How to do Velocity Edit on Alight Motion?

To perform a velocity edit in Alight Motion, you’ll need to use the app’s speed graph and keyframes to manipulate the speed of your video or animation. Here’s a more detailed explanation of each step involved:

1. Open the project: Begin by launching Alight Motion and opening the project you want to work on. If you’re starting from scratch, create a new project and import the video or animation clip that you want to edit. Ensure that the layer you intend to adjust is selected, as this is crucial for making changes to the speed.
2. Select the layer: Once your project is open, identify the layer that contains the video or animation you want to edit. Tap on the layer to select it. The speed edit feature works primarily on motion graphics, video clips, or animated elements, so it’s important that you’re selecting the correct layer. By tapping on it, you’ll access the layer settings, where you can make adjustments.
3. Adjust the speed: To begin modifying the speed, tap on the Speed option in the layer settings. This is usually represented by a speedometer icon. Upon selecting this, you’ll see a speed graph appear. The speed graph is a visual representation of how fast or slow the video or animation will play over time. Initially, the curve will likely be a straight line, meaning constant speed. You can adjust the overall speed by moving the points on the graph along the timeline. This allows you to increase or decrease the speed of the video or animation throughout its duration.
4. Use the velocity graph: The velocity graph is where you have full control over the speed at specific moments in your project. On the graph, you’ll notice a line that represents the speed at different points. By tapping anywhere on the line, you can add keyframes, which represent speed changes at specific moments in time. When you drag these keyframes up or down, you change the speed of the video at that point. Moving a keyframe higher increases the speed (creating fast motion), while moving it lower slows down the video (creating slow-motion). To create smoother transitions between different speeds, you can manipulate the Bezier curve. This curve allows for more refined and gradual speed changes, making your velocity edits feel more natural and fluid.
5. Preview and adjust: After making adjustments to the velocity graph, it’s important to preview the changes. Tap on the play button to watch how your speed changes affect the clip. If the transition between speeds feels too abrupt or unnatural, return to the velocity graph and adjust the keyframes or curves until the movement flows more smoothly. You may need to make several adjustments before achieving the desired effect.
6. Save the changes: Once you’re satisfied with the velocity edits, save your work. If you’re done with the video, export it in your preferred format. If you’re working on other elements of the project, you can continue editing. Remember, you can always go back and fine-tune the speed changes if needed.

Velocity editing is a powerful tool in Alight Motion, allowing you to create dynamic speed changes for dramatic or stylistic effects, such as slow motion or fast-forward effects, to enhance the visual appeal of your project.