The Clips app, from Apple, allows you to create a short video from existing photos and videos as well as being able to record new video or take new photos inside the app itself. You can add graphics, effects and music to make the video fun to share with your friends on social media.
You have 7 easy steps to take when using Clips: Recording videos within the app, Taking photos within the app, Adding videos and photos from your library, Adding effects, Rearranging, Adding a soundtrack, and Saving.
Each compilation of videos and photos is called a project, and you can only have one project open at a time. If you decide to stop working on a project, you can save and open again later.
Clips is already installed if your iPad or iPhone is running iOS 11. If the app isn’t installed, here’s how to get it for free:
Open the App Store.
Tap Search in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Type Clips in the Search box.
Swipe up and down in the results screen if necessary.
When you see the Clips app, tap Get to the right of the app name.
After you install Clips, tap Open.
After you open Clips, you’ll see what your front camera sees on the screen and you can start taking a video.
1. Videos
Start recording by tapping and holding on the red Record button. If you want to take a video using the rear camera, tap the camera switch button which is above the Record button.
As you record the video, you see the video frames scrolling from right to left in the lower-left corner of the screen. You need to record one full frame before you can release the Record button. If not, you’ll see a message above the Record button asking you to hold down the button again.
After you release your finger, the video clip appears in the lower-left corner of the screen. Add another video by tapping and holding on the Record button again.
2. Photos
You can take a photo and add it to your project by tapping the large white shutter button above the Record button. Hold down the Record button until you see at least one full frame in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Add another photo by tapping the Redo button and follow the directions above again.
3. Use photos and videos from your library
You can also add photos and videos from your Camera Roll right into a project.
Tap Library below the viewer. Thumbnail-sized tiles appear within the viewer. Tiles that contain videos have the running time in the lower-right corner of the tile.
Swipe up and down within the viewer to view all your photos and videos.
When you find a photo or video you want to add, tap the tile.
If you tap a video, tap and hold the Record button. Hold the button until the portion (or all) of the video is contained in the clip. (You must hold the button for at least one second.)
If you tap a photo, tap and hold the Record button until the first frame appears in its entirety in the lower-left corner of the screen.
4. Add Effects
Each photo or video you take, or any photo or video you add from the Camera Roll, is added to your project. A project can include any combination of videos and photos. The most recent clip you added or recorded appears at the right side of the row of clips in the lower-left corner of the screen. Play the clips in sequence by tapping the Play icon to the left of the row of clips. If there are too many clips to fit on the screen, swipe left and right to view all the clips.
This part is so awesome! When you have the clips ready, tap the Effects icon to the right of the Record button. (The multi-colored star.) Below the viewer, tap one of the four options from left to right:
- Filters: Add one of 18 filters to the clip like Watercolor or Silvertone.
- Labels: Add a text image like PLAY or Best Day Ever.
- Stickers: Add a cartoon image like Mickey Mouse or a shape like a heart. Some of them are animated!
- Emoji: Select an emoji like a thumbs up or a paintbrush.
When you’re finished adding effects, tap the X icon to the right of the Emoji option.
If you want to change or remove an effect from a clip, tap the clip tile at the bottom of the screen. Then tap the Effects icon, select the effect option, and select a new effect.
Remove a filter by tapping the Filters option if necessary and then tap the Original filter tile.
To remove a label, sticker, or emoji:
Tap the Labels, Stickers, or Emoji option.
Tap the label, sticker, or emoji in the center of the photo or video.
Tap the X icon above and to the left of the label, sticker, or emoji.
Tap Done at the bottom of the screen to close the Effects screen.
5. Rearrange
Within the row of clips at the bottom of the screen, you can rearrange them by tapping and holding on a clip and then moving the clip to the left or right. Your selected clip appears larger in the row as you hold it and move it.
As you move the clip, other clips move aside so you can place your clip in your desired location.
You can delete a clip by tapping the clip. In the clip editing area below the viewer, tap the trash can icon and then tap Delete Clip in the menu. If you decide against deleting the clip, close the clip editing area by tapping Done at the bottom of the screen.
6. Add a soundtrack
Apple has made it really easy to add a soundtrack to your video. It’s just not completely intuitive. The trick is this: You need to be on the main screen, ready to add a new clip. You can just tap an existing clip and then try to add a soundtrack.
Tap the Music button, top right.
Tap Soundtracks near the bottom.
Tap on a soundrack to preview it.
Tap on the soundtrack again to select it. You’ll see a checkmark to confirm it’s been selected.
Tap the Back button, top left.
Tap Play to preview the soundtrack with your video.
Tap Done, top right, when you’re happy.
Add music from your own playlists
Note: If you use Apple Music, you’ll need to make sure the track you want has been download before you try to add it in Clips.
Tap the Music button, top right.
Tap My Music near the bottom.
Tap on Artists, Albums, Songs or whichever category you prefer to browse by.
Tap on a track to select it.
Tap Play to preview the music with your video.
Tap Done, top right, when you’re happy.
Unfortunately, you can’t adjust the soundtrack or music in Clips. Apple’s Soundtracks will automatically adjust to match your video as closely as possible. Your music will simply get cut to fit.
If you want to change the starting point, you’ll need to do it in an external editor and add the edited version to your iTunes or Apple Music library so it shows up on your iPhone or iPad.
If you decide you want a different Soundrack:
Tap the Music button, top right.
Tap on Soundtrack or Music to switch between the two.
Choose a different track.
Tap Play to preview the music with your video.
Tap Done, top right, when you’re happy.
If you want to mute video background noise and only hear your chosen Soundtrack, select the clip then select Mute. You will have to Mute each clip one at a time.
If you decide you don’t want sound after all:
Tap the Music button, top right.
Tap on None.
Tap on Done.
7. Save
When you’re happy with the project, be sure to save it as a video by tapping the Share icon in the lower-right corner of the screen. Save the project to your iPad or iPhone by tapping Save Video. After a few seconds, the Saved to Library popup window appears on the screen; close it by tapping OK in the window.
When you’re ready to share your video with others, tap the Share icon. There are four rows within the Share window:
- Top: Send the video to a recent recipient of an instant or email message by tapping the recipient’s icon.
- Middle: Swipe to the left and right to view all the icons within the row and then tap on the app icon to send the video to that app. If you don’t see the app you want to use, such as Facebook or Instagram, tap More to view more sharing options.
- Bottom: Save the video as detailed above, save the video to another location, or tap More to tell Clips where to save the video.
- Cancel: Close the Share window without sending the video anywhere by tapping Cancel.
To open a saved project:
By default, the last project you worked on appears at the bottom of the screen the next time you launch Clips. You can also view saved projects by tapping the Projects icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
Each project tile shows several photos or videos within each tile. Underneath each tile, you see the date the project was last saved and the length of the project video. Swipe back and forth within the project tile row to view all your projects, and tap a tile to open it.
The first clip within the project appears in the center of the screen, and all clips within the project appears at the bottom of the screen so you can view and edit them.
You can now start your next project by tapping the Create New icon at the left side of the project tile row.
This app is so amazing! You will spend hours creating cool projects. Have fun!