How To Brighten Dark Video & Footage - CapCut - Step by Step

Introduction

Welcome back to another CapCut tutorial! In this guide, I'm going to show you how to brighten dark footage that you've filmed, whether it's from your phone or any other device. Using CapCut, you can transform dimly lit clips into brighter, more visually appealing content. Let's dive into the steps!

Step 1: Start with Footage

We begin with a very dark video clip featuring a subject that is almost too difficult to see. This serves as a perfect example of footage that needs brightening.

Step 2: Access Adjustments

1. Select your footage and navigate to the Adjust option on the right side of the editing screen.
2. Start with the Brightness setting. When you increase the brightness too much, you’ll notice an unwanted cool blue tint in your footage. This can be counterproductive to what you're aiming for, so let's address that.

Step 3: Modify Contrast and Saturation

1. Contrast: Pulling down the contrast can help reduce the blue tint.
2. Saturation: Adjust the saturation levels downwards to lessen the blue cast.

Step 4: Adjust Exposure

Increase the Exposure slightly to brighten the footage without losing too much detail.

Step 5: Use HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness)

1. Navigate to the HSL settings and focus on the blue tones.
2. Adjust the blue saturation downwards and increase the luminance slightly to brighten the blues.

Step 6: Modify Temperature

Check the Temperature of your shot, which affects the overall tint:

• Raising the temperature will reduce the blue tone and add warmth. Slide the temperature control upwards until you achieve a desirable look.

Step 7: Fine-tuning

After making these adjustments, compare your initial shot to the adjusted one. Although the adjustments may not be perfect, you'll see a predominately brighter image.

If you want to enhance brightness further, you can:

1. Copy the Adjustments: Click on the footage and hit copy to create a second layer of effects.
2. Adjust the new layer by reducing the opacity to blend it effectively.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully brightened your dark footage in CapCut within just a few minutes.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more CapCut tips and tricks!

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Introduction

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Introduction

1. Can I brighten dark footage using CapCut?
Yes, CapCut offers several tools such as brightness, contrast, and saturation adjustments to help you brighten dark footage effectively.

2. Why does increasing brightness cause a blue tint?
Increasing brightness can sometimes result in a cool color cast, particularly blue, because the camera captures less light in dim environments.

3. Is it better to adjust contrast or saturation first?
It is generally best to adjust contrast first to counteract any color casts before modifying the saturation levels.

4. What does HSL stand for?
HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness, which are essential elements you can adjust for better color correction.

5. Can I layer adjustments in CapCut?
Yes, you can copy and add a second layer of adjustments, allowing for further fine-tuning of brightness and other settings.