Uses, Steps, Checklist on What is Video Post-Production?

“When is a video said to be finished? Is it after the shoot?” “Definitely not!”

Video creation has three different stages: pre-production, production, and post production.

While the discussions about the storyline, shot sequence, etc., are held during the first or pre-processing stage, the actual filming happens during the second or production stage.

The third stage is the real game-changer, as it helps create, edit, and enhance a complete video. Without post production, viewers will have only raw video clips to watch. In this stage the unwanted shots and other visual disturbances are removed. Even attractive transition effects, complementing audio, and other video editing processes are included in this stage.

Want to know more? Scroll down to have all answers.

What is video post-production?

Video post-production is the process of organizing and fine-tuning unrevised video clips into a final attractive video.

It’s not only about editing the video clips through color grading, transition effects, and so on. It's also about complimenting them with suitable background music or voice-over.

This is why post production will be the last important stage when you plan to create a video for professional or personal use.

What’s the importance of post-production?

While videographers provide the raw video footage, and post-production professional help to edit them all together at the proper order, add music, visual effects, and so on

For instance, let’s say you plan to post a travel vlog on YouTube for which you take short videos of each place you’ve traveled. Now, if you want to blend them all into a single, attractive video, then video post-production is the way.

It’s the same principle for films, where the shots taken in different time frames and locations are combined into a 2-hour film.

Remember that a video is never considered "finished" unless it has been post-produced. Speaking of which, let’s discuss how the process works.

What are the elements and steps of video post-production?

Efforts that go into video manipulation are always more than what meets the eye. It is so because the need for producing high-quality, flawless video content is the digital era's need of the hour.

When you open YouTube, TikTok, or Netflix, all you’ll expect to see are videos or films in high resolution. Video post-production paves the way for it, and here's how.

Video post-production workflow

Well, before we get started with the process, know about the important prerequisites:

• Have enough file space because the process and the output require a lot of storage.
• Choose a file format from an array of video file formats like MP4, MPEG, MOV, etc., to export the edited videos.
• See if the file codec should be intra-frame or inter-frame. The former allows access to edit-ready footage as individual frames, with higher storage needs. The latter helps compress video files with edits made across all frames for easy delivery.
• Decide where you want to post because each platform has specific requirements in terms of duration, dimension, etc. For instance, an advertisement has to be shorter than a vlog, and an Instagram reel must be within 60 seconds and in a particular dimension.
• Pick the best software because only high-end video editing tools can offer high-quality output. Adobe Premier Pro, DaVinci Resolve, VSDC Free Video Editor, Corel VideoStudio Ultimate, etc., are some of the best video editing software to use.

The top 6 video post-production steps to follow

1. Know the objective to plan the editing process

   

   Understand the video's purpose before you start the process. Whether the final video output is displayed, whether it is a movie, social media video, YouTube video, event video, etc. This will help make the right choices in terms of the order of clips to join, color tone, visual effects to be added, etc.

2. Creating a rough sequence

   

   Gather all the rough cuts to check their quality and content. Label and categorize them into different sections like flashbacks, action scenes, long shots, etc., for easy editing. Finally, sort these into a natural flow based on the storyboard.

3. Analyze and finalize visuals

   

   When you’re 100% satisfied with the flow, ensure that the shots used fit right in and that the order is intact. This is an important stage because it is where you finalize how your video will move, as the latter stages are only about beautifying the clips. If you need to make any changes, you'll have to return to this step even if you're already at the end. So, review cautiously!

4. Do Video manipulation

   

   Video cropping, trimming, clipping, compositing, and stabilization are some of the main post production techniques you can use. Also, add title and end cards because they explain what the video is about and acknowledge the ones who’ve worked for it. Other services under this category are:

   • Color Adjustments:
     Though you use various colors in the video, color grading helps ensure a uniform tone and feel. You can use this feature to change the contrast and add other visual effects. This helps to highlight important elements in the frame, show variation between scenes, and remove the color imbalance in the clips.
     
   • Special Effects:
     Technological developments have promoted the use of CG, VFX, miniatures, and other visual effects on a larger scale. This helps overcome the practical difficulty of showcasing imaginary worlds in videos, as these can’t be included during the production stage. Even as a YouTuber, you can use various 3D effects and transition techniques like blur, wipe, slide, etc., to enhance the visual appeal of your videos.

5. Add audio effects

   

   Once the visuals are set, they have to be complemented by music and voiceovers. Procedures like sound recording, mixing, and editing are the basic steps. Foley recording and script sound recording help remove noise and enhance the overall quality of audio. Use soundtracks to add background scores and music.

   For instance, many vloggers have now shifted to using recorded audio rather than live audio for reduced disturbance and better quality. It also facilitates retakes, unlike live recordings.

   In movies, the live audio like the sound of a running car, a bell ringing, etc., is captured and retained for a realistic feel. The dialogues, however, are entirely dubbed for a better rendition.

6. Review and render

   

   Ah! You’ve finally arrived at the last step where you can see how your hours or days of video editing have paid off. Check everything from the angles to the flow until you're sure the video doesn't need any more work.

   Meanwhile, you can’t forget the minute details, mainly in terms of the sequence and the video quality.

   To explain, if you’re editing a movie, then look for the actors’ accessories, clothing, etc., and check if there’s continuity in the edited clips. Also assure that there are no problems related to resolution, transition, etc.

   This is not where the process ends. If it’s a personal video, then it’s always best to share the final output with your friends or family for review. For professional videos or high-budget projects like films, it’s ideal to get feedback from all the stakeholders.

   Wait for their feedback and work on it before you start exporting because it's difficult to go back and make changes.

   When it’s all green flags from everyone, then there you go! Render the videos in the highest possible quality using professional software.

   Your video is now ready to be shared!

The video post-production checklist

Before we part, we’ve compiled some major dos and don’ts for you to tick while editing videos.

• Ensure consistency in the minor details, audio, and graphics like fonts, motion effects, etc.
• Use transitions that blend smoothly.
• Research, learn, and use modern techniques for professional output.
• Always edit for the audience, not for you. This means being ready to remove shots if it’s evident that they won’t interest the viewers.
• Export videos in the highest quality, with large file sizes, for movies. For online posting, try the smaller sizes.
• Never use a blank screen longer than the previous clip for transitions, as it disrupts the flow.
• Avoid including private information in the videos, especially while you’re sharing them for public view.
• Leave no room for unwanted spaces in the frame.

Conclusion

Video editing can be a bumpy and exciting ride as, it’s a time-consuming yet creative process that involves various elements, aspects, and specifications. Even if it’s a 5-second reel or a 3-hour-long documentary, video post-production is the key to creating viewer-friendly media.

This is why it’s always best to depend on a pro for effective and error-free video editing services.

If you’re a professional yourself or an enterprise looking for a skilled hand to edit your videos, then outsource to expert video editing services companies. This helps save time and money, and also promises top-notch outputs.

What are you waiting for?