How to Crop Video in HitFilm Express: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Are you tired of having extra footage in your videos and want to trim it down? Look no further than Hitfilm Express's powerful video editing features. In this article, we'll walk through a simple step-by-step guide on how to crop video using the free version of this popular software.

Why Choose HitFilm Express?

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HitFilm is an all-in-one solution for both beginners and seasoned videographers alike. With its user-friendly interface and extensive array of effects (over 400), it's perfect for anyone looking to add a professional touch without breaking the bank. Whether you're working on school projects or trying to launch your own production company, Hitfilm has got you covered.

Step 1: Download & Install HitFilm Express

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Before we dive into our tutorial, make sure that you've downloaded and installed HitFilm Express onto your computer from their official website 'www_hitfilm_com'(http://www.hitfilm.com).

### Step 2: Open Your Project in Hitfilm

Once installed, launch the software by double-clicking on its icon. You'll be greeted with a clean interface where all of your projects are listed down the left-hand side.

### Step 3: Import Your Video into HitFilm Express

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To import any video files (avi, mov, mp4 etc.) simply drag and drop them directly onto the timeline in front of you or click on 'File' > 'Import Media'.

### Step 4: Crop Your Video Using Masks

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Now that your desired clip is now inside Hitfilm's timeline we can begin our tutorial proper.

1. Select the video layer by double-clicking on it within the Timeline panel.

2. Go to the Effects Tab located at the top left-hand corner of your screen and click 'Video' > 'Effects'. A new window will appear displaying a vast array of effects that you can apply to your footage.

3. Scroll down until you see an option called 'Masking & Compositing'.

4. Double-click on this effect to open up its own dedicated settings panel.

### Step 5: Apply Your Mask

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Within the masking and compositing tab, there are several different mask types that you can choose from including:

* Rectangle (perfect for cropping out square sections of your video)

* Ellipse (useful if you want a rounded corner effect on your final output)

For this tutorial we will be using the rectangle mask so click 'OK' once selected.

### Step 6: Adjust Your Mask Size & Position

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With our new Rectangle Mask applied, double-clicking on it again will bring up its own dedicated settings panel where you can adjust both the size and position of your crop area.

1. To resize your masked region simply drag one of its corners inward/outward until only the desired portion remains.

2. If necessary use the Move Tool (hotkey: M) to nudge your mask left/right or up/down within the video timeline so that it perfectly frames around what you want to keep.

### Step 7: Export Your Final Crop

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Once happy with how everything looks, hit 'Export' at the top right corner of Hitfilm's main interface. From here select MP4 as your output format (or any other supported file type) and choose a location where you'd like to save your newly cropped video.

And that's it! With these simple steps, you should now have a beautifully trimmed down version of your original footage ready for sharing with friends and family or even uploading straight onto YouTube/Vimeo etc...

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In conclusion, HitFilm Express offers an incredibly powerful yet easy-to-use set of tools perfect for both beginners looking to dip their toes into video editing as well as seasoned professionals seeking more advanced features without breaking the bank. With its user-friendly interface combined with a vast library of effects at your disposal (over 400!), it's no wonder why Hitfilm continues to remain one of the go-to choices among content creators worldwide.

So what are you waiting for? Download HitFilm Express today and start creating professional looking videos like a pro!

Hitfilm express crop video