62 LXF257 December 2019 http://www.linuxformat.comTUTORIALS Video editing
AppImage. Save this to a suitable folder (maybe
AppImages inside your Home folder?), then right-click
it and choose Properties > Permissions, ticking ‘Allow
executing file as program’. Now double-click the
.appimage file. You’ll be prompted to create a desktop
shortcut – click Yes and a shortcut will appear on the
‘All’ tab of the app finder.
It can take a little while to initialise, so be patient and
when the main screen appears, you’re ready to proceed.
Run through the quick-start tutorial that will quickly
provide an orientation around the application window.Collect and add your files
Step one is simply to drag and drop your video, picture
and audio files to the Project Files pane. OpenShot
supports a wide range of formats – if it’s supported by
FFmpeg, it’ll work in OpenShot, which covers most
bases. After dragging into the pane, use the Video,
Audio and Image tabs to filter the view to show only
those types of files, or use the Filter box to filter by
keyword. Now is the perfect time to save your project
for the first time – when you reload it in future, all files
you’ve added to the Project Files pane will be restored.
You’re now ready to start putting your movie
together. The Timeline pane at the bottom of the screen
is where you drag your elements. Five tracks are set up
by default, in descending order, with Track 5 at the top,
and Track 1 at the bottom. Think of these as layers.
Anything placed on Track 1 is your ‘background’, with
all other elements appearing on top of it; OpenShot’s
support for track transparency means you can overlay
all kinds of effects without hiding the original track.
More on that later.
For now, we’re going to start with two simple tracks:
one video stream containing your video clips (including
any sound) and still images, and a separate audio
stream for background music. So, let’s clean things up
a little: right-click Track 5 and choose Remove, then
repeat for Tracks 4 and 3 so only the first two tracks
remain. Next, click the V button next to ‘Track 1’ and
choose ‘Rename Track’, calling it ‘Video’. Repeat for
‘Track 2’, calling this ‘Audio’.
You’re now ready to start putting together your
movie. Start by dragging your first clip or image from
the Project Files pane into the Timeline. Drag it ontoust how many photos and video clips have you
accumulated over the years? Whether you’ve
got dedicated equipment or just love snapping
and filming on your phone, now is the time to do
something creative with it. OpenShot is a brilliant video
editing tool that’s relatively simple to learn, yet packed
with features that allow you to turn last holiday’s rough
video footage into a polished movie you’ll be happy to
share with others. In this tutorial we’ll introduce you to
all the key elements you need.
You can install OpenShot through the Software
Centre, but it may not be the latest version. Instead,
head to http://www.openshot.org/download where
you’ll find the latest version provided as a 64-bitVideo editing made
quick and easy
Nick Peers reveals how easy it is to take your raw video
footage and turn it into a polished movie.
Nick Peers
has decades of
unedited video
from holidays
past and present.J
OPENSHOT
OUR
EXPERTCredit: http://www.openshot.orgUnderstand the OpenShot interface
(^1)
Properties pane
All objects – clips, transition effects
and so on – have their own set of editable
properties, accessible here.
(^2)
Project Files
Drag video clips, images and audio tracks
to this pane to add them to your project.
(^3)
Switch view
Use these tabs to switch between viewing
project files, transitions and special effects.
(^4)
Play-head/ruler
Use this to position the playback preview
window at the correct point in your movie.
(^5)
Video Preview
Use this to play your movie – complete
with any added effects or overlaid tracks.
(^6)
Tracks
Place your movie’s elements on the
relevant track to build up your movie.
1
3
4
5
6
2
62 LXF257 December 2019 http://www.linuxformat.com
TUTORIALS Video editing
AppImage.Savethistoa suitablefolder(maybe
AppImagesinsideyourHomefolder?),then right-click
it andchooseProperties> Permissions,ticking ‘Allow
executingfileasprogram’.Nowdouble-click the
.appimagefile.You’llbepromptedtocreate a desktop
shortcut– clickYesanda shortcutwillappear on the
‘All’taboftheappfinder.
It cantakea littlewhiletoinitialise,sobe patient and
whenthemainscreenappears,you’reready to proceed.
Runthroughthequick-starttutorialthatwill quickly
provideanorientationaroundtheapplication window.
Collectandaddyourfiles
Steponeissimplytodraganddropyourvideo, picture
andaudiofilestotheProjectFilespane.OpenShot
supports a wide range of formats – if it’s supported by
FFmpeg, it’ll work in OpenShot, which covers most
bases. After dragging into the pane, use the Video,
Audio and Image tabs to filter the view to show only
those types of files, or use the Filter box to filter by
keyword. Now is the perfect time to save your project
for the first time – when you reload it in future, all files
you’ve added to the Project Files pane will be restored.
You’re now ready to start putting your movie
together. The Timeline pane at the bottom of the screen
is where you drag your elements. Five tracks are set up
by default, in descending order, with Track 5 at the top,
and Track 1 at the bottom. Think of these as layers.
Anything placed on Track 1 is your ‘background’, with
all other elements appearing on top of it; OpenShot’s
support for track transparency means you can overlay
all kinds of effects without hiding the original track.
More on that later.
For now, we’re going to start with two simple tracks:
one video stream containing your video clips (including
any sound) and still images, and a separate audio
stream for background music. So, let’s clean things up
a little: right-click Track 5 and choose Remove, then
repeat for Tracks 4 and 3 so only the first two tracks
remain. Next, click the V button next to ‘Track 1’ and
choose ‘Rename Track’, calling it ‘Video’. Repeat for
‘Track 2’, calling this ‘Audio’.
You’re now ready to start putting together your
movie. Start by dragging your first clip or image from
the Project Files pane into the Timeline. Drag it onto
usthowmanyphotosandvideoclipshaveyou
accumulatedovertheyears?Whetheryou’ve
gotdedicatedequipmentorjustlovesnapping
andfilmingonyourphone,nowisthetimetodo
somethingcreativewithit.OpenShotisa brilliantvideo
editingtoolthat’srelativelysimpletolearn,yetpacked
withfeaturesthatallowyoutoturnlastholiday’srough
videofootageintoa polishedmovieyou’llbehappyto
sharewithothers.Inthistutorialwe’llintroduceyouto
allthekeyelementsyouneed.
YoucaninstallOpenShotthroughtheSoftware
Centre, butit maynotbethelatestversion.Instead,
headtowww.openshot.org/downloadwhere
you’llfindthelatestversionprovidedasa 64-bit
Video editing made
quick and easy
Nick Peersrevealshoweasyit istotake your raw video
footageandturnit intoa polishedmovie.
NickPeers
hasdecadesof
uneditedvideo
fromholidays
pastandpresent.
J
OPENSHOT
OUR
EXPERT
Credit: http://www.openshot.org
Understand the OpenShot interface
(^1)
Properties pane
All objects – clips, transition effects
and so on – have their own set of editable
properties,accessiblehere.
2
Project Files
Drag video clips, images and audio tracks
tothispanetoaddthemtoyourproject.
(^3)
Switch view
Use these tabs to switch between viewing
project files, transitions and special effects.
4
Play-head/ruler
Use this to position the playback preview
windowatthecorrectpointinyourmovie.
5
Video Preview
Use this to play your movie – complete
withanyaddedeffectsoroverlaidtracks.
(^6)
Tracks
Place your movie’s elements on the
relevant track to build up your movie.
1
3
4
5
6
2