Have you ever noticed that the same picture may look absolutely differently if processed in opposite colors? The same is true for videos: cool colors are often used to create an atmosphere of anxiety, meanwhile, warm colors are good for creating the spirit of joy, comfort, and romance. Both – photographers and videographers use this approach to transmit the desired emotion to the viewers.

From a technical standpoint, you can achieve these effects by shifting the color balance of a picture, and in this article, we’ll show you exactly how to do that using VSDC Free Video Editor.

Being able to correct color balance through working with Hue and Saturation parameters will come in handy for any video editing enthusiast, not just professionals. In fact, that’s sometimes the only way to “save” a video recorded with wrong white balance settings, make a photo more vivid, or create a popular effect through desaturating one or several colors in the picture.

Below, we’ll show you what a Hue&Saturation color wheel is, and how to use it. If you’re interested in exploring other video color correction techniques, we also suggest you check our guide on working with RGB curves to balance out the brightness and contrast of your picture.

Before you start, make sure to download and install VSDC Free Video Editor to your PC.

How to open the Hue & Saturation color wheel in VSDC

Once you’ve installed and launched the program, import the file you’re planning to work on. It can be an image or a video. Then click on the file and go to the View tab in the top menu. Choose the Basic effects icon – that will open the Basic effects window on the right-hand side of the editor. Scroll down a bit and you’ll see the “Hue and Saturation curves” dropdown menu. That’s exactly where you’ll find the right color wheel.

How to work with the Hue and Saturation curves - the basic principles

The idea behind working with the color wheel is based on creating control points on the inner circle of the wheel (it’s a white circle illustrated below) and moving them closer to the wheel edge or to its center.

To create a control point, you need to make a double-click in the color area you’re planning to work with. In other words, if you’re planning to correct red tones in the picture, you’ll need to make a double-click on the inner (white) circle exactly where red tones are located. This will be your control point, and by dragging it closer to the center or the edge you’ll be increasing or decreasing saturation of the chosen color. Note, the edge of the specter correlates with maximum contrast, and its center – the opposite.

If you move a control point around the circle, you’ll change the tones selected for correction. In other words, by moving a control point from one color sector to another, you change the tones that will be balanced but you’re not switching the colors in the video.

You can change the position of control points by:

• dragging them manually using the mouse
• using your keyboard arrows

You might want to correct a specific color tone in the video without changing the rest of the tones. In this case, you’ll need to create three control points: one in the center of the color sector, and two more to the left and to the right from it. These additional points will separate the color area you’ll be working with on the wheel – see the illustration below.

Note that in the upper side of the color wheel menu, there is a 6 color palette. Those are the main colors of the wheel: red, yellow, green, blue, dark blue, and purple. If you’re planning to correct any of these color tones in the video, click on it and you’ll get the three control point set automatically – just like illustrated below.

If there is a specific color in the video you’d like to correct and you can’t find it on the wheel, use the eyedropper tool. It’s located in the top right corner of the Hue and Saturation dialog window. Click the eyedropper icon and place the mouse over the color you’d like to correct. Click on the color, and it will be precisely chosen on the wheel by the three-point set.

In case after all the color correction manipulations you decide that the original picture looked better, just click the Undo icon in the top right corner of the dialog window. All the control point movements will be canceled and you’ll get the original video back.

How to correct video colors with the Hue and Saturation curves: examples

Let’s do some practice, shall we? To give you a better idea of how the Hue and Saturation curves work, we’ll show you few common manipulations applied to an image. In the illustration below, you see a photo we’ve uploaded to VSDC and the HS dialog window with the color wheel.

Imagine you need to correct red tones in this photo. To do that, we’ll create a control point in the red tones sector on the wheel. We’ll place two more points to separate the red tone area in the specter because we aren’t planning to change the rest of the tones in the photo.

To make the red tones more saturated, we’ll need to drag the main control point closer to the edge of the color wheel – as illustrated below.

To lower saturation level of the red tones, you need to move the main control point closer to the center of the specter – as illustrated below.

If you want to completely desaturate the chosen color in the image or a video, you need to move the control point to the innermost position, as illustrated below.

Finally, if you’d like to achieve the popular effect when the entire video is black and white with only one color saturated, you can do it too. Just leave the control point in the chosen color sector unchanged, while dragging the two side control points to the innermost position. The trick Is illustrated below, and the only saturated color in the photo is obviously red.

Working with the Hue and Saturation curves is much easier than it may seem at first sight. Even if you've never performed video color correction, you’ll be able to significantly enhance any photo or video if you just get used to the principle of control point movements.

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Videos and images are fundamental assets of visual art in the digital era. Each has its own benefits and sometimes it’s hard to choose which format would be more suitable to convey the right emotion to the audience. This is where cinemagraph comes into play, allowing its advocates to make the best of image’s stillness and focus and at the same time enrich it with video dynamics for a more vivid picture.

In this tutorial, we will cover the most practical ways of creating a First things first: find the right softwareFirst things first: find the right software.

First things first: find the right software

Many people choose image editing software as a starting point for making a cinemagraph and end up covered in piles of Photoshop tutorials. We suggest an opposite approach and strongly recommend downloading VSDC Video Editor for three reasons:

• It is designed to work with motion videos and offers a number of video editing features, so it’s a better fit for cinemagraph than Photoshop;
• The software has a completely free version that doesn’t impose any limitations for our purposes;
• It doesn’t require much practice to become good at it.

How to make a cinemagraph: method #1

There are two ways to create a cinemagraph with VSDC. We’ll start with the free option first.

A video tutorial on Method #1 is available here:

1. Open VSDC Free Video Editor.
2. Select “Import Content” option in the main menu.
3. Choose the video intended for cinemagraph from your desktop and click “Finish”. The Video will be added to the timeline.
4. Use left-mouse click on the timeline to select the right moment in the video that you want to freeze and use as an image.
5. Proceed to the “Cutting and splitting” tab in the top menu and select and wrench icon. In the drop-down list select the “Create snapshot” option. The image will be added to the resources window (under the “Images” section) on the right-hand side on the screen.
6. Go back to the timeline and drag the time indicating “needle” to the very beginning of the video. This way the rest of the timeline items will be automatically added to the beginning of the clip.

   

7. Drag the snapshot to the preview area. It will automatically be added to the timeline.
8. Choose the green “Add free shape” option in the left-hand side menu and press ok.
9. Add the “Free shape” to the preview section by holding the left mouse button and dragging the mouse over the preview area.
10. Double-click the “Free Shape” box on the timeline.
11. Delete all the ShapePoints in the timeline.
12. Proceed to the top menu, select the “Free Shape” tab and click the “Insert point” option.
13. Use left mouse clicks to select exactly the area that you want to “come alive” in your cinemagraph.
14. Go back to “Scene 0” in the left-hand side of the timeline.
15. Go to the “Properties” tab in the bottom right corner of the screen and select the black color for your free shape. Make sure you select the color under the “Brush” section, not under the “Pen” section.

    

16. Right click the layer with your video on a timeline and choose “Cut”.
17. Double-click the “Free Shape” box on the timeline.
18. Proceed to the top menu, select “Video Effects --> Transparency --> Clipping”. The clipping box will be added to the timeline.
19. Double-click the “Clipping” box.
20. Use the right mouse click on the preview area and select “Paste”. You have now inserted the video in your Clipping object.
21. Click the “Preview” button above the timeline to make sure you like the outcome.
22. Proceed to the “Export project” tab in the top menu. Select the format and the location on your desktop where you want to place the cinemagraph.
23. Finish the process by clicking the red “Export project” button in the same title tab.

Here is a graphic description of method #1. Basically, in this method, you are placing a free shape with a video inside it over a static image.

How to make a cinemagraph: method #2

Method #2 uses the mask feature. It is an option for cinemagraph, but it requires you to buy the Pro version. A video tutorial on Method #2 is available here:

1. Repeat the first 6 steps from method #1.
2. Left click on the preview area. This way you will deselect the video layer on the timeline and ensure that the new objects will be added to the front layer.
3. Drag the snapshot to the preview area from the resources window. It will automatically be added to the beginning of the timeline.
4. Double-click the newly appeared Image layer on the timeline.
5. Choose the green “Add Ellipse” option in the left-hand side menu and press ok. You may also use the Rectangle option for your purposes.
6. Add Ellipse by holding the left mouse button and dragging the mouse over the preview area.
7. Place the ellipse in such a way that it covers exactly the area that you want to “come alive” in your cinemagraph.
8. Go to the “Properties” tab at the bottom right corner of the screen and select the black color for your Ellipse. Make sure you select the color under the “Brush” section, not under the “Pen” section.
9. On the left-hand side of the timeline menu click the “Blend” button on the ellipse layer and choose the “Mask” option.
10. Click the “Preview” button above the timeline to make sure you like the outcome.
11. Proceed to the “Export project” tab in the top menu. Select the format and the location on your desktop where you want to place the cinemagraph.
12. Finish the process by clicking the red “Export project” button in the same title tab.

Here is a graphic description of method #2. Basically, in this method, you are cutting out a hole in the static image to see the background video through it.

The major difference between the methods is indicated in the table below.

You are all set now. Select a preferable method and get down to cinemagraphing. Good luck!

Assembling media content in a slideshow is a great way to share your experiences with friends and family. However, finding the right tool to do so may be challenging. PowerPoint seems to be one of the easiest options but has a limited set of features and won’t let you work with video files for instance. On the contrary, some video editing software may offer a rich toolset, but would also require its users to dip into the unwanted complexities of multilayer editing.

If you are looking for a sweet spot, download VSDC Free Video Editor with its powerful slideshow wizard. It has a comprehensive set of features packed into an intuitive interface anyone can master in seconds. Sounds too good to be true? See for yourself in this one-minute video guide on how to create a slideshow with VSDC.

Want to get into more detail? Proceed to the step-by-step guide on how to make a video from pictures below.

Step 1. Access the wizard

Upon downloading and installing VSDC, open it and click the “Create Slideshow” button available in the “Start Project Now” section. A new window will pop up. Here you can name your project and choose its parameters like height, width and resolution. Click “Finish” to save selected settings. You will be taken to the “Files sequence wizard” in a separate window.

Step 2. Select the artifacts

In order to import the content for your slideshow, proceed to the green “Add files” button and select the desired media files. Alternatively, you can follow the recommendations of the “Drag and drop media files here” box. After adding the files to the timeline, you can manipulate their placement with the same drag and drop method to make sure you got the right sequence.

Step 3. Apply magic

You’ve probably noticed that your media content is placed in rectangular boxes while the round sections in between with arrows inside remain intact. That’s because they are intended for your transitions – you’ll need them to create an actual video from your pictures. To start, proceed to the top left corner of the window. Here you will find the list of available transition types. Specific transitions of a certain type are located in the middle section. The preview window on the right-hand side allows you to check out the way various transition effects work. Drag and drop preferred transitions from the middle section right to the encircled arrows between your pictures.

Step 4. Add a touch of enchantment

Don’t like the duration of a particular picture? Click the picture on the timeline and go to the “Duration” box above. Set the desired value and click “Enter”. Please note that the values in this box are expressed in 1/1000^th of a second. So, in order to make your image last for a second, enter 1000. The same rule is applicable for your transitions too. Also, pay attention to the toolbox on the right from the “duration” section. Here you can cut, crop, rotate your images and apply filters to them, if necessary.

Step 5. Save your charming work

Click “Apply settings” in the bottom right corner of the window to save your slideshow efforts. The wizard window will close. You can always come back to the wizard by clicking the “properties window” on the right side of the screen and selecting the “Edit by using the wizard” button.

Now it’s time to export your project. Proceed to the “Export project” tab in the top menu. Select the format and the location on your desktop where you want to place the slideshow. Complete the process by clicking the red “Export project” button in the same title tab.

Recap time: how to make a video from pictures

Please use the screenshot above as a reference guide. It indicates all the working areas that we have covered in this tutorial. Good luck with creating slideshows!

Shooting ultra HD videos used to be a prerogative of video editing professionals, but those times are over. Nowadays action cameras are eagerly adopting this new format while video hosting services like YouTube are offering its users the ability to upload 4K clips introducing more and more amateurs to this new technology. But where do we stand with 4K video editing software? Is it already available to wide audiences?

According to numerous articles on the Internet if you are planning to work with 4K videos – the money spent on the actual camera is the least of your expenditures. They say that unless you are willing to invest over $2500 on computer upgrades, ultra HD video editing isn’t for you. Fortunately, the Internet is not always right and there are much cheaper ways to edit a 4K video. One of the easiest methods is to find the right software, capable of utilizing even average hardware to the full.  We suggest that you download free VSDC Video Editor. VSDC is known for its comparatively low system requirements and the capability to process 4K footage even on low-end computers with limited memory.

Below, we’ll help you get started with VSDC and provide a few tips on editing 4K videos in particular.

Video import

Upon completing the installation process, launch VSDC and click the “Import Content” button from the top menu. Select your 4K video from the computer. This way your video will be imported to the scene without quality loss and the whole editing scene will be adjusted to your ultra HD video parameters.

Color correction

Now it’s time for the actual editing. 4K videos work as a magnifying glass exaggerating the upsides as well as the downsides of your clips, so attention to detail is necessary.

Ultra-realistic videos oftentimes deserve color correction to mask either the bad weather or poor lightning. To improve the color spectrum, proceed to the top left corner of the and select “Video Effects” >> “Adjustment”. Choose between available options to enhance contrast, gamma and other visual aspects of your clip.

Video export

When you are done with editing, it’s time to export your full HD video. Proceed to the top menu and select “Export Project” >> “Web” >> “For YouTube”. Choose a name for your file and the location where you want to save it in the “Output file(s)” field. Complete the process by clicking the “Export Project” tab. This may take some time depending on your hardware.

If you still have any questions about exporting you 4k video, please refer to a one-minute video instruction below.

Want to reduce 4k?

If 4k is too cumbersome for you to work with or the video it doesn’t fit on your storage device you can always shrink the size of your clip with VSDC. For this matter import your video, select the “Export Project” tab and proceed to the “Edit Profile” section. Find the “Profile Filter” option to choose the necessary resolution. 1080 (Full HD) or 720 (HD) will most likely be more than enough for the intended outcome. Press “Apply Profile” to save changes and move on with exporting your project from the top menu.

Bonus features

If you are planning to edit many 4K videos you might want to increase the processing speed. This is made possible with the Pro version of VSDC that allows for hardware acceleration. The Pro version leverages the capacity of your video card (if the video card supports it) speeding up 4K video export.

If you purchased the Pro version, make sure you activate hardware acceleration in the program options. Hardware acceleration is not the only bonus you get with a Pro version of VSDC.

If you are shooting videos with an action camera, you will most definitely find video stabilization tool useful. You will find a detailed instruction on how to use it here. If you prefer visual guides, there is a video instruction for your convenience.

Another feature that may come in handy is advanced resizing. When you import a 4K video to the editor and resize it making it occupy only a part of your scene, you normally lose quality. Well, that’s not the case with the Pro version of VSDC. Advanced resizing methods will help you prevent quality loss and enjoy your videos in the best resolution possible. If you want to learn more about resizing and other advanced features of the pro version, feel free to refer to a detailed guide.

That’s it for now. Enjoy your 4K experience!