What is brightness?
In video recording and editing, brightness refers to how light or dark an image or video clip is. Adjusting this setting can change how the video appears without changing the colors.
If you increase the brightness, it lightens the entire image, while decreasing the brightness can make it appear washed out.
Most video editing software has a simple slider to control brightness that helps you make quick changes. Brightness often has to be adjusted to make your videos look visually balanced on different devices and lighting conditions (artificial vs. natural light.)
However, extreme changes can either blow out details and make the video look grainy or make the video too dark. For the best results, brightness should be changed in tandem with contrast and exposure for the best results.
Typically, this setting is used to correct a lighting issue. It can also be used to elicit an emotion. For instance, a darker scene may evoke drama while brighter scenes often feel happy and upbeat.
How do I turn the video brightness up?
To adjust video brightness, use your video editing software’s brightness or exposure settings. In most video editing tools, go to the color correction tools and increase the brightness or exposure to lighten the video.
Why is my video so dark?
Your video may look dark due to poor lighting, the wrong camera exposure setting, or a low-quality lens that doesn’t capture enough light. It can also result from shooting in a room with insufficient natural or artificial light.
How to improve light in video
You can improve lighting in your video by adjusting brightness or contrast in editing software. For the best results, use color correction tools to fine-tune exposure and white balance. When shooting your video, make sure to use proper lighting equipment like softboxes or natural light sources.
To ensure good video brightness while recording with a podcasting tool like Riverside.fm, follow these steps:
- Check your lighting setup: If possible, position yourself facing a window to utilize natural light, which is soft and evenly distributed. If using artificial light, use soft, diffuse lighting such as ring lights or LED panels placed at an angle to avoid harsh shadows. Avoid overhead lighting that can create unflattering shadows on your face.
- Use a light source behind your camera: Position a light source directly behind or near your camera to illuminate your face evenly. This keeps the lighting consistent and minimizes shadows.
- Avoid backlighting: Ensure that the brightest light is not behind you. Strong backlighting from windows or lamps will make your face appear dark and underexposed.
- Tweak camera settings: If using an external camera or webcam, check if it allows you to manually adjust the brightness or exposure settings to better control lighting.
How do I remove darkness from a video?
To remove darkness from a video, apply exposure adjustments and use tools like shadows/highlights in video editing software. Gradually increase brightness and exposure while maintaining a balance to avoid overexposing the image.
How do you brighten a dark room video?
To brighten a video shot in a dark room, use the brightness, exposure, and contrast adjustments in your editing software. You can also enhance the visibility by using color correction tools like curves, which allow for more precise control over the lighting in different parts of the video.
