Getting started with editing software for charities

What elements can be enhanced in videos?

More complex than editing photos, videos can be enhanced in a similar way to photos. Basic editing software tools enable charities to edit videos from 360 degrees, add layers or templates, stabilise movements and enhance colours. In addition to the visual elements, audio can also be dropped in. Popular soundtracks, recorded audio, voice over, and subtitles can be added even with basic editing software.

For more advanced charity digital creators, editing software can create a new timeline in your video, add ‘time’ effects, fading, animation, and montages. Many editing software features also include options to export the finished project into shareable formats fit for YouTube, Facebook and other social media. For charities digitising communications, the ability to convert video content automatically is a time saver.

Round-up of the best photo and video editing software

With the basics of what you can do covered, editing software comes in all shapes and sizes for charity digital leaders. Our round-up includes:

1. Adobe Photoshop – Known to old-school designers and photo editors, Charity Digital Exchange offers both Photoshop Elements 2020 and Premiere Elements 2020 so photos and videos can be edited. Suitable for basic users, the editing software can crop, retouch, manually adjust colour and lighting for photos. For videos, basic editing is available including cropping, copying and pasting clips, sound additions, and footage editing.
2. Autodesk – For charities looking at simulations, freeform, solid, parametric or mesh modelling, Autodesk Fusion 360 can facilitate design videos. For charity digital leaders, Autodesk Fusion 360 is available through the Charity Digital Exchange and includes a 1-year subscription.
3. Affinity Photo – For more sophisticated photo editors, Affinity Photo is tailored for Mac computer users. Tapping into the retouching market, Affinity Photo includes features like smooth and retouching skin, blemish removal tools, sculpting features, and a painting tool brush to remove unwanted objects.
4. VideoStudio Ultimate – Packaged with built-in creative video features, the VideoStudio Ultimate includes 360° degree video editing, animations, zoom views, and can incorporate multiple camera inputs. The software is free for 30-days.
5. Filmora9 – Less sophisticated than VideoStudio, Filmora9 is a good option for simple editing jobs. Users can easily correct video problems like fisheye and shaky camera movements. Advantageous for social media communications, the software can easily convert raw formats into useful media for platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
6. Sparkol- Sparkol is great for creating content for presentations, storytelling and educating. Under the Sparkol umbrella there’s VideoScribe and StoryPix.