If you have ever opened Alight Motion for the first time and felt both excited and slightly overwhelmed, you are not alone. This powerful mobile video editing app has become one of the most popular tools for content creators, especially for short-form videos on platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. The reason is simple: it gives you advanced editing features like keyframes, visual effects, motion graphics, and colour correction right on your phone. In this complete step-by-step tutorial, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using Alight Motion, from downloading the app to exporting your final video, simply and practically.
First, you need to download the app. Alight Motion is available for both Android and iOS devices. You can find it on the Google Play Store at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.alightcreative.motion or on the Apple App Store at https://apps.apple.com/app/alight-motion/id1459833443. Once you install and open the app, you will be asked to sign in or create an account. You can sign up using Google, Facebook, or an email address. Creating an account allows you to save your projects and access them later.
After logging in, you will see the main dashboard. This is where all your projects are displayed. To start editing, tap the plus (+) button at the bottom of the screen. You will now be asked to create a new project. Here, you can set the resolution, frame rate, background colour, and aspect ratio. If you are creating a video for YouTube, you can choose 16:9. For Instagram Reels or TikTok, 9:16 is usually the best option. A standard frame rate like 30 fps works perfectly for most videos. Once you’ve adjusted the settings, tap “Create Project.”
Now you will enter the editing interface. At first glance, it might look complicated, but once you understand the layout, it becomes very easy. The top section shows the preview window where you can watch your video. The bottom section contains the timeline, where all your layers and clips are placed. On the right side, you’ll see editing tools like move, transform, colour, effects, and more.
To add media, tap the plus icon inside the timeline. You can choose to add media from your gallery, add shapes, text, audio, or even drawings. If you want to add a video or photo, tap “Media” and select the file from your device. Once selected, it will appear as a layer in your timeline. You can drag the edges of the layer to trim it. If you want to shorten a clip, simply move the white handles inward.
One of the most powerful features in Alight Motion is keyframe animation. Keyframes allow you to create movement and smooth transitions. To use keyframes, tap on the clip in the timeline and then select “Move & Transform.” You will see a small diamond icon, which represents keyframes. Move the playhead (the vertical line in the timeline) to the point where you want the animation to start. Tap the diamond icon to add a keyframe. Now move the playhead to another point in time and change the position, scale, or rotation of the object. Alight Motion will automatically create a smooth animation between the two keyframes.
For example, if you want text to slide in from the left, place the playhead at the beginning of the clip and add a keyframe with the text positioned outside the screen. Then move a few seconds forward and reposition the text to the centre of the screen. When you play the video, you will see the text smoothly move into place. This is the basic concept behind almost all animations in Alight Motion.
Adding text is also very simple. Tap the plus icon and select “Text.” Type your desired text and press OK. You can change the font, colour, size, alignment, and spacing from the editing panel. If you want stylish fonts, you can download custom fonts from websites like https://www.dafont.com and install them on your device. After installing, they will appear inside Alight Motion.
To make your video more attractive, you can apply effects. Select the layer you want to edit and tap “Effects.” Then tap the plus icon to browse available effects. There are many categories likecolourr and light, blur, distortstyliseze, and more. For example, you can use “Gaussian Blur” to blur the background or “Glow” to create a shining effect. You can even combine multiple effects on one layer. Each effect comes with adjustable settings, so you can customise the intensity and style according to your needs.
Colour correction is another important step in professional editing. To adjust colours, select your clip and go toColouror & Fill.” You can modify brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue. Increasing contrast slightly and adjusting saturation can make your video look more vibrant. If you want advanced colour grading, you can experiment with different blending modes and overlays.
If you want to add music or sound effects, tap the plus icon and choose “Audio.” You can import music from your device or use sound effects you have downloaded. Websites like https://pixabay.com/music offer free music that you can use in your videos. Once the audio is added, you can trim it just like a video clip. Make sure to align your clips with the beat of the music for a more professional result. Zoom into the timeline for better accuracy when syncing.
Transitions are also essential for smooth editing. In Alight Motion, transitions can be created manually using keyframes or by using effects. For example, to create a fade transition, overlap two clips slightly and apply opacity keyframes. Lower the opacity of the first clip at the end while increasing the opacity of the second clip at the beginning. This will create a smooth crossfade effect.
Another advanced feature is masking. Masking allows you to hide or reveal certain parts of a layer. Select a layer, tap “Mask,” and choose a shape or draw a custom mask. This is useful for creating cinematic effects, text reveals, or creative transitions. You can even animate the mask using keyframes for more dynamic results.
If you are creating content for social media, you might want to add motion graphics elements like shapes or animated backgrounds. Tap the plus icon and choose “Shape.” You customise the shape’s colour, size, and position. With keyframes, you can animate shapes to move, rotate, or scale. This is perfect for intro videos and stylish edits.
As you continue editing, make sure to preview your video frequently by pressing the play button. This helps you catch mistakes and adjust timing. If the preview lags, you can lower the preview quality in the settings to make editing smoother.
Once your editing is complete, it’s time to export your video. Tap the export icon in the top right corner. You can choose the resolution, frame rate, and quality. Higher quality settings produce better results but may take longer to render. After selecting your preferences, tap “Export.” Wait for the rendering process to finish, and then save the video to your device.
If you are using the free version of Alight Motion, you may notice a watermark on your exported video. To remove it, you need to purchase the premium version inside the app. Premium also unlocks additional effects and features. However, many creators still produce amazing content using the free version by working creatively within its limits.
Practice is the key to mastering Alight Motion. At first, the interface and features may seem complex, but with regular use, you will become more comfortable. Try recreating popular editing styles you see on social media. Watch tutorials on YouTube, experiment with different effects, and challenge yourself to create short edits regularly.
One helpful tip is toorganisee your layers properly. Rename important layers and keep your timeline clean. This makes it easier to manage complex projects. Also, save your project frequently to avoid losing progress.
Alight Motion is not just a simple video editor; it is a powerful motion graphics tool that fits in your pocket. Whether you are creating fan edits, cinematic videos, business promos, or personal vlogs, this app gives you professional-level control without needing a computer. With features like keyframes, blending modes, visual effects, masking, and audio editing, the possibilities are almost endless.
By following this step-by-step guide, you now understand how to start a project, add media, use keyframes, apply effects, adjust colours, sync audio, create transitions, use masking, and export your final video. The more you experiment, the better your results will be. Video editing is both a technical skill and a creative art, and Alight Motion provides the perfect platform to explore both.
Take your time, explore every tool, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Every professional editor started as a beginner. With patience and consistent practice, you can turn simple clips into eye-catching, high-quality videos directly from your smartphone.
