QuickTime Speed Hack How to Fast Forward Your Videos

QuickTime Speed Hack How to Fast Forward Your Videos

Giselle Lv12

QuickTime Speed Hack: How to Fast Forward Your Videos

Are you watching a pre-recorded lecture or a video presentation that is too long? You can always save your time by fast-forwarding a video. Different software available in the market let you speed up video clips on your computer or laptop. Amongst hundreds of software available online, QuickTime Player- a creation of Apple Inc.- is easy to operate and works on all active versions of macOS and Windows.

Some features of QuickTime Video Player cannot be overlooked, such as fast-forward, slow down, video compression, and more. Moreover, the application supports multiple video formats, and you can even use 3rd party codecs- unsupported codecs are no more a problem now. Here, in this guide, we’ve provided detailed information about using QuickTime player to speed up a video.

In this article

01 What is QuickTime Player?

02 How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

03 How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

04 Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

05 Adjust Video Speed withWondershare Filmora Video Editor

Part 1: What is QuickTime Player?

QuickTime Player is a media player that Apple has developed. This media player or software allows you to play a movie file on your computer. You can also use QuickTime player to speed up a movie file according to your preferences.

Part 2: How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

Want to speed up an instructional or step-by-step guide to save your time? Worry not! QuickTime video player lets you fast-forward all types of video clips on your windows laptop in a breeze. Using the QuickTime video player, you can speed up your videos from 1/2x to 3x by simply moving the slider. Want to know how to speed up QuickTime player? Follow these steps.

Step 1: Open a movie or music video file on QuickTime Player.

Step 2: Open the Window menu and select the Show A/V Controls option. A dialog box will appear.

quicktime player window show av controls

Step 3: Adjust the playback speed slider from 1x to 3x.

change video playback speed quicktime player windows

Step 4: Close the dialog box and play the video.

Related: How to Change Video Playback Speed on Windows 10 ?

Part 3: How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

Whether you’re a Mac or Windows user- QuickTime Video Player has got you covered. The interface and functions of this video player are intuitive and user-friendly for all Mac users.

If Mac doesn’t support any codec or format, you can also download the third-party codecs and use them with the QuickTime video player. Here’s how to speed up a video on Mac:

Step 1: Install QuickTime Player on your Mac computer.

Step 2: Drag the video file into the player or right-click on the video file and select **Open with -**> QuickTime Player app.

Step 3: Click on the Play button to stream the video content.

Note: The Play button will turn into the Pause button in a second.

Step 4: Hold the Option key, click the fast forward button from the player menu to increase the playback speed.

change video speed quicktime player mac

Part 4: Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

It is necessary to learn some tips regarding how to speed up video on Mac or Windows using QuickTime Player. Following these tips will let you edit your video efficiently and flawlessly. The tips for speeding up video on QuickTime Player have been mentioned below:

  • Make Proper Adjustments

If you want to edit or speed up your video up to 2x without using the fast forward button, you must make adjustments in the editing process. QuickTime Player allows you to apply a 200% speed adjustment for editing each video clip and bring that clip into a new timeline. Then, you should apply the 2x Speed to it. After completing the editing process, you can export that clip.

  • Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use shortcut keys to speed up your videos using QuickTime Player. You need to hold the Command key and press the arrow keys to adjust the video speed. For example, hold the Command key and press Right Arrow to fast-forward the Speed of your video. You can also trim the video using the shortcut key or Command + T.

  • Control Audio Quality

For your information, the audio quality of the original video is disturbed when you speed up the video up to 2.0x. If you do not want the audio quality to worsen, you should stop speeding up the video until 1.9x.

  • Control Playback Speed

You can control the playback QuickTime player speed while the video is playing. You only need to hold the option key and click the fast forward button. On every click, you will notice the Speed increases from 1.0x to 1.1x, 1.1x to 1.2x, and up to so on.

Related: How to Edit Videos with QuickTime Player

Part 5: Adjust Video Speed with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora video editor allows you to adjust your video clip’s time duration and Speed. You can download and install this software from your Windows computer and Mac computer. You can create fast or slow-motion videos at any speed by using Wondershare Filmora. In addition, this player supports a wide variety of formats.

You need to follow the following steps to adjust the video speed using Wondershare Filmora:

Method 1: Change video speed with Uniform Speed

Step 1: Install Wondershare Filmora and launch it on your computer. Click on Import Media Files Here to add a video file to this editor.

Note: This editor supports multiple video formats such as MP4 WMV, DAT, TP, TRP, TS, EVO. NSV, MKV, MOD, FLV, M4V, VOB etc. Moreover, you can add videos through the import feature of simple drag and drop the video file.

Step 2: Drag the video to the timeline. Right-click on it, select Speed> Uniform Speed from the menu.

filmora speed menu

Step 3: At the Uniform Speed tab, move the slider to speed up the video and hit OK to save changes.

filmora uniform speed change speed

Step 4: Click on Export to export the edited video. Click on the Local to save the video in a popular format on your computer.

Method 2: Change video speed with Speed Raming

Step 1: Right-click on the video in the timeline and select Speed -> Speed Ramping from the menu.

Step 2: In the Speed Raming tab, you will see some speed presets which allows you to change the speed smoother quickly. You can also click the Custom option to set the speed points from scratch.

change video speed ramping filmora

Step 3: Now, to speed up the video, enter the duration less than the original one next to the Duration tab, and hit OK. Save the speed-up video by clicking on Export.

Watch the video tutorial about how to use the Speed Ramping feature in Filmora video editor.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

FAQs about Changing Speed on QuickTime Player

Why is my QuickTime player lagging?

Sometimes, you might experience lagging or sluggishness when you speed up the video via QuickTime. It affects the smoothness of the video. Here we’ve stated some errors and their solutions:

Check settings: Always check settings before you speed up any video on QuickTime player. Go to Windows>Check A/V controls and check all the payback setting there.

Codec Faut: Sometimes, an unsupportive codec can also affect the smoothness of the video. You can run your video through MediaInfo or GSpot to identify the codec and install proper plug-ins.

Conclusion

Now you can easily and effortlessly utilize QuickTime player speed up by following the above-mentioned essential tips. No doubt, QuickTime Player is one of the best players that can be used to play video files and edit them. Alternatively, you can also use Wondershare Filmora, another excellent Mac video editor , to speed up your video files to the extent you want.

02 How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

03 How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

04 Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

05 Adjust Video Speed withWondershare Filmora Video Editor

Part 1: What is QuickTime Player?

QuickTime Player is a media player that Apple has developed. This media player or software allows you to play a movie file on your computer. You can also use QuickTime player to speed up a movie file according to your preferences.

Part 2: How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

Want to speed up an instructional or step-by-step guide to save your time? Worry not! QuickTime video player lets you fast-forward all types of video clips on your windows laptop in a breeze. Using the QuickTime video player, you can speed up your videos from 1/2x to 3x by simply moving the slider. Want to know how to speed up QuickTime player? Follow these steps.

Step 1: Open a movie or music video file on QuickTime Player.

Step 2: Open the Window menu and select the Show A/V Controls option. A dialog box will appear.

quicktime player window show av controls

Step 3: Adjust the playback speed slider from 1x to 3x.

change video playback speed quicktime player windows

Step 4: Close the dialog box and play the video.

Related: How to Change Video Playback Speed on Windows 10 ?

Part 3: How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

Whether you’re a Mac or Windows user- QuickTime Video Player has got you covered. The interface and functions of this video player are intuitive and user-friendly for all Mac users.

If Mac doesn’t support any codec or format, you can also download the third-party codecs and use them with the QuickTime video player. Here’s how to speed up a video on Mac:

Step 1: Install QuickTime Player on your Mac computer.

Step 2: Drag the video file into the player or right-click on the video file and select **Open with -**> QuickTime Player app.

Step 3: Click on the Play button to stream the video content.

Note: The Play button will turn into the Pause button in a second.

Step 4: Hold the Option key, click the fast forward button from the player menu to increase the playback speed.

change video speed quicktime player mac

Part 4: Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

It is necessary to learn some tips regarding how to speed up video on Mac or Windows using QuickTime Player. Following these tips will let you edit your video efficiently and flawlessly. The tips for speeding up video on QuickTime Player have been mentioned below:

  • Make Proper Adjustments

If you want to edit or speed up your video up to 2x without using the fast forward button, you must make adjustments in the editing process. QuickTime Player allows you to apply a 200% speed adjustment for editing each video clip and bring that clip into a new timeline. Then, you should apply the 2x Speed to it. After completing the editing process, you can export that clip.

  • Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use shortcut keys to speed up your videos using QuickTime Player. You need to hold the Command key and press the arrow keys to adjust the video speed. For example, hold the Command key and press Right Arrow to fast-forward the Speed of your video. You can also trim the video using the shortcut key or Command + T.

  • Control Audio Quality

For your information, the audio quality of the original video is disturbed when you speed up the video up to 2.0x. If you do not want the audio quality to worsen, you should stop speeding up the video until 1.9x.

  • Control Playback Speed

You can control the playback QuickTime player speed while the video is playing. You only need to hold the option key and click the fast forward button. On every click, you will notice the Speed increases from 1.0x to 1.1x, 1.1x to 1.2x, and up to so on.

Related: How to Edit Videos with QuickTime Player

Part 5: Adjust Video Speed with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora video editor allows you to adjust your video clip’s time duration and Speed. You can download and install this software from your Windows computer and Mac computer. You can create fast or slow-motion videos at any speed by using Wondershare Filmora. In addition, this player supports a wide variety of formats.

You need to follow the following steps to adjust the video speed using Wondershare Filmora:

Method 1: Change video speed with Uniform Speed

Step 1: Install Wondershare Filmora and launch it on your computer. Click on Import Media Files Here to add a video file to this editor.

Note: This editor supports multiple video formats such as MP4 WMV, DAT, TP, TRP, TS, EVO. NSV, MKV, MOD, FLV, M4V, VOB etc. Moreover, you can add videos through the import feature of simple drag and drop the video file.

Step 2: Drag the video to the timeline. Right-click on it, select Speed> Uniform Speed from the menu.

filmora speed menu

Step 3: At the Uniform Speed tab, move the slider to speed up the video and hit OK to save changes.

filmora uniform speed change speed

Step 4: Click on Export to export the edited video. Click on the Local to save the video in a popular format on your computer.

Method 2: Change video speed with Speed Raming

Step 1: Right-click on the video in the timeline and select Speed -> Speed Ramping from the menu.

Step 2: In the Speed Raming tab, you will see some speed presets which allows you to change the speed smoother quickly. You can also click the Custom option to set the speed points from scratch.

change video speed ramping filmora

Step 3: Now, to speed up the video, enter the duration less than the original one next to the Duration tab, and hit OK. Save the speed-up video by clicking on Export.

Watch the video tutorial about how to use the Speed Ramping feature in Filmora video editor.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

FAQs about Changing Speed on QuickTime Player

Why is my QuickTime player lagging?

Sometimes, you might experience lagging or sluggishness when you speed up the video via QuickTime. It affects the smoothness of the video. Here we’ve stated some errors and their solutions:

Check settings: Always check settings before you speed up any video on QuickTime player. Go to Windows>Check A/V controls and check all the payback setting there.

Codec Faut: Sometimes, an unsupportive codec can also affect the smoothness of the video. You can run your video through MediaInfo or GSpot to identify the codec and install proper plug-ins.

Conclusion

Now you can easily and effortlessly utilize QuickTime player speed up by following the above-mentioned essential tips. No doubt, QuickTime Player is one of the best players that can be used to play video files and edit them. Alternatively, you can also use Wondershare Filmora, another excellent Mac video editor , to speed up your video files to the extent you want.

02 How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

03 How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

04 Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

05 Adjust Video Speed withWondershare Filmora Video Editor

Part 1: What is QuickTime Player?

QuickTime Player is a media player that Apple has developed. This media player or software allows you to play a movie file on your computer. You can also use QuickTime player to speed up a movie file according to your preferences.

Part 2: How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

Want to speed up an instructional or step-by-step guide to save your time? Worry not! QuickTime video player lets you fast-forward all types of video clips on your windows laptop in a breeze. Using the QuickTime video player, you can speed up your videos from 1/2x to 3x by simply moving the slider. Want to know how to speed up QuickTime player? Follow these steps.

Step 1: Open a movie or music video file on QuickTime Player.

Step 2: Open the Window menu and select the Show A/V Controls option. A dialog box will appear.

quicktime player window show av controls

Step 3: Adjust the playback speed slider from 1x to 3x.

change video playback speed quicktime player windows

Step 4: Close the dialog box and play the video.

Related: How to Change Video Playback Speed on Windows 10 ?

Part 3: How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

Whether you’re a Mac or Windows user- QuickTime Video Player has got you covered. The interface and functions of this video player are intuitive and user-friendly for all Mac users.

If Mac doesn’t support any codec or format, you can also download the third-party codecs and use them with the QuickTime video player. Here’s how to speed up a video on Mac:

Step 1: Install QuickTime Player on your Mac computer.

Step 2: Drag the video file into the player or right-click on the video file and select **Open with -**> QuickTime Player app.

Step 3: Click on the Play button to stream the video content.

Note: The Play button will turn into the Pause button in a second.

Step 4: Hold the Option key, click the fast forward button from the player menu to increase the playback speed.

change video speed quicktime player mac

Part 4: Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

It is necessary to learn some tips regarding how to speed up video on Mac or Windows using QuickTime Player. Following these tips will let you edit your video efficiently and flawlessly. The tips for speeding up video on QuickTime Player have been mentioned below:

  • Make Proper Adjustments

If you want to edit or speed up your video up to 2x without using the fast forward button, you must make adjustments in the editing process. QuickTime Player allows you to apply a 200% speed adjustment for editing each video clip and bring that clip into a new timeline. Then, you should apply the 2x Speed to it. After completing the editing process, you can export that clip.

  • Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use shortcut keys to speed up your videos using QuickTime Player. You need to hold the Command key and press the arrow keys to adjust the video speed. For example, hold the Command key and press Right Arrow to fast-forward the Speed of your video. You can also trim the video using the shortcut key or Command + T.

  • Control Audio Quality

For your information, the audio quality of the original video is disturbed when you speed up the video up to 2.0x. If you do not want the audio quality to worsen, you should stop speeding up the video until 1.9x.

  • Control Playback Speed

You can control the playback QuickTime player speed while the video is playing. You only need to hold the option key and click the fast forward button. On every click, you will notice the Speed increases from 1.0x to 1.1x, 1.1x to 1.2x, and up to so on.

Related: How to Edit Videos with QuickTime Player

Part 5: Adjust Video Speed with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora video editor allows you to adjust your video clip’s time duration and Speed. You can download and install this software from your Windows computer and Mac computer. You can create fast or slow-motion videos at any speed by using Wondershare Filmora. In addition, this player supports a wide variety of formats.

You need to follow the following steps to adjust the video speed using Wondershare Filmora:

Method 1: Change video speed with Uniform Speed

Step 1: Install Wondershare Filmora and launch it on your computer. Click on Import Media Files Here to add a video file to this editor.

Note: This editor supports multiple video formats such as MP4 WMV, DAT, TP, TRP, TS, EVO. NSV, MKV, MOD, FLV, M4V, VOB etc. Moreover, you can add videos through the import feature of simple drag and drop the video file.

Step 2: Drag the video to the timeline. Right-click on it, select Speed> Uniform Speed from the menu.

filmora speed menu

Step 3: At the Uniform Speed tab, move the slider to speed up the video and hit OK to save changes.

filmora uniform speed change speed

Step 4: Click on Export to export the edited video. Click on the Local to save the video in a popular format on your computer.

Method 2: Change video speed with Speed Raming

Step 1: Right-click on the video in the timeline and select Speed -> Speed Ramping from the menu.

Step 2: In the Speed Raming tab, you will see some speed presets which allows you to change the speed smoother quickly. You can also click the Custom option to set the speed points from scratch.

change video speed ramping filmora

Step 3: Now, to speed up the video, enter the duration less than the original one next to the Duration tab, and hit OK. Save the speed-up video by clicking on Export.

Watch the video tutorial about how to use the Speed Ramping feature in Filmora video editor.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

FAQs about Changing Speed on QuickTime Player

Why is my QuickTime player lagging?

Sometimes, you might experience lagging or sluggishness when you speed up the video via QuickTime. It affects the smoothness of the video. Here we’ve stated some errors and their solutions:

Check settings: Always check settings before you speed up any video on QuickTime player. Go to Windows>Check A/V controls and check all the payback setting there.

Codec Faut: Sometimes, an unsupportive codec can also affect the smoothness of the video. You can run your video through MediaInfo or GSpot to identify the codec and install proper plug-ins.

Conclusion

Now you can easily and effortlessly utilize QuickTime player speed up by following the above-mentioned essential tips. No doubt, QuickTime Player is one of the best players that can be used to play video files and edit them. Alternatively, you can also use Wondershare Filmora, another excellent Mac video editor , to speed up your video files to the extent you want.

02 How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

03 How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

04 Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

05 Adjust Video Speed withWondershare Filmora Video Editor

Part 1: What is QuickTime Player?

QuickTime Player is a media player that Apple has developed. This media player or software allows you to play a movie file on your computer. You can also use QuickTime player to speed up a movie file according to your preferences.

Part 2: How to Speed Up Videos on QuickTime Player [Windows]?

Want to speed up an instructional or step-by-step guide to save your time? Worry not! QuickTime video player lets you fast-forward all types of video clips on your windows laptop in a breeze. Using the QuickTime video player, you can speed up your videos from 1/2x to 3x by simply moving the slider. Want to know how to speed up QuickTime player? Follow these steps.

Step 1: Open a movie or music video file on QuickTime Player.

Step 2: Open the Window menu and select the Show A/V Controls option. A dialog box will appear.

quicktime player window show av controls

Step 3: Adjust the playback speed slider from 1x to 3x.

change video playback speed quicktime player windows

Step 4: Close the dialog box and play the video.

Related: How to Change Video Playback Speed on Windows 10 ?

Part 3: How to Speed Up Videos on Mac with QuickTime Player?

Whether you’re a Mac or Windows user- QuickTime Video Player has got you covered. The interface and functions of this video player are intuitive and user-friendly for all Mac users.

If Mac doesn’t support any codec or format, you can also download the third-party codecs and use them with the QuickTime video player. Here’s how to speed up a video on Mac:

Step 1: Install QuickTime Player on your Mac computer.

Step 2: Drag the video file into the player or right-click on the video file and select **Open with -**> QuickTime Player app.

Step 3: Click on the Play button to stream the video content.

Note: The Play button will turn into the Pause button in a second.

Step 4: Hold the Option key, click the fast forward button from the player menu to increase the playback speed.

change video speed quicktime player mac

Part 4: Tips for Speeding up Video on QuickTime Player

It is necessary to learn some tips regarding how to speed up video on Mac or Windows using QuickTime Player. Following these tips will let you edit your video efficiently and flawlessly. The tips for speeding up video on QuickTime Player have been mentioned below:

  • Make Proper Adjustments

If you want to edit or speed up your video up to 2x without using the fast forward button, you must make adjustments in the editing process. QuickTime Player allows you to apply a 200% speed adjustment for editing each video clip and bring that clip into a new timeline. Then, you should apply the 2x Speed to it. After completing the editing process, you can export that clip.

  • Learn Keyboard Shortcuts

You can use shortcut keys to speed up your videos using QuickTime Player. You need to hold the Command key and press the arrow keys to adjust the video speed. For example, hold the Command key and press Right Arrow to fast-forward the Speed of your video. You can also trim the video using the shortcut key or Command + T.

  • Control Audio Quality

For your information, the audio quality of the original video is disturbed when you speed up the video up to 2.0x. If you do not want the audio quality to worsen, you should stop speeding up the video until 1.9x.

  • Control Playback Speed

You can control the playback QuickTime player speed while the video is playing. You only need to hold the option key and click the fast forward button. On every click, you will notice the Speed increases from 1.0x to 1.1x, 1.1x to 1.2x, and up to so on.

Related: How to Edit Videos with QuickTime Player

Part 5: Adjust Video Speed with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora video editor allows you to adjust your video clip’s time duration and Speed. You can download and install this software from your Windows computer and Mac computer. You can create fast or slow-motion videos at any speed by using Wondershare Filmora. In addition, this player supports a wide variety of formats.

You need to follow the following steps to adjust the video speed using Wondershare Filmora:

Method 1: Change video speed with Uniform Speed

Step 1: Install Wondershare Filmora and launch it on your computer. Click on Import Media Files Here to add a video file to this editor.

Note: This editor supports multiple video formats such as MP4 WMV, DAT, TP, TRP, TS, EVO. NSV, MKV, MOD, FLV, M4V, VOB etc. Moreover, you can add videos through the import feature of simple drag and drop the video file.

Step 2: Drag the video to the timeline. Right-click on it, select Speed> Uniform Speed from the menu.

filmora speed menu

Step 3: At the Uniform Speed tab, move the slider to speed up the video and hit OK to save changes.

filmora uniform speed change speed

Step 4: Click on Export to export the edited video. Click on the Local to save the video in a popular format on your computer.

Method 2: Change video speed with Speed Raming

Step 1: Right-click on the video in the timeline and select Speed -> Speed Ramping from the menu.

Step 2: In the Speed Raming tab, you will see some speed presets which allows you to change the speed smoother quickly. You can also click the Custom option to set the speed points from scratch.

change video speed ramping filmora

Step 3: Now, to speed up the video, enter the duration less than the original one next to the Duration tab, and hit OK. Save the speed-up video by clicking on Export.

Watch the video tutorial about how to use the Speed Ramping feature in Filmora video editor.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

FAQs about Changing Speed on QuickTime Player

Why is my QuickTime player lagging?

Sometimes, you might experience lagging or sluggishness when you speed up the video via QuickTime. It affects the smoothness of the video. Here we’ve stated some errors and their solutions:

Check settings: Always check settings before you speed up any video on QuickTime player. Go to Windows>Check A/V controls and check all the payback setting there.

Codec Faut: Sometimes, an unsupportive codec can also affect the smoothness of the video. You can run your video through MediaInfo or GSpot to identify the codec and install proper plug-ins.

Conclusion

Now you can easily and effortlessly utilize QuickTime player speed up by following the above-mentioned essential tips. No doubt, QuickTime Player is one of the best players that can be used to play video files and edit them. Alternatively, you can also use Wondershare Filmora, another excellent Mac video editor , to speed up your video files to the extent you want.

FLV Editor for Windows 8: Easily Edit FLV Videos on PC

FLV Editor for Windows 8: Easily Edit FLV Videos on PC

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Many of the most popular web sites with video content use FLV as a chosen format (YouTube, Vimeo, Keepvid video, etc.), you may have stored oodles of FLV videos on your computer. Now it’s your way to give them a spin. If you have upgraded to Windows 8 and haven’t found a proper FLV editor for Windows 8 yet, give Wondershare Filmora (Originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows 8/7/XP/Vista supported) a try. Check the video to know more details.

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

Related: Top 5 Best FLV Video Editors

FLV Editor for Windows 8 is specially designed to arrange, edit and convert FLV to most other video format like AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, MPEG, etc. Apart from this, you can add voiceover, transition, effects, titles, etc. With it, You’ll find that editting and making video movie from FLV files is so easier and amazing. Just download the free trial of FLV editor windows 8 to show your creativeness now.

Note: FLV editor for Windows 8 supports a wide range of videos, audios, and photos, see its tech spec here.

1 Import your source FLV videos

FLV video editor windows 8 is an easy to use video editing software for PC that comes with an intuitive interface. It provides a User’s album to help you manage the added videos, audios, and photos at ease.

how to edit flv on windows 8

2 Easy FLV editing in Windows 8 - Crop, Rotate, Trim, Split, Transition, Intro/Credit and more

With FLV video editor for Windows 8, everything is at your fingertips. Whatever you want to, just get the right tool at your hand, including trimming, cropping, rotating, and more.

simple flv editor windows 8

Plus, all editing features in the toolbar support drag-n-drop feature, which makes it even easier to touch up your videos in no time. For example:

  • To add transitions, drag and drop a transition to the video/photo, or right click it to “Apply to All”.
  • To add title, drag and drop a title template to the position you want it to show up and customize it.
  • To apply effects, choose from 50+ video effects, select it and apply to your photos/videos instantly.

simple flv editor windows 8

3 Save and share the edited FLV video

When everything satisfied, now output your edited MP4 videos in Windows 8 and easily share them on YouTube as well as an optional message sending to Facebook and Twitter. Click Create in the middle right of the program window, you’ll come to below Output window.

In addition, you can also choose a video format for convenient playback on computer or devices, and burn that file to a DVD for better preservation. Just go for it, and it will have a good output quality. After that, click Create and you’re done.

Filmora Output

Check out below video tutorial on how to edit FLV files in Windows 8 step by step:

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

Many of the most popular web sites with video content use FLV as a chosen format (YouTube, Vimeo, Keepvid video, etc.), you may have stored oodles of FLV videos on your computer. Now it’s your way to give them a spin. If you have upgraded to Windows 8 and haven’t found a proper FLV editor for Windows 8 yet, give Wondershare Filmora (Originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows 8/7/XP/Vista supported) a try. Check the video to know more details.

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

Related: Top 5 Best FLV Video Editors

FLV Editor for Windows 8 is specially designed to arrange, edit and convert FLV to most other video format like AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, MPEG, etc. Apart from this, you can add voiceover, transition, effects, titles, etc. With it, You’ll find that editting and making video movie from FLV files is so easier and amazing. Just download the free trial of FLV editor windows 8 to show your creativeness now.

Note: FLV editor for Windows 8 supports a wide range of videos, audios, and photos, see its tech spec here.

1 Import your source FLV videos

FLV video editor windows 8 is an easy to use video editing software for PC that comes with an intuitive interface. It provides a User’s album to help you manage the added videos, audios, and photos at ease.

how to edit flv on windows 8

2 Easy FLV editing in Windows 8 - Crop, Rotate, Trim, Split, Transition, Intro/Credit and more

With FLV video editor for Windows 8, everything is at your fingertips. Whatever you want to, just get the right tool at your hand, including trimming, cropping, rotating, and more.

simple flv editor windows 8

Plus, all editing features in the toolbar support drag-n-drop feature, which makes it even easier to touch up your videos in no time. For example:

  • To add transitions, drag and drop a transition to the video/photo, or right click it to “Apply to All”.
  • To add title, drag and drop a title template to the position you want it to show up and customize it.
  • To apply effects, choose from 50+ video effects, select it and apply to your photos/videos instantly.

simple flv editor windows 8

3 Save and share the edited FLV video

When everything satisfied, now output your edited MP4 videos in Windows 8 and easily share them on YouTube as well as an optional message sending to Facebook and Twitter. Click Create in the middle right of the program window, you’ll come to below Output window.

In addition, you can also choose a video format for convenient playback on computer or devices, and burn that file to a DVD for better preservation. Just go for it, and it will have a good output quality. After that, click Create and you’re done.

Filmora Output

Check out below video tutorial on how to edit FLV files in Windows 8 step by step:

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

Many of the most popular web sites with video content use FLV as a chosen format (YouTube, Vimeo, Keepvid video, etc.), you may have stored oodles of FLV videos on your computer. Now it’s your way to give them a spin. If you have upgraded to Windows 8 and haven’t found a proper FLV editor for Windows 8 yet, give Wondershare Filmora (Originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows 8/7/XP/Vista supported) a try. Check the video to know more details.

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

Related: Top 5 Best FLV Video Editors

FLV Editor for Windows 8 is specially designed to arrange, edit and convert FLV to most other video format like AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, MPEG, etc. Apart from this, you can add voiceover, transition, effects, titles, etc. With it, You’ll find that editting and making video movie from FLV files is so easier and amazing. Just download the free trial of FLV editor windows 8 to show your creativeness now.

Note: FLV editor for Windows 8 supports a wide range of videos, audios, and photos, see its tech spec here.

1 Import your source FLV videos

FLV video editor windows 8 is an easy to use video editing software for PC that comes with an intuitive interface. It provides a User’s album to help you manage the added videos, audios, and photos at ease.

how to edit flv on windows 8

2 Easy FLV editing in Windows 8 - Crop, Rotate, Trim, Split, Transition, Intro/Credit and more

With FLV video editor for Windows 8, everything is at your fingertips. Whatever you want to, just get the right tool at your hand, including trimming, cropping, rotating, and more.

simple flv editor windows 8

Plus, all editing features in the toolbar support drag-n-drop feature, which makes it even easier to touch up your videos in no time. For example:

  • To add transitions, drag and drop a transition to the video/photo, or right click it to “Apply to All”.
  • To add title, drag and drop a title template to the position you want it to show up and customize it.
  • To apply effects, choose from 50+ video effects, select it and apply to your photos/videos instantly.

simple flv editor windows 8

3 Save and share the edited FLV video

When everything satisfied, now output your edited MP4 videos in Windows 8 and easily share them on YouTube as well as an optional message sending to Facebook and Twitter. Click Create in the middle right of the program window, you’ll come to below Output window.

In addition, you can also choose a video format for convenient playback on computer or devices, and burn that file to a DVD for better preservation. Just go for it, and it will have a good output quality. After that, click Create and you’re done.

Filmora Output

Check out below video tutorial on how to edit FLV files in Windows 8 step by step:

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

Many of the most popular web sites with video content use FLV as a chosen format (YouTube, Vimeo, Keepvid video, etc.), you may have stored oodles of FLV videos on your computer. Now it’s your way to give them a spin. If you have upgraded to Windows 8 and haven’t found a proper FLV editor for Windows 8 yet, give Wondershare Filmora (Originally Wondershare Video Editor) (Windows 8/7/XP/Vista supported) a try. Check the video to know more details.

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

Related: Top 5 Best FLV Video Editors

FLV Editor for Windows 8 is specially designed to arrange, edit and convert FLV to most other video format like AVI, MP4, WMV, MOV, MPEG, etc. Apart from this, you can add voiceover, transition, effects, titles, etc. With it, You’ll find that editting and making video movie from FLV files is so easier and amazing. Just download the free trial of FLV editor windows 8 to show your creativeness now.

Note: FLV editor for Windows 8 supports a wide range of videos, audios, and photos, see its tech spec here.

1 Import your source FLV videos

FLV video editor windows 8 is an easy to use video editing software for PC that comes with an intuitive interface. It provides a User’s album to help you manage the added videos, audios, and photos at ease.

how to edit flv on windows 8

2 Easy FLV editing in Windows 8 - Crop, Rotate, Trim, Split, Transition, Intro/Credit and more

With FLV video editor for Windows 8, everything is at your fingertips. Whatever you want to, just get the right tool at your hand, including trimming, cropping, rotating, and more.

simple flv editor windows 8

Plus, all editing features in the toolbar support drag-n-drop feature, which makes it even easier to touch up your videos in no time. For example:

  • To add transitions, drag and drop a transition to the video/photo, or right click it to “Apply to All”.
  • To add title, drag and drop a title template to the position you want it to show up and customize it.
  • To apply effects, choose from 50+ video effects, select it and apply to your photos/videos instantly.

simple flv editor windows 8

3 Save and share the edited FLV video

When everything satisfied, now output your edited MP4 videos in Windows 8 and easily share them on YouTube as well as an optional message sending to Facebook and Twitter. Click Create in the middle right of the program window, you’ll come to below Output window.

In addition, you can also choose a video format for convenient playback on computer or devices, and burn that file to a DVD for better preservation. Just go for it, and it will have a good output quality. After that, click Create and you’re done.

Filmora Output

Check out below video tutorial on how to edit FLV files in Windows 8 step by step:

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

author avatar

Ollie Mattison

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

Follow @Ollie Mattison

The Ultimate List: 10 Best Free and Paid 2D Animation Software

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.

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

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

Essential Adobe Premiere Keyboard Shortcuts to Boost Productivity

Top 20 Adobe Premiere Shortcuts You Will Use When Editing Video Files

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Whilst the conventional mouse control allows you to perform any task that Premiere is capable of, for efficient workflow the keyboard shortcuts cannot be beaten. We all work a little differently, and thankfully Adobe understands that, so although here we will be concentrating on the standard keyboard layout, the keyboard shortcuts can be customized to be anything you want and saved as a custom profile, there are even presets already included for Avid Media Composer and Final Cut Pro for those who are maybe transitioning from those packages or just prefer the way they work.


This is a basic tutorial about Adobe Premiere, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

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


This is achieved by going through the path edit > keyboard shortcuts as below:

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

Before we step into the most useful shortcuts, a brief note here on the different platforms, although I’m sure most readers are aware. The PC and Mac versions of the software do share the same basic shortcuts with the one caveat that where the PC uses the Control and Alt keys, the Mac has Command and Option keys instead. Other than that the functionality is the same. I’ll include the shortcuts for both platforms with each to make referencing easier.

1Select Window

I’m starting with this one simply because I find it the most used of all, especially if like me you prefer a custom layout for all your windows. If your program monitor is hidden for instance, you can just press shift+4 and there it is. The shortcuts are the same for both platforms here.

  • Audio Clip Mixer Shift+9
  • Audio Track Mixer Shift+6
  • Effect Controls Shift+5
  • Effects Shift+7
  • Media Browser Shift+8
  • Program Monitor Shift+4
  • Project Shift+1
  • Source Monitor Shift+2
  • Timelines Shift+3

2 Import

Whilst the shortcuts for editing and manipulating clips are extremely important for efficient workflow, it should be remembered that those relating to the basic operation of the program are just as useful, as we see here. Using Control and I (Command and I on Mac) brings up the import media dialogue box instantly.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

3Capture Panel

There are multiple shortcuts that can be used within the capture panel, but because this is such an intrinsic aspect of the Premiere workflow, being the entry into a project for all media, I think the available shortcuts are all as valuable as each other here.

  • Navigate Through Fields - Tab
  • Cancel Capture - Esc
  • Fast Forward - F
  • Rewind - R
  • Go to In Point - Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Record - G
  • Stop - S
  • Step Back - Left Arrow
  • Step Forward - Right Arrow

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

4 Timeline Panel

In a similar vein to the Capture Panel, the Timeline Panel has a set of shortcuts specific to all its basic operations, and are essential for a faster workflow.

  • Clear Ins and Outs - G
  • Clear In Point - D
  • Clear Out Point - F
  • Go to In Point- Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Match Frame - M
  • Start and Stop - Spacebar
  • Play Normal Speed - L
  • Play Reverse Normal Speed - J
  • Set In Point - I
  • Set Out Point - o
  • Shuttle Stop - K
  • Trim - T
  • Arc Tool - A
  • Ellipse Tool – E

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

5 Navigation within a clip

This one works within the program monitor/timeline or source monitor windows, ensure the desired one is active first of course. You can move to a specific time code within the clip, or go forwards or backwards a set number of frames using the number pad. To go to a specific time code simply type that on the number pad. To travel a set number of frames simply type + or – (to signify direction) and the number of frames.

6Marking Clips

By far the simplest way to mark clips is to use the keyboard shortcut.

For marking clips use X , whilst marking a selection is / .

7 In and Out

In addition to marking clips via shortcuts, it is also far easier to mark In and Out points this way.

  • To Mark In use I , whilst to mark Out use O .
  • To Clear In the shortcut is Control+Shift+I for PC and Option+I for Mac.
  • To Clear Out Control+Shift+O for PC, Option+O for Mac.

8Playing Clips

Going hand in hand with the shortcuts for marking, are the keyboard commands for playing clips. These are:

  • Play In to Out: Control+Shift+Space (PC) and Option+K for Mac
  • Clear In and Out: Control+Shift+X (PC) and Option+X for Mac
  • Play Around: The same for both platforms and is Shift+K.

To get the best from this it is necessary to set some options beforehand, as Play Around plays the portion of the timeline around the Playhead, and where it plays is dependent on the options set. This is done through the menu via edit > preferences > playback, here I have preroll and postroll set to 4 seconds, meaning that it plays 4 seconds prior and following the point where the playhead is placed.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

In addition, turning on looping for this can help to fine tune edits.

9Toggle Audio During Scrubbing

There are times you may want to hear audio when scrubbing, however turning it off can have beneficial effects on performance for lower end computers. The shortcut makes it an easy process to turn off and on as required.

The shortcut is Shift+S for both platforms.

10Slide a clip within the sequence

There are a couple of options available here from the shortcuts, slide one frame or 5 frames.

  • To slide one frame to the left is Alt+, for PC or Option+, for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slide one frame to the right is Alt+. for PC and Option+. for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

11Slip within a sequence

As with the slide options, the choice is one frame or five frames.

  • To slip one frame to the left is Control+Alt+Left for PC or Option+Command+Left for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slip one frame to the right is Control+Alt+Right for PC and Option+Command+Right for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

12Nudging

You can move a clip up or down simply by using the Up and Down arrow keys, whilst holding Alt or Option at the same time allows you to select just the video or audio to move.

13Multi Camera Selection

This is a tool that allows you to work with multiple camera angles of the same subject or scene. To switch between different cameras quickly is extremely useful and accomplished with the numerical keys.

Numbers 1 through 9 select the corresponding camera.

14Add an edit

This option cuts the track (or tracks) that are targeted. The shortcut for this is Control+K or Command+K.

You can view all added edits within a sequence by selecting show through edits within the sequence menu.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

15Add the default Transition

This option applies the default transition to all selected media. To do this use Shift+D.

16 Match Frame

Locating a specific frame within the sequence for adding in a second clip is very useful, the shortcut is M, a great timesaver.

17Zoom to sequence

Being able to zoom in is great, it makes working in the sequence panel much easier, at least for me, however the one drawback I find is that I tend to get lost when looking for a particular clip. Using / enable you to quickly zoom out for navigation and back in again to work

18Jump to Edit

Navigating from edit to edit is a very simple process with the shortcuts available to you.

Page up takes you to the previous edit point, whilst page down takes you to the next.

With practice these shortcuts become second nature and you will find your workflow becomes not only faster but a smoother operation as well.

19Toggle the type of Trim used

Quickly shift between Standard, Ripple and Roll trim types.

Shift+T for PC, Control+T for Mac

20Ripple Trim

This enables you to trim the head or tail of the clip very quickly, making an extremely efficient workflow. To trim the next edit from the Playhead use W, for the previous edit from the playhead use Q.

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Whilst the conventional mouse control allows you to perform any task that Premiere is capable of, for efficient workflow the keyboard shortcuts cannot be beaten. We all work a little differently, and thankfully Adobe understands that, so although here we will be concentrating on the standard keyboard layout, the keyboard shortcuts can be customized to be anything you want and saved as a custom profile, there are even presets already included for Avid Media Composer and Final Cut Pro for those who are maybe transitioning from those packages or just prefer the way they work.


This is a basic tutorial about Adobe Premiere, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

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


This is achieved by going through the path edit > keyboard shortcuts as below:

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

Before we step into the most useful shortcuts, a brief note here on the different platforms, although I’m sure most readers are aware. The PC and Mac versions of the software do share the same basic shortcuts with the one caveat that where the PC uses the Control and Alt keys, the Mac has Command and Option keys instead. Other than that the functionality is the same. I’ll include the shortcuts for both platforms with each to make referencing easier.

1Select Window

I’m starting with this one simply because I find it the most used of all, especially if like me you prefer a custom layout for all your windows. If your program monitor is hidden for instance, you can just press shift+4 and there it is. The shortcuts are the same for both platforms here.

  • Audio Clip Mixer Shift+9
  • Audio Track Mixer Shift+6
  • Effect Controls Shift+5
  • Effects Shift+7
  • Media Browser Shift+8
  • Program Monitor Shift+4
  • Project Shift+1
  • Source Monitor Shift+2
  • Timelines Shift+3

2 Import

Whilst the shortcuts for editing and manipulating clips are extremely important for efficient workflow, it should be remembered that those relating to the basic operation of the program are just as useful, as we see here. Using Control and I (Command and I on Mac) brings up the import media dialogue box instantly.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

3Capture Panel

There are multiple shortcuts that can be used within the capture panel, but because this is such an intrinsic aspect of the Premiere workflow, being the entry into a project for all media, I think the available shortcuts are all as valuable as each other here.

  • Navigate Through Fields - Tab
  • Cancel Capture - Esc
  • Fast Forward - F
  • Rewind - R
  • Go to In Point - Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Record - G
  • Stop - S
  • Step Back - Left Arrow
  • Step Forward - Right Arrow

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

4 Timeline Panel

In a similar vein to the Capture Panel, the Timeline Panel has a set of shortcuts specific to all its basic operations, and are essential for a faster workflow.

  • Clear Ins and Outs - G
  • Clear In Point - D
  • Clear Out Point - F
  • Go to In Point- Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Match Frame - M
  • Start and Stop - Spacebar
  • Play Normal Speed - L
  • Play Reverse Normal Speed - J
  • Set In Point - I
  • Set Out Point - o
  • Shuttle Stop - K
  • Trim - T
  • Arc Tool - A
  • Ellipse Tool – E

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

5 Navigation within a clip

This one works within the program monitor/timeline or source monitor windows, ensure the desired one is active first of course. You can move to a specific time code within the clip, or go forwards or backwards a set number of frames using the number pad. To go to a specific time code simply type that on the number pad. To travel a set number of frames simply type + or – (to signify direction) and the number of frames.

6Marking Clips

By far the simplest way to mark clips is to use the keyboard shortcut.

For marking clips use X , whilst marking a selection is / .

7 In and Out

In addition to marking clips via shortcuts, it is also far easier to mark In and Out points this way.

  • To Mark In use I , whilst to mark Out use O .
  • To Clear In the shortcut is Control+Shift+I for PC and Option+I for Mac.
  • To Clear Out Control+Shift+O for PC, Option+O for Mac.

8Playing Clips

Going hand in hand with the shortcuts for marking, are the keyboard commands for playing clips. These are:

  • Play In to Out: Control+Shift+Space (PC) and Option+K for Mac
  • Clear In and Out: Control+Shift+X (PC) and Option+X for Mac
  • Play Around: The same for both platforms and is Shift+K.

To get the best from this it is necessary to set some options beforehand, as Play Around plays the portion of the timeline around the Playhead, and where it plays is dependent on the options set. This is done through the menu via edit > preferences > playback, here I have preroll and postroll set to 4 seconds, meaning that it plays 4 seconds prior and following the point where the playhead is placed.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

In addition, turning on looping for this can help to fine tune edits.

9Toggle Audio During Scrubbing

There are times you may want to hear audio when scrubbing, however turning it off can have beneficial effects on performance for lower end computers. The shortcut makes it an easy process to turn off and on as required.

The shortcut is Shift+S for both platforms.

10Slide a clip within the sequence

There are a couple of options available here from the shortcuts, slide one frame or 5 frames.

  • To slide one frame to the left is Alt+, for PC or Option+, for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slide one frame to the right is Alt+. for PC and Option+. for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

11Slip within a sequence

As with the slide options, the choice is one frame or five frames.

  • To slip one frame to the left is Control+Alt+Left for PC or Option+Command+Left for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slip one frame to the right is Control+Alt+Right for PC and Option+Command+Right for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

12Nudging

You can move a clip up or down simply by using the Up and Down arrow keys, whilst holding Alt or Option at the same time allows you to select just the video or audio to move.

13Multi Camera Selection

This is a tool that allows you to work with multiple camera angles of the same subject or scene. To switch between different cameras quickly is extremely useful and accomplished with the numerical keys.

Numbers 1 through 9 select the corresponding camera.

14Add an edit

This option cuts the track (or tracks) that are targeted. The shortcut for this is Control+K or Command+K.

You can view all added edits within a sequence by selecting show through edits within the sequence menu.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

15Add the default Transition

This option applies the default transition to all selected media. To do this use Shift+D.

16 Match Frame

Locating a specific frame within the sequence for adding in a second clip is very useful, the shortcut is M, a great timesaver.

17Zoom to sequence

Being able to zoom in is great, it makes working in the sequence panel much easier, at least for me, however the one drawback I find is that I tend to get lost when looking for a particular clip. Using / enable you to quickly zoom out for navigation and back in again to work

18Jump to Edit

Navigating from edit to edit is a very simple process with the shortcuts available to you.

Page up takes you to the previous edit point, whilst page down takes you to the next.

With practice these shortcuts become second nature and you will find your workflow becomes not only faster but a smoother operation as well.

19Toggle the type of Trim used

Quickly shift between Standard, Ripple and Roll trim types.

Shift+T for PC, Control+T for Mac

20Ripple Trim

This enables you to trim the head or tail of the clip very quickly, making an extremely efficient workflow. To trim the next edit from the Playhead use W, for the previous edit from the playhead use Q.

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Whilst the conventional mouse control allows you to perform any task that Premiere is capable of, for efficient workflow the keyboard shortcuts cannot be beaten. We all work a little differently, and thankfully Adobe understands that, so although here we will be concentrating on the standard keyboard layout, the keyboard shortcuts can be customized to be anything you want and saved as a custom profile, there are even presets already included for Avid Media Composer and Final Cut Pro for those who are maybe transitioning from those packages or just prefer the way they work.


This is a basic tutorial about Adobe Premiere, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora (originally Wondershare Video Editor) , which is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.

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


This is achieved by going through the path edit > keyboard shortcuts as below:

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

Before we step into the most useful shortcuts, a brief note here on the different platforms, although I’m sure most readers are aware. The PC and Mac versions of the software do share the same basic shortcuts with the one caveat that where the PC uses the Control and Alt keys, the Mac has Command and Option keys instead. Other than that the functionality is the same. I’ll include the shortcuts for both platforms with each to make referencing easier.

1Select Window

I’m starting with this one simply because I find it the most used of all, especially if like me you prefer a custom layout for all your windows. If your program monitor is hidden for instance, you can just press shift+4 and there it is. The shortcuts are the same for both platforms here.

  • Audio Clip Mixer Shift+9
  • Audio Track Mixer Shift+6
  • Effect Controls Shift+5
  • Effects Shift+7
  • Media Browser Shift+8
  • Program Monitor Shift+4
  • Project Shift+1
  • Source Monitor Shift+2
  • Timelines Shift+3

2 Import

Whilst the shortcuts for editing and manipulating clips are extremely important for efficient workflow, it should be remembered that those relating to the basic operation of the program are just as useful, as we see here. Using Control and I (Command and I on Mac) brings up the import media dialogue box instantly.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

3Capture Panel

There are multiple shortcuts that can be used within the capture panel, but because this is such an intrinsic aspect of the Premiere workflow, being the entry into a project for all media, I think the available shortcuts are all as valuable as each other here.

  • Navigate Through Fields - Tab
  • Cancel Capture - Esc
  • Fast Forward - F
  • Rewind - R
  • Go to In Point - Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Record - G
  • Stop - S
  • Step Back - Left Arrow
  • Step Forward - Right Arrow

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

4 Timeline Panel

In a similar vein to the Capture Panel, the Timeline Panel has a set of shortcuts specific to all its basic operations, and are essential for a faster workflow.

  • Clear Ins and Outs - G
  • Clear In Point - D
  • Clear Out Point - F
  • Go to In Point- Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Match Frame - M
  • Start and Stop - Spacebar
  • Play Normal Speed - L
  • Play Reverse Normal Speed - J
  • Set In Point - I
  • Set Out Point - o
  • Shuttle Stop - K
  • Trim - T
  • Arc Tool - A
  • Ellipse Tool – E

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

5 Navigation within a clip

This one works within the program monitor/timeline or source monitor windows, ensure the desired one is active first of course. You can move to a specific time code within the clip, or go forwards or backwards a set number of frames using the number pad. To go to a specific time code simply type that on the number pad. To travel a set number of frames simply type + or – (to signify direction) and the number of frames.

6Marking Clips

By far the simplest way to mark clips is to use the keyboard shortcut.

For marking clips use X , whilst marking a selection is / .

7 In and Out

In addition to marking clips via shortcuts, it is also far easier to mark In and Out points this way.

  • To Mark In use I , whilst to mark Out use O .
  • To Clear In the shortcut is Control+Shift+I for PC and Option+I for Mac.
  • To Clear Out Control+Shift+O for PC, Option+O for Mac.

8Playing Clips

Going hand in hand with the shortcuts for marking, are the keyboard commands for playing clips. These are:

  • Play In to Out: Control+Shift+Space (PC) and Option+K for Mac
  • Clear In and Out: Control+Shift+X (PC) and Option+X for Mac
  • Play Around: The same for both platforms and is Shift+K.

To get the best from this it is necessary to set some options beforehand, as Play Around plays the portion of the timeline around the Playhead, and where it plays is dependent on the options set. This is done through the menu via edit > preferences > playback, here I have preroll and postroll set to 4 seconds, meaning that it plays 4 seconds prior and following the point where the playhead is placed.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

In addition, turning on looping for this can help to fine tune edits.

9Toggle Audio During Scrubbing

There are times you may want to hear audio when scrubbing, however turning it off can have beneficial effects on performance for lower end computers. The shortcut makes it an easy process to turn off and on as required.

The shortcut is Shift+S for both platforms.

10Slide a clip within the sequence

There are a couple of options available here from the shortcuts, slide one frame or 5 frames.

  • To slide one frame to the left is Alt+, for PC or Option+, for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slide one frame to the right is Alt+. for PC and Option+. for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

11Slip within a sequence

As with the slide options, the choice is one frame or five frames.

  • To slip one frame to the left is Control+Alt+Left for PC or Option+Command+Left for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slip one frame to the right is Control+Alt+Right for PC and Option+Command+Right for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

12Nudging

You can move a clip up or down simply by using the Up and Down arrow keys, whilst holding Alt or Option at the same time allows you to select just the video or audio to move.

13Multi Camera Selection

This is a tool that allows you to work with multiple camera angles of the same subject or scene. To switch between different cameras quickly is extremely useful and accomplished with the numerical keys.

Numbers 1 through 9 select the corresponding camera.

14Add an edit

This option cuts the track (or tracks) that are targeted. The shortcut for this is Control+K or Command+K.

You can view all added edits within a sequence by selecting show through edits within the sequence menu.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

15Add the default Transition

This option applies the default transition to all selected media. To do this use Shift+D.

16 Match Frame

Locating a specific frame within the sequence for adding in a second clip is very useful, the shortcut is M, a great timesaver.

17Zoom to sequence

Being able to zoom in is great, it makes working in the sequence panel much easier, at least for me, however the one drawback I find is that I tend to get lost when looking for a particular clip. Using / enable you to quickly zoom out for navigation and back in again to work

18Jump to Edit

Navigating from edit to edit is a very simple process with the shortcuts available to you.

Page up takes you to the previous edit point, whilst page down takes you to the next.

With practice these shortcuts become second nature and you will find your workflow becomes not only faster but a smoother operation as well.

19Toggle the type of Trim used

Quickly shift between Standard, Ripple and Roll trim types.

Shift+T for PC, Control+T for Mac

20Ripple Trim

This enables you to trim the head or tail of the clip very quickly, making an extremely efficient workflow. To trim the next edit from the Playhead use W, for the previous edit from the playhead use Q.

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Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Whilst the conventional mouse control allows you to perform any task that Premiere is capable of, for efficient workflow the keyboard shortcuts cannot be beaten. We all work a little differently, and thankfully Adobe understands that, so although here we will be concentrating on the standard keyboard layout, the keyboard shortcuts can be customized to be anything you want and saved as a custom profile, there are even presets already included for Avid Media Composer and Final Cut Pro for those who are maybe transitioning from those packages or just prefer the way they work.


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This is achieved by going through the path edit > keyboard shortcuts as below:

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

Before we step into the most useful shortcuts, a brief note here on the different platforms, although I’m sure most readers are aware. The PC and Mac versions of the software do share the same basic shortcuts with the one caveat that where the PC uses the Control and Alt keys, the Mac has Command and Option keys instead. Other than that the functionality is the same. I’ll include the shortcuts for both platforms with each to make referencing easier.

1Select Window

I’m starting with this one simply because I find it the most used of all, especially if like me you prefer a custom layout for all your windows. If your program monitor is hidden for instance, you can just press shift+4 and there it is. The shortcuts are the same for both platforms here.

  • Audio Clip Mixer Shift+9
  • Audio Track Mixer Shift+6
  • Effect Controls Shift+5
  • Effects Shift+7
  • Media Browser Shift+8
  • Program Monitor Shift+4
  • Project Shift+1
  • Source Monitor Shift+2
  • Timelines Shift+3

2 Import

Whilst the shortcuts for editing and manipulating clips are extremely important for efficient workflow, it should be remembered that those relating to the basic operation of the program are just as useful, as we see here. Using Control and I (Command and I on Mac) brings up the import media dialogue box instantly.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

3Capture Panel

There are multiple shortcuts that can be used within the capture panel, but because this is such an intrinsic aspect of the Premiere workflow, being the entry into a project for all media, I think the available shortcuts are all as valuable as each other here.

  • Navigate Through Fields - Tab
  • Cancel Capture - Esc
  • Fast Forward - F
  • Rewind - R
  • Go to In Point - Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Record - G
  • Stop - S
  • Step Back - Left Arrow
  • Step Forward - Right Arrow

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

4 Timeline Panel

In a similar vein to the Capture Panel, the Timeline Panel has a set of shortcuts specific to all its basic operations, and are essential for a faster workflow.

  • Clear Ins and Outs - G
  • Clear In Point - D
  • Clear Out Point - F
  • Go to In Point- Q
  • Go to Out Point - W
  • Match Frame - M
  • Start and Stop - Spacebar
  • Play Normal Speed - L
  • Play Reverse Normal Speed - J
  • Set In Point - I
  • Set Out Point - o
  • Shuttle Stop - K
  • Trim - T
  • Arc Tool - A
  • Ellipse Tool – E

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

5 Navigation within a clip

This one works within the program monitor/timeline or source monitor windows, ensure the desired one is active first of course. You can move to a specific time code within the clip, or go forwards or backwards a set number of frames using the number pad. To go to a specific time code simply type that on the number pad. To travel a set number of frames simply type + or – (to signify direction) and the number of frames.

6Marking Clips

By far the simplest way to mark clips is to use the keyboard shortcut.

For marking clips use X , whilst marking a selection is / .

7 In and Out

In addition to marking clips via shortcuts, it is also far easier to mark In and Out points this way.

  • To Mark In use I , whilst to mark Out use O .
  • To Clear In the shortcut is Control+Shift+I for PC and Option+I for Mac.
  • To Clear Out Control+Shift+O for PC, Option+O for Mac.

8Playing Clips

Going hand in hand with the shortcuts for marking, are the keyboard commands for playing clips. These are:

  • Play In to Out: Control+Shift+Space (PC) and Option+K for Mac
  • Clear In and Out: Control+Shift+X (PC) and Option+X for Mac
  • Play Around: The same for both platforms and is Shift+K.

To get the best from this it is necessary to set some options beforehand, as Play Around plays the portion of the timeline around the Playhead, and where it plays is dependent on the options set. This is done through the menu via edit > preferences > playback, here I have preroll and postroll set to 4 seconds, meaning that it plays 4 seconds prior and following the point where the playhead is placed.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

In addition, turning on looping for this can help to fine tune edits.

9Toggle Audio During Scrubbing

There are times you may want to hear audio when scrubbing, however turning it off can have beneficial effects on performance for lower end computers. The shortcut makes it an easy process to turn off and on as required.

The shortcut is Shift+S for both platforms.

10Slide a clip within the sequence

There are a couple of options available here from the shortcuts, slide one frame or 5 frames.

  • To slide one frame to the left is Alt+, for PC or Option+, for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slide one frame to the right is Alt+. for PC and Option+. for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

11Slip within a sequence

As with the slide options, the choice is one frame or five frames.

  • To slip one frame to the left is Control+Alt+Left for PC or Option+Command+Left for Mac. To increase to five frames add Shift to either shortcut.
  • To slip one frame to the right is Control+Alt+Right for PC and Option+Command+Right for Mac. Again, to increase to five frames add Shift.

12Nudging

You can move a clip up or down simply by using the Up and Down arrow keys, whilst holding Alt or Option at the same time allows you to select just the video or audio to move.

13Multi Camera Selection

This is a tool that allows you to work with multiple camera angles of the same subject or scene. To switch between different cameras quickly is extremely useful and accomplished with the numerical keys.

Numbers 1 through 9 select the corresponding camera.

14Add an edit

This option cuts the track (or tracks) that are targeted. The shortcut for this is Control+K or Command+K.

You can view all added edits within a sequence by selecting show through edits within the sequence menu.

Adobe Premiere Shortcut

15Add the default Transition

This option applies the default transition to all selected media. To do this use Shift+D.

16 Match Frame

Locating a specific frame within the sequence for adding in a second clip is very useful, the shortcut is M, a great timesaver.

17Zoom to sequence

Being able to zoom in is great, it makes working in the sequence panel much easier, at least for me, however the one drawback I find is that I tend to get lost when looking for a particular clip. Using / enable you to quickly zoom out for navigation and back in again to work

18Jump to Edit

Navigating from edit to edit is a very simple process with the shortcuts available to you.

Page up takes you to the previous edit point, whilst page down takes you to the next.

With practice these shortcuts become second nature and you will find your workflow becomes not only faster but a smoother operation as well.

19Toggle the type of Trim used

Quickly shift between Standard, Ripple and Roll trim types.

Shift+T for PC, Control+T for Mac

20Ripple Trim

This enables you to trim the head or tail of the clip very quickly, making an extremely efficient workflow. To trim the next edit from the Playhead use W, for the previous edit from the playhead use Q.

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Also read:

  • Title: QuickTime Speed Hack How to Fast Forward Your Videos
  • Author: Giselle
  • Created at : 2024-05-19 07:45:10
  • Updated at : 2024-05-20 07:45:10
  • Link: https://ai-vdieo-software.techidaily.com/quicktime-speed-hack-how-to-fast-forward-your-videos/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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QuickTime Speed Hack How to Fast Forward Your Videos