Regarding videos, editing is an essential part of quality and impactful content. A well-edited video conveys the intended message in a better way to the audience. Apart from that, good-quality videos also leave a lasting impression on the viewers. However, a poorly edited video can undermine the content's value, leaving viewers uninterested.
One common issue encountered during video recording is overexposure. Overexposed videos appear much brighter, with washed-out colors. These videos also lack detail in the highlights. This can occur due to factors such as excessive sunlight and other reasons. Fortunately, there are several tools available that can help fix overexposed videos.
In this article
The best editor helps you edit and enhance videos without hassle.
Part 1: What is an Overexposed Video?
In an overexposed video, the footage is very bright or washed out. It usually happens due to an overabundance of light entering the camera's sensor while recording. Additionally, it occurs when the camera's exposure settings are not adjusted to the conditions. As a result, the bright areas of the video become over-illuminated. This further causes a loss of detail and a lack of contrast.
Overexposure can happen in various situations, such as shooting under direct sunlight. It also happens in bright studio lights and for various other reasons. Moreover, it can also occur when the camera's automatic exposure settings fail to meter the scene accurately. This can happen even when the scene's dynamic range exceeds the camera sensor's capabilities.
In such videos, highlights may appear completely white with no texture or detail. Additionally, shadows and darker areas may be brighter than intended. It can result in unappealing and unrealistic results. However, exposed video with balanced brightness and contrast levels is generally preferable. This will allow for an accurate representation of the scene's details and colors.
Part 2: What Damages Do Overexposed Videos Cause?
Yes, you can fix overexposed videos using different video editing software. However, before correcting overexposed videos, learn about the damage they cause.
1. Loss of Detail
Overexposure may result in the loss of detail in the brighter areas of the media file. Highlights can become completely blown out when videos are overexposed. Such videos appear as pure white with no proper texture or information. It leads to a lack of information, making the videos look flat or washed out.
2. Lack of Contrast
These videos often lack contrast because of the excessive brightness in them. This diminishes the distinction between different elements in the frame. Shadows and darker areas may appear brighter than desired in such videos. Additionally, this results in a loss of depth and impact in your video content.
3. Reduced Color Accuracy
Overexposed videos can affect color accuracy and saturation. Colors may appear washed out or less vibrant due to excessive brightness. This may cause different issues, such as compromising the video results. Moreover, it can also make the video look less engaging or realistic.
4. Flare and Glare
Such faulty videos can create a lens flare or glare in the final result. When bright light sources are present in the frame, they may also result in glare. Flare and glare are unwanted elements in a video as they reduce the overall clarity and sharpness.
5. Difficulties in Post-Processing
Videos that are overexposed can be challenging to correct in post-production. It may be difficult to recover lost details or restore natural-looking colors. This can limit the flexibility and options available for editing and grading the video. However, now there are tools that can fix such faulty videos.
6. Inconsistent Exposure
You can also get inconsistent results if different parts of the video have varying degrees of exposure. This may be caused due to incorrect camera settings or changing lighting conditions. Furthermore, it can result in an inconsistent and visually unappealing viewing experience.
Part 3: How Can You Fix an Overexposed Video?
Stop your search for how to fix overexposed videos because you've already found the solution. In this portion, you will learn the ways you can fix overexposure in a video. Some techniques in video editing software can help you with this. Here are some steps you can take to attempt to fix an overexposed video:
1. Adjust Exposure and Highlights
In video editing software, look for controls that adjust the exposure or highlights. Decrease the exposure or highlights to bring down the overall brightness. This will recover some detail in the overexposed areas. Be careful not to decrease the exposure too much, as it may result in underexposed or dark areas.
2. Increase Contrast
Increasing the contrast can help restore some depth and separation between elements in the video. It can help compensate for the lack of contrast caused by overexposure. However, be cautious not to overdo it because it may increase noise.
3. Adjust Color Correction
Overexposure can impact color accuracy and saturation. Use color correction tools to adjust the color balance and saturation levels. This can help restore natural colors and improve the overall appearance of the video.
4. Use Curves or Levels
Curves or level adjustments can provide more precise control over the tonal range of the video. By manipulating the curves or levels, you can bring back details in your videos. You can also adjust the overall tonal distribution to achieve a better balance in the video with levels.
5. Apply Graduated Filters
If the overexposure is limited to certain parts of the frame, you can use graduated filters. You can even use masks to adjust the exposure in specific areas selectively. This allows you to target the overexposed regions in your video. It will also bring colors back to a more acceptable level.
6. Blend with Additional Footage
You can also blend the overexposed video with properly exposed video. Using multiple exposures of the same scene can help mitigate the issues. You can recover your faulty video's details and dynamic range by blending the different exposures.
Part 4: Fixing Overexposed Video with Wondershare Filmora
If you don't know how to edit overexposed photos and videos, then you can get help from here. Wondershare Filmora will help you with this problem by fixing overexposed videos. Follow these instructions and get rid of overexposure in your videos.
Step 1Import the Faulty Video
Launch Wondershare Filmora and click "New Project." Then, import your overexposed videos into the timeline. Click on the faulty video in the timeline.
Step 2Access the Basic Color Option
A new panel will pop up on the screen on the right side. In the new panel, press "Color" and go to "Basic." This will open a new "Basic" tab for color adjustment.
Step 3Adjust the Light Options
Locate the "Light" option in the same tab and click to toggle right the "Light" switch. In the options below, decrease the "Exposure" and "Brightness" using the slider. Furthermore, adjust the "Highlight," "Shadow," and other options. Increase the value of "Contrast," but try not to underexpose your video footage.
Step 4Make Final Adjustments and Save Them
You can also make other adjustments by changing the options in the "Color Wheels" window in the same tab. Once satisfied, save your settings as a preset for future videos. To do this, click "Save as custom" and press "OK."
Conclusion
In conclusion, video editing is important as social media platforms expand. A good edit can surely improve viewer engagement better. Conversely, poor editing can detract from the content's value big time. With tools like Wondershare Filmora, you can easily correct and improve your video's lighting. You can fix overexposed videos using this tool with ease.
