Video

A video is a time-based recording of both the visual and audible components into a single medium. This page focuses mostly on the visual components of videos (see the Audio Resources page for specifics about audio).

There are many different kinds of videos that you can create. Below you can find some examples of the common video projects that we work with and a short description:

Video Blogs or “vlogs” are a form of online journaling that has become popular. These videos are usually simple, lightly-edited, and often use a single camera. The vlogger typically sits in front of and speaks directly to the camera and the audience. Vlogs are posted mostly on YouTube and Facebook, some on Vimeo and other sites, and are generally used as a medium to elicit viewer interaction via comments. Popular video bloggers often monetize their videos/channels in order to make money.
Video Essays take a writing assignment and add to it by introducing audio and visual components. Much like written essays, video essays are often structured with an outline and present research or craft an argument. This style of video is commonly compared to a short video documentary style, but the goals of a video essay and a video documentary can differ significantly.
Video Documentaries are non-fiction videos that document an event and/or inform viewers about a subject matter. Motion picture length documentaries are often a genre used to persuade viewers to take action or make change. Some consider these to be the “long form” of video essays, however, we consider documentaries to be their own category.
Video Slideshows are made up of a collection of images that typically are accompanied by a music or a soundtrack. Some recorded voice may be present in video slideshows, but it is not necessary.
- Slideshow Voiceover Videos are typically presentations (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Keynote) with a pre-recorded audio track and timed slides, rather than a live presentation. This genre of video is commonly used for giving presentations and lectures in online courses. We recommend visiting the Presentations page for more about how to design a pre-recorded slideshow.
Instructional Videos are videos that take a concept or idea and explain it in video form. They can be as simple as a recorded lecture or slideshow voiceover, to as complicated as an animated video.
Narrative Videos are comparable to a motion picture film in that they are often fictional and tell stories. They typically include monologue/dialogue, music, and sound effects. They differ from animations by using real people and places.
Animation Videos are when images or objects are manipulated in a video to appear as though they are moving. Cartoons and stop-motion are two forms of animation. The former typically consists of a series of hand-drawn or digitally created images, whereas the latter is the manipulation of objects using short single frames. Animation videos can be fiction (narrative) or non-fiction (video essay or documentary).

Need to find videos for your project? Check our Stock Databases page for recommended databases.

OBS Open Broadcaster Software Logo. Link takes you to OBS project.com OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio: This is a free open-source recording and streaming software program that is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. You can record your screen, your phone, or record yourself using this software. You can also connect it to YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook for live streaming.

QuickTime: This is a free proprietary recording software program that is available only for Apple products. It is also installed on all the Mac computer lab machines, both in the labs and for checkout. QuickTime allows you to record from your webcam or a computer-connected camera. You can also record all or part of your screen.

Adobe Premiere Pro Logo Adobe Premiere Pro: This software is available to UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff via computer lab machines, in the labs only. This software can be used on both Windows and Apple machines, but it needs a strong processor and lots of RAM. Premiere Pro is a step above iMovie, and has a lot more functions and features. Also, using a Creative Cloud account will allow for easy transition from one computer to another.

iMovie Logo iMovie: This is a free proprietary editing software program that is available only for Apple products. It is also installed on all the all Mac computer lab machines, both in the labs and for checkout. This program is very user friendly and great for the beginner video maker. iMovie has an auto-save function that means you’re less likely to lose your work! However, transitioning a video project folder between computers can be difficult.

DaVinci Resolve: This free editing software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux machines. While this software is known for color grading and color correction, the latest version provides a full suite of tools for editing, color correcting, mixing, and rendering video. Resolve also includes tools for motion graphics, visual effects, and audio post-production.

Final Cut Pro Logo Final Cut Pro: This is a robust software program that is available only for Apple products. It is installed on select computer lab machines, in the labs only (including those in DesignLab). This program is one of the more advanced video production programs on the market. It has lots of functions and features, but has a much steeper learning curve. Similar to iMovie, transitioning a video project folder between computers can be difficult.

Adobe After Effects Logo Adobe After Effects: This software is available to UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff via computer lab machines, in the labs only. This software can be used on both Windows and Apple machines and is meant to be used in conjunction with Adobe Premiere Pro. This program is used to create visual effects and motion graphics. Also, using a Creative Cloud account will allow for easy transition from one computer to another. (Recommended only for advanced video production.)

Adobe Animate Logo Adobe Animate: This software is available to UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff via computer lab machines, in the labs only. This software can be used on both Windows and Apple machines. Adobe Animate is used to create vector graphics and animations for cartoons, advertisements, games, and other interactive content. Also, using a Creative Cloud account will allow for easy transition from one computer to another. (Recommended only for advanced video production.)

Please note that DesignLab does not offer any equipment checkout or recording space. Below is a list of places on campus where you can check out equipment

College Library

College Library provides UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff access to a variety of equipment for making videos. Equipment checkout is done at College Library’s Second Floor Service Desk (right by DesignLab!) any time the library is open.

Types of Equipment Available: HD Video Cameras, DSLR Cameras, Tripods, Microphones, Voice Recorders, Laptops

Checkout Length: 7 days

Checkout Process: You will need your Wiscard to checkout equipment.

Questions? See the College Library equipment checkout website here for more information.

Memorial Library

Like College Library, Memorial Library is providing UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff access to some equipment for making videos. Equipment checkout is done at the First Floor Computer any time the lab is open.

Types of Equipment Available: Laptops, Video and Webcam Kits*** (Kits available by request: technologycirculation@library.wisc.edu)

Checkout Length: 7 days

Checkout Process: You will need your Wiscard to checkout equipment.

Questions? See the UW Libraries equipment checkout page for more information.

Steenbock Library

Like College Library, Steenbock Library provides UW-Madison students, faculty, and staff access to a variety of equipment for making videos. Equipment checkout is done at the First Floor Service Desk any time the library is open.

Types of Equipment Available: HD Video Cameras, DSLR Cameras, Tripods, Laptops

Checkout Length: 7 days

Checkout Process: You will need your Wiscard to checkout equipment.

Questions? See the UW Libraries equipment checkout page for more information.

Video Design Tips and Tricks

When shooting effective videos, there are 6 key design elements that you should consider. These elements are orientation, focus, shot scale, composition, lighting, and white balance. In this section, we will provide tips in shooting more professional-looking videos.

6 design elements (orientation, focus, shot scale, composition, lighting, and white balance) with thumbnail photos of larger images that will be described below.

1. Orientation

Shoot your videos with the right orientation for the platform. Making sure you orient your frame properly ensures that the elements in your frame during your shoot are also the same elements in your final output without need for cropping or having black bars on the outside of your video.

Vertical Orientation If your video is going to viewed on social media (Tik Tok, Instagram, etc.) it may need to be oriented vertically (left frame below).
Horizontal Orientation If your video will be viewed on a computer screen or TV (like YouTube or Vimeo), you should orient your shot horizontally (right frame below).

2 Horizontal Video Frames. Left video frame shows a vertically oriented shot of a brick monolith in a park. Along the edges of the video frame are black bars that demonstrate the video was not oriented properly. There is also a magenta

2. Focus

Your video should be clear and crisp.

Your subject should not be blurry. Use your camera’s built in capabilities to focus on the subject when filming. When working with a person as your subject of focus, aim your focus as the subject’s eyes. You cannot sharpen a blurry video after the fact, but you can always make it blurry later when editing. Nowadays, most cameras have an auto-focus feature. If you’re struggling to get your camera to auto-focus, consider moving the object you are filming closer or further away from the camera. You may also need to turn off auto-focus and manually adjust your camera settings.
Avoid unnecessary and distracting visual information. You can guide your viewer’s attention to the elements you want to emphasize on your video by placing the focus solely on the subject and making the excess information blurry. As you can see below, the left shot has the focus on the figurine of the man with glasses and the background is out of focus, while the right shot has a focus on the Darth Vader figurine.

2 frames of the same subjects (figurine of man in glasses and figurine of Darth Vader from Star Wars holding a red lightsaber). The left shot has the focus on the figurine of the man with glasses and the rest of the shot is out of focus, while the right shot has a focus on the Darth Vader figurine instead.

3. Shot Scale

Your subject should not be too close or too far from the camera.

Long Shot – Full shot of the subject (head to toe). Good for showing in b-roll and showing full body movement but not ideal for most footage. A long shot does allow for a lot more background information around the subject (left image below).
Medium Shot – This is the standard shot scale, in which the subject is seen from the waist up. Commonly seen in television interviews and on newscasts. This shot puts the subject as the largest part of the frame and eliminates excess background information (right image below).

2 video frames. Left frame demonstrates a long shot scale with the full head to toe shot of a man in front of a graffitied wall playing a trumpet or cornet. He is wearing a knit hat, jean jacket, dark pants, and sneakers. Right frame demonstrates a medium shot scale a man from the waist up surrounded by trees. The man is wearing a football jersey and hugging himself.

4. Composition

Use the rule of thirds to orient your subject in the frame. The rule of thirds is an imaginary 3 x 3 grid in your frame (see image below for grid lines). When you have a subject interacting with an environment, you can use the rule of thirds to help you place the subject and balance the space.

Top to Bottom – The subject’s eyes are best located near the top line 1/3 of the frame, near or just above the line (as demonstrated below).
Left to Right – If the subject is looking directly at the camera and the background is not important to the shot, it is best to center them in the middle of the frame. However, if you want to capture some of the background, you can put the subject to the left or right 1/3 of the frame, centering them along one of the grid lines. When not centered, it is best to have the subject at a slight angle facing away from the edge of the frame (as demonstrated below).

Video Frame demonstrating the rule of thirds with two horizontal and two vertical white grid lines dissecting the frame. Behind gridlines is the frame of a man in front a blurred out candy store. The man is wearing a blue sweater over a white collared shirt and tie.

5. Lighting

Make sure your subject is well lit. Since your subject’s face is the most important communication tool, you want to be sure that their face is well lit (left image below). Filming the subject in front of a bright window, for example, will cast the subject in shadow and prevent the viewer from seeing them properly. Don’t have professional lights? Use house lamps or desk lights!

When you shoot indoors, try to establish a 3-point lighting setup.

Key Light – The major and strongest lighting. Positioned to one side of the subject.
Fill Light – The secondary lighting on the other side of the subject that is softer than the key light. This light source is meant to cancel out all shadows that have been created by the key light.
Back Light – This light is located opposite the fill light behind the subject. Back light gives definition to the subject and gives a three-dimensional feeling, keeping the subject from blending in with the background.

2 images side by side. Left image is of a UCLA female gymnast demonstrating a well lit subject. Right image demonstrates the standard 3-point lighting in reference to an object and the camera as described in the text above.

6. White Balance

You want your footage to look natural, where colors come across true. White balance removes artificial color casts in your image so that it looks natural and accurate to the setting. It’s best to aim for a neutral color temperature (as in the center picture below) where whites are “true white.” That is, the image matches the color that you perceive with your eyes in the specific location where you are shooting. You can use a white piece of paper to test your white balance before you’re shooting. If you want to go cooler or warmer color temperature, you’re better off doing this in the editing process in case you change your mind later on.

Top of image is a labeled scale of light from left to right: cool, neutral, warm. Below the scale is the same image of a woman with shoulder-length dark hair. The left image is labeled