Baffled by video jargon? Our A-Z covers basic know-how right through to pro hardware
Video editing software is used to trim individual clips and combine them into finished movies with transitions, titles captions and one or more audio tracks.
Video software follows the same pattern as image-editing software – the camera will usually come with a cheap but basic video editing program to get you started, and then you can move on to more powerful programs aimed at amateurs and enthusiasts. Adobe Premiere Elements is a good example – it's a cut-down, more novice-friendly version of Adobe's professional Premiere image-editing software, in much the same way that Photoshop Elements is a cut-down version of Photoshop itself.
In fact, if you've got a computer you've probably got movie editing software already – Windows Movie Maker on PC and iMovie on Mac.
Rod is an independent photographer and photography journalist with more than 30 years' experience. He's previously worked as Head of Testing for Future’s photography magazines, including Digital Camera, N-Photo, PhotoPlus, Professional Photography, Photography Week and Practical Photoshop, and as Reviews Editor on Digital Camera World.
