HitFilm Express Course Overview
HitFilm Express is a free, powerful video editing and visual effects software widely used by aspiring filmmakers, video editors, and content creators. This course is designed to help students master the features of HitFilm Express, from basic video editing to advanced visual effects, making it suitable for beginners as well as intermediate users looking to expand their skill set.
Course Outline
- Introduction to HitFilm Express
- Overview of HitFilm Express and its capabilities
- Downloading and installing HitFilm Express
- Navigating the user interface: Trimmer, timeline, media panel, and viewer
- Understanding the workspace: Editing, compositing, and effects
- Setting up a new project: Choosing resolutions, frame rates, and formats
- Basic Video Editing
- Importing and organizing media: Video, audio, and image files
- Basic timeline operations: Cutting, trimming, and sequencing clips
- Working with multiple tracks: Video and audio synchronization
- Using keyframes for basic animations and transitions
- Applying simple transitions and effects between clips
- Advanced Video Editing
- Multi-track editing: Overlays, picture-in-picture, and split screens
- Advanced trimming techniques: Ripple, roll, slip, and slide edits
- Syncing external audio with video and refining audio levels
- Working with nested timelines for complex projects
- Using markers and in/out points for precise editing
- Visual Effects (VFX) and Compositing
- Introduction to VFX: Understanding layers, masks, and keying
- Using HitFilm’s built-in effects library for visual enhancements
- Green screen (chroma key) techniques for background replacement
- Compositing multiple layers for advanced effects
- Animating visual effects with keyframes and motion tracking
- Color Correction and Grading
- Introduction to color theory and its application in video editing
- Using color correction tools: Exposure, contrast, and white balance
- Applying color grading to achieve specific looks and moods
- Matching colors across different clips for consistency
- Using LUTs (Look-Up Tables) for professional-grade color grading
- Audio Editing and Enhancement
- Importing, syncing, and editing audio tracks
- Basic audio adjustments: Volume, pan, and fade
- Applying audio effects: Reverb, equalization, and noise reduction
- Mixing multiple audio tracks for balanced sound
- Exporting audio separately for further processing or mixing
- Titles, Text, and Graphics
- Creating and animating titles using the built-in title editor
- Designing lower thirds, end credits, and on-screen text
- Importing and animating graphic elements
- Using keyframes to animate text and graphics
- Integrating motion graphics into video projects
- 3D Compositing and Animation
- Introduction to 3D compositing in HitFilm Express
- Importing and manipulating 3D models
- Working with 3D space: Camera and lighting
- Creating and animating 3D text
- Combining 2D and 3D elements in a single scene
- Exporting and Sharing Projects
- Understanding export settings: Resolutions, codecs, and formats
- Exporting for different platforms: YouTube, Vimeo, and social media
- Creating custom export presets for repeated use
- Exporting specific sections of the timeline
- Preparing projects for collaboration and sharing
- Project Management and Workflow Best Practices
- Organizing project files and media for efficient editing
- Using HitFilm’s backup and auto-save features
- Managing large projects with multiple sequences and layers
- Collaboration techniques for working with other editors
- Best practices for maintaining a smooth workflow
- Final Project
- Applying all learned techniques to create a complete video project
- Reviewing and refining the final edit
- Preparing the project for portfolio presentation or client delivery
- Exporting and showcasing the final video
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will:
- Be proficient in using HitFilm Express for video editing and visual effects.
- Understand how to apply transitions, effects, and color grading to enhance video projects.
- Be capable of performing advanced visual effects and 3D compositing.
- Know how to create and animate titles, text, and motion graphics.
- Be able to export professional-grade video projects for various platforms.
Target Audience
- Aspiring filmmakers and video editors looking to learn a versatile and free editing tool.
- Content creators and YouTubers seeking to improve the quality of their videos with VFX and advanced editing techniques.
- Students and professionals who need to develop video editing and visual effects skills.
- Anyone interested in exploring the capabilities of HitFilm Express for creative projects.