If you just want to get started, go straight to Sign Up. Otherwise, I love a good waffle after my second coffee. Capcut is completely free, and is a very good free video editor. It is owned by the same company as TikTok, so you can easily make cool video clips to post there. Everybody wins.
I previously wrote how to combine two videos using Apple iMovie. As I went through the process I discovered it had a number of limitations. Therefore, I tried out popular video editing software Capcut. As of writing it seems highly favourable compared to iMovie, certainly for this use.
It is stated here that Capcut has a 15 minute limitation for videos, which is worth taking into consideration. If you just want to make fun videos or YouTube videos with some cool special effects, Capcut is probably for you. Capcut has a mobile version (iOS and Android) and a desktop version (PC and Mac). Interestingly, the mobile version seems to have more features than the desktop version. It was originally a mobile only app.
While it can be more 'poky' to do things on mobile phone compared to a 'proper' (yes I'm old school) computer, I love the customised cutout feature - which the desktop version doesn't have - and so prefer this one. For now. Maybe I should get an iPad after all, or even one of the latest M1 or M2 chip Macs that can run iOS apps natively.
Sign Up
Once you download the app, it asks you to sign up. This only needs to be done once.
Create Project and Add Media
Once you create a project, it asks you to add media.
Add the overlay.
Trim the overlay until it only includes the footage you want. It can be a bit fiddly to get the slider to move.
Trim the base video as you like - here I am adjusting to the same as the overlay video clip.
Remove Overlay Background
This works best with a green or blue screen, but this is not absolutely necessary. Capcut often does quite a good job of figuring out what background to cut out, though this is worth experimenting with according to your needs.
Find and press the Cutout button.
Wait for the process to finish then press the tick to confirm.
(Optional) Refine the cutout by pressing Customized cutout.
Adjust Overlay Position
Drag the corners and the middle until the size and position are how you want.
Mute Audio
(Optional) Mute the audio in the overlay.
Use Motion/Zoom Effect
This step is optional, but very cool! If you want to share what you've already done, skip to Export.
Add a Keyframe (diamond icon) at the start and end of the overlay clip.
Adjust the end zoom and position to what you want. It will then zoom/move the overlay as you play the video. Very nice!
Add Overlay with Custom Cutout
This step is also optional, but also very cool. It can do things like allow me to go behind my cat's ear.
Press the back arrow until you are at the main menu/icons. For example, below you need to go back two.
Press Overlay.
Add the base video again.
Adjust the overlay copy you just added to exactly fit the base (it snaps so easy to do).
Press Cutout.
Customise Cutout
Press Customised Cutout.
Pinch (i.e. 2 finger) zoom into where you want to cut out, in this case my cat's ear and some of her head.
Select brush (1), select a brush size (2) and colour in the area you want (3). This may take trial and error and several applications.
You don't need to wait for the background removal to finish if you haven't finished colouring in.
Use the Wipe to erase.
Shortcut: If you have an automatically applied cutout already, you can refine it here.
Further Adjustments to Overlay
Adjust the start of the overlay so it coincides with when you want the other overlay to start to be behind.
Make sure the customised cutout overlay finishes where you want and you don't get a cat ear floating in blackness, for example.
Press on the overlay you want to be behind - in this case the clip of me - and move it behind or wherever you like and whatever zoom/size you like.
Go to where you want the object to start to be behind and adjust accordingly - for example, I would be right on top of my cat's head.
Notice Capcut automatically adds a Keyframe.
Export Your Video
Enjoy! Here is mine 😉