Introduction

The benefits of using video content to support learning are explored in our guide on Creating and using video content. This guide provides a brief, step by step, guide to editing video content, adding titles and captions and saving and publishing movies using the Video Editor tool that is built into Microsoft Windows 10.

Note: This guide refers to software only present on devices running Windows 10.

The Windows 10 Video Editor app has a set of basic video creation and editing tools, allowing you to include music, text, motion, and 3D effects. It's a successor to Movie Maker, with a focus on easy-to-use creative tools. The Video Editor is part of the Photos app.

To locate the app:

Click on the Windows icon in the bottom left of your screen
Type 'Video Editor'
From the options that pop up, click on the link to Video Editor (App)
You should now be looking at this screen:

Welcome screen — Video Editor welcome screen

Move on to the next page where we'll go through the steps of creating a video project

Accessibility

Before we start creating a project, a quick word about accessibility. In recent years the removal of barriers (auditory, visual, cognitive and physical) in online learning has become a key factor for anyone developing digital learning material.

Government guidelines

When developing learning material, Reasonable adjustments for workers with disabilities or health conditions is a general guide and Managing reasonable adjustments in higher education is useful for Higher Education.

The EDU Accessibility in digital content guide highlights common issues and describes actions that can be taken to comply with legislation, and improve the learning experience for all users.

As this resource is all about creating videos the following point is a crucial one:

Accessibility legislation now requires that videos have accurate captioning or transcripts depending on how the videos are used.

As you will discover, text can be added to images and videos using Video Editor but these do not qualify as actual captioning. Our advice on making your finished videos accessible depends on how you offer them to students:

If you upload your video directly to Brightspace, please also attach a transcript to the item.
If you upload your video to Medial (UHI's streaming server), you can request closed captions and/or attach a transcript. Once your video has finished encoding on Medial you can embed a link to it on Brightspace. For further information, visit our guides: Quickstart to Medial and ClickView; Embedding/linking videos from the UHI streaming server.

Creating a new project

New video project

From the Welcome screen, click on New video project.

Name your video

Name your video and select OK.

Add to your project library

Select + Add to begin adding content to your project library. Next, select the location you want to add photos or videos from, either 'From this PC', a pre-existing 'Collection' or 'From the web', which allows you to find content on Bing.

For helpful hints on how to find copyright cleared, fair use and public domain images online (which you can then use in your videos) please see our Finding and using images guide.

Navigate to files

Following your choice made above, navigate to where you have files stored and select the photos or videos you want to use. At this point it's good to be as logical as possible, see the Note below.

Note: When editing video, your project structure can become quite complex. Splitting video files into multiple sections, adding soundtracks and other operations can lead to many files which may lead to confusion.

In order to keep track of the video source and subsequent edits, it is important to create a logical file structure to work in.

Right click on the desktop of your computer and create New > Folder.
Rename the folder, e.g.: [your name] Video Project.
Inside that folder create new folders for; Footage, Images, Audio, etc.

Place in storyboard

Once they are in your library, select the files you want to use and click 'Place in storyboard' (click opposite to emlarge picture).

Alternatively, you can drag files from your project library to the Storyboard.

Let's move on to editing.

Editing the duration of files in the storyboard

Note: Once files are added to the storyboard you can pick up and drag them to change their order, prior to any editing.

When you are happy with the order of the files in your storyboard you will notice that in the bottom left of each, there is a duration displayed (videos will show their total longth; by default images show for 3 seconds). You can leave these as they are but if you want to alter any, follow these steps:

Photos - changing duration

Select the file by putting a check mark in the top right of the file image.

Next, click on the current duration. This reveals a list of alternative times (shown opposite).

You can either select one of the pre-defined times (1, 3, 5 or 7 seconds), or if you click on the current time you can change it to a duration you prefer.

Video - changing duration

Select the file by putting a check mark in the top right of the file image. Next, click on Trim from the list of options above (you can also select Split to divide your clip into 2 sections, shown opposite).

You can trim a clip from either the left, the right or both. To do this grab and drag the appropriate trim marker to the place you want it. You can see the new (shortened) duration of the clip if you hover over the middle of the orange line.

Click Done to complete the edit. You will now be returned to the storyboard.

Note: When you are returned to the storyboard you will see the overall time of your video has been adjusted in line with the trimming you just completed.

Let's move on to Adding text.

Adding text

You can easily add text to photos and video clips, which could help you to make content more meaningful to students. You can also create a title card from the storyboard if you'd like to add text to a plain colored background (again, helpful in terms of information and context).

To add text to a file follow these steps:

Select the photo or video file

To select a photo or video file, click to add a check mark in the top right of the item in the storyboard (1 in picture opposite).

Next, click on Text from the functions above (2, opposite).

Add text, select style and layout

Your photo, or the first frame of the video file, will now take up the majority of your screen.

On the right of the screen you will see style and layout options.

Above the style and layout options there is a text box. To add text to your file, type your text in that box (as you type, the text will appear on the picture) (1 opposite).

Next, select a style (2), and finally a layout (3).

Note: You cannot manually change the size of your text, but the Video Editor will automatically adjust what you type to fit on the screen (some styles are better with large amounts of text than others). You will also note that the text is added to the trim/duration bar at the foot of the screen.

When you are happy with your choices, click Done (4).

Let's move on to Adding effects.

Adding effects

With Video Editor you can add special effects to your photos and video clips. Select any of the following options find out more:

Filters

Selecting Filter from the storyboard function list offers you 13 options for adding visual interest.

To add a filter, first select the file by adding a check mark, then clicking on Filters.

On the right of the screen you will see your options (shown opposite).

Simply click on an option from the list on the right and you will see the picture change in the middle of the screen. You can only add one filter per file, you cannot for example change from one to another halfway through the transition.

Note: If you have already added text, or any other effects to the file, when you drag the duration marker at the foot of the screen from left to right you will see how all of those effects look together with the visual filter.

When you are happy, click Done.

Note: If you want to change your mind later, simply reselect the file, click Filter and select either Original (to remove the filter), or a different filter.

Motion

Selecting Motion from the storyboard function list offers you a variety of subtle movements, designed to give still images a sense of motion.

Note: Although the Video Editor allows you to add motion to video files, this is really a tool for adjusting photos.

To add motion to a photo, first select the file by adding a check mark, then clicking on Motion.

On the right of the screen you will see your options. There are 10 to choose from (shown opposite).

To test an effect, select an option from the list on the right then press the play button at the foot of the screen.

Once you are happy, click Done.

Rotate

The Video Editor allows you to rotate any file by 90 degree increments.

Note: Although this effect can be applied to all files, it is most likely at its most useful helping to fix images that have been added to the storyboard upside down.

To rotate a photo, first select the file by adding a check mark, then clicking on the Rotate icon.

The image will turn 90 degrees clockwise with each click.

Once you are happy, just continue with your editing, there is no Done button to click with this effect.

Remove black bars/ Shrink to fit

Some files, most likely photos but potentially videos also, when added to the Storyboard at first, will appear with black bars either side of the image. This is due to the original shape or aspect ratio of the file differing from the standard ratio of the Video Editor.

If you wish to remove these bars (perhaps so every file, photo or video, appears fullscreen) first select the file by adding a check mark, then clicking on the Remove or show black bars icon.

Clicking Remove black bars will zoom in slightly on the image, so that it fills the frame. Alternatively, if you wish to zoom out again, you can click 'Shrink to fit' to return the black bars.

Once you are happy, just continue with your editing, there is no Done button to click with this effect.

Let's move on to Adding 3D effects.

Adding 3D objects

The Video Editor comes with a good number of 3D effects and 3D objects, which you can add (and alter, to an extent) to make your images and videos more visually appealing.

3D effects

Navigating to 3D effects

To add a 3D effect, first select the file you wish to add the effect to, by adding a check mark at the top right of the file, then clicking on 3D effects (shown opposite).

Add 3D effects icon

Selecting an effect

You will now be looking at a screen with your file (image or video) in the middle of the screen. Notice to the right a long list of possible 3D effects. There are more than 50 to choose from.

As with other aspects of Video Editor, to select an effect, simply click on it and it will be added to your file.

Note: One difference with this tool is that multiple effects can be added to the same file (even a photo that is only displayed for 3 seconds).

Adjusting an effect

Clicking on an effect changes what you see on the far right of the screen. When you click on an effect the effect is added to the file and is now the only effect shown on the right hand side. Several things are adjustable at this point (click on the picture opposite to see these choices more clearly):

Volume - under the effect drag the volume indicator to make any embedded sounds louder or quieter.
Size and shape - in the main part of the screen, use the anchor points to spin the object and or change its dimensions.
Duration - at the foot of the screen grab the duration bar to alter the amount of time the effect is shown on screen (the orange area is the time when the effect will be visible in the file) *if you are adding to a video file you can add multiple effects at different points on the timeline.

When you are happy, click Done.

3D effects Aurora — 3D Aurora effect added to a picture

3D library

Similar to the set of 3D effects available in the Video Editor, the 3D library contains many readymade items that can be added to files in your Storyboard.

Navigating to the 3D library

To get to the 3D library, first select the file you wish to add the library item to, by adding a check mark at the top right of the file, then clicking on 3D effects, followed by the 3D library tab (shown in the picture opposite).

Note: All of the effects images in the picture opposite are representative of categories, clicking on any one (e.g. Cars and Vehicles) will bring up further options (including the helicopter).

Selecting a library item

You will now be looking at a screen with your file (image or video) in the middle of the screen. On the right you will see a long list of possible 3D items (in the Cars and Vehicles category there are 48).

As with other aspects of Video Editor, to select an effect, simply click on it.

Note: Multiple items can be added to the same file (even a photo that is only displayed for 3 seconds).

Adjusting a library item

Once you have selected a 3D item, it is added to the file and is now the only effect shown on the right hand side (unless you have already added other items). Several things are adjustable at this point (click on the picture opposite to see these choices more clearly):

Quick animations - under the effect click on the downwards arrow to see a set of options ralated to how the object will move (e.g. turntable).
Size and shape - in the main part of the screen, use the anchor points to spin the object and or change its dimensions.
Duration - at the foot of the screen grab the duration bar to alter the amount of time the item is shown on screen (the orange area is the time when the effect will be visible in the file) *Note: If you add a quick animation, make sure the duration is long enough for enough movement to take place.

When you are happy, click Done

Let's move on to Adding music.

Adding music

There are two options for adding music to a file in Video Editor: You can either select Background music to choose from several tracks, or select Custom audio at the top of the page to add and time your own music tracks, narration, or sound effects.

Background music

To add an in-built piece of music to your file, first select the file by adding a check mark to the file on the storyboard, then click Background music at the top of the screen. This will reveal a list of tracks. Select one by clicking on it (see picture below). You can adjust the volume, test the sound and sync to the music's beat if you wish. Click Done when you are happy.

Note: You can add different audio to different files on your storyboard but if you wish to sync a single piece of music to the whole storyboard, seelct all files when adding audio.

Custom audio

To add your own audio (music, spoken word, etc.) click on Custom audio at the top of the screen (click on the picture opposite to expand).

Adding custom audio

At that point you can either click on + Add audio file or drag a file from a folder on your computer.

The file will be added to the timeline at the foot of the screen.

Adding custom audio file

Notes: Unlike Background audio, when you add your own files, the duration is dependent on the file. If your custom audio is 1 minute long, that's all you'll get. The music can be shortened but not lengthened. You can also move the music left and right on the timeline, altering when it will first be heard. It is possible to add the same file more than once, to fill up any gaps, if that makes sense in your case.

Finally, let's look at publishing your video.

Publishing your finished video

When you've completed your project, select Finish video, then select Export to publish your film.

You can control video quality if you wish.

Additionally, using the three dots to the right of Finish video in the toolbar (shown opposite), you can select See more and then use Duplicate project to copy your video.

Or you can use Back up project to share your project or save your progress to share between multiple users and devices.

You can also let Microsoft know how you’re liking Video Editor by using Send feedback.

Note: In future, to open one of your backed-up projects and continue working, you can go back to the Video Editor main page, select See more and then select Import backup.

Video editing with the Windows 10 Video Editor