Video production can be a complicated process. From editing to adding visual effects, many things must be done to create a captivating video.
Think of it as handing over a pile of jigsaw pieces to a master puzzler who then works their magic assembling an enchanting picture. These key steps in video post-production ensure a smooth flow from start to finish.
Editing
Video post-production is where the separate video pieces come together to tell the story. The editing team arranges clips in the correct narrative order and cuts between them with a logical flow that keeps the audience’s attention. They also adjust music, visual effects, and text graphics to promote consistency in the film’s style.
Before video editors start assembling the rough cut, they need to organize all the footage they have received from the camera crew. This often includes a shot log from the director or director of photography with shot descriptions and circled takes. They may also use an online collaboration tool to make notes and time-stamp comments on footage and easily share them with other collaborators.
This also helps video editors find files later when working with large media deliveries. They can organize all their video and audio clips into folders and categories that make sense for their workflow.
Color Correction
Color correction is fine-tuning your footage to look natural and consistent. This includes adjusting white balance, exposure, contrast, and adding or subtracting saturation. It also ensures that skin tones appear naturally colored and the video has a balanced look. Color correction can elevate your footage to the next level when paired with a cinematic look. Depending on the narrative, it can make your film look warm and inviting or moody and dramatic.
Basic color correction is a crucial step that should be done before moving on to the grading process. This helps to avoid overcorrecting the colors and introducing artifacts into your footage. For example, if you’re working with a hero shot containing a green screen, it’s essential to color-correct the hero before grading other shots. This ensures that your footage has a consistent look and that the hero shot is a good reference for different shots.
Sound Mixing
The sound mixer balances the levels of music, dialogue, and effects to create a dynamic soundscape that complements the visual narrative. Whether using EQ to balance frequencies or panning sounds to enhance realism, skillful audio mixing builds a compelling auditory experience that takes viewers deeper into the story.
They also edit existing recordings, removing extraneous noise and editing out unintelligible dialogue, volume-balancing, and recording ADR (automatic dialogue replacement) where necessary. They can then prepare the final mix for exporting by separating dialogue, SF, X, and music onto separate tracks. This allows them to export a music stem, an optional dialogue stem (containing gasps, laughs, hisses,s, and other non-dialogue vocalizations), and a sound effect stem for each scene.
They can also add a time-to-text track to make the video accessible to viewers with hearing impairments. They may need to create multiple versions of the final mix, including a stereo version, a surround version, and a master version for different formats.
Visual Effects
Whether you’re making a blockbuster movie or a simple marketing video, visual effects are potent tools that elevate production values and viewer engagement. VFX can create or enhance elements that weren’t present during filming, from adding CGI creatures to enhancing explosions. It’s what gives Hollywood movies their magic and can make your brand videos feel like a cinematic experience.
During post-production, you add titles and graphics to your video to communicate important information or help viewers follow along. Titles and graphics can add style or establish your brand’s visual identity.
Music and sound design are also added during this phase. This involves creating or selecting the appropriate music for your video and recording or re-recording sound effects and Foley. Using software such as DaVinci Resolve for color grading and Adobe After Effects for compositing is essential.
Image Cropping
Cropping a video is a process that adjusts the dimensions of a video clip to focus on specific elements. This is useful in reducing distractions and creating an engaging visual experience for the audience. However, if done incorrectly, it can lead to a disjointed viewing experience and poor composition.
When cropping video, it is essential to remember that a video clip comprises a series of images displayed rapidly to create the illusion of motion. As such, each frame should be carefully framed to ensure consistency.
It is best to stick as close as possible to the original aspect ratio to avoid losing image quality. This will ensure no additional pixels are lost during resizing, and the final product will look sharper. Additionally, it is essential to minimize cropping as much as possible. Excessive cropping can cause the video to lose resolution and become blurrier.
Final Delivery
Once the initial version of your video is completed, it’s time to begin the review and approval process. From video editors to brand managers and legal teams, many players will have a say in presenting your final product. An efficient video feedback and approval platform like Filestage will simplify this process.
Once you’re happy with the edit, it’s time to render and export your project. This will turn all the separate footage and audio into one high-quality digital master file. You’ll also need to choose the correct file format for your intended distribution platforms and screen sizes.
While video post-production may seem difficult or even too complicated, it’s a necessary step to help you create a professional-grade video. Turning your raw ideas, scripts, and footage into a compelling story requires the right expertise, an effective workflow, and plenty of patience.
