Screen recordings are essential tools for tutorials, presentations, and troubleshooting guides. However, there are times when users want to crop specific areas of a screen recording to highlight important content or to remove unwanted parts. Fortunately, there are several user-friendly tools to crop screen recordings easily without needing advanced editing skills.
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Top 4 Easy Ways to Crop Screen Recording
1. Using VLC Media Player
VLC isn’t just for watching videos; it also offers basic editing features, including cropping. It supports a wide range of file formats and comes with a built-in crop function, though it might require a few more steps than typical editing tools.
- Open your screen recording in VLC.
- Go to Tools > Effects and Filters.
- Select the Video Effects tab and go to Crop.
- Enter the values for Top, Bottom, Left, and Right until only the desired area is visible.
To save the cropped area, users must combine VLC with command-line parameters or screen-record the cropped portion again.
2. Using iMovie (MacOS)
For Mac users, iMovie is a go-to choice due to its intuitive interface and powerful editing capabilities. Cropping screen recordings is straightforward and requires only a few clicks.
- Launch iMovie and import your screen recording.
- Drag the video to the project timeline.
- Click the Crop to Fill button above the preview window.
- Adjust the cropping frame to select the area you want to keep and hit Apply.
iMovie automatically saves the adjustment to the project timeline, and you can export the cropped video using the share or export options.
3. Using Online Video Croppers (e.g., Clideo, Kapwing)
If you prefer not to download software, online video cropping tools offer a convenient solution. These platforms are browser-based and provide drag-and-drop features for easy cropping.
- Visit a site like Clideo.com or Kapwing.com.
- Upload your screen recording.
- Select Crop and adjust the selection using your mouse.
- Apply the changes and download the file.
Although they may impose file size or time limits on free plans, these tools are practical for most basic uses.
4. Using Adobe Premiere Pro
For users who already use professional editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro offers powerful video cropping tools. This method is ideal for those who want high-precision edits or plan to add transitions and effects.
- Open Premiere Pro and create a new project.
- Import your screen recording.
- Add the video to the timeline and search for the Crop effect in the Effects panel.
- Drag the effect onto your video and adjust crop settings in the Effect Controls panel.
With Premiere Pro, you can crop by percentage and even keyframe those crops for animation or shifting focus during playback.
Conclusion
Cropping screen recordings does not have to be a complex task. Whether you prefer using advanced tools like Premiere Pro or quick online services like Clideo, there is a method suitable for everyone. With just a few steps, users can enhance the focus and professionalism of their videos.
FAQs
Q: Can I crop a screen recording on my phone?
A: Yes, many mobile video editing apps like InShot or KineMaster offer cropping features right on your smartphone.
Q: Will cropping reduce the video quality?
A: Cropping alone won’t reduce quality, but resizing or compressing the video afterward might. Always export in high definition if possible.
Q: Which method is best for beginners?
A: Online video croppers like Clideo or Kapwing are best for beginners due to their user-friendly interfaces and minimal setup requirements.
Q: Is cropping the same as trimming?
A: No, cropping removes parts of the video frame, while trimming shortens the video duration by cutting segments from the beginning, middle, or end.