Unlock Free Images for Business: Top Resources Revealed

Did you know that some of the world’s most iconic advertisements use stock images for commercial use? For example, AlamapBBDO, a Brazilian ad agency, used stock photos from Getty Images to create their Endless Possibilities campaign in 2016. The advertising campaign combined photos of random people’s faces to recreate portraits of famous people such as the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis.

Most creative agencies prefer altering stock images in most of their work. This is because it allows them to create campaigns for different companies much faster at affordable costs. Keep reading to find out how to get free images for commercial use in your next project.

Part 1: Download images in loyalty-free sites

Several sites offer free images for commercial use as part of their services. In addition, you do not need to register an account to download the images. The sites typically rely on user contributions and content teams to ensure their databases are fresh and maintain consistent quality. Furthermore, all creative assets they offer fall under the creative commons zero license or a variation of it. Here are some of the sites that offer you images for commercial use for free.

1. Pexels

Pexels.com is a free-to-use provider of high-resolution photos and videos for aspiring creators. The German-based website was started in 2014 by two brothers and has been under the Canva umbrella since 2018.

Currently, the website hosts over 3.2 million images and videos from over 250,000 active contributors. In addition, all the material you find in its library is under the Pexels license, which slightly varies from the creative commons zero license model. Some of the restrictions it enforces include:

You can only use pexels images for commercial use after making alterations to the original image. For example, you can use part of an image to create a collage for your commercial branding.
Furthermore, you cannot use any of the website’s content to promote political ideologies and explicit content, especially if the images contain identifiable subjects.

Pexels is available through the following channels:

Your web browser by typing the URL pexels.com.
The Android and iOS app.
A plugin for other content creation software such as Google Slides and MS Office.
An extension on your Chrome browser.
You can also access the database using the official Canva app.

2. Unsplash

Another website that offers free images for commercial use is Unsplash, a subsidiary of Getty Images since 2021. The website is a favorite among creators boasting over 16 billion photo impressions monthly. In addition, the database consists of over 3.48 million photos from more than 265,000 unique contributors, all under the Unsplash license.

The Unsplash license restricts the sale of its creative assets without incorporating new creative elements, including using them in print media and physical goods such as mugs and caps.

You can access Unsplash from your web browser or request API integration for your application from the site’s owners. In addition, the site also hosts photo walks across different cities, where Unsplash guides show you the best photo locations around the city and the best camera techniques for your work. Some cities to host the event include Boston, Montreal, Tokyo, and Toronto.

3. Freerange

Freerange Stock is an online resource for photos, illustrations, and textures you can download and use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Since 2007, the site has continued to provide high-quality images to its community of over 800,000 registered users.

Unlike the previous examples, all content on Freerange falls under the website’s Equalicense. It grants you broad commercial rights of its stock images while allowing the contributors to retain control of their copyright, image resale, and distribution. As such, you cannot use the images for bulk distribution or print-on-demand works.

Freerange Stock maintains its steady supply of images for commercial use via the following methods:

It has an in-house team of professional photographers who upload images across the different categories on the website.
Freerange Stock also purchases image rights or directly commissions photos from independent creators.
You can also contribute to the website’s library by voluntarily submitting your work to the platform. Kindly note that you will need a verified account to enable this function.
The website also works directly with photographers through a licensing and distribution model, providing them extra exposure on the site.
Finally, Freerange stock aggregates public domain images from other sources, including similar sites and government institutions. It does so by acknowledging the image owner and sometimes lists the image source when the owner is unknown.

Freerange Stock is accessible through your web browser or as an API integration on your app.

4. Vecteezy

Vecteezy is an extensive online library of free stock images for commercial use. Some of the site’s highlight features include the following:

A best-in-class search engine that incorporates multiple filters to ensure your results are extremely accurate. For example, you can sort images by color, style, number of people, and age of the subjects, something other free stock websites do not provide.
All images, videos, and vector illustrations are free for personal and commercial uses. It does so through a property sign and release model with its extensive network of contributors, which protects users from any legal liabilities.
Finally, it employs a content team that manually reviews each photo submission to ensure consistent quality standards for its offerings.

In addition, you can also purchase design resource bundles by subscribing to its Vecteezy pro for as little as $9 monthly. Some of the resources available include the Ultimate Text Effects Layer Styles Bundle for Photoshop, which costs $39 stand-alone or $4.50 when you subscribe to pro.

Part 2: Buy from stock providers

Another way to get images for commercial use is by buying them from stock providers. Some of the benefits of buying images from stock providers include:

You get a wide selection of unique photos from top-tier photographers. Stock providers always seek collaborations with the industry’s finest to edge out the competition.
You receive exemplary customer service with your purchase. Selecting the right image can be confusing for amateur creators. As such, stock image providers have customer support channels to help you throughout your creative process.
Stock images reduce your delivery times significantly. Buying images from a stock provider eliminates the need to invest in photography equipment and the time you need for post-production. As such, you can deliver projects in a fast and cost-effective way.

Despite the above positive, here are some challenges that buying stock images may present:

Not all stock image providers will have the creative assets you need.
Image overuse is likely since every creator will rush for the most popular contributor.

Below are some of the stock image providers you should consider.

1. iStock

iStockphoto.com is an online database of creative resources, including royalty-free photos, videos, audio, illustrations, and clip art you can use in your creations. The website is a Getty Images subsidiary based in Calgary, Canada. In addition, contributors earn royalties depending on how often users download their content.

2. Alamy.com

Alamy.com is a British-owned stock image provider with contributions from photographers and agencies in 173 countries. It compensates its contributors by offering higher than average payouts every time users download their creations. Some popular brands to use Alamy’s services include M&C Saatchi, Microsoft, and The Economist.

Part 3: Shot a Photo by yourself or create one with editing tools

Alternatively, you can get images for commercial use by shooting them yourself or creating them with editing tools such as Figma and Wondershare’s Filmstock. Here are some benefits of using this method:

You get exactly what you want, provided you have the required skills and equipment. Sometimes, getting the right image for your commercial purpose can be challenging. As such, shooting an original photo may be the only option.
You have full ownership of the image.

Unlike obtaining images from stock photography websites, you are free to use the image in whatever capacity you please without any restrictions. For example, sites such as Unsplash do not allow you to use their images in political statements, a restriction you can bypass when using your own creations.

However, you should also consider the following factors when using this method.

It requires a substantial investment

Getting high-quality images for commercial purposes requires specialist equipment. For example, the Panasonic LUMIX GH6 camera, which has 4K resolution capability, costs $2,197 on Amazon. This makes it extremely expensive for amateur creators.

There is a steep learning curve

Becoming a professional photographer takes time and effort. Unless you are creating as a hobby, it will be a while before you can start generating income from your creations.

Part 4: FAQs

1. Do you need a contributor account to get images for commercial use?

Not necessarily. Stock image sites like pexels.com allow you to download images from their website without creating an account. You will only need one if you want to showcase your work on the platform.

2. Can you use your smartphone to get images for commercial use?

Yes. Most stock image providers have device-specific apps that allow you to access their databases from your mobile device. For example, UnsplashPhotoPicker allows you access to the Unsplash library from your Android device.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Things that Make FCP One of the Best Tools for Video Editing Needs Are Discussed as Below

Top 5 Final Cut Pro Editing Tips You Should Know

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Most of the professionals throughout the world recommend Final Cut Pro as the best video editing software tool due to its incredible features. Final Cut Pro or simply called FCP is a wonderful video editing application that is available for Mac users; before Apple it was originally developed by Macromedia Inc. Some major modification capabilities of this software tool include its ability to handle about 99 audio tracks at a time, 3-way color correction feature, cutout tools, audio filters , ripple editing functions and many more.

You may also like: How to add effects in Final Cut Pro >>

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

The major criteria that differentiate simple editing tools and Final Cut Pro is the speed as in FCP users are able to stream knowledge into tricks within a few minutes. Things that make FCP one of the best tools for video editing needs are discussed as below:

1.Favourites and Keyword first

With FCP, it is possible to add keywords to your videos in much easier manner. Users simply need to press Command K for bringing up required keywords on timeline. The predefined keywords of your media file are also organized with control shortcuts. You can go to favourites option from drop down menu directly and the clips can be shorted as well as organized with easy-to-use collections on the left side.

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

Keyboard shortcuts can provide faster support to some common actions and this feature is well equipped in FCP. For example, it is possible to use H and G as shortcut commands to initiate the action of Trim End and Trim Start. You will be glad to know that FCP allows customization for shortcuts that means you can add something more than the default keys as per need. Simple go to Final Cut Pro and then visit Commands; here you need to click on Customize and soon you will be able to assign different keys for required tasks.

3.Live Trimming

When we start editing any media clip then one of our major needs is to make that clip shorter but not all available software tools assists in easy trimming. Users of FCP are blessed in this context as they can trim videos on real time basis by using Trim Start, Trim End and Trim Playhead facility.

4.Adjustment Layers

It is possible to create your own motion effects with the help of FCP and they can be also taken from online sources. But the special feature is the adjustment layer that helps to maintain shooting space of camera and apply automatic correction filters on footage so that every clip can be corrected individually with perfect colour blending.

5.Export Faster

Although this software tool is downplayed with the help of unique language but the encoding capabilities of FCP are observed to be very high. It offers rich quality as compared to all other competitive tool and when person is using it on any modern Mac systems then it becomes much faster.

You may also like:

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

If you are searching for an alternative to the Final Cut Pro video editing tool then Wondershare Filmora for Mac can be the best choice for you. It comes with a fully stacked type feature set and serves with potential functionality so that professionals can manage all their media editing needs with ease. Wondershare Filmora possesses a drag and drop type interface so that users can create stories in a very artistic manner without sending more time of tool search.

Some of the key features of Wondershare Filmora Includes:

Titles and Text - Wondershare Filmora extends its support towards animated text.
Music Library – It is possible to edit or customize music tracks as per need.
Filters and Overlays – In order to provide professional touch to all edited media files, Wondershare Filmora platform is loaded with advanced overlays and filters.
Elements – Supports classic graphic needs and various visual effects.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

You may also like: How to add effects in Final Cut Pro >>

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

1.Favourites and Keyword first

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

3.Live Trimming

4.Adjustment Layers

5.Export Faster

You may also like:

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

Some of the key features of Wondershare Filmora Includes:

Titles and Text - Wondershare Filmora extends its support towards animated text.
Music Library – It is possible to edit or customize music tracks as per need.
Filters and Overlays – In order to provide professional touch to all edited media files, Wondershare Filmora platform is loaded with advanced overlays and filters.
Elements – Supports classic graphic needs and various visual effects.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

You may also like: How to add effects in Final Cut Pro >>

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

1.Favourites and Keyword first

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

3.Live Trimming

4.Adjustment Layers

5.Export Faster

You may also like:

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

Some of the key features of Wondershare Filmora Includes:

Titles and Text - Wondershare Filmora extends its support towards animated text.
Music Library – It is possible to edit or customize music tracks as per need.
Filters and Overlays – In order to provide professional touch to all edited media files, Wondershare Filmora platform is loaded with advanced overlays and filters.
Elements – Supports classic graphic needs and various visual effects.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

You may also like: How to add effects in Final Cut Pro >>

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

1.Favourites and Keyword first

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

3.Live Trimming

4.Adjustment Layers

5.Export Faster

You may also like:

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

Some of the key features of Wondershare Filmora Includes:

Titles and Text - Wondershare Filmora extends its support towards animated text.
Music Library – It is possible to edit or customize music tracks as per need.
Filters and Overlays – In order to provide professional touch to all edited media files, Wondershare Filmora platform is loaded with advanced overlays and filters.
Elements – Supports classic graphic needs and various visual effects.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

FCPX Visual Storytelling: Using Freeze Frames and Slow Motion for Impact

Final Cut Pro X: Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

A still-frame freezes action. For instance, here is a clip of a hummingbird getting ready to land on a bird feeder. I want to create a freeze-frame of the bird in flight. (Um, yeah, I use “freeze-frame” and “still-frame” interchangeably.)

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

In case you were wondering, this is what the freeze looks like. It freezes the flight of the hummingbird in the middle of playback, allowing us to add graphics or other text then resume the action as though nothing had happened.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

As a connected clip, we can move this new freeze-frame wherever we want. However, be careful in moving the clip, because, unless you mark the original frame with a marker (type “M”), there’s no easy way to match the still frame with the source frame, once the still frame is moved somewhere else.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

fast/slow motion

We use slow-motion to show events that are too fast for the unaided eye to see. And fast motion to speed up very slow events. Both of these effects use what’s called a “constant speed change,” where the entire clip changes by the same amount - either faster or slower.

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

create slow/fast motion

Three things happen at once:

The duration of the clip changes
The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending puts a short dissolve between frames when running in slow motion to improve the illusion of motion. Optical Flow invents in-between frames to minimize the jerkiness of extremely slow motion.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, a professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

fast/slow motion

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

create slow/fast motion

Three things happen at once:

The duration of the clip changes
The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

fast/slow motion

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

create slow/fast motion

Three things happen at once:

The duration of the clip changes
The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

A very simple, yet very effective effect is changing the speed of a video clip. This could be a simple still-frame (also called “Freeze Frame”) or playing a clip in slow or fast motion.

This article shows you how to do this using Final Cut Pro X.

For more tutorials on slow-motion please refer to this article: Top 10 Slow Motion Video Editing Software.

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

In Final Cut Pro X, put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to freeze and type Option+F.

This creates a two-second freeze-frame at the position of the playhead.

Adjust the duration of the frame by trimming the edge; just like any other clip. Here, for example, I’m making the duration of the freeze-frame 11 frames shorter.

Very cool, except….

Well, the good news is that this is fast and easy. The bad news is that we can’t change the location of the still frame.

So, here’s another way to do this.

Put the playhead (or skimmer, but I prefer the playhead) on the frame you want to freeze, select the clip, then type Shift+F.

This locates the source clip in the Browser, selects both the Browser and the clip, and matches the position of the In, Out, and playhead.

Now, with the Browser selected, type Option+F. This creates a freeze-frame of the Browser clip and places it at the location of the playhead as a connected clip in the Timeline.

I use both these techniques in many different projects.

2. HOLD FRAME

A Hold Frame is similar to an in-line still frame, but with more flexibility.

Put the playhead (or skimmer) on the frame you want to hold. Then, Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf-on-a-headset” Toolbar icon, choose Hold Frame (or type: Shift+H).

This displays the orange Retime editor bar above the clip, with a small red portion indicating the Hold frame.

Change the duration of the Hold frame by dragging the small thumb at the right end of the red bar.

Add a speed ramp transition at the end of the Hold frame by clicking the downward-pointing arrow next to the word “Hold” in the Retime Editor.

To change the actual frame being held, double-click the bar icon to the LEFT of the red Hold section and choose Source Frame (Edit). This allows you to slide the Hold frame selection left or right.

NOTE: Changing the source frame is a feature that I like a LOT!

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

fast/slow motion

WE create either effect using the same tools, just different values. Here’s how.

Select the clip who’s speed you want to change. Then, using either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” Toolbar icon, select Slow (or Fast).

Choose one of the available speeds; in this case, 50%. (Yes, you can change this to any value you want, I’ll show you how in a minute.)

create slow/fast motion

Three things happen at once:

The duration of the clip changes
The orange Retiming bar appears over the top of the clip
The speed of the clip changes

To reset the speed back to normal (100%), click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Normal (100%).

There are two ways to change the speed of a clip.

The easy way is to grab the small handle at the end of the clip and drag left or right. The speed will change as you drag it.

Or, for more precision, click the downward-pointing arrow in the Retiming bar and choose Custom.

This opens a new dialog allowing a number of changes:

Reverse. Plays the clip in reverse.
Rate. Select a specific speed change as a percentage of normal speed for a clip. Less than 100% is slow-motion. More than 100% is fast-motion.
Duration. Select a specific duration for a clip and FCP X will calculate how fast or slow it needs to go.
Ripple. When checked, adjusts the duration of a clip based upon the speed. When unchecked, the clip duration remains fixed even when speed changes.

You will get the smoothest speed changes when the percentage you choose divides evenly into 200. For example, 100, 66, 50, 40, 33, 25, 20, 10 and so on.

4. EXTRA CREDIT

There is one more setting to consider when slowing a clip. (This does not apply when creating fast motion.)

Using, again, either Modify > Retime or the “Smurf” menu, select Video Quality.

Normal. This is the best choice for speeds of 50% or faster.
Frame Blending. This is the best choice for speeds of about 20% to 50%.
Optical Flow. This is the best choice for speeds slower than about 20%.

Frame blending is relatively fast and easy. Optical Flow will look better in most cases, but takes a long time to render.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

SUMMARY

Whether you want your clips to speed up, slow down or just plain stop, Final Cut Pro X makes the entire process easy.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Part 1: Best Video Editors with Music on Windows and Mac

Whether it’s a personal video, a promo, or a cinematic trailer, the audio or song in a video may have a significant impact on our impression of it.

But what if you just have muted footage or a cracked and damaged audio file that has to be repaired, and you would like to add audio to the movie right now? In such a case, you may make things easy for yourself by using the applications listed below!

1 Windows 10 Photos App

Supported System: Windows 10 and Windows 11

Pricing: Free

Microsoft or Windows Photo App, a free photo viewer and editor bundled with Windows 10, provides capable image editing and photo improvements, as well as capabilities for managing and editing video, all in a touch-friendly interface.

You may doodle on photographs, add background music and 3D effects to films, and use automated object tagging to make searching easier. Microsoft Photos is a wonderful tool for working with digital photographs, and for certain users, it may even replace third-party photo applications.

The Windows 10 Photos application’s artificial intelligence function allows you to create a video with music automatically with the Automatic Video feature. It’s simple to accomplish, what’s more, there are some music track presets in the Photos app, so you can change the background music and edit it further manually.

Besides that, you can also create a new video project from scratch and choose music from its background music library.

Step 1: Launch the Photos app, go to New video and then click New Video Project button at the top of the screen, and then rename the video accordingly.

Step 2: Click on the +Add option to import photos or videos to the project from your PC or collection, and then drop and place them to the storyboard.

Step 3: Next, from the top-right, press the Background music menu, pick one from the list. And the music track will fit to the length of the video automatically. You can enable Sync your video to the music’s beat to sync music to the beat of a video.

Step 4: Then press the Done button. This is how you can use the Windows Photos App and add a soundtrack from its background music library to videos. Windows 10 has several benefits, and with the correct tools, you can get the most out of it.

2 Apple iMovie

Supported System: macOS, iOS

Pricing: Free

Apple’s entry-level desktop video editing software can transform your video and photographs into professional-looking creations. However, Apple’s video editing software hasn’t evolved much in the last several years.

Nevertheless, it still outperforms what you will get with Windows 10, which would be limited to the (albeit increasing) video capabilities integrated within Windows’ Photos app.

In your digital films, Apple iMovie contains superb capabilities for media management, color grading, speed, green-screen effects, narration, and music.

It isn’t always the first to support new formats—360-degree video is currently unavailable, but it supports 4K. Trailers and Movies are two of the greatest storyboard-based movie-making features for beginners in iMovie.

For beginner-level video editing, Apple iMovie is an excellent choice. For background sound, the iMovie creator integrates with iTunes and GarageBand, and you may choose from a good range of background soundtracks and audio effects, such as four pitch levels, cosmic, and robot.

The Reduce Background Noise option, on the other hand, is controlled by a slider. Follow these steps to add music to your videos using iMovie:

Step 1: Click the Add Media button while your application is visible in the timeline.

Step 2: To access the built-in music, go to Audio, then Soundtracks.

Step 3: To hear a sample of a soundtrack, press it. If a soundtrack is muted, press it to download it first, then tap it again to listen to it.

Step 4: Tap the Add Audio button near a soundtrack to include it in your composition. iMovie sets the music at the start of the project and instantly adjusts it to the project’s duration.

3 Wondershare Filmora

Supported System: Windows , macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Filmora video editor is among the most advanced and cutting-edge systems for making music videos . This music video creator free download is likewise available for everybody to benefit from. It is a must-have for everyone, with the greatest UI and top-notch support.

Among the most popular features that Filmora has related to adding music are the amazing audio library and the audio editing features it has. The audio library includes different genres of music, such as tender and sentimental, rock, folk, electronic, and young and bright. Some of these audio features include fade in and fade out, audio ducking, adjust level, etc. to enhance your videos after adding the audio of your desire.

Filmora can immediately detect audio beats, evaluate music rhythm, and apply editing marks as a superb music video producer. You may quickly and smartly create your music video this way. This approach is made easier by the project’s user-friendly interface.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Step 1: To begin the procedure, launch Filmora and select Import Media Files to load photos and videos.

Step 2: Place the video in the timeline by dragging and dropping it. And now go to the Audio library to choose a music track to fit the video file.

Step 3: Double click the music track in the timeline, you can change the volume, speed, and other settings here.

and then you can add fade-in or fade-out effects to the audio.

Step 4: After you’ve finished editing, you may export the video in any of the 50+ codecs that the application supports.

4 Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

Supported System: Windows, MacOS

Pricing: Free trial for 30 days

The video editing program PowerDirector from CyberLink bridges the gap between professional editing and user-friendliness. It has frequently been ahead of the curve in terms of support for new formats and techniques.

It also comes with several features that will assist you in creating a great digital movie, complete with transitions, music, and titles. Best of all, it’s simple to use and renders quickly. PowerDirector is the best video editing program on the market.

The new Smart Fit Audio Duration tool allows you to change the length of background music in your movie while keeping the style and tempo of the music. When you’re down in the woods of fine-tuning video and audio features, the application’s user interface is about as plain and easy as a tool with such a massive amount of options can be, but it can still be intimidating.

Step 1: To import audio clips, go to Import Media Files and choose to import audio clips straight from your portable hard drive.

Step 2: Right-click on the song and select Add to Music Track or drag the music onto the playlist.

Step 3: You may choose from a large range of unique background music recordings. Click on the Media category in the Media Room to open a drop-down menu, where you’ll discover the Background Music selection.

5 Movavi Video Editor

Supported System: Window, macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Movavi is a video editing program with a straightforward, user-friendly interface. PiP, chroma-key, titling, adding music to video, basic keyframing, and motion tracking are all included. It isn’t as feature-rich or speedy as some competitors, but it allows you to create appealing work quickly.

It’s time to begin the post-production procedure when your video capture is finished, and your newly obtained film has been safely transferred from your camcorder to a hard disk. You may alter the audio file of your short video in any manner you like with the Movavi video editor.

Step 1: From the welcome box, choose to Create a project in full feature mode. When you’re in the editor, click the Add Media Files button to incorporate the video and audio files you want to utilize in your new project.

Step 2: Every file you choose will be instantly placed on the Movavi timeline, with video files will appear on the Video Track and audio files on the Audio Track. To eliminate the unnecessary section of the audio file, click the Split option.

Step 3: Simply press Start and wait for your movie to be exported after selecting the correct video format and setting the destination folder by deciding on the Save to section.

Conclusion

Any video without some background soundtrack or any music, in general, appears to be at its 50% percent. Users tend to lose interest soon if they don’t have something playing in the background all the time.

This is why the best Video Editor with Music reviewed in this article will ultimately do everything for you. From editing your videos and pictures, these apps are tailored to provide excellent functionality to any user. Decide on the one you liked based on the features and treat yourself to the best!

Step 2: Click on the +Add option to import photos or videos to the project from your PC or collection, and then drop and place them to the storyboard.

2 Apple iMovie

Supported System: macOS, iOS

Pricing: Free

Nevertheless, it still outperforms what you will get with Windows 10, which would be limited to the (albeit increasing) video capabilities integrated within Windows’ Photos app.

In your digital films, Apple iMovie contains superb capabilities for media management, color grading, speed, green-screen effects, narration, and music.

The Reduce Background Noise option, on the other hand, is controlled by a slider. Follow these steps to add music to your videos using iMovie:

Step 1: Click the Add Media button while your application is visible in the timeline.

Step 2: To access the built-in music, go to Audio, then Soundtracks.

Step 3: To hear a sample of a soundtrack, press it. If a soundtrack is muted, press it to download it first, then tap it again to listen to it.

Step 4: Tap the Add Audio button near a soundtrack to include it in your composition. iMovie sets the music at the start of the project and instantly adjusts it to the project’s duration.

3 Wondershare Filmora

Supported System: Windows , macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Step 1: To begin the procedure, launch Filmora and select Import Media Files to load photos and videos.

Step 2: Place the video in the timeline by dragging and dropping it. And now go to the Audio library to choose a music track to fit the video file.

Step 3: Double click the music track in the timeline, you can change the volume, speed, and other settings here.

and then you can add fade-in or fade-out effects to the audio.

Step 4: After you’ve finished editing, you may export the video in any of the 50+ codecs that the application supports.

4 Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

Supported System: Windows, MacOS

Pricing: Free trial for 30 days

Step 1: To import audio clips, go to Import Media Files and choose to import audio clips straight from your portable hard drive.

Step 2: Right-click on the song and select Add to Music Track or drag the music onto the playlist.

5 Movavi Video Editor

Supported System: Window, macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Step 3: Simply press Start and wait for your movie to be exported after selecting the correct video format and setting the destination folder by deciding on the Save to section.

Conclusion

Step 2: Click on the +Add option to import photos or videos to the project from your PC or collection, and then drop and place them to the storyboard.

2 Apple iMovie

Supported System: macOS, iOS

Pricing: Free

Nevertheless, it still outperforms what you will get with Windows 10, which would be limited to the (albeit increasing) video capabilities integrated within Windows’ Photos app.

In your digital films, Apple iMovie contains superb capabilities for media management, color grading, speed, green-screen effects, narration, and music.

The Reduce Background Noise option, on the other hand, is controlled by a slider. Follow these steps to add music to your videos using iMovie:

Step 1: Click the Add Media button while your application is visible in the timeline.

Step 2: To access the built-in music, go to Audio, then Soundtracks.

Step 3: To hear a sample of a soundtrack, press it. If a soundtrack is muted, press it to download it first, then tap it again to listen to it.

Step 4: Tap the Add Audio button near a soundtrack to include it in your composition. iMovie sets the music at the start of the project and instantly adjusts it to the project’s duration.

3 Wondershare Filmora

Supported System: Windows , macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Step 1: To begin the procedure, launch Filmora and select Import Media Files to load photos and videos.

Step 2: Place the video in the timeline by dragging and dropping it. And now go to the Audio library to choose a music track to fit the video file.

Step 3: Double click the music track in the timeline, you can change the volume, speed, and other settings here.

and then you can add fade-in or fade-out effects to the audio.

Step 4: After you’ve finished editing, you may export the video in any of the 50+ codecs that the application supports.

4 Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

Supported System: Windows, MacOS

Pricing: Free trial for 30 days

Step 1: To import audio clips, go to Import Media Files and choose to import audio clips straight from your portable hard drive.

Step 2: Right-click on the song and select Add to Music Track or drag the music onto the playlist.

5 Movavi Video Editor

Supported System: Window, macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Step 3: Simply press Start and wait for your movie to be exported after selecting the correct video format and setting the destination folder by deciding on the Save to section.

Conclusion

Step 2: Click on the +Add option to import photos or videos to the project from your PC or collection, and then drop and place them to the storyboard.

2 Apple iMovie

Supported System: macOS, iOS

Pricing: Free

Nevertheless, it still outperforms what you will get with Windows 10, which would be limited to the (albeit increasing) video capabilities integrated within Windows’ Photos app.

In your digital films, Apple iMovie contains superb capabilities for media management, color grading, speed, green-screen effects, narration, and music.

The Reduce Background Noise option, on the other hand, is controlled by a slider. Follow these steps to add music to your videos using iMovie:

Step 1: Click the Add Media button while your application is visible in the timeline.

Step 2: To access the built-in music, go to Audio, then Soundtracks.

Step 3: To hear a sample of a soundtrack, press it. If a soundtrack is muted, press it to download it first, then tap it again to listen to it.

Step 4: Tap the Add Audio button near a soundtrack to include it in your composition. iMovie sets the music at the start of the project and instantly adjusts it to the project’s duration.

3 Wondershare Filmora

Supported System: Windows , macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Step 1: To begin the procedure, launch Filmora and select Import Media Files to load photos and videos.

Step 2: Place the video in the timeline by dragging and dropping it. And now go to the Audio library to choose a music track to fit the video file.

Step 3: Double click the music track in the timeline, you can change the volume, speed, and other settings here.

and then you can add fade-in or fade-out effects to the audio.

Step 4: After you’ve finished editing, you may export the video in any of the 50+ codecs that the application supports.

4 Cyberlink PowerDirector 365

Supported System: Windows, MacOS

Pricing: Free trial for 30 days

Step 1: To import audio clips, go to Import Media Files and choose to import audio clips straight from your portable hard drive.

Step 2: Right-click on the song and select Add to Music Track or drag the music onto the playlist.

5 Movavi Video Editor

Supported System: Window, macOS

Pricing: Free trial

Step 3: Simply press Start and wait for your movie to be exported after selecting the correct video format and setting the destination folder by deciding on the Save to section.

Conclusion

Ai Driven Video Production

Updated Unlock Free Images for Business Top Resources Revealed for 2024

Unlock Free Images for Business: Top Resources Revealed

Part 1: Download images in loyalty-free sites

1. Pexels

2. Unsplash

3. Freerange

4. Vecteezy

Part 2: Buy from stock providers

1. iStock

2. Alamy.com

Part 3: Shot a Photo by yourself or create one with editing tools

It requires a substantial investment

There is a steep learning curve

Part 4: FAQs

1. Do you need a contributor account to get images for commercial use?

2. Can you use your smartphone to get images for commercial use?

Things that Make FCP One of the Best Tools for Video Editing Needs Are Discussed as Below

Top 5 Final Cut Pro Editing Tips You Should Know

Benjamin Arango

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

1.Favourites and Keyword first

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

3.Live Trimming

4.Adjustment Layers

5.Export Faster

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

Benjamin Arango

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

1.Favourites and Keyword first

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

3.Live Trimming

4.Adjustment Layers

5.Export Faster

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

Benjamin Arango

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

1.Favourites and Keyword first

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

3.Live Trimming

4.Adjustment Layers

5.Export Faster

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

Benjamin Arango

Top 5 Final Cut Pro editing tips

1.Favourites and Keyword first

2.Custom Keyboard shortcuts for hidden features

3.Live Trimming

4.Adjustment Layers

5.Export Faster

Best Alternative to Final Cut Pro

FCPX Visual Storytelling: Using Freeze Frames and Slow Motion for Impact

Final Cut Pro X: Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion

Benjamin Arango

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

2. HOLD FRAME

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

4. EXTRA CREDIT

SUMMARY

Benjamin Arango

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

2. HOLD FRAME

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

4. EXTRA CREDIT

SUMMARY

Benjamin Arango

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

2. HOLD FRAME

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

4. EXTRA CREDIT

SUMMARY

Benjamin Arango

Freeze-Frames and Slow Motion in Final Cut Pro X

1. STILL FRAMES

2. HOLD FRAME

3. SLOW (or FAST) MOTION

4. EXTRA CREDIT