From Novice to Creator: Unlock CapCut’s Power for Epic Video

This lesson shows you where to find the application, installing processes and basic information

This lesson provides a comprehensive tour around the Capcut website, with explanations of the various aspects  of the software, including AI, which will be available for use in your projects.

This lesson looks at the environment, the basic functions of the home page, a brief look at Templates and the editing page.  Also included is the cloud storage area that is part of the account when you sign up and create your login for a free or paid user.

This lesson begins to expand on the editing environment, describing the processes for adding files, the timeline and how it works.  Also, included are the many key assignments and buttons.  Luckily, the majority are used throughout the industry so there is cross-over for previous experience.  Finally, basic creation on the timeline and explanation of "top down" video editing.

The lesson demonstrates how to change the layout and set up the various sections.  It shows the functions included to aid video generation, such as guidelines and rulers.  Also covered is the project default menu and settings, including default folder locations, etc.  Finally, the lesson covers the keypresses available to you and briefly mentions the cloud space for backups.

In this lesson, the various buttons for timeline control are discussed, for example, track magnet, snapping and the "keep together" function (that may not perform as well as expected).  Moving around the timeline, the lesson continues with a demonstration of quickly moving around using the arrow keys, ALT and CTRL.  Lastly, the left-hand side buttons and how they work are discussed in brief, as well as the Inspector.

This lesson discusses how to set project defaults, the keys you'll need, how to change the system for better performance and an explanation of the Export process to save your finished video.

This lesson focuses on the top menu area, with MEDIA and the submenu items.  It is a repository for your files, your compound clips, any resources such as backgrounds, plus certain AI based functions.

In similar fashion to the MEDIA menu, this lesson is dedicated to the AUDIO and TEXT menus, plus all sub menu items.  Drawbacks with the AUDIO library are highlighted.  TEXT is discussed in detail, including the very easy way to add subtitles.  This also includes translated subtitles!

This lesson looks at the STICKERS and EFFECTS menu items, some of which you may use.  The majority may not be suitable for "professional" video use as they are a little basic and could be considered gimmicky.

The lesson consists of the remaining menu items, including Transitions and Effects, plus what would be called colour grading in other software.  It finishes with an overview of making compound clips (also known as subprojects).

The lesson is devoted to the thumbnail designer, integrated into Capcut but actually is separate and online. The good and bad parts of it are discussed with in-depth review of how to make a cover for your video.

This lesson is about using the Inspector for audio and video settings, showing the options that can be utilised. In the second half of the video, the lesson demonstrates some fun elements by amending the audio track. Lastly, adjusting playback "speed" and adding a standard music track under the video.

In this lesson the screen recorder function and the voiceover function are demonstrated with practical examples of use.  In the later part, the top left main menu is dissected in detail with full explanation of each item, especially those in the settings area.  These are global settings that only require one time amendment.

The lesson concentrates on adding captions to your video, automatically.  You will be able  to edit them, move and delete sections.  Additionally, bilingual (translated) captions can also be added to your video.

This lesson expands on subtitles (captions), by demonstrating their use to translate from a foreign language and to display the output on screen.  In the example, the captions are translated from Thai to English.  Please note it isn't perfect, and as shown, sometimes it can miss out sections.  These would need to be completed manually.

Transcripts are an ideal and quick way to edit your video using AI. The words of the video are placed in a side area, along with "um" and "ah", and the intentional or not time gaps. All of the "filler" words can be removed by the user or by AI.  The lesson covers the essentials and adds in some caveats to consider.

This AI function will go through the video and select clips to be uploaded to Tiktok or as Youtube Shorts.  Rather than manually reviewing the video, the clip length can be set, for example Youtube limits the time to 1-2 minutes, then AI will select the best bits.  Beware it can take a long time.

This lesson shows you the process of exporting your completed video, highlighting the various options and drawbacks.  It also includes how to upload to TikTok automatically in the 9x16 and 16x9 formats.

This lesson is now bringing together the other functions, mentioned briefly in previous lessons.  Using a finished video as an example, this lesson will attempt to recreate a section of the video from scratch.  In this process various functions will be demonstrated, such as REVERSE, FREEZE, video resize, adding audio, lining up the various elements. Finally, adding stickers and animating them. 

Following on from the previous lesson, the process of reversing audio clips is discussed.  Audio not attached to a video is treated differently, and this lesson shows a workaround.   The example used is to create a short 5-second swoosh with a logo zooming in and out.  A practical use would be to break up sections of a video.

Masks allow you to highlight and cut out portions of the screen, which can then be manipulated.  The lesson is a first look, in conjunction with the previous lesson dealing with audio clip reversing.  It adds a basic quick look at how to use keyframes.

In this lesson, you will learn more about using masks and keyframing.  Some visually stunning effects can be made using the various types of masks. Finding suitable free (copyright and royalty) videos and graphics may be a bigger issue than actually making the video!

The adage about sliced bread comes to mind, with compound clips featuring strong in this comprehensive lesson.  What they are, how to use them, and how to create and save for future use.

Using the previous video examples, this lesson expands on animating video and text items, continuing with the function of using music beats to synchronise the changes in graphics for a unique type of transition.  The lesson concludes with more on the compound clip, and briefly looking at editing an existing clip.

Using stock items from the library, this lesson demonstrates the use of green screens.  Industry standard green screen use allows you to overlay a video item and replace the background with an alternative.

The lesson demonstrates how to place text behind an object, such as a person.  This would be difficult to achieve, except by the use of the cut-out feature, which removes the background from the video.

Colour grading and colour correction are used within the industry not only to rectify mistakes but also to achieve a standard look across the clips.  Different directors have their own style and look, which they use for all their movies.  This lesson covers the basics and leaves the overall result to your personal choice.

This lesson covers the keyframe basics, moving an object around the screen.

Indepth keyframing is discussed in this lesson, which was also made in capcut.  The extra functions of the keyframe process are highlighted with examples of how to use them.

EXTRAS - a quick and easy method to make a colour pop, and stand out against a background. Can be used for video or photo.

EXTRAS - change  the colour of an object

EXTRAS - An alternative method other than Animate, this method uses OPACITY and KEYFRAMES. The advantage of this method is the smoothness.

EXTRAS - This shows you how to track and match an object with another, maybe moving.  In this case, TEXT is moving in time with the lady running on the beach.

EXTRAS - how to blur faces, the quick and easy way

EXTRAS - how to show a bar that highlights the text. It can be multiple lines.

EXTRAS - How to blur a background.

January 2026 update and add-on lesson. This is for text-to-speech.