Last Updated on November 22, 2023 by Rick Darlinton
Finding a free, professional-grade video editor is akin to looking for a pin in a haystack – it’s that tedious. Thus our excitement when we stumbled on the HitFilm Express Free Video Editor. In this post, we give this HitFilm Express review to introduce its wide range of incredible video editing tools.
Customizable interface
HitFilm Express has a pliable layout panel. You can expand or collapse the panel with the click of a button. This way, the panel doesn’t become intrusive on the canvas.
Considering the video editor’s many tools, it’s great that the interface doesn’t have to be crammed full with features. You can select the elements that make an appearance on the panel, preventing unattractive clutter from forming.
Also, you can always settle for any of the preset workspaces – colorist, compositing, and others – available. Each reorganizes the windows accordingly.
Versatile playback options
HitFilm Express free video editor has significant depth in its playback options – four in number – and it’s easy to select your preference. The result is minimal lag, making it less turbulent to edit clips.
The wide array of playback options available might be impressive, but you should be wary of watering down the quality of the video. A significant reduction in playback quality will disrupt the effects added to the video.
Diverse editing tools
HitFilm Express walks the talk of being a professional-grade video editor as it’s packed with an incredible amount of editing tools.
With the HitFilm Express video editor, you can maneuver transitions of various kinds effortlessly. Its array of animation tools make this happen.
Using this video editor, you can trim clips, even after several edits. This is possible using the adaptive trimmer of the editor.
HitFilm Express video editor is equipped with a shape tool that helps in adding shapes of different kinds. No matter how basic or sophisticated these shapes might be – square, circle, polygon, etc – this tool is up to the challenge.
Color has a significant effect on visuals, no matter the nature of the footage.
HitFilm Express video editor has effects that rectify color anomalies. You can manipulate the tone, contrast, and more using the editor’s color tools.
Expansive timeline
HitFilm Express allows users to set up multiple timelines, making it easy to carry out complex edits separately. Due to the ease of moving between timelines, no time is wasted during the editing phase.
Packed with effects
On HitFilm Express, you get a library of effects for use in your visual production. These effects are customizable, making it possible to fine-tune them so they fit nicely into your video.
Some of the effects include text, muzzle flashes, lightning, lens flares, and much more. However, most of these effects are only available as add-ons in the HitFilm Express Pro version – they’re not free.
Detail enhancing
Sometimes nature affects the quality of a video or picture. A foggy environment can reduce the clarity of the video shot in such a location. To salvage the situation, the HitFilm Express editor has the dehaze tool. This feature tackles haze, fogs, and other natural elements that affect the clarity of the video.
The tool isn’t limited to removing items only; dehaze can add items that give the video better clarity.
HitFilm Express also allows you to add more details to videos by expanding the dimensions possible. This is achieved through the use of particle simulation and 3D visuals.
Audio editing
This software allows you to record a voiceover for onward editing and inclusion into a specific visual. It’s a great way to reduce the burden of opening multiple programs that might affect the performance of the computer.
User-friendly
HitFilm Express might be a professional-grade video editor, but it’s still beginner-friendly. The software is loaded with videos aimed at helping users become better video editors. No need to go searching for videos that will help improve your use of the program.
Easy Export
With HitFilm Express, you can export your edited video to different platforms in a handful of formats like AVI, MP4, WAV, and others.
Using the panels – project and preview – on the module, you review the edited video, assessing the details such as framerate, duration, and size before deciding if changes are needed or should the content go straight to your preferred platform.
The HitFilm Express software lets you export edited content without being at your computer. This is possible by queuing the edited video so it’s exported at the set timeline.
Search Smartly
HitFilm Express is incredibly vast so it’s not difficult to get lost in an endless search for specific keywords. Fortunately, there’s a keyword search feature that makes finding tools easier within the program.
Special effects
Sometimes, you have to distort a video to create the right kind of impression on your viewers. HitFilm Express is laden with warping tools for twisting the visuals.
From the vortex displacement to the polar warps, these tools differ in function. Beyond twisting the video, some of these tools can be used to hide objects in a visual so your audience doesn’t see them.
Using the special effects add-ons, you can introduce infernos, neon lights, electrical effects, and others. Of course, these aren’t available on HitFilm Express free video editor.
Motion tracking
With HitFilm Express, you can follow the motion of moving objects in a video. This is often helpful when you have to add effects along the path of the moving object.
HitFilm Express video editor has a 2D tracker that stays on the motion of moving objects.
3D Model Support
The HitFilm Express free video editor doesn’t support 3D model import. But unlocking the add-ons option makes this feature accessible.
This editor’s support for 3D models doesn’t stop at importing the design files. You can manipulate the model, add composites, modify the texture, and much more using the tools made available specifically for this purpose.