Video Editing Tutorial: Basic to Advanced | PROJECT 3 (ADVANCED) — CINEMATIC SHORT EDITING TUTORIAL

PROJECT 3 (ADVANCED) — CINEMATIC SHORT EDITING TUTORIAL

Here is a complete, structured, professional tutorial for Project 3 (Advanced): Cinematic Short with VFX, LUT, and Motion Graphics — perfect for YouTube courses, blogs, or your video-editing playlist.

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🎬 PROJECT 3 (ADVANCED) — CINEMATIC SHORT EDITING TUTORIAL

Overview

In this project, you’ll learn how to edit a cinematic short film using:
✔ Visual Effects (VFX)
✔ Professional LUTs for cinematic color grading
✔ Advanced motion graphics & title animations
✔ Sound design for realism and immersion

This workflow applies to:

• Adobe Premiere Pro

• DaVinci Resolve

• Final Cut Pro

• After Effects (for VFX & motion graphics)

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STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL

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🔵 Step 1 — Pre-Production File Organization

Create folders:

CinematicProject/
    ├── Footage
    ├── Sound Effects
    ├── Music
    ├── VFX (explosions, smoke, muzzle flash, sparks, particles)
    ├── LUTs
    ├── Motion Graphics (titles, lower thirds)

Why?
✔ Faster editing
✔ Prevent missing files
✔ Cleaner timeline

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🔵 Step 2 — Create the Project

Open your editor → create a new project with:

• Resolution: 1920×1080 or 4K UHD

• Frame Rate: 24fps (cinematic)

• Color Space: Rec.709 or Wide Gamut (DaVinci)

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🔵 Step 3 — Import & Build the Rough Cut

1. Place your main clips on Video Track 1

2. Trim using Razor/Cut tool

3. Arrange into the story timeline

4. Fix pacing: cut silences & empty parts

Goal:
➡ Build the basic structure of your film.
No effects. No color. Just story flow.

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🔵 Step 4 — Add VFX (Explosions, Smoke, Muzzle Flash, etc.)

Types of VFX commonly used in cinematic shorts:

• 🔥 Explosion overlays

• 🌫 Smoke & dust

• ⚡ Energy effects

• 🔫 Muzzle flash + light flash

• ✨ Particle effects

• 💥 Impact debris

How to apply:

1. Add VFX clip above your footage (V2)

2. Change blend mode → Screen / Add / Linear Dodge

3. Match color & brightness

4. Adjust position & scale

5. Add motion blur

6. Add sound effects later

For muzzle flash:

• Add flash VFX

• Add flash light glow to nearby objects

• Add gunshot sound

• Add shell casing sound (optional)

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🔵 Step 5 — Apply LUT for Cinematic Look

LUT = Color preset that gives the film a stylized look.

Steps:

1. Select your clip

2. Open Color panel

3. Apply LUT (e.g., Teal-Orange, CineLook, Kodak Film LUT)

4. Adjust:

   • Contrast

   • Exposure

   • Saturation

   • Shadows tint

   • Highlights roll-off

Pro cinematic look settings:

• Shadows slightly teal

• Highlights warm/amber

• Low saturation

• Soft contrast

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🔵 Step 6 — Add Motion Graphics

Use:

• After Effects

• Premiere Pro Essential Graphics

• DaVinci Fusion

Motion graphic elements:

✔ Opening cinematic titles
✔ Lower-third actor names
✔ Animated logos
✔ HUD elements
✔ Tracking text on moving objects

Steps:

1. Create or import animated title

2. Use keyframes for:

   • Position

   • Opacity

   • Scale

3. Add motion blur

4. Composite with blend modes if needed

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🔵 Step 7 — Add Sound Effects & Sound Design

Sound design is 50% of cinematic quality.

Add SFX for:

• Explosion

• Footsteps

• Whoosh transitions

• Wind ambience

• Fire crackling

• Impact hits

Audio workflow:

1. Add ambient bed

2. Add foley sounds

3. Add cinematic hits/booms

4. Mix with EQ

5. Add reverb for realism

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🔵 Step 8 — Add Music for Atmosphere

Choose soundtrack:

• Suspense music

• Emotional orchestral

• Dark cinematic synth

• Action trailer music

Adjust:

• Music volume: -20 to -26 dB

• Dialogue: -6 dB

• SFX: -10 to -15 dB

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🔵 Step 9 — Final Grading & Finishing

Advanced color adjustments:

• Lift/Gamma/Gain

• Color wheels

• Curves

• Film grain

• Glow effects

• Sharpening

Look checklist:
✔ Dark, moody shadows
✔ Soft highlights
✔ Slight warm tone
✔ Consistent across all clips

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🔵 Step 10 — Export

Recommended export:

• Codec: H.264 (MP4)

• Resolution: 4K (if footage supports)

• Bitrate: 20–40 Mbps for YouTube

• Audio: AAC, 320 kbps

Thank you for taking your valuable time to read this article. If you face any question while reading the article then definitely comment. And if you like it please comment and share it with your friends.

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