Updated In 2024, Create Engaging Videos with the Ken Burns Effect A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Updated In 2024, Create Engaging Videos with the Ken Burns Effect A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Morgan Lv12

Create Engaging Videos with the Ken Burns Effect: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

How to Make Ken Burns Effect in Final Cut Pro?

author avatar

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Ken Burns Effect is an advanced feature of Final Cut Pro that allows users to add creative animations to their videos and images within minutes. You just need to select your picture, add movements to the clip, and choose the start and the end position to produce high-resolution stills. Besides, you can do a tilt, zoom in, a pan, or a combination of these three moves on a single image. This way, you can use the Ken Burns Effect to highlight the stimulating features in your photograph and save your memories in the form of innovative and high-definition animated clips.

This article introduces the readers to Final Cut Pro and explains how to add the Ken Burns Effect in 8 simple steps.

Part 1: How to Make a Ken Burns Effect in Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro is user-friendly software and makes it easy for you to create a Ken Burns Effect without having advanced skills and expertise. So, are you interested in knowing the best part? Given below are a few simple steps to create Ken Burns Effect and make your pictures and videos look adorable.

Step 1: Add Images to the Timeline

First of all, you should specify a name for your project and add photos to the timeline in Final Cut Pro. For this purpose, select multiple photos and press E. A clip will be added to the timeline as shown in figure 1.

AddingPhotostotheTimeline

Step 2: Check Your Settings

As you can see, our timeline has no other video clip. Hence, Final Cut Pro will not recognize the clip until you adjust the video properties such as format, resolution, and rate, etc. For this purpose, click OK to use your preferred settings and press Shift + Z to fit the picture to your timeline window. Once you’re done it’s time to apply the Ken Burns Effect.

adjust properties

Step 3: Add the Ken Burns Effect

The Ken Burns Effect is used to focus on specific parts of an image and bring motionless content in to provoke emotional reactions. Follow these steps to add the Ken Burns Effect:

  1. Select the clip or picture;
  2. See the lower left of the viewer;
  3. Go to the Viewer window using the drop-down menu;
  4. Tap on the pop-up menu located in the bottom left-hand corner;
  5. Choose the Crop option from the menu or press Shift + C;
  6. Press the Ken Burns button in the Crop onscreen controls to add the effect; and
  7. Finally, notice the start frame and the end frame controls.

adding ken burns effect

Step 4: Customize Your Effect

In the Ken Burns display, you can see the controls for adjusting the panning and zooms effects by changing the size and position of two-colored rectangles overlaying on the clip. To customize the Ken Burns effect:

  1. Adjust the green rectangle’s size and position to set the start position;
  2. Adjust the red rectangle’s size and position to set the end position;
  3. The arrow depicts the direction of camera position between start and end position;
  4. In the top left-hand corner, click on the Swap button to exchange the two positions as per your requirements;
  5. You can see the preview of the animation on the screen.

custormizing ken burns effect

Step 5: Add a Freeze Frame

You’re not done yet because you need to hold your picture at the end of the animation. For this purpose, you should create a freezing frame at the end of the clip to make Ken Burns do this. Here’s the deal:

  1. Press the Down arrow followed by the Left arrow to go to the last frame;
  2. Press Option-F to add a freeze-frame;
  3. Make sure that your added frame matches the ending frame of the Ken Burns Effect.

adding a freeze frame

Step 6: Adjust the Duration of the Freeze Frame

The users can also adjust the speed of the animation and the duration of the freeze-frame by trimming your clip. For this purpose, trim the length as per your requirement and it will optimize the speed as shown in figure 6.

adjust the length and speed

Step 7: Swap the Start and End Frame

Now, swap the start and ending frame as per your preference for the Ken Burns animation. Here’s how you can do this:

  1. Click on the Swap button;
  2. The start frame will match the still frame (previous one);
  3. Grab the end frame and move it to your desired position;
  4. Apply enough zoom in to make the black areas disappear;
  5. Preview to see how your animation looks.

swapping the start and end frames

Step 8: Play/Preview Looping

After you have optimized the speed of the Ken Burns Effect by trimming the clip’s length and have widened the shot to include everyone, it’s time to preview the changes you have made. Given below are simple steps:

  • Press the Play Loop button;
  • Tap on the Pause icon and return to editing;
  • Click Done and enjoy your animation.

Seems a little complicated? Filmora allows users to do Ken Burns effect, or pan and zoom effect, in much easier steps, click to download and have a try!

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Part 2: How to add the Ken Burns Effect to Multiple Camera Movements?

Although you can apply a single Ken Burns movement to your image, you can still give the impression of multiple movements being used. This means the Ken Burns Effect can be added to multiple camera movements by duplicating the photo and building numerous movements in sequence.

  1. Add the first camera movement to your image;
  2. Duplicate the clip by click and drag option or copy and paste option;
  3. Press the Swap button in the Ken Burns settings to reverse the start and end positions;
  4. Verify if multiple camera movements have been added.

Extensive Reading: Why Ken Burns Effect is Named after Ken Burns?

What is the Ken Burns Effect?

The Ken Burns Effect is a feature in Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect by using your predefined start and end positions. Basically, it is a crop effect with one crop at the start of the clip while the other at the end. Ken Burns Effect can be further customized by adjusting the smoothness of the animation. While creating a Ken Burns Effect, the motion applied to the video clips gets automatically smoothed to accelerate and decelerate the movement slowly at the start and the end of the animation.

Why the Effect is named after Ken Burns?

Now, as you have learned the purpose of the Ken Burns Effect, you must be curious about its name. It is named after American documentarian Ken Burns, who is known for his instantly recognizable and highly influential visual aesthetic. Surprisingly, Ken Burns did not invent this Ken Burns Effect; rather, it has existed for decades. You might be wondering why the technique was then named after Ken Burns. This was due to the persistent and adroit use of this technique that it is now known as the Ken Burns Effect.

ken-burns

What are the Applications of Ken Burns Effect?

Primarily, the Ken Burns Effect is used due to the unavailability of a film or video. The technique gives action to still photographs to glorify the subjects of interest like couples in wedding photography. It gets better and better as you apply simulated parallax with Ken Burns Effect to make your 2D images appear as 3D plus advanced zooming visuals. You can also use the Ken Burns effect to make a video of your graduation ceremony pictures or memorable moments of reunion. Ken Burns Effect is also used in documentaries by professional filmmakers and editors.

Conclusion

Adding animated effects to your pictures and videos makes them look gorgeous. This is crazy, isn’t it, when you impress your peers with your editing skills. So, what’s the bottom line of this whole discussion? Try adding the Ken Burns Effect with Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect on your pictures and clips get the output in your desired format.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Ken Burns Effect is an advanced feature of Final Cut Pro that allows users to add creative animations to their videos and images within minutes. You just need to select your picture, add movements to the clip, and choose the start and the end position to produce high-resolution stills. Besides, you can do a tilt, zoom in, a pan, or a combination of these three moves on a single image. This way, you can use the Ken Burns Effect to highlight the stimulating features in your photograph and save your memories in the form of innovative and high-definition animated clips.

This article introduces the readers to Final Cut Pro and explains how to add the Ken Burns Effect in 8 simple steps.

Part 1: How to Make a Ken Burns Effect in Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro is user-friendly software and makes it easy for you to create a Ken Burns Effect without having advanced skills and expertise. So, are you interested in knowing the best part? Given below are a few simple steps to create Ken Burns Effect and make your pictures and videos look adorable.

Step 1: Add Images to the Timeline

First of all, you should specify a name for your project and add photos to the timeline in Final Cut Pro. For this purpose, select multiple photos and press E. A clip will be added to the timeline as shown in figure 1.

AddingPhotostotheTimeline

Step 2: Check Your Settings

As you can see, our timeline has no other video clip. Hence, Final Cut Pro will not recognize the clip until you adjust the video properties such as format, resolution, and rate, etc. For this purpose, click OK to use your preferred settings and press Shift + Z to fit the picture to your timeline window. Once you’re done it’s time to apply the Ken Burns Effect.

adjust properties

Step 3: Add the Ken Burns Effect

The Ken Burns Effect is used to focus on specific parts of an image and bring motionless content in to provoke emotional reactions. Follow these steps to add the Ken Burns Effect:

  1. Select the clip or picture;
  2. See the lower left of the viewer;
  3. Go to the Viewer window using the drop-down menu;
  4. Tap on the pop-up menu located in the bottom left-hand corner;
  5. Choose the Crop option from the menu or press Shift + C;
  6. Press the Ken Burns button in the Crop onscreen controls to add the effect; and
  7. Finally, notice the start frame and the end frame controls.

adding ken burns effect

Step 4: Customize Your Effect

In the Ken Burns display, you can see the controls for adjusting the panning and zooms effects by changing the size and position of two-colored rectangles overlaying on the clip. To customize the Ken Burns effect:

  1. Adjust the green rectangle’s size and position to set the start position;
  2. Adjust the red rectangle’s size and position to set the end position;
  3. The arrow depicts the direction of camera position between start and end position;
  4. In the top left-hand corner, click on the Swap button to exchange the two positions as per your requirements;
  5. You can see the preview of the animation on the screen.

custormizing ken burns effect

Step 5: Add a Freeze Frame

You’re not done yet because you need to hold your picture at the end of the animation. For this purpose, you should create a freezing frame at the end of the clip to make Ken Burns do this. Here’s the deal:

  1. Press the Down arrow followed by the Left arrow to go to the last frame;
  2. Press Option-F to add a freeze-frame;
  3. Make sure that your added frame matches the ending frame of the Ken Burns Effect.

adding a freeze frame

Step 6: Adjust the Duration of the Freeze Frame

The users can also adjust the speed of the animation and the duration of the freeze-frame by trimming your clip. For this purpose, trim the length as per your requirement and it will optimize the speed as shown in figure 6.

adjust the length and speed

Step 7: Swap the Start and End Frame

Now, swap the start and ending frame as per your preference for the Ken Burns animation. Here’s how you can do this:

  1. Click on the Swap button;
  2. The start frame will match the still frame (previous one);
  3. Grab the end frame and move it to your desired position;
  4. Apply enough zoom in to make the black areas disappear;
  5. Preview to see how your animation looks.

swapping the start and end frames

Step 8: Play/Preview Looping

After you have optimized the speed of the Ken Burns Effect by trimming the clip’s length and have widened the shot to include everyone, it’s time to preview the changes you have made. Given below are simple steps:

  • Press the Play Loop button;
  • Tap on the Pause icon and return to editing;
  • Click Done and enjoy your animation.

Seems a little complicated? Filmora allows users to do Ken Burns effect, or pan and zoom effect, in much easier steps, click to download and have a try!

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Part 2: How to add the Ken Burns Effect to Multiple Camera Movements?

Although you can apply a single Ken Burns movement to your image, you can still give the impression of multiple movements being used. This means the Ken Burns Effect can be added to multiple camera movements by duplicating the photo and building numerous movements in sequence.

  1. Add the first camera movement to your image;
  2. Duplicate the clip by click and drag option or copy and paste option;
  3. Press the Swap button in the Ken Burns settings to reverse the start and end positions;
  4. Verify if multiple camera movements have been added.

Extensive Reading: Why Ken Burns Effect is Named after Ken Burns?

What is the Ken Burns Effect?

The Ken Burns Effect is a feature in Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect by using your predefined start and end positions. Basically, it is a crop effect with one crop at the start of the clip while the other at the end. Ken Burns Effect can be further customized by adjusting the smoothness of the animation. While creating a Ken Burns Effect, the motion applied to the video clips gets automatically smoothed to accelerate and decelerate the movement slowly at the start and the end of the animation.

Why the Effect is named after Ken Burns?

Now, as you have learned the purpose of the Ken Burns Effect, you must be curious about its name. It is named after American documentarian Ken Burns, who is known for his instantly recognizable and highly influential visual aesthetic. Surprisingly, Ken Burns did not invent this Ken Burns Effect; rather, it has existed for decades. You might be wondering why the technique was then named after Ken Burns. This was due to the persistent and adroit use of this technique that it is now known as the Ken Burns Effect.

ken-burns

What are the Applications of Ken Burns Effect?

Primarily, the Ken Burns Effect is used due to the unavailability of a film or video. The technique gives action to still photographs to glorify the subjects of interest like couples in wedding photography. It gets better and better as you apply simulated parallax with Ken Burns Effect to make your 2D images appear as 3D plus advanced zooming visuals. You can also use the Ken Burns effect to make a video of your graduation ceremony pictures or memorable moments of reunion. Ken Burns Effect is also used in documentaries by professional filmmakers and editors.

Conclusion

Adding animated effects to your pictures and videos makes them look gorgeous. This is crazy, isn’t it, when you impress your peers with your editing skills. So, what’s the bottom line of this whole discussion? Try adding the Ken Burns Effect with Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect on your pictures and clips get the output in your desired format.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Ken Burns Effect is an advanced feature of Final Cut Pro that allows users to add creative animations to their videos and images within minutes. You just need to select your picture, add movements to the clip, and choose the start and the end position to produce high-resolution stills. Besides, you can do a tilt, zoom in, a pan, or a combination of these three moves on a single image. This way, you can use the Ken Burns Effect to highlight the stimulating features in your photograph and save your memories in the form of innovative and high-definition animated clips.

This article introduces the readers to Final Cut Pro and explains how to add the Ken Burns Effect in 8 simple steps.

Part 1: How to Make a Ken Burns Effect in Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro is user-friendly software and makes it easy for you to create a Ken Burns Effect without having advanced skills and expertise. So, are you interested in knowing the best part? Given below are a few simple steps to create Ken Burns Effect and make your pictures and videos look adorable.

Step 1: Add Images to the Timeline

First of all, you should specify a name for your project and add photos to the timeline in Final Cut Pro. For this purpose, select multiple photos and press E. A clip will be added to the timeline as shown in figure 1.

AddingPhotostotheTimeline

Step 2: Check Your Settings

As you can see, our timeline has no other video clip. Hence, Final Cut Pro will not recognize the clip until you adjust the video properties such as format, resolution, and rate, etc. For this purpose, click OK to use your preferred settings and press Shift + Z to fit the picture to your timeline window. Once you’re done it’s time to apply the Ken Burns Effect.

adjust properties

Step 3: Add the Ken Burns Effect

The Ken Burns Effect is used to focus on specific parts of an image and bring motionless content in to provoke emotional reactions. Follow these steps to add the Ken Burns Effect:

  1. Select the clip or picture;
  2. See the lower left of the viewer;
  3. Go to the Viewer window using the drop-down menu;
  4. Tap on the pop-up menu located in the bottom left-hand corner;
  5. Choose the Crop option from the menu or press Shift + C;
  6. Press the Ken Burns button in the Crop onscreen controls to add the effect; and
  7. Finally, notice the start frame and the end frame controls.

adding ken burns effect

Step 4: Customize Your Effect

In the Ken Burns display, you can see the controls for adjusting the panning and zooms effects by changing the size and position of two-colored rectangles overlaying on the clip. To customize the Ken Burns effect:

  1. Adjust the green rectangle’s size and position to set the start position;
  2. Adjust the red rectangle’s size and position to set the end position;
  3. The arrow depicts the direction of camera position between start and end position;
  4. In the top left-hand corner, click on the Swap button to exchange the two positions as per your requirements;
  5. You can see the preview of the animation on the screen.

custormizing ken burns effect

Step 5: Add a Freeze Frame

You’re not done yet because you need to hold your picture at the end of the animation. For this purpose, you should create a freezing frame at the end of the clip to make Ken Burns do this. Here’s the deal:

  1. Press the Down arrow followed by the Left arrow to go to the last frame;
  2. Press Option-F to add a freeze-frame;
  3. Make sure that your added frame matches the ending frame of the Ken Burns Effect.

adding a freeze frame

Step 6: Adjust the Duration of the Freeze Frame

The users can also adjust the speed of the animation and the duration of the freeze-frame by trimming your clip. For this purpose, trim the length as per your requirement and it will optimize the speed as shown in figure 6.

adjust the length and speed

Step 7: Swap the Start and End Frame

Now, swap the start and ending frame as per your preference for the Ken Burns animation. Here’s how you can do this:

  1. Click on the Swap button;
  2. The start frame will match the still frame (previous one);
  3. Grab the end frame and move it to your desired position;
  4. Apply enough zoom in to make the black areas disappear;
  5. Preview to see how your animation looks.

swapping the start and end frames

Step 8: Play/Preview Looping

After you have optimized the speed of the Ken Burns Effect by trimming the clip’s length and have widened the shot to include everyone, it’s time to preview the changes you have made. Given below are simple steps:

  • Press the Play Loop button;
  • Tap on the Pause icon and return to editing;
  • Click Done and enjoy your animation.

Seems a little complicated? Filmora allows users to do Ken Burns effect, or pan and zoom effect, in much easier steps, click to download and have a try!

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Part 2: How to add the Ken Burns Effect to Multiple Camera Movements?

Although you can apply a single Ken Burns movement to your image, you can still give the impression of multiple movements being used. This means the Ken Burns Effect can be added to multiple camera movements by duplicating the photo and building numerous movements in sequence.

  1. Add the first camera movement to your image;
  2. Duplicate the clip by click and drag option or copy and paste option;
  3. Press the Swap button in the Ken Burns settings to reverse the start and end positions;
  4. Verify if multiple camera movements have been added.

Extensive Reading: Why Ken Burns Effect is Named after Ken Burns?

What is the Ken Burns Effect?

The Ken Burns Effect is a feature in Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect by using your predefined start and end positions. Basically, it is a crop effect with one crop at the start of the clip while the other at the end. Ken Burns Effect can be further customized by adjusting the smoothness of the animation. While creating a Ken Burns Effect, the motion applied to the video clips gets automatically smoothed to accelerate and decelerate the movement slowly at the start and the end of the animation.

Why the Effect is named after Ken Burns?

Now, as you have learned the purpose of the Ken Burns Effect, you must be curious about its name. It is named after American documentarian Ken Burns, who is known for his instantly recognizable and highly influential visual aesthetic. Surprisingly, Ken Burns did not invent this Ken Burns Effect; rather, it has existed for decades. You might be wondering why the technique was then named after Ken Burns. This was due to the persistent and adroit use of this technique that it is now known as the Ken Burns Effect.

ken-burns

What are the Applications of Ken Burns Effect?

Primarily, the Ken Burns Effect is used due to the unavailability of a film or video. The technique gives action to still photographs to glorify the subjects of interest like couples in wedding photography. It gets better and better as you apply simulated parallax with Ken Burns Effect to make your 2D images appear as 3D plus advanced zooming visuals. You can also use the Ken Burns effect to make a video of your graduation ceremony pictures or memorable moments of reunion. Ken Burns Effect is also used in documentaries by professional filmmakers and editors.

Conclusion

Adding animated effects to your pictures and videos makes them look gorgeous. This is crazy, isn’t it, when you impress your peers with your editing skills. So, what’s the bottom line of this whole discussion? Try adding the Ken Burns Effect with Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect on your pictures and clips get the output in your desired format.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Liza Brown

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Ken Burns Effect is an advanced feature of Final Cut Pro that allows users to add creative animations to their videos and images within minutes. You just need to select your picture, add movements to the clip, and choose the start and the end position to produce high-resolution stills. Besides, you can do a tilt, zoom in, a pan, or a combination of these three moves on a single image. This way, you can use the Ken Burns Effect to highlight the stimulating features in your photograph and save your memories in the form of innovative and high-definition animated clips.

This article introduces the readers to Final Cut Pro and explains how to add the Ken Burns Effect in 8 simple steps.

Part 1: How to Make a Ken Burns Effect in Final Cut Pro?

Final Cut Pro is user-friendly software and makes it easy for you to create a Ken Burns Effect without having advanced skills and expertise. So, are you interested in knowing the best part? Given below are a few simple steps to create Ken Burns Effect and make your pictures and videos look adorable.

Step 1: Add Images to the Timeline

First of all, you should specify a name for your project and add photos to the timeline in Final Cut Pro. For this purpose, select multiple photos and press E. A clip will be added to the timeline as shown in figure 1.

AddingPhotostotheTimeline

Step 2: Check Your Settings

As you can see, our timeline has no other video clip. Hence, Final Cut Pro will not recognize the clip until you adjust the video properties such as format, resolution, and rate, etc. For this purpose, click OK to use your preferred settings and press Shift + Z to fit the picture to your timeline window. Once you’re done it’s time to apply the Ken Burns Effect.

adjust properties

Step 3: Add the Ken Burns Effect

The Ken Burns Effect is used to focus on specific parts of an image and bring motionless content in to provoke emotional reactions. Follow these steps to add the Ken Burns Effect:

  1. Select the clip or picture;
  2. See the lower left of the viewer;
  3. Go to the Viewer window using the drop-down menu;
  4. Tap on the pop-up menu located in the bottom left-hand corner;
  5. Choose the Crop option from the menu or press Shift + C;
  6. Press the Ken Burns button in the Crop onscreen controls to add the effect; and
  7. Finally, notice the start frame and the end frame controls.

adding ken burns effect

Step 4: Customize Your Effect

In the Ken Burns display, you can see the controls for adjusting the panning and zooms effects by changing the size and position of two-colored rectangles overlaying on the clip. To customize the Ken Burns effect:

  1. Adjust the green rectangle’s size and position to set the start position;
  2. Adjust the red rectangle’s size and position to set the end position;
  3. The arrow depicts the direction of camera position between start and end position;
  4. In the top left-hand corner, click on the Swap button to exchange the two positions as per your requirements;
  5. You can see the preview of the animation on the screen.

custormizing ken burns effect

Step 5: Add a Freeze Frame

You’re not done yet because you need to hold your picture at the end of the animation. For this purpose, you should create a freezing frame at the end of the clip to make Ken Burns do this. Here’s the deal:

  1. Press the Down arrow followed by the Left arrow to go to the last frame;
  2. Press Option-F to add a freeze-frame;
  3. Make sure that your added frame matches the ending frame of the Ken Burns Effect.

adding a freeze frame

Step 6: Adjust the Duration of the Freeze Frame

The users can also adjust the speed of the animation and the duration of the freeze-frame by trimming your clip. For this purpose, trim the length as per your requirement and it will optimize the speed as shown in figure 6.

adjust the length and speed

Step 7: Swap the Start and End Frame

Now, swap the start and ending frame as per your preference for the Ken Burns animation. Here’s how you can do this:

  1. Click on the Swap button;
  2. The start frame will match the still frame (previous one);
  3. Grab the end frame and move it to your desired position;
  4. Apply enough zoom in to make the black areas disappear;
  5. Preview to see how your animation looks.

swapping the start and end frames

Step 8: Play/Preview Looping

After you have optimized the speed of the Ken Burns Effect by trimming the clip’s length and have widened the shot to include everyone, it’s time to preview the changes you have made. Given below are simple steps:

  • Press the Play Loop button;
  • Tap on the Pause icon and return to editing;
  • Click Done and enjoy your animation.

Seems a little complicated? Filmora allows users to do Ken Burns effect, or pan and zoom effect, in much easier steps, click to download and have a try!

Download Win Version Download Mac Version

Part 2: How to add the Ken Burns Effect to Multiple Camera Movements?

Although you can apply a single Ken Burns movement to your image, you can still give the impression of multiple movements being used. This means the Ken Burns Effect can be added to multiple camera movements by duplicating the photo and building numerous movements in sequence.

  1. Add the first camera movement to your image;
  2. Duplicate the clip by click and drag option or copy and paste option;
  3. Press the Swap button in the Ken Burns settings to reverse the start and end positions;
  4. Verify if multiple camera movements have been added.

Extensive Reading: Why Ken Burns Effect is Named after Ken Burns?

What is the Ken Burns Effect?

The Ken Burns Effect is a feature in Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect by using your predefined start and end positions. Basically, it is a crop effect with one crop at the start of the clip while the other at the end. Ken Burns Effect can be further customized by adjusting the smoothness of the animation. While creating a Ken Burns Effect, the motion applied to the video clips gets automatically smoothed to accelerate and decelerate the movement slowly at the start and the end of the animation.

Why the Effect is named after Ken Burns?

Now, as you have learned the purpose of the Ken Burns Effect, you must be curious about its name. It is named after American documentarian Ken Burns, who is known for his instantly recognizable and highly influential visual aesthetic. Surprisingly, Ken Burns did not invent this Ken Burns Effect; rather, it has existed for decades. You might be wondering why the technique was then named after Ken Burns. This was due to the persistent and adroit use of this technique that it is now known as the Ken Burns Effect.

ken-burns

What are the Applications of Ken Burns Effect?

Primarily, the Ken Burns Effect is used due to the unavailability of a film or video. The technique gives action to still photographs to glorify the subjects of interest like couples in wedding photography. It gets better and better as you apply simulated parallax with Ken Burns Effect to make your 2D images appear as 3D plus advanced zooming visuals. You can also use the Ken Burns effect to make a video of your graduation ceremony pictures or memorable moments of reunion. Ken Burns Effect is also used in documentaries by professional filmmakers and editors.

Conclusion

Adding animated effects to your pictures and videos makes them look gorgeous. This is crazy, isn’t it, when you impress your peers with your editing skills. So, what’s the bottom line of this whole discussion? Try adding the Ken Burns Effect with Final Cut Pro to create a pan and zoom effect on your pictures and clips get the output in your desired format.

author avatar

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

Unleash Your Creativity: Top 10 2D Animation Tools for Artists

10 Best 2D Animation Software in 2024 [Free/Paid]

author avatar

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.

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.

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A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

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Why your video editing isn’t good enough? How about some creative inspo?

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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.

Put forward an idea

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.

make storyboard

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.

Produce materials

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.

Animation

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.

anireel animation software

Download Win Version

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 Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

author avatar

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.

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.

filmora logo

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

filmora-02

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

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

filmora12

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.

Put forward an idea

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.

make storyboard

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.

Produce materials

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.

Animation

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.

anireel animation software

Download Win Version

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 Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

author avatar

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.

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.

filmora logo

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

filmora-02

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

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

filmora12

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.

Put forward an idea

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.

make storyboard

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.

Produce materials

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.

Animation

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.

anireel animation software

Download Win Version

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 Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

author avatar

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.

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.

filmora logo

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

filmora-02

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

Try It Free Try It Free

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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.

Put forward an idea

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.

make storyboard

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.

Produce materials

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.

Animation

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.

anireel animation software

Download Win Version

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 Win VersionDownload Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

author avatar

Shanoon Cox

Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Shanoon Cox

Best Android Video Editor Apps for Chromebook

Best Android Video Editor Apps for Chromebook

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Until recently using an Android video editor apps on a Chromebook was a distant dream, as feasible as sending huge video files instantly to your friends and colleagues. The great news is that getting a video editor app for your Chromebook from a Google Play Store is now possible.

However, this option isn’t available on all Chromebooks that are currently on the market. At present, the Google Play Store is avaialbe for some certain Chrombooks. Before go ahead, you should check the Google Chrome OS Systems Supporting Android Apps List . As a matter of fact, only Chromebook OS version 53 and up can enable you to access Google Play Store application. Before getting your hopes up, check the version of the OS on your Chromebook, and upgrade it if you would like to have access to best android video editor apps. Although only a selected few Chromebooks enable its users to access Google Play Store at the moment, as the time passes this feature will become more common than it currently is.

1.PowerDirector

Price: Free, but contains in app purchases

What we like: The software allows its users to edit 4K footage

What we don’t like: Uploading files can be time-consuming

The plethora of editing options PowerDirector provides makes it one of the best Android video editing apps currently available on the Google Play Store. Importing files to the timeline is easy and it requires you to simply drag the file you want to edit and drop it on the timeline. The app enables you to perform all the basic editing actions like trimming video clips, rotating images or splitting footage. The voiceover and custom soundtrack capabilities make the editing experience in PowerDirector even more complete because users can select the royalty free music from the app’s music library or tell the story of their video in their own voice.

Adjusting color values of the images is enabled by Video Color Editor that allows you to set brightness, contrast and saturation values. Visual effects like slow motion can be used to make the scenes in your video more dramatic, while PowerDirector also offers a large database of effects that can be used in many different ways. The app offers a lot of options for exporting videos, you can save the file on an SD card, or upload it directly to YouTube, while the highest video quality you can export is either Full HD or 4K.

Learn more about PowerDirector Video Editor App

2.Quik

Price: Free

What we like: Face and color detection allows for better framing of the videos

What we don’t like: It lacks more advanced video editing features

This android video editing app does most of the work for you, all you need to do is import your favorite pictures and videos and Quick will do the rest for you. The app enables you to import footage from Dropbox, Gallery, Albums or GoPro Quick Key. The Quick app detects and analyzes faces to make smart cuts and other necessary changes on your photos and videos. Furthermore, the Android video app offers a selection of 23 different video styles and each style contains unique transitions and video graphics that can be easily adjusted to the demands of the video you are creating.

Adding text overlays or slides is yet another feature of this remarkable app that will help users to produce fun and captivating videos. Furthermore Quick provides a number of filters that will enhance your footage and make its colors stand out. Users can choose from more than 80 free songs and set any point in the song as the starting point of their soundtrack. Furthermore, you can automatically sync the transitions to the beats of the tune you included in your video’s soundtrack. After the editing process is finished the Quick Android video editing app allows you to save your project to the camera roll or export it directly to WhatsApp, Instagram or YouTube.

Learn more about Quik Video Editor App

3.Animoto Video Maker

Price: From $8 to $34

What we like: The app features a built-in music library

What we don’t like: App’s performance relies heavily on the quality of the Internet connection

Animoto Video Maker has been used by more than 13 million people, which is one of the perfect choices for professionals, businesses or individuals who just want to piece together their memories into outstanding videos. The monthly fee for Animoto Video Maker ranges from $8 for a Personal package aimed at non-professional users to $34 for Business version of the software best suited for large companies that need an effective editing tool. Some users might find this easy to use the app a bit pricey, even though it allows them to gain access to many different background styles, video effects or built-in music library.

This app enables you to create videos from the footage on their Chromebooks, Smartphones or even the photos and videos they uploaded to their Facebook account, with music and text. Business and Professional pricing plans offer support for 1080p video resolution, while users who opt for a Personal pricing plan can create videos at a maximum resolution of 720p.

Learn more about Animoto Video Maker App

Part 2: How to Install Android Video Editing Apps on Chromebook

Editing videos on a Chromebook can be beneficial for so many different reasons, but at the moment only a few Chromebooks allow you to use Android video editor apps. Even if your Chromebook supports Android apps it is possible that some apps cannot work properly on a Chromebook. Installing apps from a Google Play Store can at times be a somewhat complicated process so let’s go through it step by step.

Step 1 Getting the Google Play Store App

The process of acquiring the Google Play Store app is different for Chromebooks that support Android app and for those that don’t. It is of utmost importance to make sure that the OS you have on your Chromebook is at least version 53 or more recent, otherwise, you will not be able to get the Google Play Store App.

1. If your Chromebook supports Android apps

Once you’ve made sure that your Chromebook has the OS that supports Android apps, go to Status area, and look for the Settings cog. After the Setting window opens, click on the ‘Enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook’ check box located at the bottom of the Settings window under Google Play Store (beta) option. This action will open the Google Play Store app and you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions, click Agree and proceed to download the apps you want.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings

2. If your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps

The process of gaining access to Google Play Store is more complicated if the Chromebook you have doesn’t allow its user to run Android apps. In order to start this process, you first need to switch to the Developer Channel, which has its own risks. Back up all your data, before switching to developer channel, because returning to a stable channel requires you to do a factory reset.

To make the switch you’ll need to go to Status area and click on Settings, this action will open the Settings page. Once the page is displayed on your screen click the About Chrome OS tab that shows which version of the OS you have installed on your Chromebook and which channel you are currently running.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-2

Click on More Info to expand the info about the Chrome OS, and look for a Change Chanel option. Clicking on the Change Chanel button will present you with three options Stable, Beta and Developer-unstable, select the last option, read the warning dialog box carefully and click Change Channel.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-3

Once all the necessary updates to put the device into Developer Channel are completed, you will be required to restart your Chromebook. After you have restarted your Chromebook, go to the Apps tray and you will see that Google Play Store app is now available. Click on it and go through the Terms and Conditions and click on accept.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-accept

Step 2 Getting Android Video Editing Apps

If you already have a Google Play Store account on your Android Smartphone, your Chromebook will automatically recognize it and allow you to log in, but if this isn’t the case you’ll have to set up a new account.

android-on-chromebook-interface

The process of getting android video editing apps is simple and very similar to the installation process of an app on an Android phone. Locate the app you want to install and click on the Install button. The process will start immediately, and you may be asked to give authorizations to install the app on your Chromebook, but that’s the only action you’ll need to perform during this stage of the process. After the installation is over you’ll find your new video editing app in the App Tray, next to other apps you have on your Chromebook. Click on it to run the app and you are all set to start your first video editing journey on your Chromebook.

Keep in mind that how apps perform will largely depend on the Chromebook you have, so before choosing to download and install an Android video editing app, make sure that your device is capable of delivering a solid performance. Share with us about your opinion in the comment section below.


You may also like:

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Until recently using an Android video editor apps on a Chromebook was a distant dream, as feasible as sending huge video files instantly to your friends and colleagues. The great news is that getting a video editor app for your Chromebook from a Google Play Store is now possible.

However, this option isn’t available on all Chromebooks that are currently on the market. At present, the Google Play Store is avaialbe for some certain Chrombooks. Before go ahead, you should check the Google Chrome OS Systems Supporting Android Apps List . As a matter of fact, only Chromebook OS version 53 and up can enable you to access Google Play Store application. Before getting your hopes up, check the version of the OS on your Chromebook, and upgrade it if you would like to have access to best android video editor apps. Although only a selected few Chromebooks enable its users to access Google Play Store at the moment, as the time passes this feature will become more common than it currently is.

1.PowerDirector

Price: Free, but contains in app purchases

What we like: The software allows its users to edit 4K footage

What we don’t like: Uploading files can be time-consuming

The plethora of editing options PowerDirector provides makes it one of the best Android video editing apps currently available on the Google Play Store. Importing files to the timeline is easy and it requires you to simply drag the file you want to edit and drop it on the timeline. The app enables you to perform all the basic editing actions like trimming video clips, rotating images or splitting footage. The voiceover and custom soundtrack capabilities make the editing experience in PowerDirector even more complete because users can select the royalty free music from the app’s music library or tell the story of their video in their own voice.

Adjusting color values of the images is enabled by Video Color Editor that allows you to set brightness, contrast and saturation values. Visual effects like slow motion can be used to make the scenes in your video more dramatic, while PowerDirector also offers a large database of effects that can be used in many different ways. The app offers a lot of options for exporting videos, you can save the file on an SD card, or upload it directly to YouTube, while the highest video quality you can export is either Full HD or 4K.

Learn more about PowerDirector Video Editor App

2.Quik

Price: Free

What we like: Face and color detection allows for better framing of the videos

What we don’t like: It lacks more advanced video editing features

This android video editing app does most of the work for you, all you need to do is import your favorite pictures and videos and Quick will do the rest for you. The app enables you to import footage from Dropbox, Gallery, Albums or GoPro Quick Key. The Quick app detects and analyzes faces to make smart cuts and other necessary changes on your photos and videos. Furthermore, the Android video app offers a selection of 23 different video styles and each style contains unique transitions and video graphics that can be easily adjusted to the demands of the video you are creating.

Adding text overlays or slides is yet another feature of this remarkable app that will help users to produce fun and captivating videos. Furthermore Quick provides a number of filters that will enhance your footage and make its colors stand out. Users can choose from more than 80 free songs and set any point in the song as the starting point of their soundtrack. Furthermore, you can automatically sync the transitions to the beats of the tune you included in your video’s soundtrack. After the editing process is finished the Quick Android video editing app allows you to save your project to the camera roll or export it directly to WhatsApp, Instagram or YouTube.

Learn more about Quik Video Editor App

3.Animoto Video Maker

Price: From $8 to $34

What we like: The app features a built-in music library

What we don’t like: App’s performance relies heavily on the quality of the Internet connection

Animoto Video Maker has been used by more than 13 million people, which is one of the perfect choices for professionals, businesses or individuals who just want to piece together their memories into outstanding videos. The monthly fee for Animoto Video Maker ranges from $8 for a Personal package aimed at non-professional users to $34 for Business version of the software best suited for large companies that need an effective editing tool. Some users might find this easy to use the app a bit pricey, even though it allows them to gain access to many different background styles, video effects or built-in music library.

This app enables you to create videos from the footage on their Chromebooks, Smartphones or even the photos and videos they uploaded to their Facebook account, with music and text. Business and Professional pricing plans offer support for 1080p video resolution, while users who opt for a Personal pricing plan can create videos at a maximum resolution of 720p.

Learn more about Animoto Video Maker App

Part 2: How to Install Android Video Editing Apps on Chromebook

Editing videos on a Chromebook can be beneficial for so many different reasons, but at the moment only a few Chromebooks allow you to use Android video editor apps. Even if your Chromebook supports Android apps it is possible that some apps cannot work properly on a Chromebook. Installing apps from a Google Play Store can at times be a somewhat complicated process so let’s go through it step by step.

Step 1 Getting the Google Play Store App

The process of acquiring the Google Play Store app is different for Chromebooks that support Android app and for those that don’t. It is of utmost importance to make sure that the OS you have on your Chromebook is at least version 53 or more recent, otherwise, you will not be able to get the Google Play Store App.

1. If your Chromebook supports Android apps

Once you’ve made sure that your Chromebook has the OS that supports Android apps, go to Status area, and look for the Settings cog. After the Setting window opens, click on the ‘Enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook’ check box located at the bottom of the Settings window under Google Play Store (beta) option. This action will open the Google Play Store app and you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions, click Agree and proceed to download the apps you want.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings

2. If your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps

The process of gaining access to Google Play Store is more complicated if the Chromebook you have doesn’t allow its user to run Android apps. In order to start this process, you first need to switch to the Developer Channel, which has its own risks. Back up all your data, before switching to developer channel, because returning to a stable channel requires you to do a factory reset.

To make the switch you’ll need to go to Status area and click on Settings, this action will open the Settings page. Once the page is displayed on your screen click the About Chrome OS tab that shows which version of the OS you have installed on your Chromebook and which channel you are currently running.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-2

Click on More Info to expand the info about the Chrome OS, and look for a Change Chanel option. Clicking on the Change Chanel button will present you with three options Stable, Beta and Developer-unstable, select the last option, read the warning dialog box carefully and click Change Channel.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-3

Once all the necessary updates to put the device into Developer Channel are completed, you will be required to restart your Chromebook. After you have restarted your Chromebook, go to the Apps tray and you will see that Google Play Store app is now available. Click on it and go through the Terms and Conditions and click on accept.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-accept

Step 2 Getting Android Video Editing Apps

If you already have a Google Play Store account on your Android Smartphone, your Chromebook will automatically recognize it and allow you to log in, but if this isn’t the case you’ll have to set up a new account.

android-on-chromebook-interface

The process of getting android video editing apps is simple and very similar to the installation process of an app on an Android phone. Locate the app you want to install and click on the Install button. The process will start immediately, and you may be asked to give authorizations to install the app on your Chromebook, but that’s the only action you’ll need to perform during this stage of the process. After the installation is over you’ll find your new video editing app in the App Tray, next to other apps you have on your Chromebook. Click on it to run the app and you are all set to start your first video editing journey on your Chromebook.

Keep in mind that how apps perform will largely depend on the Chromebook you have, so before choosing to download and install an Android video editing app, make sure that your device is capable of delivering a solid performance. Share with us about your opinion in the comment section below.


You may also like:

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Until recently using an Android video editor apps on a Chromebook was a distant dream, as feasible as sending huge video files instantly to your friends and colleagues. The great news is that getting a video editor app for your Chromebook from a Google Play Store is now possible.

However, this option isn’t available on all Chromebooks that are currently on the market. At present, the Google Play Store is avaialbe for some certain Chrombooks. Before go ahead, you should check the Google Chrome OS Systems Supporting Android Apps List . As a matter of fact, only Chromebook OS version 53 and up can enable you to access Google Play Store application. Before getting your hopes up, check the version of the OS on your Chromebook, and upgrade it if you would like to have access to best android video editor apps. Although only a selected few Chromebooks enable its users to access Google Play Store at the moment, as the time passes this feature will become more common than it currently is.

1.PowerDirector

Price: Free, but contains in app purchases

What we like: The software allows its users to edit 4K footage

What we don’t like: Uploading files can be time-consuming

The plethora of editing options PowerDirector provides makes it one of the best Android video editing apps currently available on the Google Play Store. Importing files to the timeline is easy and it requires you to simply drag the file you want to edit and drop it on the timeline. The app enables you to perform all the basic editing actions like trimming video clips, rotating images or splitting footage. The voiceover and custom soundtrack capabilities make the editing experience in PowerDirector even more complete because users can select the royalty free music from the app’s music library or tell the story of their video in their own voice.

Adjusting color values of the images is enabled by Video Color Editor that allows you to set brightness, contrast and saturation values. Visual effects like slow motion can be used to make the scenes in your video more dramatic, while PowerDirector also offers a large database of effects that can be used in many different ways. The app offers a lot of options for exporting videos, you can save the file on an SD card, or upload it directly to YouTube, while the highest video quality you can export is either Full HD or 4K.

Learn more about PowerDirector Video Editor App

2.Quik

Price: Free

What we like: Face and color detection allows for better framing of the videos

What we don’t like: It lacks more advanced video editing features

This android video editing app does most of the work for you, all you need to do is import your favorite pictures and videos and Quick will do the rest for you. The app enables you to import footage from Dropbox, Gallery, Albums or GoPro Quick Key. The Quick app detects and analyzes faces to make smart cuts and other necessary changes on your photos and videos. Furthermore, the Android video app offers a selection of 23 different video styles and each style contains unique transitions and video graphics that can be easily adjusted to the demands of the video you are creating.

Adding text overlays or slides is yet another feature of this remarkable app that will help users to produce fun and captivating videos. Furthermore Quick provides a number of filters that will enhance your footage and make its colors stand out. Users can choose from more than 80 free songs and set any point in the song as the starting point of their soundtrack. Furthermore, you can automatically sync the transitions to the beats of the tune you included in your video’s soundtrack. After the editing process is finished the Quick Android video editing app allows you to save your project to the camera roll or export it directly to WhatsApp, Instagram or YouTube.

Learn more about Quik Video Editor App

3.Animoto Video Maker

Price: From $8 to $34

What we like: The app features a built-in music library

What we don’t like: App’s performance relies heavily on the quality of the Internet connection

Animoto Video Maker has been used by more than 13 million people, which is one of the perfect choices for professionals, businesses or individuals who just want to piece together their memories into outstanding videos. The monthly fee for Animoto Video Maker ranges from $8 for a Personal package aimed at non-professional users to $34 for Business version of the software best suited for large companies that need an effective editing tool. Some users might find this easy to use the app a bit pricey, even though it allows them to gain access to many different background styles, video effects or built-in music library.

This app enables you to create videos from the footage on their Chromebooks, Smartphones or even the photos and videos they uploaded to their Facebook account, with music and text. Business and Professional pricing plans offer support for 1080p video resolution, while users who opt for a Personal pricing plan can create videos at a maximum resolution of 720p.

Learn more about Animoto Video Maker App

Part 2: How to Install Android Video Editing Apps on Chromebook

Editing videos on a Chromebook can be beneficial for so many different reasons, but at the moment only a few Chromebooks allow you to use Android video editor apps. Even if your Chromebook supports Android apps it is possible that some apps cannot work properly on a Chromebook. Installing apps from a Google Play Store can at times be a somewhat complicated process so let’s go through it step by step.

Step 1 Getting the Google Play Store App

The process of acquiring the Google Play Store app is different for Chromebooks that support Android app and for those that don’t. It is of utmost importance to make sure that the OS you have on your Chromebook is at least version 53 or more recent, otherwise, you will not be able to get the Google Play Store App.

1. If your Chromebook supports Android apps

Once you’ve made sure that your Chromebook has the OS that supports Android apps, go to Status area, and look for the Settings cog. After the Setting window opens, click on the ‘Enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook’ check box located at the bottom of the Settings window under Google Play Store (beta) option. This action will open the Google Play Store app and you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions, click Agree and proceed to download the apps you want.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings

2. If your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps

The process of gaining access to Google Play Store is more complicated if the Chromebook you have doesn’t allow its user to run Android apps. In order to start this process, you first need to switch to the Developer Channel, which has its own risks. Back up all your data, before switching to developer channel, because returning to a stable channel requires you to do a factory reset.

To make the switch you’ll need to go to Status area and click on Settings, this action will open the Settings page. Once the page is displayed on your screen click the About Chrome OS tab that shows which version of the OS you have installed on your Chromebook and which channel you are currently running.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-2

Click on More Info to expand the info about the Chrome OS, and look for a Change Chanel option. Clicking on the Change Chanel button will present you with three options Stable, Beta and Developer-unstable, select the last option, read the warning dialog box carefully and click Change Channel.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-3

Once all the necessary updates to put the device into Developer Channel are completed, you will be required to restart your Chromebook. After you have restarted your Chromebook, go to the Apps tray and you will see that Google Play Store app is now available. Click on it and go through the Terms and Conditions and click on accept.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-accept

Step 2 Getting Android Video Editing Apps

If you already have a Google Play Store account on your Android Smartphone, your Chromebook will automatically recognize it and allow you to log in, but if this isn’t the case you’ll have to set up a new account.

android-on-chromebook-interface

The process of getting android video editing apps is simple and very similar to the installation process of an app on an Android phone. Locate the app you want to install and click on the Install button. The process will start immediately, and you may be asked to give authorizations to install the app on your Chromebook, but that’s the only action you’ll need to perform during this stage of the process. After the installation is over you’ll find your new video editing app in the App Tray, next to other apps you have on your Chromebook. Click on it to run the app and you are all set to start your first video editing journey on your Chromebook.

Keep in mind that how apps perform will largely depend on the Chromebook you have, so before choosing to download and install an Android video editing app, make sure that your device is capable of delivering a solid performance. Share with us about your opinion in the comment section below.


You may also like:

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Until recently using an Android video editor apps on a Chromebook was a distant dream, as feasible as sending huge video files instantly to your friends and colleagues. The great news is that getting a video editor app for your Chromebook from a Google Play Store is now possible.

However, this option isn’t available on all Chromebooks that are currently on the market. At present, the Google Play Store is avaialbe for some certain Chrombooks. Before go ahead, you should check the Google Chrome OS Systems Supporting Android Apps List . As a matter of fact, only Chromebook OS version 53 and up can enable you to access Google Play Store application. Before getting your hopes up, check the version of the OS on your Chromebook, and upgrade it if you would like to have access to best android video editor apps. Although only a selected few Chromebooks enable its users to access Google Play Store at the moment, as the time passes this feature will become more common than it currently is.

1.PowerDirector

Price: Free, but contains in app purchases

What we like: The software allows its users to edit 4K footage

What we don’t like: Uploading files can be time-consuming

The plethora of editing options PowerDirector provides makes it one of the best Android video editing apps currently available on the Google Play Store. Importing files to the timeline is easy and it requires you to simply drag the file you want to edit and drop it on the timeline. The app enables you to perform all the basic editing actions like trimming video clips, rotating images or splitting footage. The voiceover and custom soundtrack capabilities make the editing experience in PowerDirector even more complete because users can select the royalty free music from the app’s music library or tell the story of their video in their own voice.

Adjusting color values of the images is enabled by Video Color Editor that allows you to set brightness, contrast and saturation values. Visual effects like slow motion can be used to make the scenes in your video more dramatic, while PowerDirector also offers a large database of effects that can be used in many different ways. The app offers a lot of options for exporting videos, you can save the file on an SD card, or upload it directly to YouTube, while the highest video quality you can export is either Full HD or 4K.

Learn more about PowerDirector Video Editor App

2.Quik

Price: Free

What we like: Face and color detection allows for better framing of the videos

What we don’t like: It lacks more advanced video editing features

This android video editing app does most of the work for you, all you need to do is import your favorite pictures and videos and Quick will do the rest for you. The app enables you to import footage from Dropbox, Gallery, Albums or GoPro Quick Key. The Quick app detects and analyzes faces to make smart cuts and other necessary changes on your photos and videos. Furthermore, the Android video app offers a selection of 23 different video styles and each style contains unique transitions and video graphics that can be easily adjusted to the demands of the video you are creating.

Adding text overlays or slides is yet another feature of this remarkable app that will help users to produce fun and captivating videos. Furthermore Quick provides a number of filters that will enhance your footage and make its colors stand out. Users can choose from more than 80 free songs and set any point in the song as the starting point of their soundtrack. Furthermore, you can automatically sync the transitions to the beats of the tune you included in your video’s soundtrack. After the editing process is finished the Quick Android video editing app allows you to save your project to the camera roll or export it directly to WhatsApp, Instagram or YouTube.

Learn more about Quik Video Editor App

3.Animoto Video Maker

Price: From $8 to $34

What we like: The app features a built-in music library

What we don’t like: App’s performance relies heavily on the quality of the Internet connection

Animoto Video Maker has been used by more than 13 million people, which is one of the perfect choices for professionals, businesses or individuals who just want to piece together their memories into outstanding videos. The monthly fee for Animoto Video Maker ranges from $8 for a Personal package aimed at non-professional users to $34 for Business version of the software best suited for large companies that need an effective editing tool. Some users might find this easy to use the app a bit pricey, even though it allows them to gain access to many different background styles, video effects or built-in music library.

This app enables you to create videos from the footage on their Chromebooks, Smartphones or even the photos and videos they uploaded to their Facebook account, with music and text. Business and Professional pricing plans offer support for 1080p video resolution, while users who opt for a Personal pricing plan can create videos at a maximum resolution of 720p.

Learn more about Animoto Video Maker App

Part 2: How to Install Android Video Editing Apps on Chromebook

Editing videos on a Chromebook can be beneficial for so many different reasons, but at the moment only a few Chromebooks allow you to use Android video editor apps. Even if your Chromebook supports Android apps it is possible that some apps cannot work properly on a Chromebook. Installing apps from a Google Play Store can at times be a somewhat complicated process so let’s go through it step by step.

Step 1 Getting the Google Play Store App

The process of acquiring the Google Play Store app is different for Chromebooks that support Android app and for those that don’t. It is of utmost importance to make sure that the OS you have on your Chromebook is at least version 53 or more recent, otherwise, you will not be able to get the Google Play Store App.

1. If your Chromebook supports Android apps

Once you’ve made sure that your Chromebook has the OS that supports Android apps, go to Status area, and look for the Settings cog. After the Setting window opens, click on the ‘Enable Google Play Store on your Chromebook’ check box located at the bottom of the Settings window under Google Play Store (beta) option. This action will open the Google Play Store app and you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions, click Agree and proceed to download the apps you want.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings

2. If your Chromebook doesn’t support Android apps

The process of gaining access to Google Play Store is more complicated if the Chromebook you have doesn’t allow its user to run Android apps. In order to start this process, you first need to switch to the Developer Channel, which has its own risks. Back up all your data, before switching to developer channel, because returning to a stable channel requires you to do a factory reset.

To make the switch you’ll need to go to Status area and click on Settings, this action will open the Settings page. Once the page is displayed on your screen click the About Chrome OS tab that shows which version of the OS you have installed on your Chromebook and which channel you are currently running.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-2

Click on More Info to expand the info about the Chrome OS, and look for a Change Chanel option. Clicking on the Change Chanel button will present you with three options Stable, Beta and Developer-unstable, select the last option, read the warning dialog box carefully and click Change Channel.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-3

Once all the necessary updates to put the device into Developer Channel are completed, you will be required to restart your Chromebook. After you have restarted your Chromebook, go to the Apps tray and you will see that Google Play Store app is now available. Click on it and go through the Terms and Conditions and click on accept.

install-android-on-chromebook-settings-accept

Step 2 Getting Android Video Editing Apps

If you already have a Google Play Store account on your Android Smartphone, your Chromebook will automatically recognize it and allow you to log in, but if this isn’t the case you’ll have to set up a new account.

android-on-chromebook-interface

The process of getting android video editing apps is simple and very similar to the installation process of an app on an Android phone. Locate the app you want to install and click on the Install button. The process will start immediately, and you may be asked to give authorizations to install the app on your Chromebook, but that’s the only action you’ll need to perform during this stage of the process. After the installation is over you’ll find your new video editing app in the App Tray, next to other apps you have on your Chromebook. Click on it to run the app and you are all set to start your first video editing journey on your Chromebook.

Keep in mind that how apps perform will largely depend on the Chromebook you have, so before choosing to download and install an Android video editing app, make sure that your device is capable of delivering a solid performance. Share with us about your opinion in the comment section below.


You may also like:

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

10 Best Free Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos How to Blur Faces in Video (Beginners Guide)

10 Best Free Blur Face Apps

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

 Filmora Utility features

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

Video Mosaic App for iOS

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

Video Toolbox Movie Maker Mosaic App for iOS

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

Movstash  Mosaic Blur App for iOS

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photo App for iOS

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

Point Blur DSLR app

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7


Blur & Mosaic app for iOS

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

filmora logo

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

filmora-02

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

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

filmora12

Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

 Filmora Utility features

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

Video Mosaic App for iOS

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

Video Toolbox Movie Maker Mosaic App for iOS

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

Movstash  Mosaic Blur App for iOS

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photo App for iOS

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

Point Blur DSLR app

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7


Blur & Mosaic app for iOS

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

filmora logo

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

filmora-02

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

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

filmora12

Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

 Filmora Utility features

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

Video Mosaic App for iOS

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

Video Toolbox Movie Maker Mosaic App for iOS

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

Movstash  Mosaic Blur App for iOS

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photo App for iOS

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

Point Blur DSLR app

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7


Blur & Mosaic app for iOS

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

filmora logo

A cross-platform for making videos anywhere for all creators

filmora-02

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

Try It Free Try It Free

Try It Free

Try It Free

* Secure Download

filmora12

Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Respecting the privacy of the people who accidentally ended up in your shot is a common courtesy. In addition, making that material public can have legal consequences. So, to avoid needless complications, you can blur a person’s face before you share a photo or a video on social networks.

There are plenty of Android and iPhone apps that enable you to blur a face or any part of an image just moments after you’ve recorded a video or taken a photo. In this article, we will take you through the ten best free apps you can use to blur faces on your Android devices or iPhone & iPad.

Blurring Face/Object/Private Information With Wondershare Filmora

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

As a video editor with rich effects and tools, Filmora offers a few ways to blur a face or object, such as applying the Mosaic effect, Blurring effects, or Face-off. The video tutorial above is made with Filmora. Click Effects at the top, find Filter on the left, and click UTILITY; from there, you will see the mosaic, face-off, tilt-shift circle, and tilt-shift linear tools.

 Filmora Utility features

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

Check our picks of the best video editing software to blur faces in videos on Windows & Mac or learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

10 Best FREE iPhone and Android Apps for Blurring Faces in Photos and Videos

Concealing the identity of the people in your photos and videos is just the tip of the iceberg because the apps we featured in our top ten list allow you to manipulate images in any way you want. Let’s take a look at some of the best apps that can help you blur a face in just a few easy steps.

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

iOS Android

Try It Free >>

1. Skitch

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.1

iPhone photographers in need of an app that enables them to snap and edit photos quickly will love using Skitch. The app is perfect for editing photos while you are on the go, as you can easily annotate images or add any text, stickers, or emojis to your photos. The Pixelate option lets you select the portion of the image you’d like to blur in just a couple of taps. Skitch’s photo editing capabilities can help you enhance the colors of each photo you take with this app. At the same time, its file-sharing features allow you to post your favorite creations on social media in seconds.

2. Video Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.6

Video Mosaic App for iOS

This app is designed with just one purpose, to enable iPhone users to blur videos while recording is in progress easily**.** You can choose from several different blur options, so you can blur an entire video, add an automatic mosaic over a face in the shot, or choose an area of the screen you’d like to blur. Moreover, the app lets you select the shape of the mosaic so the blurred area of the shot can have any form you want. The only downside is that you will have to make an in-app purchase to get rid of ads.

3. Video Toolbox Movie Maker

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.5

Video Toolbox Movie Maker Mosaic App for iOS

The video editing tools this iOS-based app offers will enable you to create professional-looking social media videos. There are over thirty transitions to choose from and more than twenty video effects. You can experiment with the Green Screen feature to combine two or more clips into a single video or try out the Reverse video option. Despite a solid number of video editing options, Video Toolbox offers only a limited number of face blurring options. The pixelate or blur effect you add to a video will be static, so if your subject moves a lot, you will have to use another app.

4. MovStash

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.7

Movstash  Mosaic Blur App for iOS

There are four types of blur you can choose from, and you can edit your videos in Simple and Timeline modes. You can specify the area of the shot you’d like to blur manually and use the slider to set the intensity of the blur effect. The Timeline mode lets you add as many blur areas to a video as you want so that you can blur multiple faces in a single shot. MovStash is specifically designed to make the process of blurring portions of a video quick and simple, but the app doesn’t offer any other video editing option.

5. KineMaster – Pro Video Editor

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS , Android

User Rating: 4.7

KineMaster is a professional video editing app that enables users to trim a video frame by frame, apply the Chroma Key effect or add 3D transitions between video clips. That’s why it is not surprising that iPhone and Android users can easily blur faces in their videos with this app. However, the free version of KineMaster provides you with only a limited amount of options, and you have to make a series of in-app purchases to unlock all the features this app has to offer.

6. Blur Photos

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.3

Blur Photo App for iOS

Blur Photos app allows you to share your photos on all popular social networks in just a few taps. If you have an iOS 8 or a later version of this mobile operating system installed on your iPhone, you will be able to use this app as an extension for the Photos app. Blur Photos is completely free to use on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch, so you can easily conceal the identity of people in your photos, regardless of the device you’re currently using. You can define the area of the picture you’d like to blur manually, and the app lets you control the intensity of the blur effect you’re applying.

7. Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

Price: Free

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.2

Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo

You can blur the faces in your photos using the Mosaic, Pixelate, Blur, or Color options. You have to pick one of the options and designate the screen area you’d like to blur, and the app will do the rest for you. However, you can’t zoom into a photo, which means that you won’t have a great deal of control over the face blurring process in certain situations. The Mosaic Pixelate Censor Photo doesn’t offer any other photo editing options, which makes it a good choice only if you’re looking for an efficient tool that lets you censor photos quickly.

8. Point Blur

Price: Free, contains ads

Compatibility: Android

User Rating: 4.3

Point Blur DSLR app

It is nothing complicated about blurring faces or any other photo part with this app. You have to use your finger to select the area of a picture you’d like to pixelate or blur and then proceed to choose the brush size and the intensity of the effect. In addition, you can use Point Blur to blur the background of a photo and create a smooth bokeh effect. Once you’ve blurred an image successfully, you can share it on any social media of your choice.

9.iMovie

Price: Free

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 3.9

Learn more details about How to blur faces in iMovie

Even though iMovie offers a rich selection of video editing options, unfortunately, there are no options that enable you to blur or pixelate a face. To conceal a beginning or an object in a video, you’ll have toadd a non-transparent layer over the area of the video you’d like to hide. This is by no means an elegant solution since adding a monochrome rectangle over a video can completely ruin its visual appeal. Using iMovie to conceal faces in videos is only a good option if, for whatever reason, you can’t install any other app that grants you more control over the process of blurring faces in videos.

10. Blur&Mosaic

Price: Free, offers in-app purchases

Compatibility: iOS

User Rating: 4.7


Blur & Mosaic app for iOS

If you are looking for an app that makes obscuring faces in photos and videos easy, then Blur&Mosaic is probably one of the best choices you have at your disposal. You have to use your finger to mark the area you’d like to blur and choose from nine available mosaic styles. Furthermore, four different thickness and strength options allow you to control the amount of effect you’re going to apply to the image. However, the app contains ads, and you have to make an in-app purchase to remove them.

FAQs About Face Blur

1. How Do You Blur Out Faces in Photos on iPhone?

iPhone users can blur out faces with free blurring faces apps for photos and videos, such as Skitch, Video Mosaic, Video Toolbox Movie Maker, MovStash, KineMaster, and iMovie.

2. How Can I Blur Moving Face in a Video?

The Face-Off tool in Filmora can blur human faces or anything that looks like a face. You can also add emojis to the face of the subject. What’s more, the face-changer feature also comes with an in-built motion-tracker mechanism, which automatically sensors the position of a moving face and adjusts the emoji accordingly.

To blur faces , import your video, go to “Effects,” then search “Utility,” and select Face-Off. Choose an emoji if you want to add one; otherwise, click “OK.” The faces have now been blurred, and the video is ready to be exported.

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Conclusion

Just because a photo or a video contains information, you can’t share publicly shouldn’t be the reason why you can’t post it on your social media accounts. The apps we presented in this article are going to help you blur a face or conceal any other object in just a few easy steps. Which app do you like to use the most to blur faces in your videos and photos? Leave a comment below and share your experiences with us.

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Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Also read:

  • Title: Updated In 2024, Create Engaging Videos with the Ken Burns Effect A Step-by-Step Tutorial
  • Author: Morgan
  • Created at : 2024-05-19 16:01:43
  • Updated at : 2024-05-20 16:01:43
  • Link: https://ai-video-tools.techidaily.com/updated-in-2024-create-engaging-videos-with-the-ken-burns-effect-a-step-by-step-tutorial/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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Updated In 2024, Create Engaging Videos with the Ken Burns Effect A Step-by-Step Tutorial