As the social media platform TikTok has grown in popularity, more people have started opening accounts. TikTok started with a young user base, but users of all ages are starting to take advantage of it. If you are just starting out with this platform, it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
TikTok’s primary focus is on short videos, usually accompanied by music. It’s relatively easy to watch and engage with videos on TikTok, but making great videos is essential to get a lot of views, likes, and comments.
That’s why it’s important to know how to make videos on TikTok. In this article, we’ll cover the basic process of filming and editing videos, tools you can use on TikTok, and tips to make your videos look great.
Record videos for TikTok
The first thing we need to do is record a video that we will use.
Record a video on TikTok
There are several ways to do this. The first option is to post directly to TikTok.
- Tap the plus icon in the middle of the navigation bar at the bottom of the app.
- The camera opens. When you open it for the first time, you must give TikTok permission to use your camera and microphone.
- To add music/audio, click the Add Audio button at the top to search or select the audio before you start recording.
- Select the length of the entire video you want to record and press the red record button.
- The blue bar at the top of the screen is highlighted in gray to indicate how many days you’ve recorded and how much video is left.
- You can stop recording at any time by clicking the red stop button. TikTok will keep the recording until then. You can continue recording the same video by clicking the record button again.
- To delete your last video, click the white x next to the record button, then click Undo.
- Once you have the video you want, select the red checkmark to go to the editing screen.
Record video with the camera app
Another option is to record the video outside of TikTok (such as your phone’s camera app) and import it into TikTok that way.
- Click the plus sign in the middle of the navigation bar.
- Once the camera is open, look to the right of the red record button and select the Upload photo icon.
- Click the video you want to add to TikTok and click Select, or click the circle in the corner of the video thumbnail. When you have selected everything, click Next.
- You can add music by searching and selecting sounds on the editing screen. Click the “Optimize” button if you want to change the order of the added videos. Then long press and drag the video to where you want. You can also click individual clips to trim, transfer, or delete them. When you are done, click Next.
The next step is to edit your TikTok to add text, effects or transitions as you wish. However you shoot your video, the final editing process is the same.
How to Edit Tiktok Video
After recording a TikTok video, you can do some minor edits to make it stand out. Before you start your project, you should be aware of the different options for editing your video.
First, make sure your clip is positioned the way you want it before you start editing. This is because if you change any of the clips, you will have to go back to the recording stage and your changes will be discarded.
Add Effects
At the bottom of the screen you will see a clock icon called Effect. Click to see the effects and changes you can add to your video. Usage:
- Click on the type of effect you want (View, Effect, Change, Split, or Extend).
- Drag the video timeline to where you want to apply the effect.
- Click to apply the effect at the desired time. TikTok shows the work of time. Then you can go back to your schedule and see if you like it.
- To remove the results you’ve added, click the gray back button below the video timeline on the right.
- When done, click Save.
Add text
Text can be a great communication tool. Adding is easy if you know how to do it.
- Click on the text icon at the bottom of the screen.
- Choose the font, type and color, then type your text.
- Click outside the text or select OK to add your video. Then you can continue.
- Click on the text to change it again. You can leave text for some of the videos for some time.
Add a filter
You can add filters to add more style to your videos. There are many options and it’s easy to do.
- Click on the filter icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
- Click the filter you want to use, then use the slider to change its strength.
- Click on the photo to apply the filter. You can click the filter option again to set it as normal.
Post a TikTok video
After watching the video, click the “Next” button to go to the advertisement page. Here you can add descriptions, hashtags, links and privacy options.
If you don’t want to upload your photo right away, you can save it by clicking “Project”. You can access your designs from your TikTok profile page. If not, click Publish to publish this video and see it in action.
