Among Windows 11's exciting features is the Photos app that is great for creating photo albums. But did you know that you can easily create videos with it too?
Yes, the Photos app can not only automatically create a video for you, but it even has a video editor that lets you make custom videos with motion, 3D effects, music, and more. Let's see how.
How to Create a Cool Video With Your Photos in Windows 11
You can create quick videos like a birthday greeting or for a family occasion in the Photos app.
On the Photos home screen click on the New double Image icon. Select Automatic Video and then select your pictures by ticking their checkboxes. Then click Create.
In the prompt that appears, add a suitable name, like I have named my video Windows 11 Themes, as you can see in the screenshot below. Then, click OK.
Your automated video will be created and you will see a preview of it on a window—complete with animation, background music, and stylized text of your video title.
And if you don't like the created video, just click Remix it for me, and the AI in the Photos app will instantly create another version with a new theme and new music too. You can keep remixing until you like the video you want.
Then click on Finish video and choose the resolution (1080p is recommended), and click on Export to save and enjoy your video.
Create a New Video With the Windows 11 Video Editor
Now let's see how to create a customized video, using videos and pictures. You can get started on a new video in two ways:
- On the Photos home page just click on the New Double Image icon and select New video project.
- Search for Video Editor and click on Best match. On the Video Editor home page, click on New video project.
Both these actions will open up the New Video page with a prompt to name your video. Name your video and then click on OK.
Now you need to add videos and pictures so click on the + Add button in the Project Library. You can add media From this PC, From my collection (which is from the Photos app), and From the web (this will open up Bing search to look for media online).
For this tutorial, I have chosen to add media from the PC. Click on From this PC and it will open the File Explorer. To first add videos click on the Videos system folder. I have a folder named MyGarden with videos that I took from my phone.
Open your folder and select the videos you want, and then click on Open.
The videos added will show in the Project Library. You can add pictures from your PC in the same way.
The next best step would be to Add a Title card to your video. So go to the Storyboard menu which has options of Add title card, Trim, Split, Text, Motion, 3D effects, Filters, Speed, and Remove or Add Black Bars.
Click on the Add title card and a three-second title card will appear. Now click on the Text and on the page that opens you can type your video title and choose a typestyle, layout, and background color.
As you can see in the image below, I typed A Day in My Garden, chose the Loved font style and a centralized layout. And since it's about my garden, I chose green as the background color.
You can also change the duration of the title card by right-clicking on it and choosing from the duration options.
Now you can add your videos and photos to the storyboard. You can either right-click on each clip in the Project Library and select Add to Storyboard. Or drag and drop them onto the storyboard.
Remember, the videos and pictures will appear in the order of their addition—the first to be added will appear first in the video. But you can always change their order by dragging and dropping them on the storyboard.
So let's create our video and for that I will cover what all you can do in separate sections, beginning with trimming a video.
How to Trim and Split a Video Clip
You can trim a video if you want to make it of a specific length or if feel that a longer clip might get boring to watch.
Click on the Trim option and the Trim page with a preview video window will open up. Simply drag the left and right sliders on the preview timeline to trim the clip from the beginning, from the end, and keep the part you want.
Then preview your trimmed clip and if you're ok with it, click on Done.
You can also split one clip into two clips to use them at different times in your video. Just click on the Split option and drag the slider on the preview timeline. The duration of both clips will show up on the right pane.
Then just click on Done and both clips will appear on the storyboard.
How to Add Text to a Video Clip
To give more meaning to your video, you can add captions. Click on the Text option and then choose a font style and layout as we did in the Add title card section above.
As you can see in the screenshot below, I have added the text Green & Glorious to describe my garden and chosen the Simple font and a centralized layout style. You can also choose how long the text will appear in the video by dragging the slider in the preview timeline.
Preview the changes and then click on Done.
How to Add Motion to a Picture
If you're also using pictures in your video, you could add motion to them for an enhanced effect. Click on the Motion option and choose from a variety of options like Zoom In, Zoom Out, Pan Left, Tilt Up, and more.
Then preview the motion added and click on Done.
How to Add Filters and 3D Effects to a Picture or Video
Adding filters is easy and fun. Click on the Filters option and choose from options like Classic, Adventure, Sepia, and Energy. Then preview and click Done. I chose the Energy filter and it has enhanced the colors and given a very vibrant look, as you can see in the screenshot below.
You can also add exciting 3D effects. Click on the 3D effects option and choose from some innovative effects with music such as Atomic motion, Birthday balloons, Laser well, and Confetti fountain.
Here I must mention that to enhance a red flower image I removed black bars from its sides with the Remove Black Bars option from the storyboard menu. Then I added the Butterflies 3D effect to the image, so when this flower appears in the video, beautiful butterflies will be seen fluttering over it.
You can also add cool 3D effects to make your videos more exciting. Then preview them and click Done.
How to Add Background Music and Custom Audio to Your Video
An exciting video needs thrilling music and sound effects. On your video home page, you have options to add Background music and Custom audio.
Create Great Videos to Enjoy and Share in Windows 11
The Photos app and the Video Editor are great tools to create videos simply and quickly. You'll find using them fun and easy, especially if you're a beginner at video editing.
So go ahead and turn your pictures and video clips into cool videos that you can share and enjoy with your loved ones.