Updated 2024 Approved FCP X Post-Production Expert Chroma Keying and Color Grading
FCP X Post-Production: Expert Chroma Keying and Color Grading
FCP X: Create a Chroma-Key (Green-screen) Effect
Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, 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/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
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
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, 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/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
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
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, 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/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
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
Chroma-key (also called “green screen”) effects are a staple in video production. What FCP X effect does is allow you to make the background behind an actor transparent so you can place the actor into a different environment than a studio.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, 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/ )
Getting Started
First, the best thing you can do to improve the quality of your keys is to improve how you shoot them. Here are seven basic production rules:
- Actors should be at least 10 feet in front of the green screen. This avoids light from the background “spilling” around their body or shoulders.
- In general, don’t cast shadows on the green screen. Be very careful shooting feet.
- The green background should be as smooth as possible. Paint is always better than fabric; avoid wrinkles and folds.
- The green background should be lit smoothly, both from side to side and top to bottom. I try to have the green background display between 40-50% level on the waveform monitor.
- There is NO relationship between how the background is lit and how your actors are lit. This article will illustrate that.
- Light your background for smoothness. Light your actors for drama.
- Don’t worry about having the green background fill the frame. It only needs to completely surround the edges of your actors. Garbage mattes are used to get rid of junk around the edges.
Setting up the Key
The green screen image is always placed above the background. You can place either the green screen or background image into the Primary Storyline. I find it easier to put the background in the Primary Storyline, because it makes editing the green screen image easier. But this is purely personal choice.
Step 1: Select the green screen clip
From the Effects Browser > Keying category, double-click the Keyer effect, which applies it to the selected clip. (You can also drag the effect on top of the clip, if you forgot to select the green-screen clip first.)
Don’t panic if your image looks weird – we will fix it.
Click the Sample Color icon. This allows fine-tuning the selection of the background color.
In the green-screen image, drag to select a representative section of the background. I try to get close to the face, but not so close that I accidentally select loose hair or skin.
Your key should look better immediately. Most of the time, you can probably stop here. But there are three other adjustments that can make your key look even better:
- Cleaning up the matte
- Edge adjustments
- Light wrap
Click the Matte button to display your key as a white foreground on a black background.
Your goal is the make the foreground solid white, which means opaque, and the background solid black, which means transparent. Adjust the Fill Holes and Edge Distance sliders until your key looks solid. (For REALLY bad keys, you’ll need to also adjust Color Selection, mentioned below.)
If an edge is too pronounced, or needs help, click the Edges icon.
Step 2: Tweaks Video
Then, click and drag a line from the foreground to the background in the Canvas. Drag the midpoint slider (where my cursor is) until the edge looks the best it can. Different video formats make this easy (ProRes), while others (HDV, avchd) make this much harder. Perfection is impossible – do the best you can.
Final Cut provides four additional tweaks at the bottom of the keyer filter:
- Color Selection
- Matte Tools
- Spill Suppression
- Light Wrap
The first three are designed to clean up poorly shot keys – read the FCP X Help files to learn how these work. (I used the Color Selection tools to clean up the very dark key I use an example later in this article.)
Light wrap, though, is aesthetic. What it does is blend colors from the background into the edges of the foreground, to make the entire key look more “organic,” as if the foreground and background were actually in the same space.
This is a subtle effect, but very cool.
Twirl down Light Wrap and adjust the Amount slider and watch what happens. Drag the other sliders around and see what happens. The nice thing about this setting is that when it looks good to you, it is good. The amount of the effect is totally up to you. Remember, Light Wrap only affects the edges of the foreground and should be used subtly.
When you are done, you have a great looking key!
Clean up the Image with a Garbage Mask
Sometimes, however, you don’t have, ah, perhaps, the best green-screen image to work with. Here, for example, there are lighting instruments in the foreground, with a very inadequately lit green screen in the background. (Sigh… this is just pitiful.)
Once you pull the key – which is film-speak for creating a green-screen shot, as I described above – and get it looking as good as possible, there’s one more step: adding a garbage matte to get rid of all the garbage surrounding your actors.
Once you get your key looking as good as you can – which in this case isn’t all that good – drag the Mask effect (Effects > Keying > Mask) on top of the green-screen clip.
NOTE: The Mask effect should always be added after the Keying effect, so that the Mask is below the Keyer in the Inspector.
Then, drag each of the four circles to create a shape such that your foreground image is contained inside it, and everything you want to exclude is outside. Here, for instance, we removed the light stand, the edge of the green background and the tearing at the top of the image. I’ve found this Mask effect works best when applied to a connected clip.
However, the big limitation of the Mask effect is that you only have four points to work with. That’s where a free effect comes in, which allows you to create far more flexible shapes with it. It’s written by Alex Gollner and is available on his website – alex4d.wordpress.com/fcpx/ – I recommend his effects highly.
How to Create a Chroma-Key in easier ways?
Chroma-key, or green screen, is an essential part of every editor to make all kinds of effects. Is there any way to make this sophisticated procedure easier way? Yes, try Filmora.
In version 10.5 for Mac, Filmora added a new feature: AI portrait. It allows you to do a green screen effect with just one click.
By adopting AI portrait, you can add those stunning effects in simple steps: How to Remove or Change Video Background in One Step?
Or: How to Add a Shake Effect to your Videos?
Conclusion
The chroma-key filter in FCP X allows us to create some amazing effects. If you want to use green screen effects more easily, here is Filmora for you. You can appaly Chroma-Key effects with just a few click. Have fun playing with it.
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
Best Free MOV Video Editing Software
Top 10 Free Best QuickTime (MOV) Movie Editors
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This article focuses on telling you the top 10 FREE and best QuickTime file format (MOV) movie editors. All of them are very easy to use. You can feel free to edit your QuickTime (MOV) videos.
Best Recommendation - Wondershare Filmora
Free QuickTime (.mov) video editors mentioned below just provide some basic video editing tools. If you want a more advanced editor, Wondershare Filmora can be a good choice.
- All the classic video editing functions like trim, crop, zoom, cut, split are included.
- Adjust brightness, playing speed, change audio volume, pitch, fade-in/fade-out effect.
- Apply special video effects like tilt-shift, face-off, mosaic blur, frozen picture, green screen, PIP, and more.
- Export for web, mobile, DVD and integrates with YouTube, Facebook for one-step upload.
Supported OS: OS X 10.6 or later. Fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.12 (Sierra), Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Top 10 Free Best QuickTime Movie Editors
For Win and Mac
1. QuickTime (Mac & Windows)
QuickTime Player is a perfect video editor if you just need some basic video editing functions like trimming, rotating, or combining video clips. With the video trimming feature, you can remove the part you don’t want and get your desired video parts. Also you can combine 2 or more clips and merge them into one.
2. Avidemux (Windows & Mac & Linux)
Avidemux is an open-source QuickTime movie editor. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MJPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MOV, 3GP using a variety of codecs. It’s an easy-to-use video editor to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks accomplished. Another great feature is that you can automate your tasks using projects and job queue.
3. Jahshaka (Windows & Mac)
Jahshaka has the video and audio editing capabilities of professional-level software, and supports various video formats. It can handle real-time 3D compositing and Flash animation (up to 32k matte layers); OpenGL-based paint; and a text module. There are also modules for color correction, keying, and tracking, and an array of media support.
For Mac Only
4. iMovie (Mac)
iMovie supports MOV, 3GP, MPEG, MP4, M4V and MOD as input formats. Like Windows Movie Maker, you can use it to resize QuickTime (MOV) video, rotate QuickTime video, crop QuickTime video, or add transitions to your video, etc. It also provides various trailer templates to let you quickly create fun trailers from your footages. When the editing is done, you directly upload your video to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and CNN iReport.
5. HyperEngine-AV (Mac)
HyperEngine-AV is popular among many digital moviemakers and professionals. You can use this free QuickTime movie editor to create slide shows, family movies or business presentations by combining seamlessly video, photos, sounds and text together. The output video is in high DV quality. You can even apply dozens of video effects to customize QuickTime video clips.
For Win only
6. Windows Movie Maker (Windows)
Window Movie Maker has been on the market for many years for Window systems to let you easily edit QuickTime video. You can use it to rotate QuickTime (MOV) video, resize QuickTime video, or crop, zoom, add title, transitions and other effects to your clips. The software can also blend audio files with video tracks to produce video remixes. The supported video formats include MOV, WMV, AVI, MP4, M4V, 3GP and more.
7. VSDC Free Video Editor (Windows)
VSDC is a free QuickTime (MOV) video editor, but it looks and feels just like a professional one. The supported video formats include MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. There are various filters, sound effects, drawing and selection tools. But it can be hard for beginners to master all the video editing functions.
For Android
8. Vimeo Video Editor - Cameo (For Android)
Vimeo is not only perfect for watching, managing and discovering videos online. It’s new app Cameo can also be your great QuickTime video editing tool for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. You can capture combine, edit, and resize QuickTime videos, or add transitions, titles, and effects. With the enhanced Vimeo Video, you will surely give your friends a big surprise.
9. VidTrim (For Android Phones)
It is recognized as the best and free QuickTime (MOV) movie editor for Android users. You can use it to resize video, add effects or music to your videos. Even it can be used to extract music from QuickTime movies or convert QuickTime video to MP4. Just have this Quicktime Video editor on your Android device and enjoy video editing on the go!
Online
10. Magisto (Online Video Editor)
Magisto is a free and easy-to-use online QuickTime (MOV) video editor. There are only 3 steps to make a Pro video. You can just choose your photos or videos, select a theme provided and then add your favorite music. Also, this tool offers the quickest way to share your edited QuickTime video to friends and family.
Conclusion
With the Video Editors above, of course, you can easily do some easy work such as trimming. What if you want more than that, try Filmora out.
We designed this app for those who just want to get the job done and who don’t want to fuss around to learn a new video editor. Known as one of the lowest learning-curve video editors, Filmora is totally free to try. Just download it with the buttons below and check whether it matches your appetite!
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This article focuses on telling you the top 10 FREE and best QuickTime file format (MOV) movie editors. All of them are very easy to use. You can feel free to edit your QuickTime (MOV) videos.
Best Recommendation - Wondershare Filmora
Free QuickTime (.mov) video editors mentioned below just provide some basic video editing tools. If you want a more advanced editor, Wondershare Filmora can be a good choice.
- All the classic video editing functions like trim, crop, zoom, cut, split are included.
- Adjust brightness, playing speed, change audio volume, pitch, fade-in/fade-out effect.
- Apply special video effects like tilt-shift, face-off, mosaic blur, frozen picture, green screen, PIP, and more.
- Export for web, mobile, DVD and integrates with YouTube, Facebook for one-step upload.
Supported OS: OS X 10.6 or later. Fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.12 (Sierra), Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Top 10 Free Best QuickTime Movie Editors
For Win and Mac
1. QuickTime (Mac & Windows)
QuickTime Player is a perfect video editor if you just need some basic video editing functions like trimming, rotating, or combining video clips. With the video trimming feature, you can remove the part you don’t want and get your desired video parts. Also you can combine 2 or more clips and merge them into one.
2. Avidemux (Windows & Mac & Linux)
Avidemux is an open-source QuickTime movie editor. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MJPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MOV, 3GP using a variety of codecs. It’s an easy-to-use video editor to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks accomplished. Another great feature is that you can automate your tasks using projects and job queue.
3. Jahshaka (Windows & Mac)
Jahshaka has the video and audio editing capabilities of professional-level software, and supports various video formats. It can handle real-time 3D compositing and Flash animation (up to 32k matte layers); OpenGL-based paint; and a text module. There are also modules for color correction, keying, and tracking, and an array of media support.
For Mac Only
4. iMovie (Mac)
iMovie supports MOV, 3GP, MPEG, MP4, M4V and MOD as input formats. Like Windows Movie Maker, you can use it to resize QuickTime (MOV) video, rotate QuickTime video, crop QuickTime video, or add transitions to your video, etc. It also provides various trailer templates to let you quickly create fun trailers from your footages. When the editing is done, you directly upload your video to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and CNN iReport.
5. HyperEngine-AV (Mac)
HyperEngine-AV is popular among many digital moviemakers and professionals. You can use this free QuickTime movie editor to create slide shows, family movies or business presentations by combining seamlessly video, photos, sounds and text together. The output video is in high DV quality. You can even apply dozens of video effects to customize QuickTime video clips.
For Win only
6. Windows Movie Maker (Windows)
Window Movie Maker has been on the market for many years for Window systems to let you easily edit QuickTime video. You can use it to rotate QuickTime (MOV) video, resize QuickTime video, or crop, zoom, add title, transitions and other effects to your clips. The software can also blend audio files with video tracks to produce video remixes. The supported video formats include MOV, WMV, AVI, MP4, M4V, 3GP and more.
7. VSDC Free Video Editor (Windows)
VSDC is a free QuickTime (MOV) video editor, but it looks and feels just like a professional one. The supported video formats include MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. There are various filters, sound effects, drawing and selection tools. But it can be hard for beginners to master all the video editing functions.
For Android
8. Vimeo Video Editor - Cameo (For Android)
Vimeo is not only perfect for watching, managing and discovering videos online. It’s new app Cameo can also be your great QuickTime video editing tool for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. You can capture combine, edit, and resize QuickTime videos, or add transitions, titles, and effects. With the enhanced Vimeo Video, you will surely give your friends a big surprise.
9. VidTrim (For Android Phones)
It is recognized as the best and free QuickTime (MOV) movie editor for Android users. You can use it to resize video, add effects or music to your videos. Even it can be used to extract music from QuickTime movies or convert QuickTime video to MP4. Just have this Quicktime Video editor on your Android device and enjoy video editing on the go!
Online
10. Magisto (Online Video Editor)
Magisto is a free and easy-to-use online QuickTime (MOV) video editor. There are only 3 steps to make a Pro video. You can just choose your photos or videos, select a theme provided and then add your favorite music. Also, this tool offers the quickest way to share your edited QuickTime video to friends and family.
Conclusion
With the Video Editors above, of course, you can easily do some easy work such as trimming. What if you want more than that, try Filmora out.
We designed this app for those who just want to get the job done and who don’t want to fuss around to learn a new video editor. Known as one of the lowest learning-curve video editors, Filmora is totally free to try. Just download it with the buttons below and check whether it matches your appetite!
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This article focuses on telling you the top 10 FREE and best QuickTime file format (MOV) movie editors. All of them are very easy to use. You can feel free to edit your QuickTime (MOV) videos.
Best Recommendation - Wondershare Filmora
Free QuickTime (.mov) video editors mentioned below just provide some basic video editing tools. If you want a more advanced editor, Wondershare Filmora can be a good choice.
- All the classic video editing functions like trim, crop, zoom, cut, split are included.
- Adjust brightness, playing speed, change audio volume, pitch, fade-in/fade-out effect.
- Apply special video effects like tilt-shift, face-off, mosaic blur, frozen picture, green screen, PIP, and more.
- Export for web, mobile, DVD and integrates with YouTube, Facebook for one-step upload.
Supported OS: OS X 10.6 or later. Fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.12 (Sierra), Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Top 10 Free Best QuickTime Movie Editors
For Win and Mac
1. QuickTime (Mac & Windows)
QuickTime Player is a perfect video editor if you just need some basic video editing functions like trimming, rotating, or combining video clips. With the video trimming feature, you can remove the part you don’t want and get your desired video parts. Also you can combine 2 or more clips and merge them into one.
2. Avidemux (Windows & Mac & Linux)
Avidemux is an open-source QuickTime movie editor. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MJPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MOV, 3GP using a variety of codecs. It’s an easy-to-use video editor to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks accomplished. Another great feature is that you can automate your tasks using projects and job queue.
3. Jahshaka (Windows & Mac)
Jahshaka has the video and audio editing capabilities of professional-level software, and supports various video formats. It can handle real-time 3D compositing and Flash animation (up to 32k matte layers); OpenGL-based paint; and a text module. There are also modules for color correction, keying, and tracking, and an array of media support.
For Mac Only
4. iMovie (Mac)
iMovie supports MOV, 3GP, MPEG, MP4, M4V and MOD as input formats. Like Windows Movie Maker, you can use it to resize QuickTime (MOV) video, rotate QuickTime video, crop QuickTime video, or add transitions to your video, etc. It also provides various trailer templates to let you quickly create fun trailers from your footages. When the editing is done, you directly upload your video to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and CNN iReport.
5. HyperEngine-AV (Mac)
HyperEngine-AV is popular among many digital moviemakers and professionals. You can use this free QuickTime movie editor to create slide shows, family movies or business presentations by combining seamlessly video, photos, sounds and text together. The output video is in high DV quality. You can even apply dozens of video effects to customize QuickTime video clips.
For Win only
6. Windows Movie Maker (Windows)
Window Movie Maker has been on the market for many years for Window systems to let you easily edit QuickTime video. You can use it to rotate QuickTime (MOV) video, resize QuickTime video, or crop, zoom, add title, transitions and other effects to your clips. The software can also blend audio files with video tracks to produce video remixes. The supported video formats include MOV, WMV, AVI, MP4, M4V, 3GP and more.
7. VSDC Free Video Editor (Windows)
VSDC is a free QuickTime (MOV) video editor, but it looks and feels just like a professional one. The supported video formats include MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. There are various filters, sound effects, drawing and selection tools. But it can be hard for beginners to master all the video editing functions.
For Android
8. Vimeo Video Editor - Cameo (For Android)
Vimeo is not only perfect for watching, managing and discovering videos online. It’s new app Cameo can also be your great QuickTime video editing tool for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. You can capture combine, edit, and resize QuickTime videos, or add transitions, titles, and effects. With the enhanced Vimeo Video, you will surely give your friends a big surprise.
9. VidTrim (For Android Phones)
It is recognized as the best and free QuickTime (MOV) movie editor for Android users. You can use it to resize video, add effects or music to your videos. Even it can be used to extract music from QuickTime movies or convert QuickTime video to MP4. Just have this Quicktime Video editor on your Android device and enjoy video editing on the go!
Online
10. Magisto (Online Video Editor)
Magisto is a free and easy-to-use online QuickTime (MOV) video editor. There are only 3 steps to make a Pro video. You can just choose your photos or videos, select a theme provided and then add your favorite music. Also, this tool offers the quickest way to share your edited QuickTime video to friends and family.
Conclusion
With the Video Editors above, of course, you can easily do some easy work such as trimming. What if you want more than that, try Filmora out.
We designed this app for those who just want to get the job done and who don’t want to fuss around to learn a new video editor. Known as one of the lowest learning-curve video editors, Filmora is totally free to try. Just download it with the buttons below and check whether it matches your appetite!
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
This article focuses on telling you the top 10 FREE and best QuickTime file format (MOV) movie editors. All of them are very easy to use. You can feel free to edit your QuickTime (MOV) videos.
Best Recommendation - Wondershare Filmora
Free QuickTime (.mov) video editors mentioned below just provide some basic video editing tools. If you want a more advanced editor, Wondershare Filmora can be a good choice.
- All the classic video editing functions like trim, crop, zoom, cut, split are included.
- Adjust brightness, playing speed, change audio volume, pitch, fade-in/fade-out effect.
- Apply special video effects like tilt-shift, face-off, mosaic blur, frozen picture, green screen, PIP, and more.
- Export for web, mobile, DVD and integrates with YouTube, Facebook for one-step upload.
Supported OS: OS X 10.6 or later. Fully compatible with Mac OS X 10.12 (Sierra), Windows 10/8/7/XP/Vista
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Top 10 Free Best QuickTime Movie Editors
For Win and Mac
1. QuickTime (Mac & Windows)
QuickTime Player is a perfect video editor if you just need some basic video editing functions like trimming, rotating, or combining video clips. With the video trimming feature, you can remove the part you don’t want and get your desired video parts. Also you can combine 2 or more clips and merge them into one.
2. Avidemux (Windows & Mac & Linux)
Avidemux is an open-source QuickTime movie editor. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MJPEG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MOV, 3GP using a variety of codecs. It’s an easy-to-use video editor to get your cutting, filtering and encoding tasks accomplished. Another great feature is that you can automate your tasks using projects and job queue.
3. Jahshaka (Windows & Mac)
Jahshaka has the video and audio editing capabilities of professional-level software, and supports various video formats. It can handle real-time 3D compositing and Flash animation (up to 32k matte layers); OpenGL-based paint; and a text module. There are also modules for color correction, keying, and tracking, and an array of media support.
For Mac Only
4. iMovie (Mac)
iMovie supports MOV, 3GP, MPEG, MP4, M4V and MOD as input formats. Like Windows Movie Maker, you can use it to resize QuickTime (MOV) video, rotate QuickTime video, crop QuickTime video, or add transitions to your video, etc. It also provides various trailer templates to let you quickly create fun trailers from your footages. When the editing is done, you directly upload your video to Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, and CNN iReport.
5. HyperEngine-AV (Mac)
HyperEngine-AV is popular among many digital moviemakers and professionals. You can use this free QuickTime movie editor to create slide shows, family movies or business presentations by combining seamlessly video, photos, sounds and text together. The output video is in high DV quality. You can even apply dozens of video effects to customize QuickTime video clips.
For Win only
6. Windows Movie Maker (Windows)
Window Movie Maker has been on the market for many years for Window systems to let you easily edit QuickTime video. You can use it to rotate QuickTime (MOV) video, resize QuickTime video, or crop, zoom, add title, transitions and other effects to your clips. The software can also blend audio files with video tracks to produce video remixes. The supported video formats include MOV, WMV, AVI, MP4, M4V, 3GP and more.
7. VSDC Free Video Editor (Windows)
VSDC is a free QuickTime (MOV) video editor, but it looks and feels just like a professional one. The supported video formats include MOV, MP4, AVI, MKV, MPG, WMV, FLV and more. There are various filters, sound effects, drawing and selection tools. But it can be hard for beginners to master all the video editing functions.
For Android
8. Vimeo Video Editor - Cameo (For Android)
Vimeo is not only perfect for watching, managing and discovering videos online. It’s new app Cameo can also be your great QuickTime video editing tool for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. You can capture combine, edit, and resize QuickTime videos, or add transitions, titles, and effects. With the enhanced Vimeo Video, you will surely give your friends a big surprise.
9. VidTrim (For Android Phones)
It is recognized as the best and free QuickTime (MOV) movie editor for Android users. You can use it to resize video, add effects or music to your videos. Even it can be used to extract music from QuickTime movies or convert QuickTime video to MP4. Just have this Quicktime Video editor on your Android device and enjoy video editing on the go!
Online
10. Magisto (Online Video Editor)
Magisto is a free and easy-to-use online QuickTime (MOV) video editor. There are only 3 steps to make a Pro video. You can just choose your photos or videos, select a theme provided and then add your favorite music. Also, this tool offers the quickest way to share your edited QuickTime video to friends and family.
Conclusion
With the Video Editors above, of course, you can easily do some easy work such as trimming. What if you want more than that, try Filmora out.
We designed this app for those who just want to get the job done and who don’t want to fuss around to learn a new video editor. Known as one of the lowest learning-curve video editors, Filmora is totally free to try. Just download it with the buttons below and check whether it matches your appetite!
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
‘S Best Free Video Rotators for 3GP Files: Expert Recommendations
Top 5 Best Free 3GP Video Rotators
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
3GP is a format generally used to store videos in 3G mobile phones. At times, when you make videos with your smart phone, they may look up side down because your smart phone has flipped the videos automatically. In this case, you would prefer to rotate 3GP videos 90 degrees for a better viewing. Here is a list of top 5 free 3GP video rotators.
- Movie Rotator 2.0
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Movie Rotator 2.0
Movie Rotator 2.0 is the updated version of Movie Rotator. It’s fully compatible with Windows 7 and 8 and enables you to rotate videos in just one few clicks. In addition to 3GP, the software also supports other formats such as AVI, MPG, FLV, MP4, WMV, MOV and so much more.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use.
Cons:
- Only available for Windows 7 and 8.
Video Rotator
Video Rotator is an application for flipping video clips 90 degree clockwise, horizontal mirror, anticlockwise, or upside-down. The program supports over 15 popular video input formats which includes 3GP, MPG, AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV and MP4, etc. Video Rotator allows users to also save the rotated videos into 5 popular video formats: MPG, FLV, MP4, AVI, and MOV. This program supports batch mode which enables users are able to flip & rotate videos in bulk.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Straightforward and easy-to-use;
- Can rotate Videos in Bulk.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- No previewer.
Free Video Flip and Rotate
With Free Video Flip, you can flip or rotate video with a mouse click. It features different predefined presets and you can rotate the video by 90 degrees, 180 degrees in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. Or flip the video vertically as well as horizontally to make more correction to the original video or rotated video.
Pros:
- Appealing user-interface.
Cons:
- It offers to install a lot of unwanted applications.
Freemake Video Converter
Freemake Video Converter is more than just a video converter. It also provides a very easy way for you to change the rotation of your movies. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, 3GP and more. Once you get going it’s easy to use, straightforward and uncomplicated.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Different video editing options;
- User-friendly interface and easy-to-use.
Cons:
- There is a charge to upgrade it to the Gold Version.
Any Video Converter
Any video Converter features a very easy-to-use interface. It even enables you to rotate in batches and do some smart editing like trimming, cropping, clipping as well. It’s a bit of all-singing, all-dancing rotating software as it also supports a huge amount of file formats, including 3GP of course.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Wondershare Video Editor is a great program for 3GP rotation. With just some clicks, you can rotate the videos to normal viewing position. You are not only able to rotate your videos 90 degrees and more clockwise or anticlockwise, but also spin them vertically and horizontally. It has a fast rotation speed and will carry out the changes without tarnishing the original quality. In addition to 3GP, the software supports also other formats such as MOV, ASF, FLV, VOB, WMA, MP4, WMV, AVI, MKV, MPG and many more.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
3GP is a format generally used to store videos in 3G mobile phones. At times, when you make videos with your smart phone, they may look up side down because your smart phone has flipped the videos automatically. In this case, you would prefer to rotate 3GP videos 90 degrees for a better viewing. Here is a list of top 5 free 3GP video rotators.
- Movie Rotator 2.0
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Movie Rotator 2.0
Movie Rotator 2.0 is the updated version of Movie Rotator. It’s fully compatible with Windows 7 and 8 and enables you to rotate videos in just one few clicks. In addition to 3GP, the software also supports other formats such as AVI, MPG, FLV, MP4, WMV, MOV and so much more.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use.
Cons:
- Only available for Windows 7 and 8.
Video Rotator
Video Rotator is an application for flipping video clips 90 degree clockwise, horizontal mirror, anticlockwise, or upside-down. The program supports over 15 popular video input formats which includes 3GP, MPG, AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV and MP4, etc. Video Rotator allows users to also save the rotated videos into 5 popular video formats: MPG, FLV, MP4, AVI, and MOV. This program supports batch mode which enables users are able to flip & rotate videos in bulk.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Straightforward and easy-to-use;
- Can rotate Videos in Bulk.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- No previewer.
Free Video Flip and Rotate
With Free Video Flip, you can flip or rotate video with a mouse click. It features different predefined presets and you can rotate the video by 90 degrees, 180 degrees in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. Or flip the video vertically as well as horizontally to make more correction to the original video or rotated video.
Pros:
- Appealing user-interface.
Cons:
- It offers to install a lot of unwanted applications.
Freemake Video Converter
Freemake Video Converter is more than just a video converter. It also provides a very easy way for you to change the rotation of your movies. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, 3GP and more. Once you get going it’s easy to use, straightforward and uncomplicated.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Different video editing options;
- User-friendly interface and easy-to-use.
Cons:
- There is a charge to upgrade it to the Gold Version.
Any Video Converter
Any video Converter features a very easy-to-use interface. It even enables you to rotate in batches and do some smart editing like trimming, cropping, clipping as well. It’s a bit of all-singing, all-dancing rotating software as it also supports a huge amount of file formats, including 3GP of course.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Wondershare Video Editor is a great program for 3GP rotation. With just some clicks, you can rotate the videos to normal viewing position. You are not only able to rotate your videos 90 degrees and more clockwise or anticlockwise, but also spin them vertically and horizontally. It has a fast rotation speed and will carry out the changes without tarnishing the original quality. In addition to 3GP, the software supports also other formats such as MOV, ASF, FLV, VOB, WMA, MP4, WMV, AVI, MKV, MPG and many more.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
3GP is a format generally used to store videos in 3G mobile phones. At times, when you make videos with your smart phone, they may look up side down because your smart phone has flipped the videos automatically. In this case, you would prefer to rotate 3GP videos 90 degrees for a better viewing. Here is a list of top 5 free 3GP video rotators.
- Movie Rotator 2.0
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Movie Rotator 2.0
Movie Rotator 2.0 is the updated version of Movie Rotator. It’s fully compatible with Windows 7 and 8 and enables you to rotate videos in just one few clicks. In addition to 3GP, the software also supports other formats such as AVI, MPG, FLV, MP4, WMV, MOV and so much more.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use.
Cons:
- Only available for Windows 7 and 8.
Video Rotator
Video Rotator is an application for flipping video clips 90 degree clockwise, horizontal mirror, anticlockwise, or upside-down. The program supports over 15 popular video input formats which includes 3GP, MPG, AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV and MP4, etc. Video Rotator allows users to also save the rotated videos into 5 popular video formats: MPG, FLV, MP4, AVI, and MOV. This program supports batch mode which enables users are able to flip & rotate videos in bulk.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Straightforward and easy-to-use;
- Can rotate Videos in Bulk.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- No previewer.
Free Video Flip and Rotate
With Free Video Flip, you can flip or rotate video with a mouse click. It features different predefined presets and you can rotate the video by 90 degrees, 180 degrees in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. Or flip the video vertically as well as horizontally to make more correction to the original video or rotated video.
Pros:
- Appealing user-interface.
Cons:
- It offers to install a lot of unwanted applications.
Freemake Video Converter
Freemake Video Converter is more than just a video converter. It also provides a very easy way for you to change the rotation of your movies. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, 3GP and more. Once you get going it’s easy to use, straightforward and uncomplicated.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Different video editing options;
- User-friendly interface and easy-to-use.
Cons:
- There is a charge to upgrade it to the Gold Version.
Any Video Converter
Any video Converter features a very easy-to-use interface. It even enables you to rotate in batches and do some smart editing like trimming, cropping, clipping as well. It’s a bit of all-singing, all-dancing rotating software as it also supports a huge amount of file formats, including 3GP of course.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Wondershare Video Editor is a great program for 3GP rotation. With just some clicks, you can rotate the videos to normal viewing position. You are not only able to rotate your videos 90 degrees and more clockwise or anticlockwise, but also spin them vertically and horizontally. It has a fast rotation speed and will carry out the changes without tarnishing the original quality. In addition to 3GP, the software supports also other formats such as MOV, ASF, FLV, VOB, WMA, MP4, WMV, AVI, MKV, MPG and many more.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
3GP is a format generally used to store videos in 3G mobile phones. At times, when you make videos with your smart phone, they may look up side down because your smart phone has flipped the videos automatically. In this case, you would prefer to rotate 3GP videos 90 degrees for a better viewing. Here is a list of top 5 free 3GP video rotators.
- Movie Rotator 2.0
- Video Rotator
- Free Video Flip and Rotate
- Freemake Video Converter
- Any Video Converter
- Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Movie Rotator 2.0
Movie Rotator 2.0 is the updated version of Movie Rotator. It’s fully compatible with Windows 7 and 8 and enables you to rotate videos in just one few clicks. In addition to 3GP, the software also supports other formats such as AVI, MPG, FLV, MP4, WMV, MOV and so much more.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use.
Cons:
- Only available for Windows 7 and 8.
Video Rotator
Video Rotator is an application for flipping video clips 90 degree clockwise, horizontal mirror, anticlockwise, or upside-down. The program supports over 15 popular video input formats which includes 3GP, MPG, AVI, FLV, WMV, MOV and MP4, etc. Video Rotator allows users to also save the rotated videos into 5 popular video formats: MPG, FLV, MP4, AVI, and MOV. This program supports batch mode which enables users are able to flip & rotate videos in bulk.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Straightforward and easy-to-use;
- Can rotate Videos in Bulk.
Cons:
- Crashed occasionally;
- No previewer.
Free Video Flip and Rotate
With Free Video Flip, you can flip or rotate video with a mouse click. It features different predefined presets and you can rotate the video by 90 degrees, 180 degrees in clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. Or flip the video vertically as well as horizontally to make more correction to the original video or rotated video.
Pros:
- Appealing user-interface.
Cons:
- It offers to install a lot of unwanted applications.
Freemake Video Converter
Freemake Video Converter is more than just a video converter. It also provides a very easy way for you to change the rotation of your movies. It supports various video formats like MOV, AVI, MP4, WMV, MKV, 3GP and more. Once you get going it’s easy to use, straightforward and uncomplicated.
Pros:
- Supports various video formats;
- Different video editing options;
- User-friendly interface and easy-to-use.
Cons:
- There is a charge to upgrade it to the Gold Version.
Any Video Converter
Any video Converter features a very easy-to-use interface. It even enables you to rotate in batches and do some smart editing like trimming, cropping, clipping as well. It’s a bit of all-singing, all-dancing rotating software as it also supports a huge amount of file formats, including 3GP of course.
Pros:
- Supports almost any video formats;
- Different video editing functions.
Cons:
- Can’t convert audio files.
Recommended: Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor)
Wondershare Video Editor is a great program for 3GP rotation. With just some clicks, you can rotate the videos to normal viewing position. You are not only able to rotate your videos 90 degrees and more clockwise or anticlockwise, but also spin them vertically and horizontally. It has a fast rotation speed and will carry out the changes without tarnishing the original quality. In addition to 3GP, the software supports also other formats such as MOV, ASF, FLV, VOB, WMA, MP4, WMV, AVI, MKV, MPG and many more.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Ollie Mattison
Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Ollie Mattison
Discover the Top 10 2D Animation Software for Windows and Mac
10 Best 2D Animation Software in 2024 [Free/Paid]
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
When you are trying to make funny cartoons within seven steps , explainer videos, or informative shorts to post online, 2D animation software can come in handy. With access to a 2D animation maker, you can create intricate and interesting stories that will help you connect with your audience.
Whether you are turning photos into cartoons , teaching a group of kids , showing employees how to do their job, introducing a new product, or trying to elicit an emotional reaction from your audience, 2D cartoon animation can be very useful.
If you are new to the world of 2D animation as a beginner and want to be a professional animation maker, you will be interested in our review of the top 10 free download 2D animation software options that may prove useful to you.
- Part 1: Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
- Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
- Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
- Part 4: FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
Recommend free download animation maker Filmora
If you want to create a 2D animation video, we recommend using 2D animation software-Filmora.
It is a powerful and straightforward video maker for all levels from middle to advanced. With keyframing, you can make smooth 2D animation quickly. Auto color correction can save you a lot of time to make high-quality animation.
Now free download it on Windows and Mac to make 2D animated videos, and connect with other video creators in the Wondershare Video Community to get more creative ideas.
A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators
Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?
- 100 Million+ Users
- 150+ Countries and Regions
- 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
- 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use
* Secure Download
Have a Quick Look at The Best 10 Free/Paid 2D Animation Software to Download
No. | Product Name | Supported OS | Price | Best for |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Synfig | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
2 | Opentoonz | Windows and OSX | Free | Beginners |
3 | Maefloresta | iPhone and Android | Free | Beginners |
4 | Pencil 2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
5 | Toon Boom Harmony | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $109 per month | Professionals |
6 | CelAction2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $1300 for one single license | Professionals |
7 | Moho (Anime Studio) Pro | Windows and OSX | $399.99 for the full package | Professionals |
8 | Stop Motion Studio | Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS | $59.99 for the full package | Professionals |
9 | FlipBook | Windows and OSX | $19.99/$49.99/$149.99/$199.99 | Professionals |
10 | Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator | Windows and OSX | $199 for the pipeline, $99 for pro | Professionals |
Part 1 Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
01 Synfig - Open Source 2D Animation Software for Beginners
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers more than 50 layers to make simple or advanced animation, so you don’t need to worry about its limitation though it is free to use.
Con: Few tutorials are available in the market to start making an animation for beginners.
Synfig Studio is an open-source, free 2D animation software that is the perfect place for beginners to learn about 2D animation. There are two versions available for free download - stable and testing.
The testing version has some experimental features if users want to try those ahead of their introduction into the stable release.
Features:
- Supports multiple layers of content
- The bone system allows for the creation of cutout animations from bitmap images
- Has sound support to allow for the addition and syncing of narration and/or music to the video
02 Opentoonz - Free-to-Use Effects for 2D Animation
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can use a plug-in to make beautiful animation effects automatically without further editing.
Con: The UI design is outdated compared with other animation software, but it won’t affect user experience.
Based on the Toonz software, Opentoonz is the best free alternative that will help you create 2D animated content. Anyone can use the software, free of charge, and download it.
And users can modify the source code to add specific features to this simple animation software.
Features:
- GTS scanning tool
- Ability to change picture styles
- Add distortion and light effects
- Compatible with black and white and colored scans
03 Maefloresta - Easy-to-Use 2D Animation Software on Phone
Price: Free
Compatibility: iPhone and Android
Pro: It is free to use with easy to start introduction, even for kids.
Con: You need to email its staff to get the installer online, which is inconvenient sometimes.
The beauty of the Maefloresta app is that you can use your Android or iOS tablet and smartphone to create free 2D animated videos.
There is no need to pay for expensive software if you just want to create some fun videos to show your friends. It also offers school solutions for teachers and students.
Features:
- The free downloadable app that works on smartphones and tablets
- Easy animation software with tutorials
- Intuitive interface that beginners can use with ease
04 Pencil 2D - Cross-Platform Software with Intuitive Interface
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers English, Spanish, and Portuguese language tutorials to use.
Con: It doesn’t support the shapes tool. If you like to make shapes and draw something, you’d be disappointed.
Want an open-source and free 2D animation design software to help you create videos? Pencil2D animation is the type of program that can help beginners.
You can get to grips with how 2D animation works, and you can create some very fun and interesting videos along the way.
Features:
- Minimalist design to let you make animation easily
- Raster and vector workflow switching
- Cross-platform compatibility to free download
Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
05 Toon Boom Harmony - Leading Animation Software for Professional
Price: The first 21 days of using the product are free. After the 21 days are up, you will need to pay $109 per month.
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: You can make 2D and 3D animation, both with models.
Con: It may take some time to learn how to make 2D animation for beginners.
Whether you are trying to create an art piece, showcase a story through 2D images, or craft a unique message for your audience, Toon Boom Harmony will help you immensely.
This professional 2D animation software may take time to learn, but it is worth using. It has bitmap and vector tools for creating art, 3D imported models for hybrid productions, and the option to create multiplane scenes with Z-depth.
You can also check the Toon Boom Harmony Advanced Review from the TopTenReview website for more information.
Features:
- Revolutionary vector and bitmap drawing technology - Brush Engine
- Advanced color palettes and paint options
- 2D and 3D integration to make professional animation
- Cut-out animation tools
- Traditional paperless animation.
06 CelAction2D - Low System Requirement for Professional 2D Animation
Price: If you go with the Studio Edition, it costs $1,300 to obtain a single license to use the product for a lifetime. Studio Edition is $1300 for one single license
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It is fast to use with low system requirements.
Con: You can draw animation in itself, so you need to import all words from third-party software.
Want to create unique and complex 2D animations for your upcoming projects? CelAction2D is the type of product that is going to help you create wonderful and professional animations.
While getting a full license is a financial commitment, you are getting a product that has all the features that you could need.
You can create a palette using up to 16 million colors, and you will have a very easy time getting to grips with the way the software works.
It is designed for beginners and intermediate users, but still has all the advanced features that a pro would want.
Features:
- Easy and fast to use for professional users
- Features ergonomic controls
- Easily handles complex projects with thousands of layers
- Works with all modern Windows machines - 32 and 64-bit Also work with Macs through Boot Camp
- The multiplane camera features let you have more controls
07 Moho (Anime Studio) Pro - All-In-One Professional 2D Animation Software
Price: $399.99 for the full package.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: Its update is regular with advanced and newest features to use.
Con: It is not user-friendly for beginners as the functions are too advanced a little bit.
Anime Studio Pro is a fantastic option for anyone who is looking to get into professional 2D animation creation. It is affordable and designed for Flash-style animations.
While you cannot create frame-by-frame animations using this program, you will be able to create some fantastic videos nonetheless.
There is an Anime Studio Debut - simple animation software, which is targeted towards the beginner user and free download. But if you want all the features of a high-end 2D animation software, you will want to go with the Pro version.
Features:
- Enhanced freehand drawing tools
- Beizer handles to make it easier for you to design your videos the way that you want
- Smart warp feature helps create custom meshes to bend and twist your animations
- Realistic motion blur
- Animation for multiple layers at the same time
08 Stop Motion Studio - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $59.99 to download the software onto your PC.
Compatibility: Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS
Pro: You can use a built-in sound to make your animation unique. You can also record voice and use it in the video.
Con: You can only use it to make 2D stop motion animation.
Want to create fun, 2D animated videos? Hoping to impress your bosses with a 2D animated presentation to highlight a product’s features?
Using Stop Motion Studio will help you achieve all that you want in the world of 2D animation.
You can capture content with ease, whether you change up the focus, exposure, or white balance. There is DSLR support, so you can use your high-end camera in conjunction with this professional software.
And with a unique, frame-by-frame editor, you will be able to get the result that you want for your 2D stop animation movie.
Features:
- Onionskin allows you to view previous frames through a transparent overlay, which helps you create your next frame
- Comes with Chroma key and audio recording to better narrate and add voice effects to your videos
- Easy one-click uploading to YouTube and Facebook
- DSLR camera support for creating perfect 1080p recordings
09 FlipBook - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $19.99 for FlipBook Lite, $49.99 for FlipBook Studio, $149.99 for FlipBook Pro, $199.99 for FlipBook ProHD
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: From drawing, scanning to sound, this 2D animation software can make you powerful video.
Con: You can’t use it to make subtle changes as bone rigging is not available.
FlipBook is easy to use for beginners and pros who want to improve the editing experience. It is a powerful video editor that you can make 2D animation with various functions like syncing sound with animation, scanning cells, and more.
If you like to make a cartoon video like a pro, this 2D animation maker is best for you. It is free to download.
Features:
- Changes will be made while you change the animation, so FlipBook is fast to use
- You can use the shift key to make speed painting once you select one color
- Ten layers in animation for adding extra touches
- You can use a scanner to import images
10 Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator - Professional 2D Animation/Cartoon Software for Designers
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can always find the feature you like for beginners and professionals. You can control characters even in expression levels.
Con: It integrates with PhotoShop to import and export video.
CrazyTalk is a 2D animation maker for professional users, so you can use this one if you don’t know which one to use. It supports controlling characters with your expression and lip-syncing. It is popular among YouTubers, educators and marketers.
Features:
- Capture real-time facial expression with precise changing
- Black magic to turn the image into a moving cartoon
- For advanced users, you can make 2D visual effects
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
You may also like: Best Free Animated Logo Makers >>
Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
Step 1 Put forward an idea
A story ides is priceless. It is always important to build an essential story frame. Sometimes it is in a blink to have come up with an idea.
It will help if you decide the gist of your 2D animation because the whole process of making animation is evolving. You may need to add or cut some scenes, but the overall concept and story ideas are always the same.
Step 2 Make a storyboard
After all the ideas are fixed, you need to make a storyboard for animation . You don’t need to produce every scene, but it is suggested to make a storyboard in some crucial scenes. Storyboarding is probably the best way to show 2D animation to other people and get feedback.
Thus, it is a step that you should not neglect during the preliminary.
Step 3 Produce materials
At this stage, you need to prepare all the 2D animation materials, including characters, background, and props. One thing you need to know is all the preparations in steps 2 and 3 should be ready before proceeding to step 3.
Step 4 Animation
After all, materials are ready, and you need to make animation alive. In this step, you need to make sure all the movements are natural. Stiff moves are not liked by the audience, so you need to think about how to design gestures, movements, and facial expressions.
Step 5 Animation editing
In this step, the software is the key to relive the 2D animation. Background audio is essential and needs to be added to the video. Color correction and grading are also necessary. Besides, scene transition, voiceover, and even text credit need to be added.
Above are the five 2D animation steps. If you think there are extra steps, you are free to add them according to your needs.
Bonus tip: Create an Animation Video with Anireel
Anireel provides a faster and smoother animated video creation experience with customizable elements to bring anyone’s imagination to life. All you have to do is choose your script, input the content, and Anireel will instantly match your script to rich animation explainer scenes, convert the text into voice-over, and generate a vivid, complete animation video.
Part 3 FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
01 What is the best 2D animation software?
It is hard to directly give you an answer and tell you which is the best 2D animation software. However, we can give you some recommendations based on your needs. If you are a beginner, Pencil 2D is a great start. You can use it to make minimalist animation to give you a quick-to-start 2D animation experience. If you are in the middle level, Stop Motion Studio is what we recommend. The interface is intuitive with powerful features like voiceover and Chroma key.
02 What is the best 2D animation software for beginners?
For 2D animation software for beginners, Pencil 2D would come to mind for many people. It is an excellent animation software for beginners. If you also want to try other tools, Synfig and FlipBook are also great choices. It is your call for the final decision.
03 Is there any free animation software?
For beginners, free animation software includes Synfig, Opentoonz, Maefloresta, and Pencil 2D. For advanced users, you can use Blender and Maya.
Conclusion
Creating a 2D animation video is a lot easier when you have the right software available to you. You already have a script and storyboard in mind, but now you can realize your vision in intricate and unique ways.
If you want to make 3D animation, there are also various 3D animation software options for you. If anyone of the products above will serve you well, you could use Filmora.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
When you are trying to make funny cartoons within seven steps , explainer videos, or informative shorts to post online, 2D animation software can come in handy. With access to a 2D animation maker, you can create intricate and interesting stories that will help you connect with your audience.
Whether you are turning photos into cartoons , teaching a group of kids , showing employees how to do their job, introducing a new product, or trying to elicit an emotional reaction from your audience, 2D cartoon animation can be very useful.
If you are new to the world of 2D animation as a beginner and want to be a professional animation maker, you will be interested in our review of the top 10 free download 2D animation software options that may prove useful to you.
- Part 1: Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
- Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
- Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
- Part 4: FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
Recommend free download animation maker Filmora
If you want to create a 2D animation video, we recommend using 2D animation software-Filmora.
It is a powerful and straightforward video maker for all levels from middle to advanced. With keyframing, you can make smooth 2D animation quickly. Auto color correction can save you a lot of time to make high-quality animation.
Now free download it on Windows and Mac to make 2D animated videos, and connect with other video creators in the Wondershare Video Community to get more creative ideas.
A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators
Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?
- 100 Million+ Users
- 150+ Countries and Regions
- 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
- 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use
* Secure Download
Have a Quick Look at The Best 10 Free/Paid 2D Animation Software to Download
No. | Product Name | Supported OS | Price | Best for |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Synfig | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
2 | Opentoonz | Windows and OSX | Free | Beginners |
3 | Maefloresta | iPhone and Android | Free | Beginners |
4 | Pencil 2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
5 | Toon Boom Harmony | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $109 per month | Professionals |
6 | CelAction2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $1300 for one single license | Professionals |
7 | Moho (Anime Studio) Pro | Windows and OSX | $399.99 for the full package | Professionals |
8 | Stop Motion Studio | Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS | $59.99 for the full package | Professionals |
9 | FlipBook | Windows and OSX | $19.99/$49.99/$149.99/$199.99 | Professionals |
10 | Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator | Windows and OSX | $199 for the pipeline, $99 for pro | Professionals |
Part 1 Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
01 Synfig - Open Source 2D Animation Software for Beginners
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers more than 50 layers to make simple or advanced animation, so you don’t need to worry about its limitation though it is free to use.
Con: Few tutorials are available in the market to start making an animation for beginners.
Synfig Studio is an open-source, free 2D animation software that is the perfect place for beginners to learn about 2D animation. There are two versions available for free download - stable and testing.
The testing version has some experimental features if users want to try those ahead of their introduction into the stable release.
Features:
- Supports multiple layers of content
- The bone system allows for the creation of cutout animations from bitmap images
- Has sound support to allow for the addition and syncing of narration and/or music to the video
02 Opentoonz - Free-to-Use Effects for 2D Animation
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can use a plug-in to make beautiful animation effects automatically without further editing.
Con: The UI design is outdated compared with other animation software, but it won’t affect user experience.
Based on the Toonz software, Opentoonz is the best free alternative that will help you create 2D animated content. Anyone can use the software, free of charge, and download it.
And users can modify the source code to add specific features to this simple animation software.
Features:
- GTS scanning tool
- Ability to change picture styles
- Add distortion and light effects
- Compatible with black and white and colored scans
03 Maefloresta - Easy-to-Use 2D Animation Software on Phone
Price: Free
Compatibility: iPhone and Android
Pro: It is free to use with easy to start introduction, even for kids.
Con: You need to email its staff to get the installer online, which is inconvenient sometimes.
The beauty of the Maefloresta app is that you can use your Android or iOS tablet and smartphone to create free 2D animated videos.
There is no need to pay for expensive software if you just want to create some fun videos to show your friends. It also offers school solutions for teachers and students.
Features:
- The free downloadable app that works on smartphones and tablets
- Easy animation software with tutorials
- Intuitive interface that beginners can use with ease
04 Pencil 2D - Cross-Platform Software with Intuitive Interface
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers English, Spanish, and Portuguese language tutorials to use.
Con: It doesn’t support the shapes tool. If you like to make shapes and draw something, you’d be disappointed.
Want an open-source and free 2D animation design software to help you create videos? Pencil2D animation is the type of program that can help beginners.
You can get to grips with how 2D animation works, and you can create some very fun and interesting videos along the way.
Features:
- Minimalist design to let you make animation easily
- Raster and vector workflow switching
- Cross-platform compatibility to free download
Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
05 Toon Boom Harmony - Leading Animation Software for Professional
Price: The first 21 days of using the product are free. After the 21 days are up, you will need to pay $109 per month.
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: You can make 2D and 3D animation, both with models.
Con: It may take some time to learn how to make 2D animation for beginners.
Whether you are trying to create an art piece, showcase a story through 2D images, or craft a unique message for your audience, Toon Boom Harmony will help you immensely.
This professional 2D animation software may take time to learn, but it is worth using. It has bitmap and vector tools for creating art, 3D imported models for hybrid productions, and the option to create multiplane scenes with Z-depth.
You can also check the Toon Boom Harmony Advanced Review from the TopTenReview website for more information.
Features:
- Revolutionary vector and bitmap drawing technology - Brush Engine
- Advanced color palettes and paint options
- 2D and 3D integration to make professional animation
- Cut-out animation tools
- Traditional paperless animation.
06 CelAction2D - Low System Requirement for Professional 2D Animation
Price: If you go with the Studio Edition, it costs $1,300 to obtain a single license to use the product for a lifetime. Studio Edition is $1300 for one single license
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It is fast to use with low system requirements.
Con: You can draw animation in itself, so you need to import all words from third-party software.
Want to create unique and complex 2D animations for your upcoming projects? CelAction2D is the type of product that is going to help you create wonderful and professional animations.
While getting a full license is a financial commitment, you are getting a product that has all the features that you could need.
You can create a palette using up to 16 million colors, and you will have a very easy time getting to grips with the way the software works.
It is designed for beginners and intermediate users, but still has all the advanced features that a pro would want.
Features:
- Easy and fast to use for professional users
- Features ergonomic controls
- Easily handles complex projects with thousands of layers
- Works with all modern Windows machines - 32 and 64-bit Also work with Macs through Boot Camp
- The multiplane camera features let you have more controls
07 Moho (Anime Studio) Pro - All-In-One Professional 2D Animation Software
Price: $399.99 for the full package.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: Its update is regular with advanced and newest features to use.
Con: It is not user-friendly for beginners as the functions are too advanced a little bit.
Anime Studio Pro is a fantastic option for anyone who is looking to get into professional 2D animation creation. It is affordable and designed for Flash-style animations.
While you cannot create frame-by-frame animations using this program, you will be able to create some fantastic videos nonetheless.
There is an Anime Studio Debut - simple animation software, which is targeted towards the beginner user and free download. But if you want all the features of a high-end 2D animation software, you will want to go with the Pro version.
Features:
- Enhanced freehand drawing tools
- Beizer handles to make it easier for you to design your videos the way that you want
- Smart warp feature helps create custom meshes to bend and twist your animations
- Realistic motion blur
- Animation for multiple layers at the same time
08 Stop Motion Studio - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $59.99 to download the software onto your PC.
Compatibility: Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS
Pro: You can use a built-in sound to make your animation unique. You can also record voice and use it in the video.
Con: You can only use it to make 2D stop motion animation.
Want to create fun, 2D animated videos? Hoping to impress your bosses with a 2D animated presentation to highlight a product’s features?
Using Stop Motion Studio will help you achieve all that you want in the world of 2D animation.
You can capture content with ease, whether you change up the focus, exposure, or white balance. There is DSLR support, so you can use your high-end camera in conjunction with this professional software.
And with a unique, frame-by-frame editor, you will be able to get the result that you want for your 2D stop animation movie.
Features:
- Onionskin allows you to view previous frames through a transparent overlay, which helps you create your next frame
- Comes with Chroma key and audio recording to better narrate and add voice effects to your videos
- Easy one-click uploading to YouTube and Facebook
- DSLR camera support for creating perfect 1080p recordings
09 FlipBook - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $19.99 for FlipBook Lite, $49.99 for FlipBook Studio, $149.99 for FlipBook Pro, $199.99 for FlipBook ProHD
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: From drawing, scanning to sound, this 2D animation software can make you powerful video.
Con: You can’t use it to make subtle changes as bone rigging is not available.
FlipBook is easy to use for beginners and pros who want to improve the editing experience. It is a powerful video editor that you can make 2D animation with various functions like syncing sound with animation, scanning cells, and more.
If you like to make a cartoon video like a pro, this 2D animation maker is best for you. It is free to download.
Features:
- Changes will be made while you change the animation, so FlipBook is fast to use
- You can use the shift key to make speed painting once you select one color
- Ten layers in animation for adding extra touches
- You can use a scanner to import images
10 Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator - Professional 2D Animation/Cartoon Software for Designers
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can always find the feature you like for beginners and professionals. You can control characters even in expression levels.
Con: It integrates with PhotoShop to import and export video.
CrazyTalk is a 2D animation maker for professional users, so you can use this one if you don’t know which one to use. It supports controlling characters with your expression and lip-syncing. It is popular among YouTubers, educators and marketers.
Features:
- Capture real-time facial expression with precise changing
- Black magic to turn the image into a moving cartoon
- For advanced users, you can make 2D visual effects
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
You may also like: Best Free Animated Logo Makers >>
Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
Step 1 Put forward an idea
A story ides is priceless. It is always important to build an essential story frame. Sometimes it is in a blink to have come up with an idea.
It will help if you decide the gist of your 2D animation because the whole process of making animation is evolving. You may need to add or cut some scenes, but the overall concept and story ideas are always the same.
Step 2 Make a storyboard
After all the ideas are fixed, you need to make a storyboard for animation . You don’t need to produce every scene, but it is suggested to make a storyboard in some crucial scenes. Storyboarding is probably the best way to show 2D animation to other people and get feedback.
Thus, it is a step that you should not neglect during the preliminary.
Step 3 Produce materials
At this stage, you need to prepare all the 2D animation materials, including characters, background, and props. One thing you need to know is all the preparations in steps 2 and 3 should be ready before proceeding to step 3.
Step 4 Animation
After all, materials are ready, and you need to make animation alive. In this step, you need to make sure all the movements are natural. Stiff moves are not liked by the audience, so you need to think about how to design gestures, movements, and facial expressions.
Step 5 Animation editing
In this step, the software is the key to relive the 2D animation. Background audio is essential and needs to be added to the video. Color correction and grading are also necessary. Besides, scene transition, voiceover, and even text credit need to be added.
Above are the five 2D animation steps. If you think there are extra steps, you are free to add them according to your needs.
Bonus tip: Create an Animation Video with Anireel
Anireel provides a faster and smoother animated video creation experience with customizable elements to bring anyone’s imagination to life. All you have to do is choose your script, input the content, and Anireel will instantly match your script to rich animation explainer scenes, convert the text into voice-over, and generate a vivid, complete animation video.
Part 3 FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
01 What is the best 2D animation software?
It is hard to directly give you an answer and tell you which is the best 2D animation software. However, we can give you some recommendations based on your needs. If you are a beginner, Pencil 2D is a great start. You can use it to make minimalist animation to give you a quick-to-start 2D animation experience. If you are in the middle level, Stop Motion Studio is what we recommend. The interface is intuitive with powerful features like voiceover and Chroma key.
02 What is the best 2D animation software for beginners?
For 2D animation software for beginners, Pencil 2D would come to mind for many people. It is an excellent animation software for beginners. If you also want to try other tools, Synfig and FlipBook are also great choices. It is your call for the final decision.
03 Is there any free animation software?
For beginners, free animation software includes Synfig, Opentoonz, Maefloresta, and Pencil 2D. For advanced users, you can use Blender and Maya.
Conclusion
Creating a 2D animation video is a lot easier when you have the right software available to you. You already have a script and storyboard in mind, but now you can realize your vision in intricate and unique ways.
If you want to make 3D animation, there are also various 3D animation software options for you. If anyone of the products above will serve you well, you could use Filmora.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
When you are trying to make funny cartoons within seven steps , explainer videos, or informative shorts to post online, 2D animation software can come in handy. With access to a 2D animation maker, you can create intricate and interesting stories that will help you connect with your audience.
Whether you are turning photos into cartoons , teaching a group of kids , showing employees how to do their job, introducing a new product, or trying to elicit an emotional reaction from your audience, 2D cartoon animation can be very useful.
If you are new to the world of 2D animation as a beginner and want to be a professional animation maker, you will be interested in our review of the top 10 free download 2D animation software options that may prove useful to you.
- Part 1: Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
- Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
- Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
- Part 4: FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
Recommend free download animation maker Filmora
If you want to create a 2D animation video, we recommend using 2D animation software-Filmora.
It is a powerful and straightforward video maker for all levels from middle to advanced. With keyframing, you can make smooth 2D animation quickly. Auto color correction can save you a lot of time to make high-quality animation.
Now free download it on Windows and Mac to make 2D animated videos, and connect with other video creators in the Wondershare Video Community to get more creative ideas.
A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators
Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?
- 100 Million+ Users
- 150+ Countries and Regions
- 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
- 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use
* Secure Download
Have a Quick Look at The Best 10 Free/Paid 2D Animation Software to Download
No. | Product Name | Supported OS | Price | Best for |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Synfig | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
2 | Opentoonz | Windows and OSX | Free | Beginners |
3 | Maefloresta | iPhone and Android | Free | Beginners |
4 | Pencil 2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
5 | Toon Boom Harmony | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $109 per month | Professionals |
6 | CelAction2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $1300 for one single license | Professionals |
7 | Moho (Anime Studio) Pro | Windows and OSX | $399.99 for the full package | Professionals |
8 | Stop Motion Studio | Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS | $59.99 for the full package | Professionals |
9 | FlipBook | Windows and OSX | $19.99/$49.99/$149.99/$199.99 | Professionals |
10 | Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator | Windows and OSX | $199 for the pipeline, $99 for pro | Professionals |
Part 1 Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
01 Synfig - Open Source 2D Animation Software for Beginners
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers more than 50 layers to make simple or advanced animation, so you don’t need to worry about its limitation though it is free to use.
Con: Few tutorials are available in the market to start making an animation for beginners.
Synfig Studio is an open-source, free 2D animation software that is the perfect place for beginners to learn about 2D animation. There are two versions available for free download - stable and testing.
The testing version has some experimental features if users want to try those ahead of their introduction into the stable release.
Features:
- Supports multiple layers of content
- The bone system allows for the creation of cutout animations from bitmap images
- Has sound support to allow for the addition and syncing of narration and/or music to the video
02 Opentoonz - Free-to-Use Effects for 2D Animation
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can use a plug-in to make beautiful animation effects automatically without further editing.
Con: The UI design is outdated compared with other animation software, but it won’t affect user experience.
Based on the Toonz software, Opentoonz is the best free alternative that will help you create 2D animated content. Anyone can use the software, free of charge, and download it.
And users can modify the source code to add specific features to this simple animation software.
Features:
- GTS scanning tool
- Ability to change picture styles
- Add distortion and light effects
- Compatible with black and white and colored scans
03 Maefloresta - Easy-to-Use 2D Animation Software on Phone
Price: Free
Compatibility: iPhone and Android
Pro: It is free to use with easy to start introduction, even for kids.
Con: You need to email its staff to get the installer online, which is inconvenient sometimes.
The beauty of the Maefloresta app is that you can use your Android or iOS tablet and smartphone to create free 2D animated videos.
There is no need to pay for expensive software if you just want to create some fun videos to show your friends. It also offers school solutions for teachers and students.
Features:
- The free downloadable app that works on smartphones and tablets
- Easy animation software with tutorials
- Intuitive interface that beginners can use with ease
04 Pencil 2D - Cross-Platform Software with Intuitive Interface
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers English, Spanish, and Portuguese language tutorials to use.
Con: It doesn’t support the shapes tool. If you like to make shapes and draw something, you’d be disappointed.
Want an open-source and free 2D animation design software to help you create videos? Pencil2D animation is the type of program that can help beginners.
You can get to grips with how 2D animation works, and you can create some very fun and interesting videos along the way.
Features:
- Minimalist design to let you make animation easily
- Raster and vector workflow switching
- Cross-platform compatibility to free download
Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
05 Toon Boom Harmony - Leading Animation Software for Professional
Price: The first 21 days of using the product are free. After the 21 days are up, you will need to pay $109 per month.
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: You can make 2D and 3D animation, both with models.
Con: It may take some time to learn how to make 2D animation for beginners.
Whether you are trying to create an art piece, showcase a story through 2D images, or craft a unique message for your audience, Toon Boom Harmony will help you immensely.
This professional 2D animation software may take time to learn, but it is worth using. It has bitmap and vector tools for creating art, 3D imported models for hybrid productions, and the option to create multiplane scenes with Z-depth.
You can also check the Toon Boom Harmony Advanced Review from the TopTenReview website for more information.
Features:
- Revolutionary vector and bitmap drawing technology - Brush Engine
- Advanced color palettes and paint options
- 2D and 3D integration to make professional animation
- Cut-out animation tools
- Traditional paperless animation.
06 CelAction2D - Low System Requirement for Professional 2D Animation
Price: If you go with the Studio Edition, it costs $1,300 to obtain a single license to use the product for a lifetime. Studio Edition is $1300 for one single license
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It is fast to use with low system requirements.
Con: You can draw animation in itself, so you need to import all words from third-party software.
Want to create unique and complex 2D animations for your upcoming projects? CelAction2D is the type of product that is going to help you create wonderful and professional animations.
While getting a full license is a financial commitment, you are getting a product that has all the features that you could need.
You can create a palette using up to 16 million colors, and you will have a very easy time getting to grips with the way the software works.
It is designed for beginners and intermediate users, but still has all the advanced features that a pro would want.
Features:
- Easy and fast to use for professional users
- Features ergonomic controls
- Easily handles complex projects with thousands of layers
- Works with all modern Windows machines - 32 and 64-bit Also work with Macs through Boot Camp
- The multiplane camera features let you have more controls
07 Moho (Anime Studio) Pro - All-In-One Professional 2D Animation Software
Price: $399.99 for the full package.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: Its update is regular with advanced and newest features to use.
Con: It is not user-friendly for beginners as the functions are too advanced a little bit.
Anime Studio Pro is a fantastic option for anyone who is looking to get into professional 2D animation creation. It is affordable and designed for Flash-style animations.
While you cannot create frame-by-frame animations using this program, you will be able to create some fantastic videos nonetheless.
There is an Anime Studio Debut - simple animation software, which is targeted towards the beginner user and free download. But if you want all the features of a high-end 2D animation software, you will want to go with the Pro version.
Features:
- Enhanced freehand drawing tools
- Beizer handles to make it easier for you to design your videos the way that you want
- Smart warp feature helps create custom meshes to bend and twist your animations
- Realistic motion blur
- Animation for multiple layers at the same time
08 Stop Motion Studio - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $59.99 to download the software onto your PC.
Compatibility: Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS
Pro: You can use a built-in sound to make your animation unique. You can also record voice and use it in the video.
Con: You can only use it to make 2D stop motion animation.
Want to create fun, 2D animated videos? Hoping to impress your bosses with a 2D animated presentation to highlight a product’s features?
Using Stop Motion Studio will help you achieve all that you want in the world of 2D animation.
You can capture content with ease, whether you change up the focus, exposure, or white balance. There is DSLR support, so you can use your high-end camera in conjunction with this professional software.
And with a unique, frame-by-frame editor, you will be able to get the result that you want for your 2D stop animation movie.
Features:
- Onionskin allows you to view previous frames through a transparent overlay, which helps you create your next frame
- Comes with Chroma key and audio recording to better narrate and add voice effects to your videos
- Easy one-click uploading to YouTube and Facebook
- DSLR camera support for creating perfect 1080p recordings
09 FlipBook - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $19.99 for FlipBook Lite, $49.99 for FlipBook Studio, $149.99 for FlipBook Pro, $199.99 for FlipBook ProHD
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: From drawing, scanning to sound, this 2D animation software can make you powerful video.
Con: You can’t use it to make subtle changes as bone rigging is not available.
FlipBook is easy to use for beginners and pros who want to improve the editing experience. It is a powerful video editor that you can make 2D animation with various functions like syncing sound with animation, scanning cells, and more.
If you like to make a cartoon video like a pro, this 2D animation maker is best for you. It is free to download.
Features:
- Changes will be made while you change the animation, so FlipBook is fast to use
- You can use the shift key to make speed painting once you select one color
- Ten layers in animation for adding extra touches
- You can use a scanner to import images
10 Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator - Professional 2D Animation/Cartoon Software for Designers
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can always find the feature you like for beginners and professionals. You can control characters even in expression levels.
Con: It integrates with PhotoShop to import and export video.
CrazyTalk is a 2D animation maker for professional users, so you can use this one if you don’t know which one to use. It supports controlling characters with your expression and lip-syncing. It is popular among YouTubers, educators and marketers.
Features:
- Capture real-time facial expression with precise changing
- Black magic to turn the image into a moving cartoon
- For advanced users, you can make 2D visual effects
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
You may also like: Best Free Animated Logo Makers >>
Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
Step 1 Put forward an idea
A story ides is priceless. It is always important to build an essential story frame. Sometimes it is in a blink to have come up with an idea.
It will help if you decide the gist of your 2D animation because the whole process of making animation is evolving. You may need to add or cut some scenes, but the overall concept and story ideas are always the same.
Step 2 Make a storyboard
After all the ideas are fixed, you need to make a storyboard for animation . You don’t need to produce every scene, but it is suggested to make a storyboard in some crucial scenes. Storyboarding is probably the best way to show 2D animation to other people and get feedback.
Thus, it is a step that you should not neglect during the preliminary.
Step 3 Produce materials
At this stage, you need to prepare all the 2D animation materials, including characters, background, and props. One thing you need to know is all the preparations in steps 2 and 3 should be ready before proceeding to step 3.
Step 4 Animation
After all, materials are ready, and you need to make animation alive. In this step, you need to make sure all the movements are natural. Stiff moves are not liked by the audience, so you need to think about how to design gestures, movements, and facial expressions.
Step 5 Animation editing
In this step, the software is the key to relive the 2D animation. Background audio is essential and needs to be added to the video. Color correction and grading are also necessary. Besides, scene transition, voiceover, and even text credit need to be added.
Above are the five 2D animation steps. If you think there are extra steps, you are free to add them according to your needs.
Bonus tip: Create an Animation Video with Anireel
Anireel provides a faster and smoother animated video creation experience with customizable elements to bring anyone’s imagination to life. All you have to do is choose your script, input the content, and Anireel will instantly match your script to rich animation explainer scenes, convert the text into voice-over, and generate a vivid, complete animation video.
Part 3 FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
01 What is the best 2D animation software?
It is hard to directly give you an answer and tell you which is the best 2D animation software. However, we can give you some recommendations based on your needs. If you are a beginner, Pencil 2D is a great start. You can use it to make minimalist animation to give you a quick-to-start 2D animation experience. If you are in the middle level, Stop Motion Studio is what we recommend. The interface is intuitive with powerful features like voiceover and Chroma key.
02 What is the best 2D animation software for beginners?
For 2D animation software for beginners, Pencil 2D would come to mind for many people. It is an excellent animation software for beginners. If you also want to try other tools, Synfig and FlipBook are also great choices. It is your call for the final decision.
03 Is there any free animation software?
For beginners, free animation software includes Synfig, Opentoonz, Maefloresta, and Pencil 2D. For advanced users, you can use Blender and Maya.
Conclusion
Creating a 2D animation video is a lot easier when you have the right software available to you. You already have a script and storyboard in mind, but now you can realize your vision in intricate and unique ways.
If you want to make 3D animation, there are also various 3D animation software options for you. If anyone of the products above will serve you well, you could use Filmora.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
When you are trying to make funny cartoons within seven steps , explainer videos, or informative shorts to post online, 2D animation software can come in handy. With access to a 2D animation maker, you can create intricate and interesting stories that will help you connect with your audience.
Whether you are turning photos into cartoons , teaching a group of kids , showing employees how to do their job, introducing a new product, or trying to elicit an emotional reaction from your audience, 2D cartoon animation can be very useful.
If you are new to the world of 2D animation as a beginner and want to be a professional animation maker, you will be interested in our review of the top 10 free download 2D animation software options that may prove useful to you.
- Part 1: Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
- Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
- Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
- Part 4: FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
Recommend free download animation maker Filmora
If you want to create a 2D animation video, we recommend using 2D animation software-Filmora.
It is a powerful and straightforward video maker for all levels from middle to advanced. With keyframing, you can make smooth 2D animation quickly. Auto color correction can save you a lot of time to make high-quality animation.
Now free download it on Windows and Mac to make 2D animated videos, and connect with other video creators in the Wondershare Video Community to get more creative ideas.
A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators
Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?
- 100 Million+ Users
- 150+ Countries and Regions
- 4 Million+ Social Media Followers
- 5 Million+ Stock Media for Use
* Secure Download
Have a Quick Look at The Best 10 Free/Paid 2D Animation Software to Download
No. | Product Name | Supported OS | Price | Best for |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Synfig | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
2 | Opentoonz | Windows and OSX | Free | Beginners |
3 | Maefloresta | iPhone and Android | Free | Beginners |
4 | Pencil 2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | Free | Beginners |
5 | Toon Boom Harmony | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $109 per month | Professionals |
6 | CelAction2D | Windows, Linux, and OSX | $1300 for one single license | Professionals |
7 | Moho (Anime Studio) Pro | Windows and OSX | $399.99 for the full package | Professionals |
8 | Stop Motion Studio | Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS | $59.99 for the full package | Professionals |
9 | FlipBook | Windows and OSX | $19.99/$49.99/$149.99/$199.99 | Professionals |
10 | Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator | Windows and OSX | $199 for the pipeline, $99 for pro | Professionals |
Part 1 Best Free 2D Animation Software for Beginners
01 Synfig - Open Source 2D Animation Software for Beginners
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers more than 50 layers to make simple or advanced animation, so you don’t need to worry about its limitation though it is free to use.
Con: Few tutorials are available in the market to start making an animation for beginners.
Synfig Studio is an open-source, free 2D animation software that is the perfect place for beginners to learn about 2D animation. There are two versions available for free download - stable and testing.
The testing version has some experimental features if users want to try those ahead of their introduction into the stable release.
Features:
- Supports multiple layers of content
- The bone system allows for the creation of cutout animations from bitmap images
- Has sound support to allow for the addition and syncing of narration and/or music to the video
02 Opentoonz - Free-to-Use Effects for 2D Animation
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can use a plug-in to make beautiful animation effects automatically without further editing.
Con: The UI design is outdated compared with other animation software, but it won’t affect user experience.
Based on the Toonz software, Opentoonz is the best free alternative that will help you create 2D animated content. Anyone can use the software, free of charge, and download it.
And users can modify the source code to add specific features to this simple animation software.
Features:
- GTS scanning tool
- Ability to change picture styles
- Add distortion and light effects
- Compatible with black and white and colored scans
03 Maefloresta - Easy-to-Use 2D Animation Software on Phone
Price: Free
Compatibility: iPhone and Android
Pro: It is free to use with easy to start introduction, even for kids.
Con: You need to email its staff to get the installer online, which is inconvenient sometimes.
The beauty of the Maefloresta app is that you can use your Android or iOS tablet and smartphone to create free 2D animated videos.
There is no need to pay for expensive software if you just want to create some fun videos to show your friends. It also offers school solutions for teachers and students.
Features:
- The free downloadable app that works on smartphones and tablets
- Easy animation software with tutorials
- Intuitive interface that beginners can use with ease
04 Pencil 2D - Cross-Platform Software with Intuitive Interface
Price: Free
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It offers English, Spanish, and Portuguese language tutorials to use.
Con: It doesn’t support the shapes tool. If you like to make shapes and draw something, you’d be disappointed.
Want an open-source and free 2D animation design software to help you create videos? Pencil2D animation is the type of program that can help beginners.
You can get to grips with how 2D animation works, and you can create some very fun and interesting videos along the way.
Features:
- Minimalist design to let you make animation easily
- Raster and vector workflow switching
- Cross-platform compatibility to free download
Part 2: Best Professional 2D Animation Software
05 Toon Boom Harmony - Leading Animation Software for Professional
Price: The first 21 days of using the product are free. After the 21 days are up, you will need to pay $109 per month.
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: You can make 2D and 3D animation, both with models.
Con: It may take some time to learn how to make 2D animation for beginners.
Whether you are trying to create an art piece, showcase a story through 2D images, or craft a unique message for your audience, Toon Boom Harmony will help you immensely.
This professional 2D animation software may take time to learn, but it is worth using. It has bitmap and vector tools for creating art, 3D imported models for hybrid productions, and the option to create multiplane scenes with Z-depth.
You can also check the Toon Boom Harmony Advanced Review from the TopTenReview website for more information.
Features:
- Revolutionary vector and bitmap drawing technology - Brush Engine
- Advanced color palettes and paint options
- 2D and 3D integration to make professional animation
- Cut-out animation tools
- Traditional paperless animation.
06 CelAction2D - Low System Requirement for Professional 2D Animation
Price: If you go with the Studio Edition, it costs $1,300 to obtain a single license to use the product for a lifetime. Studio Edition is $1300 for one single license
Compatibility: Windows, Linux, and OSX
Pro: It is fast to use with low system requirements.
Con: You can draw animation in itself, so you need to import all words from third-party software.
Want to create unique and complex 2D animations for your upcoming projects? CelAction2D is the type of product that is going to help you create wonderful and professional animations.
While getting a full license is a financial commitment, you are getting a product that has all the features that you could need.
You can create a palette using up to 16 million colors, and you will have a very easy time getting to grips with the way the software works.
It is designed for beginners and intermediate users, but still has all the advanced features that a pro would want.
Features:
- Easy and fast to use for professional users
- Features ergonomic controls
- Easily handles complex projects with thousands of layers
- Works with all modern Windows machines - 32 and 64-bit Also work with Macs through Boot Camp
- The multiplane camera features let you have more controls
07 Moho (Anime Studio) Pro - All-In-One Professional 2D Animation Software
Price: $399.99 for the full package.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: Its update is regular with advanced and newest features to use.
Con: It is not user-friendly for beginners as the functions are too advanced a little bit.
Anime Studio Pro is a fantastic option for anyone who is looking to get into professional 2D animation creation. It is affordable and designed for Flash-style animations.
While you cannot create frame-by-frame animations using this program, you will be able to create some fantastic videos nonetheless.
There is an Anime Studio Debut - simple animation software, which is targeted towards the beginner user and free download. But if you want all the features of a high-end 2D animation software, you will want to go with the Pro version.
Features:
- Enhanced freehand drawing tools
- Beizer handles to make it easier for you to design your videos the way that you want
- Smart warp feature helps create custom meshes to bend and twist your animations
- Realistic motion blur
- Animation for multiple layers at the same time
08 Stop Motion Studio - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $59.99 to download the software onto your PC.
Compatibility: Windows, OSX, Android, and iOS
Pro: You can use a built-in sound to make your animation unique. You can also record voice and use it in the video.
Con: You can only use it to make 2D stop motion animation.
Want to create fun, 2D animated videos? Hoping to impress your bosses with a 2D animated presentation to highlight a product’s features?
Using Stop Motion Studio will help you achieve all that you want in the world of 2D animation.
You can capture content with ease, whether you change up the focus, exposure, or white balance. There is DSLR support, so you can use your high-end camera in conjunction with this professional software.
And with a unique, frame-by-frame editor, you will be able to get the result that you want for your 2D stop animation movie.
Features:
- Onionskin allows you to view previous frames through a transparent overlay, which helps you create your next frame
- Comes with Chroma key and audio recording to better narrate and add voice effects to your videos
- Easy one-click uploading to YouTube and Facebook
- DSLR camera support for creating perfect 1080p recordings
09 FlipBook - Fun and Well Designed 2D Animation Software
Price: $19.99 for FlipBook Lite, $49.99 for FlipBook Studio, $149.99 for FlipBook Pro, $199.99 for FlipBook ProHD
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: From drawing, scanning to sound, this 2D animation software can make you powerful video.
Con: You can’t use it to make subtle changes as bone rigging is not available.
FlipBook is easy to use for beginners and pros who want to improve the editing experience. It is a powerful video editor that you can make 2D animation with various functions like syncing sound with animation, scanning cells, and more.
If you like to make a cartoon video like a pro, this 2D animation maker is best for you. It is free to download.
Features:
- Changes will be made while you change the animation, so FlipBook is fast to use
- You can use the shift key to make speed painting once you select one color
- Ten layers in animation for adding extra touches
- You can use a scanner to import images
10 Reallusion CrazyTalk Animator - Professional 2D Animation/Cartoon Software for Designers
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
Compatibility: Windows and OSX
Pro: You can always find the feature you like for beginners and professionals. You can control characters even in expression levels.
Con: It integrates with PhotoShop to import and export video.
CrazyTalk is a 2D animation maker for professional users, so you can use this one if you don’t know which one to use. It supports controlling characters with your expression and lip-syncing. It is popular among YouTubers, educators and marketers.
Features:
- Capture real-time facial expression with precise changing
- Black magic to turn the image into a moving cartoon
- For advanced users, you can make 2D visual effects
Price: USD199 for the pipeline, USD99 for pro.
You may also like: Best Free Animated Logo Makers >>
Part 3: How to Make 2D Animation
Step 1 Put forward an idea
A story ides is priceless. It is always important to build an essential story frame. Sometimes it is in a blink to have come up with an idea.
It will help if you decide the gist of your 2D animation because the whole process of making animation is evolving. You may need to add or cut some scenes, but the overall concept and story ideas are always the same.
Step 2 Make a storyboard
After all the ideas are fixed, you need to make a storyboard for animation . You don’t need to produce every scene, but it is suggested to make a storyboard in some crucial scenes. Storyboarding is probably the best way to show 2D animation to other people and get feedback.
Thus, it is a step that you should not neglect during the preliminary.
Step 3 Produce materials
At this stage, you need to prepare all the 2D animation materials, including characters, background, and props. One thing you need to know is all the preparations in steps 2 and 3 should be ready before proceeding to step 3.
Step 4 Animation
After all, materials are ready, and you need to make animation alive. In this step, you need to make sure all the movements are natural. Stiff moves are not liked by the audience, so you need to think about how to design gestures, movements, and facial expressions.
Step 5 Animation editing
In this step, the software is the key to relive the 2D animation. Background audio is essential and needs to be added to the video. Color correction and grading are also necessary. Besides, scene transition, voiceover, and even text credit need to be added.
Above are the five 2D animation steps. If you think there are extra steps, you are free to add them according to your needs.
Bonus tip: Create an Animation Video with Anireel
Anireel provides a faster and smoother animated video creation experience with customizable elements to bring anyone’s imagination to life. All you have to do is choose your script, input the content, and Anireel will instantly match your script to rich animation explainer scenes, convert the text into voice-over, and generate a vivid, complete animation video.
Part 3 FAQ about Professional 2D Animation Software
01 What is the best 2D animation software?
It is hard to directly give you an answer and tell you which is the best 2D animation software. However, we can give you some recommendations based on your needs. If you are a beginner, Pencil 2D is a great start. You can use it to make minimalist animation to give you a quick-to-start 2D animation experience. If you are in the middle level, Stop Motion Studio is what we recommend. The interface is intuitive with powerful features like voiceover and Chroma key.
02 What is the best 2D animation software for beginners?
For 2D animation software for beginners, Pencil 2D would come to mind for many people. It is an excellent animation software for beginners. If you also want to try other tools, Synfig and FlipBook are also great choices. It is your call for the final decision.
03 Is there any free animation software?
For beginners, free animation software includes Synfig, Opentoonz, Maefloresta, and Pencil 2D. For advanced users, you can use Blender and Maya.
Conclusion
Creating a 2D animation video is a lot easier when you have the right software available to you. You already have a script and storyboard in mind, but now you can realize your vision in intricate and unique ways.
If you want to make 3D animation, there are also various 3D animation software options for you. If anyone of the products above will serve you well, you could use Filmora.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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- Title: Updated 2024 Approved FCP X Post-Production Expert Chroma Keying and Color Grading
- Author: Charlotte
- Created at : 2024-04-29 06:35:55
- Updated at : 2024-04-30 06:35:55
- Link: https://smart-video-creator.techidaily.com/updated-2024-approved-fcp-x-post-production-expert-chroma-keying-and-color-grading/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.