If you're a content creator, social media editor, filmmaker, or simply a lover of video, then you know that the hardest part of any creative process is typically finding the best clips to edit. Thanks to the emergence of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, the demand for royalty-free cinematic video clips suitable for edits is now greater than ever!
In this post, I will be talking about the best places to download video clips for edits, how to find footage that fits your project, and how PixelFox can help bring out some AI-powered magic in your final edit.
Why You Need High-Quality Clips to Edit
You can use the most advanced transitions or add music to it, but if you are working on a low-resolution clip that lacks basic editorial structure, your video is going to be pretty flat. Hence, they are always on the hunt for such developments to edit their clips.
Visually appealing
Well-composed
Royalty-free or easy to license
Available in HD or 4K
Well, that fits well in with their editing theme (aesthetic, action, cinematic, etc)
The Best Video Clips Location For Edits
The best platforms for editors and creators to find the top clips to end.
Pexels Videos (Free)
Also free: Pexels provides video stock for brand mentions, in huge amounts. The platform includes slow motion, urban, and nature stock footage in HD, 4K, and other HD formats.
Pros: Free, no attribution needed
Cons: Limited unique footage
Pixabay (Free)
Similar to Pexels, Pixabay also allows for free editing of royalty-free clips with customizable licences. Ideal for short-form content creators
Pros: Simple downloads, large library
Cons: Footage can feel generic
Mixkit (Free)
Mainly, Mixkit is about aesthetic and fashionable video clips to be used in edits. Perfect for Reels, TikTok, or an intro video on YouTube.
Pros: Edited for creative use, very cinematic in feel
Cons: Smaller collection
Artgrid.io (Paid)
VIDEOGRAPHERS: If you need high-quality clips for editing (the best of the best), most professional video editors love Artgrid.
Pros: Premium footage, storytelling sequences
Cons: Paid subscription model
Storyblocks (Paid)
Designed for agencies and businesses, Storyblocks offers on-demand access to thousands of videos for editing with simple licensing.
Pros: Always being updated, lots of different styles
Cons: Requires a monthly fee
User-Generated TikTok or YouTube Clip Downloads
Editors recycle content as well, in the form of downloading trending clips (done ethically and legally).
To prevent yourself from getting into trouble, always give credit to the original creator and make sure you have the right to use it.
Selecting Clips to Edit
Footage is not created equal. How to choose the best video clips for edits
Relate with your niche: Sports, fashion, Nature, or Travel? Choose footage that matches the theme
Pay Attention to Lighting and Quality of Video: Choose HD or 4K
Do it legally: Only download from sources with specific usage rights
Motion and emotion: Clips that have a human expression or camera movement perform the best
Review the clips: ensure they are melodic with your soundtrack and transitions
Improve Clapping Transition with PixelFox AI Tools
Once you have downloaded your clips that make you look OMG, and now it is just a matter of making them better, and this is where PixelFox comes in.
AI editing tools in PixelFox make your footage look better quickly:
Frame Enhancement: Reduce blurriness or Color correct a Rec709 image
Artificial Intelligence Slow Motion: Transforming Regular Clips into Butter-Smooth Slow-Motion Videos
Blurring Video Backgrounds: Cinematic Depth-of-Field
Smooth skin, emphasize eyes, or get dressed with makeup using AI Face Filters.
Smart Object Removal: Remove unwanted objects from your video clips to make edits
Whether you produce a feature-length or YouTube montage, PixelFox can help finish your footage as if straight from the professional mill.
Editing Like A Pro With Clips
Transitions: Keep the flow lively.
Beat syncing: Sync your video clips to the music
COLOR GRADE: Are you applying a specific LUT or filters to all your footage?
Final Thoughts
Now, there are so many free and paid resources available that you can get great footage to work with in your edits. Access to premium video clips that range from cinematic shots on Mixkit to HD content on Storyblocks, filmmakers of all levels have something for them. Mixing great clips with AI tools, such as PixelFox, takes good edits to the next level.
So whether you're brand new to editing with CapCut or a seasoned vet with Premiere Pro, choose the right clip and take it from there.