxy files
  • Create lower-resolution versions of your clips for editing to reduce the strain on your system while maintaining quality in the final export.
  • Optimize playback resolution
  • Lower the playback resolution in Shotcut’s preview window to reduce lag and improve real-time performance without affecting the final output.
  • Increase RAM allocation
  • Allocate more system memory to Shotcut through the program’s settings to enhance its ability to handle larger projects smoothly.
  • Regularly save projects
  • Save your creation frequently to prevent data loss and reduce the risk of Shotcut freezing or crashing during complex tasks.

Bonus tip: Enhance your storytelling with the CapCut desktop

CapCut desktop video editor is rapidly gaining popularity for its advanced features and user-friendly design. With a range of professional tools like precise cutting, customizable text options, and smooth transitions, it streamlines the video creation process. Further, its AI-powered tools let you generate stickers, captions, fonts, and more. Whether you're creating social media content or high-quality productions, CapCut provides everything you need to enhance your editing experience.


Editing interface of the CapCut desktop video editor - a perfect tool to enhance videos

Key features

  • Simple drag and drop
  • CapCut simplifies your workflow with drag-and-drop functionality that lets you quickly add and arrange video clips and elements.
  • Begin with video templates
  • In CapCut, you can start your projects using a variety of professionally designed editable templates. These templates provide a head start on your edits, which helps you create polished videos in less time.
  • Resize video with ease
  • CapCut has a video resizer that lets you adjust the aspect ratio of video for various platforms, which ensures your content fits perfectly with just a few clicks.
  • Adjust audio quality
  • The editor includes tools to enhance audio, which lets you adjust sound levels, remove background noise, and apply effects.
  • Captivating video effects
  • CapCut provides a wide range of video effects and filters, and transitions that can enhance the visual appeal of your content.

How to create engaging videos with CapCut

To create videos in CapCut, ensure you're using the latest version, as many features have been updated recently. If you haven't installed CapCut yet, download it by clicking the button below and follow the provided installation instructions to get started.

    Step
  1. Upload the video
  2. Open CapCut and enter the editing interface. Click "Import" to upload the video from your device, or scan the code to upload from your mobile.
  3. 
    Importing video in the CapCut desktop video editor
  4. Step
  5. Refine and customize the video
  6. Drop the video onto the timeline to begin editing. Use the "Trim" and "Split" tools above the timeline to remove unwanted sections. To adjust the aspect ratio for different platforms, click the "Ratio" icon beneath the display panel. Next, explore the advanced tools in the right editing panel under the "Video" tab, including options like "Stabilization," "AI movement," "Motion blur," "Auto reframe," and canvas color adjustment. You can also use background removal, AI color matching, chroma key, and masking to refine the video.
  7. After this, use the "Speed" tool to slow or speed up clips. Add animations and adjust color settings for a professional touch. Further, you can enhance the video from the left editing menu by adding transitions, filters, effects, and text. You can also generate captions and use other AI-powered tools for further video and audio editing.
  8. 
    Creating an engaging video in the CapCut desktop video editor
  9. Step
  10. Export and share
  11. After finalizing, click "Export" from the top right corner. Adjust the parameters such as format, frame rate, codec, bit rate, and resolution. Click "Export" again to save it in your desired folder on your device and share it on your TikTok and YouTube.
  12. 
    Exporting video from the CapCut desktop video editor

Conclusion

In conclusion, Shotcut is an excellent tool for video editing. It provides a variety of AI-powered features that enhance your workflow without adding watermarks to your final project. This Shotcut tutorial has covered the essential steps for both PC and mobile users, which help you get started with basic edits and explore advanced tools.

However, if you're looking for a more user-friendly tool with professional-grade enhancements, the CapCut desktop video editor is the perfect choice. It has all the features that help you create eye-catching content without the steep learning curve.

FAQs

  1. Can I make videos on Shotcut without a watermark?
  2. Yes, Shotcut is a free, open-source video editor that does not add a watermark to your videos, letting you create professional projects without any branding. However, if you are looking for an advanced editor to create promotional and professional videos, consider using the CapCut desktop video editor.
  3. How can a Shotcut tutorial help enhance my videos?
  4. Shotcut tutorials can teach you essential editing skills like trimming, adding effects, and adjusting audio. These tips can significantly improve the overall quality and polish of your videos. Additionally, we have provided guidance on how to create eye-catching videos using the Shotcut video editor. Furthermore, there is another excellent editor known as the CapCut desktop video editor that can enhance the professionalism of your content.
  5. Is the Shotcut editing tutorial available on their official website?
  6. Yes, Shotcut provides tutorials on their official website so that the users can cover everything from basic tools to advanced editing techniques. This resource helps users of all levels improve their editing skills. Moreover, you can find many online websites to get a complete Shotcut tutorial PDF file. Additionally, there are other video editing tools that can help you create eye-catching videos; among them, the CapCut desktop video editor is the best.
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