AI tools for video

This guide covers the AI tools that change a video clip: changing what's in the picture, removing the background, adding auto-zoom, and making a new shot you don't have.

Most of these tools live in a clip's settings. Select the clip, then look in its Edit tab. Describe a change is at the top, and AI tools for this clip is lower down. The same tools are also on the AI tools tab in the tool rail on the left: select a clip and they show there.

Paid tools show their price on the button before you start, and you're only charged if it works. If something can't be done, nothing is charged and you're told why.

★ Change the picture

Use this to change what's in a video, such as the light, a colour, an object or the background, for exactly the part of the clip you're using. The rest of your timeline isn't touched.

You can also start from AI Studio with ★ Change the picture, Remove background or Auto-zoom under AI tools → Video, or from a video's ⋯ menu in your Library under AI tools ▸.

Describe the change

1. Select the clip. Under Describe a change, click ★ Change the picture · AI.
2. The box names the part being changed, for example "Clip 2 · 00:03.1–00:09.8 (6.7 s)".
3. Type one change, or tap an example to start from: Change the time of day, Change an outfit colour, Remove an object or Change the background.

Check the look before you pay

4. Click Preview first frame. The price shows on the button.
5. A window shows the first frame as it is (Now) and with your change (After). The clip will follow the same words, though small details can differ.
6. Choose Reword to go back and change your words, or Make the clip to start it. The price shows on the button.

Keep editing while it works

7. A card over the preview shows which clip is changing and your words. It usually takes 2 to 4 minutes. The clip turns striped on the timeline, and the original keeps playing until the change is ready.
8. You can keep editing, or close the tab. It carries on without you.

When it's done

The card turns green and says the clip changed. The changed clip is in place on your timeline, in amber and marked ✦, with your trims kept. Its sound is the original's, so speech is untouched.

In the clip's settings:

• Compare with original plays the original and the change side by side.
• Use original goes back to the original. Use the change brings the change back. Switching uses no credits.
• Try another wording puts your words back in the box to start again from the original. It's priced like a new change.

Good to know:

• It works on 3 to 10 seconds at a time. For a shorter part, trim it a little longer. For a longer clip, split it (press S) and change one piece.
• Describe one change at a time, for example just the light.
• Every changed clip is also saved in your Library. Once a change has started, it's always finished and saved there, even if you undo or remove the clip in the meantime.
• On a 4K clip, the changed part comes back at up to 1080 × 1920, so it's slightly less sharp than the original.
• If the change can't be made, the clip goes back to normal and nothing is charged. Click Try again in the clip's settings to put your words back in the box.

Remove background

Use this to cut a person or product out of a clip, then put nothing, a colour or a blur behind them.

1. Select the clip. Under AI tools for this clip, click Remove background. The price shows on the button.
2. A card over the preview says it's working. It usually takes under a minute for a short clip, and a few minutes for a minute-long one. The clip plays as filmed until then. You can keep editing, or close the tab.
3. When it's done, choose Behind the cut-out:
   • Nothing: transparent. Whatever is on the track below shows through.
   • Colour: a solid colour, with your brand colours first.
   • Blur: the clip's own background, softly blurred.

You can change what's behind it any time, with no credits. Use original shows the clip as filmed, and Use the cut-out brings the cut-out back.

Good to know:

• To put the person over another clip or photo, place this clip on an Overlay track above it and choose Nothing.
• It works on up to 60 seconds at a time. For a longer clip, split it and do each part.
• Objects in front of the person, like a desk or a mug, usually stay with them.
• If you trim the clip past the part that was cut out, or change the picture with ★ Change the picture afterwards, the clip shows as filmed. Its settings explain why and offer Remove background again.

Auto-zoom

Use this on talking clips to add quick zoom-ins on the words the speaker leans on, the way short-form videos are often cut.

1. Select a talking clip whose Fit is Fill. If it isn't, Auto-zoom shows a Set to Fill button: one click sets it.
2. Under Auto-zoom, choose a Zoom strength: Subtle, Medium or Strong.
3. Click Auto-zoom · no credits.

AI listens to the clip and adds about one zoom every 5 seconds. The zooms show as small ticks on the clip in the timeline. Play the clip to see them.

To change them:

• Pick another strength. The same moments are kept.
• Redo picks the moments again.
• Remove takes them all off.
• ⌘Z undoes.

Good to know: Auto-zoom needs the clip's sound on and its Fit set to Fill.

Make a shot you don't have

Use Make when you need an image or a short clip that isn't in your Library.

1. Click Make in the tools on the left.
2. Choose Image or 8-second clip.
3. Describe the shot in a sentence or two, for example "Slow push-in on hands pouring coffee, morning light".
4. Click Make it. The price shows on the button, and you're only charged if it works.

It's made in the background and keeps going if you close the panel. Under Recent, it shows Making… and then Ready. Click + Add to put it at the end of the main track. Everything you make is also saved to your Library.

Good to know: images are usually ready in about a minute, and clips in 2 to 4 minutes.

Other AI tools

• Remove ums and pauses, Clean up voice and Studio voice: see Sound.
• Captions with key words and emoji: see Text, logos, stickers, templates and captions.
• Describe a change · Adjust settings (no credits): see Cutting and arranging clips.

Related: Getting started · Cutting and arranging clips · Sound · Editing a finished reel · Publishing and exporting · Troubleshooting