- Free HD Archives. 1000's of special effects and elements by Hollywood industry professionals. Download Magic Powers, Action & Horror VFX, Transitions, Lens Flares/Bokeh, YouTube Video Effects and CTAs, Nuclear Blasts, Real Fire & Rain, Zombies.
- Are you interested in special visual effects or VFX software? We are evaluating the top 7 VFX software available for download and will let you know the unique features in each of them. It is used to create video and television content with special effects like digital animation. The software is available for free as well as a price. Let us now look at the main features to help you choose a VFX.
First up in best free video editing software for beginners: HitFilm Express — the all-in-one VFX and video editing software. HitFilm Express is a completely free, user-friendly video editing software that gives you all the tools you need to take videos from amateur to pro. Express is perfect for both beginners and seasoned YouTubers, giving. DaVinci Resolve – Our Choice. Stable work with large files. Provided with a set of.
Did you know 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute?
If you want to stand out from the crowd with quality content and a decent following, you’ll want to get your hands on the best video editing software for YouTube – and lucky for you – there are some great free options available.
Here we outline the pros, cons, and feature highlights of 5 of the most popular free video editing software for YouTube. Whether you’re trying to choose between the industry’s most renowned color grading tools or the most beginner-friendly software— you’ll get all the info you need to find the right free video editor for your needs.
First up in best free video editing software for beginners:
HitFilm Express — the all-in-one VFX and video editing software
HitFilm Express is a completely free, user-friendly video editing software that gives you all the tools you need to take videos from amateur to pro. Express is perfect for both beginners and seasoned YouTubers, giving you access to top compositing tools, cinematic coloring features, and over 400 visual effects and presets to unlock your creativity.
Beginner YouTubers using HitFilm Express can also take advantage of their huge collection of free VFX and editing tutorials uploaded weekly on the FXhome YouTube channel. These tutorials cover common editing techniques for YouTube, tips on starting your own YouTube channel, and plenty of cool effects to use in your YouTube videos. If you want to add effects like sci-fi light swords or picture-in-picture video to their gaming videos, you can access free VFX masterclasses like Assemble, Rise of the Dark Side, and Game On.
Is HitFilm Express easy to learn?
HitFilm Express uses a simple UI which makes it easy for beginners to find and use all the most important editing features. Being part of the HitFilm community also gives you access to weekly tutorials, online forums, and live Q&A’s — so you don’t have to spend hours learning how to do simple edits. Bonus: the FXhome post-production and VFX team walk you through every effect you’ll need to make your channel stand out.
Did you already download the latest version of HitFilm Express? Great! Subscribe to the FXhome YouTube Channel to learn all the skills you need to create pro-level YouTube content.
Does HitFilm Express have the editing features YouTubers need?
![Software Software](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/37/ee/33/37ee330762b9b82f9ac0064a3eb8fa5e.jpg)
Yes! HitFilm Express lets you do every type of edit you will need for your YouTube videos. You can easily trim footage, edit and balance audio, and create seamless transitions between your shots. You can even track text and images into your videos.
2D/3D Compositor
HitFilm Express’ built-in 2D (and 3D) compositor gives you the power to create high-quality, clickable thumbnails and professional-quality channel art for your channel page that will help you get more views, subscribers and street cred.
Export capabilities
There are no limits to your imagination or your export size. You can upload your creations directly to YouTube with HitFilm Express’ built-in YouTube uploader.
HitFilm Express even lets you add animations directly in the software. Some of the features YouTubers like best include Auto Color, Chroma key, Adaptive Trimmer, Motion Tracking, and green screen effects.
Is HitFilm Express good for beginners on YouTube?
HitFilm is used by over 5 million creators worldwide, with high-profile YouTubers like Corridor Digital, Film Riot, Rocket Jump, D4Darius, and Surfaced Studio known to have used the software. It’s a great option for beginner YouTubers who want to start building their video editing skills and grow their channel for free.
Ready to scale up your YouTube videos with better edits and eye-catching visual effects? Download the free and easy-to-use HitFilm Express now.
Summary
Pros
- Free video editing software with 410+ free visual effects
- 70+ hours of free tutorials and masterclasses
- Ability to add unlimited video and audio tracks
- Audio editing features
- High-end chroma key and titling features
- User-friendly workflow
Cons
- Not available on Linux
- Advanced VFX tools available in paid packs
- Requires at least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
Lightworks – comprehensive editor with wide format support
Lightworks is a free video editor that puts a serious suite of professional editing tools and real-time effects, with built-in presets, at your fingertips. This free editing software has the widest native format support available in any professional NLE — so you can easily import your media format of choice with no need for transcoding.
Is Lightworks easy to use?
For those with less experience in video production, Lightworks’ unusual interface and overwhelming number of features and presets (Lightworks’ free version was born out of the high-end software that was to create films like Pulp Fiction and Hugo), can make Lightworks confusing and difficult to navigate. While Lightworks does offer some tutorials on its YouTube channel, viewers may find the content is in need of a more recent update following new releases.
What can I do with Lightworks?
Lightworks shines in its wide range of real-time and preset effects that allow you to adjust the look of your videos without too much hassle. Some of the features YouTube creators may find particularly useful for their videos are the fast trimming tools, new integration with BlackMagic’s Fusion on Mac, and multicam editing. You can also directly upload your finished projects to YouTube, and easily edit audio right in the software.
Where you may run into some trouble — the free version of Lightworks has limited export capabilities. If you want to export and upload your YouTube videos in UHD 4K you’ll have to pay for one of the Pro versions. The free version of Lightworks caps your exports at 720 dpi — which can be particularly annoying for YouTubers, as most professional channels upload in 1080 dpi.
Should beginners use Lightworks for YouTube?
If you don’t need high res 1080 dpi videos (e.g for casual family-style or pet videos) or you just want to experience the free version of the software used in Hollywood, Lightworks is a good choice. If you want to quickly learn to edit videos (and won’t really use the full suite of professional tools anyway) and upload in high res, you may want to choose a different free editor.
Summary
Pros:
- Available on Mac, PC, and Linux
- Comprehensive pro-level editing tools
- Direct upload to YouTube and Vimeo
- Impressive real-time effects and presets
Cons:
- Exports to YouTube are limited to 720 dpi
- Difficult-to-navigate interface
- Steep learning curve for editing tools
- Demanding system requirements
DaVinci Resolve — king of color grading
DaVinci Resolve (DVR) has the best set of professional coloring tools you can acquire for free. This free video editor allows you to get a precise depth of control over coloring; this is a feature you can really benefit from if your YouTube videos will likely include stunning natural landscapes or exciting wildlife scenes. Maybe you just really love working with color? Then DVR is great for that too!
Is DaVinci Resolve easy to use?
Because it comes from the world of high-end software, DVR assumes its users are coming to the software with a much higher level of expertise than a less-experienced video editor will have. As a beginner YouTuber, you may find your first experience editing with DaVinci Resolve to be overwhelming. If you want to do anything beyond simple color corrections, transitions, and very basic editing, you will likely have to consult DVR’s forums and manuals to help you get what you need out of the software.
What features are available with DVR?
In addition to offering top color grading tools, DaVinci resolve lets you edit audio and use the Chroma Key to edit green screen footage. DVR also seamlessly integrates with Blackmagic’s Fusion so you have access to a full 2D and 3D workspace with painting, rotoscoping, tracking and stabilization. These features are great for YouTubers looking to add commentary to their videos or composite an image, or video, of themselves into a separate scene.
The latest update to DVR also includes a new “Cut Page” and intelligent editing features that can help you auto-find the best places to edit your footage. Ceceree 1 2 2 download free. The free version of DaVinci Resolve, however, lacks a few key features that beginner YouTube video editors use a lot — Camera Blur, Lens Flare, Film Grain. Export size is also limited to 4K, but you can upload your project directly to YouTube (or Vimeo) in 1080 dpi.
Summary
Pros
- Available for Mac, PC, and Linux
- Powerful color grading options
- Free Fusion 2D and 3D workspace
Cons
- High-end graphics require a powerful PC
- Export is limited to 4K HD
- No collaboration tools in the free version
- Hard to learn how to use editing tools beyond the basics
Should you use DaVinci Resolve?
DaVinci’s color grading features. If you’ve never edited videos before, or are just starting out, you are likely to find DaVinci Resolve overly technical and difficult to understand beyond the basics. So while DVR is great for YouTubers looking to do a lot of color grading, beginners may find they quickly plateau with what they can achieve.
Shotcut – simple free video editor that covers the basics
Shotcut is a free, open-source, cross-platform video editor — perhaps best known for its wide range of support for hundreds of audio and video formats and codes courtesy of FFmpeg. Unlike some of its competitors, Shotcut does not require a high-performance system and is easily accessible to users with low-end systems.
Is Shotcut easy to use?
Though it’s non-standard interface may be slightly confusing, the beginner YouTuber will be able to quickly pick up and use this free editor to perform all the basic editing techniques needed to create YouTube videos and images. Shotcut also provides a fair amount of resources to help you get up and running, in case you get stuck.
The simplicity of this software is a big win at first, but YouTube content creators may find that once their editing skills improve, they won’t be able to take this free editing software much further. Features like masking and tracking, for example, are not as smooth as they are in other software which can make for longer, harder edits.
Vfx Video Editing software, free download
What is Shotcut good for?
Shotcut comes with a wide range of professional audio and video filters right in the software, no plugins required. Let’s say you were a little too close to the mic for your intro or your cat tripped the mic in your outro (bad Jinxy!), using Shotcut, you can apply audio filters like “Normalize” or “Compressor” that help maintain loudness throughout your videos and fix jarring peaks in volume.
Shotcut’s LUTs and filters give you the ability to drag-and-drop pre-made looks onto your footage, but overall it’s color grading features are limited. You won’t be able to customize your footage with your own personalized style or play with color more creatively.
Another aspect to note for YouTube content creators is that Shotcut does not allow you to add animations directly in the software, as there are no keyframes. If you want any motion graphics or animated titles in your videos, you’ll need another program to do it.
Summary
Pros:
- Open-source software
- Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Wide format support
- Support for resolution up to 4K
- Works on low-end systems
- Good range of help documents
Cons:
- Unusual interface
- Limited color grading features
- Difficult to go beyond the basic edits or tweak presets
- No animation features
Who should use Shotcut?
Shotcut is ideal for YouTube editors using low-end computers, and/or those who do not need much in the way of post-production tools. If you’re a novice video editor wanting to create quick tutorial videos or presentations without all the bells and whistles, Shotcut is a good choice. For anything more advanced, you may find the more detailed features are harder to learn in Shotcut as opposed to other free software.
Blender 3D -- powerful 3D software with basic editing tools
If 3D models or animations are going to feature heavily in your YouTube video, then Blender definitely deserves your consideration. This free and open-source 3D software is the perfect tool for creating and adding professional 3D models into your YouTube videos with ease. FXhome has used it together with the HitFilm Express video editor to create the iconic AT-ST cameo in Rise of the Dark Side and a Captain America-style 3D Shield in Assemble.
Is Blender easy to use?
Blender is a very limited video editor — so compared to other software like Lightworks and DaVinci Resolve it is relatively easy to learn. If you do happen to get stuck using a certain editing feature, you can easily access one of Blender’s YouTube channel tutorials or one of the comprehensive manuals on their site.
What can I do with Blender?
From powerful animation and rigging tools to pro simulation features, Blender offers users a huge range of effects that let you push the boundaries of 3D modeling. You can add pro-level animated characters to your gaming videos — or smoke and fire effects to your latest hot take on YouTube.
![Free video editing software list Free video editing software list](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/geIL5ROf0Lk/maxresdefault.jpg)
Blender’s built-in video editor is a nice compliment to such a powerful 3D software, but it’s not ideal for doing major edits — just very simple tasks like cutting, splicing and masking. You can do color grading and have multiple camera support (which is a big plus if you’re looking to make your videos more dynamic).
Should I use Blender?
If you’re just starting out on YouTube or not concerned with adding 3D models in your videos just yet, Blender’s slow editing speed, basic editing tools, and steep learning curve may not be a worthwhile investment. But if you’re looking to really scale up 3D VFX and animations in your YouTube videos — Blender offers an incredible set of features and a passionate community to start building your skills. Take advantage!
Summary
Pros:
- Top software for 3D models and animation
- Multiple camera support
- Color grading tools included
- Integrates with HitFilm Express
Cons:
- Editing tools are very basic for serious video editors
- Inexperienced editors may find it difficult to learn
- Slow video editing speed
- Very basic audio editing tools
- Demanding system requirements
- Max. of 32 slots for video, images, audio, scenes, masks or effects
A final word on choosing video editing software
You don’t need to wipe out your bank account to create high-quality YouTube videos — you can download a free video editor that gives you exactly the features you need for free. While you’re making your choice, consider questions like “How much time do I want to spend learning this software”, “How much tutorial support is available to help use its features?”, “Can I create the look I want?”
It’s easy to get caught in endless deliberation — but the truth is getting started is more important than getting it perfect. Go forth with your free video editor and conquer.
Does our VFX and video editor tick all the boxes? Start editing your first YouTube video now with a free download of HitFilm Express.
Thanks to the advancement in computer graphics, film makers today are armed with the best visual effects software to make us believe the unbelievable. From Avatar to Inception, these blockbusters blur the line between the virtual and the reality, and lead us to a fantasy world so cool and so wild beyond our imagination. It's no surprise that you want to know more about the tools that make all these happen, and start creating your own movie magic. Let's get started.
What Is VFX
Visual effects (VFX) are imagery elements that don't exist in real word during on-set shooting. It is created to be incorporated as an integral part of the video. In the past, it could be done physically, such as drawing on glass for matte painting. Thanks to computer graphics science, now you can use CGI (computer-generated imagery) and VFX software to nail the task.
Free 3d Vfx Software
VFX is a covering term with overlapping concepts and ideas. Generally, it involves compositing, 3D modeling, and animation. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the term special effects (SFX). The distinction between VFX and SFX grow in recent years due to the development of digital film-making. While VFX largely refers to assets created outside a live action shot, SFX are accomplished on-set. For instance, there are fire and explosion made by pyrotechnicians, physical wind, rain and fog for atmospheric effects, and miniatures and giant puppets. Still, you will need compositing and 3D modeling software to blend these effects into the movie.
Here are some visual effects fundamentals:
- Keying uses green screen (or blue screen) and remove it with VFX software to create desired effects.
- Tracking replicates the camera movement from the shot and apply it to the elements that are added in post production. It analyzes the movement, offering you several tracking points to select as a reference, so as to parent the elements to the movement. In this way, the elements blend in the shot, as if it was there on set.
- Rotoscoping, or roto, allows you to trace an object frame by frame, and create a matte to key it out. In this way, you can put something in between the cut out part and the background. It is useful when the green screen isn't working, or you don't have a pure colored background at all.
- Compositing stacks all the elements into the shot and makes them fit to the scene. For instance, you key out a 'ghost' and put it over a TV, as if the ghost is cropping out from the TV. Or camera tracking a boat's movement, and put a CGI lion that moves along, as if the lion was on the boat in live action (Yes, I am talking about Life of Pi). Or you can roto people jumping from a car in explosion, where the fire and smoke are CGI.
- Rigging creates joints and bones to animate a character. Once you character is rigged, you can make it to run, raise an arm, or wave hands. Besides generalist VFX software, rigging is essential for dedicated animation software.
- Then there are 3D stuffs, such as texturing, modeling, and 3D lighting. Powerful 3D software nowadays are capable of generating millions of tiny points, which add up to make fire, smoke or water effects as vivid as in real life, and that's known as particle effects or particle simulation.
Bearing in mind these concepts, you can take a step further and set your hands on visual effects software. There are comprehensive programs covering every aspect, and there are also specialized ones that only deal with, for example, compositing. Many studios also developed plug-ins to address specific problems, such as Mocha for planar tracking.
For beginners and pros, you can find one of the following tools useful. We list free and open-source VFX software in the beginning, followed by paid-for options.
1. Blender
Creators on budget love to add Blender to their arsenal as a video editor, yet the true strength of Blender lies in 3D creation. Blender is an open-source free 3D modeling software that allows you to do most things that are otherwise charged in high-end programs such as Maya and 3Ds Max.
Admittedly, Blender is not the industry standard, just as the Hollywood elites are more likely to use Avid Media Composer than other open-source video editing software. But that doesn't prevent Blender from being the best free special effects software to create 3D printed models, animations, and video game assets. Every essential feature you can think of are included, be it modeling, sculpting, character rigging, animation, or simulation.
With active community and resourceful video tutorials, Blender is something beginners and independent creators can settle for, without spending a dime. You can learn more from this in-depth review of Blender.
Features:
- Comprehensive UV sculpting tools for modeling.
- Extensive Python API for customization and scripting.
- Non linear animation makes it easy to create life-like independent movement.
2. Natron
Comparing to Blender that is baked with a complete VFX pipeline, Natron is programmed to focus on only one aspect of VFX, that is compositing. This open source nodal compositing software is a perfect choice for teaching computer graphics in certain schools. You can acquaint yourself with fundamentals behind compositing, and experiment with rotoscoping, chroma keying and video tracking tools offered in Natron. If you want to take a further step, Natron might fail you. This tool doesn't support 3D, and is less stable with complex node and rotoscoping. That said, Natron is probably the only free compositor that allows for commercial use. Thanks to the contributors, this program runs on cross-platform including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Features:
- Support adding more than 100 nodes in compositing.
- GPU accelerated rendering enabled.
3. HitFilm Express
HitFilm Express is one of the best free video editing software for VFX hobbyists. Unlike other prosumer VFX software on this list, HitFilm offers both video editing features and VFX compositing functions in one suite, catering for independent filmmakers and hobbyists, who might need to take care of video editing and visual effect post production all on their own.
As for compositing, HitFilm Express adopts the layer-based mechanism. You can stack layers of assets to build a composite shot, utilizing masks, alpha-channel enabled assets, and transformation tools to customize the scene. The best part is, these CG visual effects shot can then be incorporated into the main edit, as the editor and compositing tools work together in a single package. With a streamlined design, creators can freely resort to features such as masking, animation, 3D camera tracking, and keying to breathe new life into the project.
Read our full review of HitFilm Express to learn more.
Features:
- Support transferring Mocha planar tracking data to HitFilm.
- Essential VFX features such as keying, compositing, particle simulations are offered along with video editing.
- Keyframe animation supported.
4. Blackmagic Fusion
Fusion by Blackmagic is one of the best free VFX software for motion graphics and compositing. The node-based workflow allows you to connect processing types and transmit attributes. There are powerful features such as the planar tracker and delta keyer introduced in the latest release. The planar tracker works in a way to follow an area of a shot, creating a flat plane – as opposed to the classic point tracker – and thus allowing for a more solid tracking to stabilize the shot. Delta keyer takes color difference into account, and works nice even if your green screen is unevenly lit. With advanced algorithm, the delta keyer can discriminate colors that represent the foreground object from an uneven colored screen.
For Independent filmmakers, hobbyists or editors looking to expand their VFX knowledge, Fusion is a nice choice. As an already powerful and comprehensive visual effects suite, together with DaVinci Resolve, the artists will have a powerful combo for the post work, at much lower price than the After Effects plus Premiere workflow.
Features:
- Powerful 3D camera tracker to rebuild camera movement.
- Planar tracker that performs as well as Mocha Pro for general tracking purpose.
- Legally licensed for Apple ProRes Encoding.
5. Cinema 4D
Developed by Germany-based company Maxon, Cinema 4D has been around for 30 years. This high-end tool excels in 3D modeling, visual effects, animation, painting and rendering, making it a popular program among 3D animators and motion graphics professionals. Its popularity and degree of professionalism can be seen from a dazzling array of films and TV episodes it has been used for, such as Spiderman, The Lion King, Avengers: Endgame, Beowulf and many more.
Cinema 4D offers users a seamless experience thanks to the integration with a wide range of design tools, including After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and other CAD applications. Take the CINEWARE in C4D as an example, it allows you to integrate 3D modeling directly from the program into After Effects, with photo-realistic rendering. The ease of use and endless possibilities make it a powerful tool for graphic designers, engineers, architects, medical researchers, and AR/VR developers. There are various modeling modes available: parametric, polygon, volume modeling, sculpting, procedural modeling, with advanced texturing and lighting.
Features:
- Abundant texturing tools for materials and shaders.
- Powerful MoGraph module for motion graphics.
- Bodypaint tool to deliver a good-quality render at fast speed.
6. Autodesk Maya
Autodesk Maya is powerful visual effects software that helps artists to create 3D animation, rendering, modeling and simulation. It is probably the largest software ever coded on this planet, and all those powerful features bring us the epic scenes in Blockbusters such as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and Star Wars.
For VFX creators, there are many handy tools in Maya that helps to render your imagination into reality. You can resort to auto-rigging, hair tools, and hypershade tool for more technical control, and create models and assets with organic shapes and texture. As for performance, the biggest improvement in the lately release is the animation cache playback. Users now can enjoy a smoother experience, thanks to the dynamic support with a new layered evaluation system and GPU enabled smoothing. Models and shaders update in almost real-time in the viewport. Another exciting feature is the Proximity Wrap tool, which is GPU-accelerated too. It delivers smother interactions with facial rigs and muscle systems by calculating how the geometry manipulates the surface model. Videosolo video converter ultimate 1 0 30 0.
Features:
- New Remesh and Retopologize features to enhance your modeling.
- Adaptive foam and Bifrost feature to enhance liquid simulation.
- Comprehensive set of sculpting tools for artists to create life-like models.
- Seamless integration with other VFX tools for specialized feature.
7. Nuke
Nuke is a versatile visual effects and compositing tool produced by the Foundry. Etrecheck pro 5 1 – for troubleshooting your mac download. Unlike layer-based compositing software, Nuke adopts a node-based system that can make compositing quite easier. Yet it would be challenging if you are from After Effects. The node-based workflow allows you to obtain a complete overview of the whole project, with a clear display of the relationship between the different nodes.
Nuke finds its popularity for in-house use, and you can see big names such as Walt Disney Animation studios, Blizzard Entertainment, and DreamWorks among its users. This VFX software allows you to build up 3D stuff and combine it with any 2d footage. You can create fake lights to render real-world effects, and mix the 3D compositing to the live footage. With advanced analyzer, you can key out live elements from the shot, and generate layers for compositing. Nuke embraces customization, allowing maximum flexibility for its users. There are bunch of official plug-ins for keying and blurring effects, and you can create your own tool sets and plug-ins.
Features:
- Native support for USD and other 3D formats.
- Implementation of SyncReview to make it easier for remote team work.
- GPU support for SphericalTransform and Bilateral nodes.
8. Houdini
Presented by Side Effects Software, Houdini is evolved from the 3D graphics suite PRISMS, and serves artists working in VFX, VR, video games, TV shows and films. Houdini is most renowned for its powerful dynamic simulation tools, which delivers particle effects that simulate life-like elements, such as liquid effects. It also has powerful volumetric systems in-built for the creation of fire, clouds and smoke simulations.
Houdini uses the node-based system that allows you to return to a previous version or review the iterations easily, thus making the complex 3D modeling tasks more efficient, especially when dealing with a client's feedback. You can experiment with numerous nodes to build or remove certain parameters. For plug-ins and extensions, it supports 3-rd party rendering engines, and scripting via Python API, allowing for the automation of certain tasks to enhance efficiency.
Disney movies such as Frozen and Zootopia have employed Houdini, and some visual effects in Game of Thrones are also created in this VFX software.
Features:
- Powerful to build dynamic simulations with a large amount of data.
- Handy tools for rigging and character animation.
- Non-destructive procedural based workflow.
- Nice integration to run Houdini assets in other VFX software such as Maya and Cinema 4D.
Over to You
Applying special effects and VFX in a video isn't exclusive to professionals. You can use green screen software to create interesting content. If you have no idea of where to get started, you can learn from movies by going through scenes, and analyze all the elements needed to achieve those visual effects. Here is a detailed guide on how to break down a VFX scene.