How To Make an Intro For YouTube Videos Free in Canva // How To Create a YouTube Intro

Introduction

Creating a professional YouTube video intro is essential for establishing a brand identity and capturing viewer attention. In this step-by-step guide, you will learn how to make an engaging YouTube intro using Canva, complete with animated text and music. Best of all, this can all be achieved without any cost. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Set Up Canva

To get started, you’ll need a Canva account. Signing up is free, although they offer a pro version with additional features. However, for the purpose of this tutorial, we will focus on using only free elements. Note that the music track used in the demo is from a premium source, which I will discuss later.

1. Create a New Design

Log in to your Canva account.
Click on "Create a design."
Type "video" in the search bar to find a suitable template. You want a design with dimensions 1920 x 1080 pixels to match the YouTube video format.

This opens a blank canvas for your intro template.

Step 2: Customize Your Background

Select the canvas background.
Click on "Background color" to choose a color that fits your brand. For this example, I used a dark turquoise color.

Step 3: Add Text and Elements

Click on the "Text" option to add a heading. Use a font like Lato, modify the color to white, and add a benefit description, such as “Social Media Tips.”
Use the spacing option to adjust the letter spacing and increase the text size as desired.
Move the text to ensure it is positioned well on the screen.

Animated Elements

Navigate to "Elements," search for "social media," and filter for animated options.
Choose your desired animation and resize it accordingly.

Repeat these steps to create additional slides (pages) for your intro. You can add benefits like “Lead Generation Tips” or “Step-by-Step Tutorials” in the same manner, ensuring each page features relevant text and animated elements.

Step 4: Add Your Logo

On the last page, add your logo. You can upload any images via the "Uploads" option if it’s not already on Canva. Adjust the size and position it at the center.

Step 5: Animate Your Slides

Click on the background of each slide and select "Animate" to choose an animation style. The “Rise” effect is effective for entrances.
For the final slide with your logo, consider using a different animation to create variety, like the “Block” effect.

Step 6: Set Timing for Slides

Timing can make or break an intro. You can adjust each slide’s duration so that it syncs well with the music track you select. Initially, keep the default timing but while working with the music, you may need to adjust this.

Step 7: Add Music to Your Intro

You can choose from Canva’s music library or upload your own music track. Here’s how:

If you are using Canva’s library, search for “music” and filter by free tracks.
Alternatively, upload your pre-purchased track if you want something unique (sources like Epidemic Sound or PremiumBeat are excellent places to find tracks).

Once you add the track, adjust the timing of each slide to fit the music effectively and preview it to ensure the intro flows well.

Step 8: Download Your Video

Finally, you can download your completed intro video. Make sure to export it as a video file which can then be imported into your video editing software for your YouTube videos.

Conclusion

Creating a professional YouTube intro in Canva is straightforward and can be completed in less than an hour. By following the above steps, you will have a visually appealing intro that can represent your brand effectively.

Keywords

YouTube intro
Canva
Animated text
Background music
Professional branding

FAQ

Q: Do I need to pay for Canva to make a YouTube intro?
A: No, Canva has free options available, although some elements and music may require a pro subscription.

Q: Can I use my own music for the intro?
A: Yes, you can upload your own music and integrate it with the video.

Q: How long should each slide in my YouTube intro be?
A: It depends on the amount of text but usually 2.5 to 6 seconds is typical.

Q: Can I animate my text and elements in Canva?
A: Yes, Canva provides various animation effects that can be applied to text and graphics.

Q: How do I import the intro into my video editor?
A: After downloading your intro video, simply drag the file into your video editing software as you would with any other video file.