How to Instructions:
Adobe Express
Introduction
This is a quick walkthrough of video creation using Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Spark).
You will find it easier to get started if you have developed a script, and have collected your images and icons ahead of time. If you have not done that yet, make sure to check out Crafting Your Message and Using Images and Audio for more info.
If you are not sure why you would choose Adobe Express over PowerPoint, check out our Choosing the Best Tool page.
What Is On This Page?
Using Adobe Express to Create Videos
Adobe Express is a free, browser-based software that you can use to create many different types of content. The step-by-step instructions on this page will help you create a video using Adobe Express.
Creating Videos Webinar Recording Part 1
Watch our webinar on best practices and tips on creating videos. This includes information on scripting and defining your message.
Creating Videos Webinar Recording Part 2
Part 2 of our webinar focuses on building in Adobe Express. Watch this video for a showcase of the Adobe Express video tool and a walk through of how to use it.
Before You Begin
You can use Express on Chrome, Edge, or Safari.
If you will be recording your voice, this is a good time to check that your microphone is working. Do that by going into your computer's system settings, then locating your sound settings. You will be able to connect your microphone and test that it is working there.
You can also check that your microphone's working by running an online mic test.
Step 1: Getting Started
Choose Sign In, and the Continue with Email option. Login with your Seneca username and password.
Select the Video Template
To begin creating a video, select the purple plus (+) icon in the top-left corner (above Home) and choose Video.
If you have used Adobe Express to create other types of media, then you'll already find yourself familiar with the layout of the tool. In Adobe Express, you are building your video one scene at a time. Each scene you build will be organized on your timeline and it will be up to you to determine what content appears in each of your scenes and in what order your scenes will appear in your video.
Tip: Using a script to organize your video is helpful and can save you time. A script organized by scene will help you determine the order of your scenes and how to coherently present your information. Tap here learn more about scripting.
A good start to any project is to 1. Rename your project and enable 2. Show layer timing.
Step 2: Adding Content
Inserting media
Click on the Media button in the control panel to insert photos, videos or audio into your video.
In the Photos tab you will have the option to insert photos either from the Adobe stock image collection, by using their text-to-image AI generator or by uploading your own images.
Under Videos you can choose from Adobe's stock footage collection or uploading your own content.
Audio gives you the option of choosing background music from Adobe's collection of stock music, uploading your own music or recording a voiceover directly into your video.
Looking for images, icons, or videos? Revisit our Using Images and Audio page.
Adding Text
To add a text box to your scene, click on the Text tab on the control panel.
You will be presented with the option to either Add your text, use a template, or use Text effects to generate a stylized text with AI.
Modifying your text
Once you have added your text to your scene, you can click on the text box to modify the text. Here you can change the size, font and look of your text, its layout, and add text effects like shapes, animation.
Working with Templates
Templates are a great way to find some inspiration for your design. Some templates are static while other templates have have animations or stock footage. It will be up to you to decide how much of a template you want to bring into your video. You can use the whole template as part of your video, or pick and draw only certain elements from the template you bring in.
Working with Pages in Adobe Express Video
Adobe Express uses pages to help users organize multiple artworks at the same time.
When you bring in a template into you video you will be prompted with the choice of adding it as a page or Starting a new project.
Generally, you would want to add it as a page into your existing project and then draw from it by copying from the new page and pasting the elements you want to use into your existing page. Use the stacked icon located near the sharing section to access your pages.
Adding Elements
You can add shapes, icons, backgrounds and other design assets by navigating to the Elements tab in the control panel.
Modifying your design asset
Once you add the asset to your scene, you can tap the asset to modify its appearance, colour or to add an animation.
Working with Animation
You can add an animation to most of the objects you bring into your scene by selecting the object and tapping on the Animation option found on the bottom of the edit panel.
Here you'll notice that you can add an In, Looping and Out animation.
In animations means when your scene starts your graphic is not on your scene and then through the use of some sort of graphical effect, it appears onto your slide.
Looping animations loop the graphical effect over and over and in doing so draws the viewer's attention to the object
Out animations occurs when your object leaves your scene.
Step 3: Working with your timeline
Your timeline is what turns your project from a static design into something dynamic and with movement.
You can use your timeline to:
organize your scenes by clicking and dragging them into a correct order
preview your video
add new scenes and transitions into your video
Zoom in and out of your project. This is especially helpful when your trying to time your animations.
position your audio tracks within your video.
Scrub through your video
Bringing in and exiting objects
Any object that you bring into your scene is represented on the timing layer when you click on it.
When you have an object selected you will see it appear on your timing layer. You can determine when the object will appear and disappear from your scene by clicking on the front and end of the the object in the timing layer and dragging it to you desired position on the scene.
Splitting objects on your timeline
Splitting objects, audio, and your scene can be a helpful step in your editing process. You can do so by placing the timeline marker on the point of the video you want to split and the pressing 'S'
Zooming in and out
Zooming into and out of your timeline can help you position your animations, your elements and your audio much more precisely. Use the zoom slider frequently throughout your build for added precision.
Step 4: Adding a Voice-Over
Recording a voice-over directly onto a scene
Narrating over your scene is a great way to communicate the message of your video. You can choose to record your voice using an alternative voice recording application, or you can record directly into your Adobe Express project.
Under the Media tab on your timeline choose between Upload from device or Record voiceover to record your voice.
Do note you most likely will need to grant Adobe Express permission to access your microphone.
First ensure the correct microphone is selected and then, when you are ready to record, press the Start recording button.
Tip: It is a good idea to leave a one second pause at the start and end of your recording. This extra space will be helpful when repositioning your narration.
Working with your voice-over on your timeline
Your voice-over is represented on your timeline. Look for it underneath your scenes and any background music you may have already added.
You can reposition, split and trim your voice-over just like you would any other object on your timeline. Additionally, you can raise, lower and mute the volume of your voice-over.
Step 5: Adding Credits
Jump to this step in our video: Adding Credits
Like any academic project, it's a good idea to credit any content that you used that isn't yours. Make sure your credits are complete by adding a your Credits scene at the end of your video.
How should you credit your content? See our Using Images and Audio page.
Step 6: Downloading Your Video
Once your video is ready, you can download it in MP4 format by clicking Download at the top of the screen.
Alternatively you can select the Share button and Publish to Web to publish your video online and obtain a shareable link. Unlike other streaming platforms like YouTube or MS Streams, this option does not automatically generate closed captions.
If you are planning on uploading your video to Youtube, visit our Sharing Your Work page for information on how to do that. Otherwise, follow your professor's instructions for submission.
