Updated How to Take Slow Motion Videos for 2024

How to Take Slow Motion Videos

Scenes that might otherwise be monotonous can be made more interesting by the use of slow-motion photography in movies and television shows. For instance, a battle sequence between two characters can be portrayed in its entirety, but if it is later replayed in slow motion, the intensity of the action is amplified significantly.

Let’s dive in!

1. What is slow motion?

Filmmakers use the slow-motion effect to create the illusion that the passage of time has been slowed down on the screen. In the early 20th century, an Austrian priest named August Musger was the one who came up with the idea. Playing normally recorded material at a slower pace is another method for creating the illusion of slow motion.

When a film is recorded at 25 frames per second, but played back at 24 frames per second, it will seem as if it is being shown in slow motion because all of the movements will be slightly slower than when they were actually performed. This is because the film was recorded at 25 frames per second, but the playback was done at 24 frames per second.

Because there are not enough frames to show all of the details of each frame when a 24-frame animation is played at a 25-frame rate (or a 30-frame animation at a 32-frame rate), certain frames have to be repeated (every 5th one in this case). When there is a dramatic event taking place, this manipulation of the film speed makes the action on screen appear even more dramatic or “tensioned.”

2. Understanding frame rates

When filming video, there are a set number of frames per second that you can choose from. One picture is all you get when you take a still photograph. Click. That is only one example. A frame is the name of that picture. With video, however, you take 30 or 24 images per second, which you then combine. You now have footage.

The video is a combination of tens of thousands of frames or images that are flashing before your eyes. With a normal frame rate of 24 frames per second, you are essentially taking 24 pictures per second and stitching them together to create video. When you stretch it out in post for slow motion, you double or triple the frame rate, which results in more images per second and eliminates empty gaps and jarring actions.

This is how video that has been sped up for slow motion may still preserve its quality. But you can’t just choose a frame rate based on taste. Frame rates vary depending on the different types of emotions. 60 fps will do if the video is a slo-mo of a person’s emotion. However, if your shot contains a lot of movement and you want to show it, such as when automobiles collide or explode, you may require a higher frame rate, such as 120 fps.

3. Post processing

This is when it gets a bit complicated. Some cameras come equipped with a slow-motion feature. To capture the video in slow motion at a higher frame rate, go to your settings. You might not have this built-in slow-motion feature in other models.

Therefore, even though the footage was taken at a higher frame rate, the camera is playing the movie back at the same pace it was shot at, so when you shoot at a higher frame rate, you end up with footage of a normal speed. There is a solution to that. The footage’s speed can be adjusted during post-production.

The 24/30 fps editing timelines are pre-set. The majority of the video you capture at this frame rate plays back just nicely on this timeline. You must stretch out video that was shot at a higher frame rate to match this timeline, though. That effectively doubles or triples the length of a video, depending on the multiple of the timeline’s typical frame rate.

4. Lighting

While watching TV or movies, you might have observed anything. The majority of the extremely slow photos happen in broad daylight. Not after dark or in dimly lit areas. The reason for this is that sufficient lighting is required in order to capture motion. Lighting becomes crucial as your frame rate exceeds 300 frames per second. Therefore, if you must take these pictures, you must do so in a studio environment with lots of artificial lighting.

To create that cinematic magic, you can use high CRI lighting. On the screen, a flickering light may spell doom. Flickering lights have the potential to damage slow-motion film even though they would be OK for any other scene. Because there is no risk of voltage fluctuation, LED lights are a safe bet. The reason for this is that some models do not require an electrical outlet to function. Prior to departure, make sure you have checked each and every light.

If you are filming during the day and you point your camera toward the sun, you may end up with a significant amount of glare that cannot be hidden up in the post-production stage nor can it be ignored. This is not merely a problem that occurs throughout the daytime. Flares can also be obtained from moving vehicles and various other sources of light. If you use a flat lens when you’re out at night, you can eliminate the risk of something like that happening.

5. Why use slow motion?

When you first begin working with slow-motion video, you need to ask yourself, “What exactly is the purpose behind me choosing this effect?” Once you have an answer to that question, you may move on to the next step.

In most cases, there are often two primary causes for it.

1. It makes sense to present emotions on the screen for a longer period of time in order for the audience to be able to absorb and comprehend it in its whole if they are shown for a longer period of time since moments that are packed with emotions seem to endure longer than ordinary ones.

2. The second strategy is to draw attention to striking visuals that you might have overlooked in other circumstances and that contribute significantly to the aesthetic value of your setting. A flutter of the eyelid, a butterfly stretching its wings, rains falling on a flower petal, shards of fire breaking free, etc. are all examples of how quickly things may happen. You need to have a good reason for using slow motion, and you shouldn’t abuse the effect too much too. You should only do so at those moments where it makes logical sense to do so.

Subconscious slow-motion. Overusing or misusing a function ruins its appeal. Filming isn’t an exact science, but it does nothing unnecessary. For a cinematic effect, slow-motion should be introduced carefully.

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Quick Answer: What Is a GIF File

Quick Answer: What Is a GIF File?

An easy yet powerful editor

Numerous effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

Try It Free Try It Free

Stay tuned to get an insight into what and how of GIFs with utmost ease! Here’s all about the origin, credibility, creation and content repositories of GIFs!

Part 1 What Is a GIF File?

GIF is an acronym for Graphics Interchange Format. Talking of the explicit GIF meaning, this one is a short motion snippet created from a set of serially arranged still images in a looping motion. Talking of the origin of GIFs, these were first introduced in 1987 by Steve Wilhite from the US based online service provider CompuServe, precisely on June 15.

GIFs serve as portable image formats for still and animated images, and are primarily small sized files. However, these are very well compatible with large content files too. In today’s times, GIFs are a trending means of entertainment based content sharing and intensified message delivery to target audience. Additionally, you can conveniently use motion images in the GIF format as effective tools of improvising and upgrading your marketing straggles for an enhanced brand promotion.

Considering the immense content varieties of GIFs, these are an eminent part of blogs, social media posts and product websites. You can even use them to objectify your emotions and feelings when conversing with peers through the latest instant messaging applications. The bottom line is, GIFs are an integral part of today’s modern and dynamic communication patterns and needs.

Part 2 Are GIF File Subject to Copyright?

The straight and simple answer to this query is a ‘Yes’. CIFs are indeed subject to copyright, just like its creative counterparts. These essentially constitute an original copyrighted creation, or may even originate from an existing copyright protected work. However, you may encounter potential glitches when choosing to work with GIF images while sticking with legal constraints.

Talking of the potential issues with the legality of GIF usage, there are two major concerns; the first being the sharing of unlicensed copyrighted GIF content, while the absence of legalized methods for licensed commercial use of these short motion clips being the second. Talking of possible reasons, there is again a duel. At present, there no copyright exercise from the end of original creators of GIF content, along with the absence of exact copyright claim constraints that can be imposed by content owners.

This scenario poses a potential need to look for suitable mitigation methods to curb copyright claims and disputes resulting from illegal use of GIFs. As a matter of fact, the development of a proper legal framework for undisputed GIF usage is a time consuming process. However, you can stay cautious by adhering to the following measures in the meantime:

● Refrain from using GIFs in a manner that would appear unsolicited to you, had you been the content owner.

● Take a note to credit the original creators in case3 you are using the GIF content from a known copyright source.

● Avoid drawing content from doubtful sources, instead search for trusted alternatives, or creating a GIF of your own would be an even better and safe choice.

Part 3 How to Convert a GIF File

GIFs are an exciting means of creating a buzz about the information being conveyed. You can ensure an effective reach and impact of your brand if you include these catchy, short animation loops in your promotion strategy. Counting upon the credibility of GIFs, it is equally exciting to create these on your own. Try hands at experimenting with your creative skills to make and share interesting content through GIFs.

When looking for an excellent GIF creator tool, you don’t need to have second thoughts on picking up the Wondershare Filmora GIF Creator. This software has everything to make you fall in love with creating and editing GIFs! You can choose to create looping animations from static images and video files in a variety of formats when creating GIFs in Wondershare Filmora Video Editor .

Wondershare Filmora - Best Video Editor for Mac/Windows

Try It Free Try It Free

5,481,435 people have downloaded it.

Build unique custom animations without breaking a sweat.

Focus on creating epic stories and leave the details to Filmora’s auto features.

Start a creative adventure with drag & drop effects and endless possibilities.

Filmora simplifies advanced features to save you time and effort.

Filmora cuts out repetition so you can move on to your next creative breakthrough.

Creating GIFs in Filmora

As already stated, making GIFs in Filmora is super easy. You just need to follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Download and Launch Filmora

From the link given above, download the Filmora GIF creator software for free and install the same in your preferred device. When you finish, launch the software to reach its timeline.

Step 2: Media Upload

Select a set of locally saved still images or any desired video file to upload to the software’s timeline. Filmora supports over 150 different file formats, granting you the liberty to choose your suitable one without a glitch.

Step 3: Timeline Placement

Drag the uploaded media files to the Filmora editor timeline to customize your artwork with suitable effects and filters, while exploring your editing creativity. You can try non adding overlays; background effects, audio and music, or making size, frame and play speed adjustments and even add suitable tests to make your content impressive.

Step 4: Save and Export

When you are happy with your work, save it locally using the .gif extension. This will cause a GIF file download in your device’s memory. Your artwork is now ready to be exported to your media sharing handles.

Part 4 Places to Find the Best Gifs

Creating GIFs of your own is an absolute fun, but considering the fact that you may require to look for excellent pre made GIF content at some instances, the web is flooded with appealing GIF libraries that are enriched with top quality, amazing GIF content. Some of the best GIF websites include the following:

01GIFHY

This is probably the first name that comes in mind when the talk is about quality with variety in GIF content. The site is an extensive library of stunning GIFs, with tons of different and relatable content categories that are packed with all the latest and trending GIFs. Ann additional advantage of using this site to hunt for the perfect GIF is, the site has a direct export feature. This means that you can directly share your selected GIF on the site to your instant massaging conversations and social media handles.

02Tenor

This one is another heap of amazing GIFs available online. Having a vast and distributed content inventory, Tenor lands among the most potential competitors of GIPHY. In spite of being on the same page in terms of website interface and content categorization, these two libraries offer potentially diverse search results for the sane keyword. It is interesting to know that Tenor takes the credit of introducing the GIF Keyboard.

03Gfycat

If you are interested to experiment with GIF hosting, this website is your one stop access for adhering to all related concerns. Though you may be a little disappointed with the site’s content search filter, its GIF category bank is quite impressive. Additionally, you will be pleased with the high-definition image quality of the GIFs available on this site. You can visibly count on this as a dependable means to access and host premade GIFs.

04GIFbin

GIFs are known to be the trendsetters in content sharing, but if you are among the ones who like to stay out of the crowd, you can visit this site for state of the art nostalgic GIF content. Browsing through the retro inspired content categories of the website, you will experience getting back to those Limewire and MSN Messenger days almost two decades back. The site comes with a simple interface and has a massive library to access content in the GIF file format.

05Imgflip

You can take this site as a bridge connecting the GIF sharing and meme creation spectrums. Though the site excels as a quality meme creation platform, it is simultaneously a hub of stunning GIF content in diverse categories, particularly in the comic genre. The GIFs on the site have an embedded watermark, which you may prefer removing before downloading or sharing the contents, if not, it is equally fine to keep the watermark.

06Tumblr

This site is visibly a time travel into the GIF world. Covering an extensive range of GIFs from the retro panorama to the latest ongoing trends, this website is an eminent store house of futuristic GIF content too. you can either browse through selected content categories or pick up a specific keyword search in the Tumblr search field. Consider visiting this site to take a nostalgia tour to the domain of quality content sharing.

Premade GIFs are a content of class in the world of information sharing. These are intuitively power packed tools of data promotion, but may require additional customization in some cases. Whether aiming to intensify your message or just for a creative fun, if you want to explore your editing skills to personalize your GIFs, you can choose the Filmora GIF Maker software to serve your purpose.

Key Features

The software is loaded with exciting features to let you enjoy the GIF creation experience. Some are them are outlined below:

● The software is free to use and comes with a clean and organized user interface.

● This is quick and easy GIF maker software that helps you create amazing GIF content in a spic and span process.

● The Filmora editor library is a huge storehouse of professional quality effects and filters, like, overlays, audio-visual effects, image size and frame adjustment tools, etc., that are ready to give an outstanding professional touch to your creation.

● This software is conveniently compatible with your Windows and MacOS supported devices.

● It supports almost all common image and video file formats.

● Key Takeaways from This Episode →

● GIFs are an extensive content sharing alternative that are known to add volume and substance to still captures and thereby assure a precise and impactful message delivery.

● You can create stunning GIFs from static images as well as convert different file formats into GIFs.

● When looking for quality premade GIF content, you can visit a range of GIF website to pick exactly what you like. However, if you want to take up further customization, consider using the Filmora GIF Creator software to either edit premade GIFs, or create exciting ones of your own Try It Free

Stay tuned to get an insight into what and how of GIFs with utmost ease! Here’s all about the origin, credibility, creation and content repositories of GIFs!

Part 1 What Is a GIF File?

Part 2 Are GIF File Subject to Copyright?

● Refrain from using GIFs in a manner that would appear unsolicited to you, had you been the content owner.

● Take a note to credit the original creators in case3 you are using the GIF content from a known copyright source.

● Avoid drawing content from doubtful sources, instead search for trusted alternatives, or creating a GIF of your own would be an even better and safe choice.

Part 3 How to Convert a GIF File

Wondershare Filmora - Best Video Editor for Mac/Windows

Try It Free Try It Free

5,481,435 people have downloaded it.

Build unique custom animations without breaking a sweat.

Focus on creating epic stories and leave the details to Filmora’s auto features.

Start a creative adventure with drag & drop effects and endless possibilities.

Filmora simplifies advanced features to save you time and effort.

Filmora cuts out repetition so you can move on to your next creative breakthrough.

Creating GIFs in Filmora

As already stated, making GIFs in Filmora is super easy. You just need to follow the steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Download and Launch Filmora

From the link given above, download the Filmora GIF creator software for free and install the same in your preferred device. When you finish, launch the software to reach its timeline.

Step 2: Media Upload

Step 3: Timeline Placement

Step 4: Save and Export