Photoshop Video Editing

🎬🎥🎞 Photoshop Can Edit Video — And Almost Nobody Knows

The first question most people ask is: does Photoshop edit videos? Surprisingly, it does, and it’s more capable than many expect.

Photoshop offers basic-to-intermediate video editing, using its familiar Layers and Timeline panels to arrange clips, trim and adjust footage non-destructively, add audio and text overlays, apply filters via adjustment layers, and create simple motion with keyframes. Together, these features make the Photoshop video editor a natural choice for designers who already use Photoshop for photo editing & graphic design.

For more complex or professional video editing, Adobe Premiere Pro is a far better choice.

Photoshop Video Editing Key Features

Let's see the main key features of Photoshop video editing to see exactly what you can and can't do with it:

• Familiar Photoshop Interface – Uses layers and standard Photoshop tools, reducing the learning curve for designers transitioning into video editing.
• Timeline Panel (Window > Timeline) – Provides a visual, time-based workspace to arrange video clips, audio, and effects efficiently.
• Video Groups – Organize video clips, text, and images on a single track, simplifying complex compositions.
• Flexible Importing Options – Supports drag-and-drop importing and Film & Video presets, enabling fast project setup and asset integration.
• Non-Destructive Editing with Smart Objects – Allows trimming, filters, and transformations without permanently altering original footage, ensuring safe revisions.
• Keyframe Animation – Enables animation of position, opacity, and effects over time for precise motion control.
• Motion & Transform Animations – Uses Smart Object transform keyframes for pan, zoom, rotation, and dynamic visual movement.
• Adjustment Layers & Filters – Apply color grading and stylistic effects consistently across clips using familiar Photoshop adjustments.
• Text & Graphic Animation – Create animated titles, overlays, and graphics with strong typography and layer-based effects.
• Integrated Audio Editing – Add, trim, adjust volume, mute, and apply fades to audio tracks directly within the timeline.

How to Resize Video in Photoshop

To resize video in Photoshop, use Free Transform (Ctrl/Cmd+T) on the video layer in the timeline, dragging corners while holding Shift to maintain aspect ratio, or use the Crop Tool with preset aspect ratios for social media, then use Generate Expand for seamless background filling if needed.

To shrink a video file without losing quality, use an online video compressor - just upload your video, choose your desired settings, and download a smaller, optimized file ready for sharing or uploading. No software installation required, and it works directly in your browser.

When to Use Photoshop for Video

If you’re considering Photoshop for video editing, these are the top reasons to use it:

• Quick edits or simple video projects when you already know Photoshop and need basic trimming, simple animations, or filters.
• Creating animated graphics, social media videos, or motion posters. For example, use it to make an animated Photoshop glitch effect for your photos.
• Integrating complex Photoshop graphics or image manipulations directly into a video timeline.
• Basic video cutting and splicing when Photoshop is the only available tool.

The Limitations of the Photoshop Video Editor

Not as powerful as Adobe Premiere Pro for long-form projects, multicam editing, or advanced audio mixing. So, for professional, complex video editing, dedicated software like Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects is recommended.

How to Edit Videos on Photoshop

This is the basic workflow that you can follow to edit videos in Photoshop.

• Set Up Workspace: Go to Window > Workspace and select Motion to reveal the Timeline panel.
• Create Timeline: In the Timeline panel, click the "Create Video Timeline" button.
• Import Media: Click the "Add Media" icon (filmstrip) in the Timeline panel to import video clips, images, or audio.
• Arrange Clips: Drag and drop clips in the Timeline or reorder their layers in the Layers panel (bottom layer plays first).
• Trim/Split: Drag the edges of a clip to trim, or use the split tool (scissor icon) at the playhead to cut.
• Add Audio: Use the audio track controls to add music, mute, or fade audio.
• Apply Effects: Use Adjustment Layers (like Curves, Black & White) on video groups for non-destructive color/style changes.
• Add Transitions: Use the transition icon to add fades or other effects between clips.
• Export: Go to File > Export > Render Video (see the section below)

How to Export Video from Photoshop

To save video in Photoshop, go to File > Export > Render Video. This opens a dialog to name the video, choose a location, and set format (like H.264 for MP4), preset, size, and frame rate before clicking Render to export your animation or video project. You can also find a render option by clicking the curved arrow or hamburger menu at the bottom of the Timeline panel. Choose H.264 as the format for web sharing, and export.

Photoshop Video Formats

Photoshop supports various video formats for both importing and exporting, with popular choices including MP4, MOV (QuickTime), and AVI, along with codecs like H.264 and MPEG-4, allowing you to open, edit (frame-by-frame), and render videos.

Common export formats for web use include GIF, while rendering to MP4 or MOV is standard for broader video applications. Learn how to create animated Gifs in Photoshop from this article.

Photoshop video sizes depend on the project, with common presets like 1920x1080 (Full HD) or 3840x2160 (4K UHD) available under the "Film & Video" New Document preset, but you can create custom pixel dimensions.

In Conclusion

Photoshop offers surprisingly capable basic-to-intermediate video editing, perfect for designers who want to combine images, text, effects, and simple animations in a familiar workflow. While it handles trimming, keyframe motion, audio, and filters well, it does not include AI-powered video editing yet like automatic scene detection or AI-generated effects. Those features are found in dedicated tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or After Effects.