How to make video brightness adjustments from your footage

Adjust brightness and contrast to make the subject easier to see while preserving the intended mood.

Start with the moments that tell the story

Bring underexposed or unevenly lit clips with the important subject identified. Pick the takes that make the subject clear, including a strong opening and a complete ending. These choices give Shorty a useful starting point for the edit.

Give Shorty the creative direction

Adjust brightness and contrast to make the subject easier to see while preserving the intended mood.

Try a 20-second 9:16 edit as a starting point. Include the exact title or closing message you want on screen. Add a reference when you want to show the pace, captions or mood.

Try this editing prompt

Create a 20-second 9:16 video from my underexposed or unevenly lit clips with the important subject identified. Adjust brightness and contrast to make the subject easier to see while preserving the intended mood. Use my supplied wording for titles. Check highlights and shadows; brightness adjustment cannot recover detail absent from the recording.

Make the next version more specific

Check highlights and shadows; brightness adjustment cannot recover detail absent from the recording.

Play the first cut and pick the change that would help the story most. Name the moment, describe the result you want and tell Shorty what to keep. A note such as “hold the final product shot longer” gives the revision a clear direction.

Questions, answered.

What footage should I use?

Underexposed or unevenly lit clips with the important subject identified. Choose the takes that support the sequence you want.

Can I use a different duration or format?

Yes. The 20-second 9:16 prompt is a starting point. Describe the length and canvas your video needs, then check the rendered result.

Your next video starts here.

Bring the footage. Tell us the idea. Shape the edit.

Start editing