---
title: "Create your first video"
canonical_url: https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/quickstart/
source: docs/editor/quickstart.md
content_revision: 5e30c731f37d8167
---

# Create your first video

<span id="create-your-first-video" />

Build a five-second **Northstar Coffee** title card with a photograph and a heading. You will arrange two layers, preview the composition, preserve an editable copy, and download a rendered MP4.

For a video introduction, [watch How to use the Zvid editor on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAAyg6-r6TM).

## Before you begin

Open the [Zvid editor](https://editor.zvid.io) in a desktop browser. You can create the composition and export its JSON without signing in. Account saving and cloud rendering require signing in; rendering spends credits. Check [credits and limits](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/credits-and-plans/) before submitting a render.

Use the hosted sample photo below, or substitute a direct image URL you control. The source must remain reachable when Zvid renders it. This walkthrough does not require an upload.

> **Keep your current work**
Before choosing **New**, save your current project or use **Export → Download JSON**. Starting a new project replaces the composition on screen.

## 1. Create a video project

1. Choose **New → Video project** in the upper toolbar.
2. Set **Project name** to `Northstar Coffee`.
3. Choose **hd · 1280×720** in the resolution preset at the left of the second toolbar row.
4. Keep the default **30 fps**, dark background, **mp4** format, and **Auto** duration. The content you add will determine the five-second length.

> **On a phone or narrow window**
Tap the vertical three-dot button (**⋮**) at the left of the second toolbar row, then **New → Video project**. The adjacent gear opens **Project settings**, including the resolution preset. On desktop, these settings are directly visible in the second toolbar row.

See [project settings](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/project-settings/) for custom dimensions and fixed duration.

## 2. Add the background photo

1. Open **Images → Add image by URL**.
2. Paste this address:

   ```text
   https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/northstar-coffee.jpg
   ```

3. Click **Add image**. The photo appears as the first visual, with a five-second visible window.
4. Click the photo on the canvas to open its settings in the left panel. In **Design → Source**, confirm the image has loaded.
5. Set **Resize mode** to **cover — fill frame, may crop**. This fills the frame and may crop the photo's edges.
6. Expand **Layout** and set **Opacity** to `0.45`. The dark background now shows through the photo, helping the white title stand out.

> **On a phone or narrow window**
Find **Images** in the horizontally scrolling bottom tool strip. Tap the photo on the canvas to open its settings in the bottom **Properties** sheet; tap **Done** at its upper right after editing.

[![Selected coffee photo with Design and Source open in the left inspector, including the Resize mode control for fitting the photo to the frame.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/desktop-selected-image.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/desktop-selected-image.png)

[![Coffee photo filling the frame, with Design → Layout expanded and Opacity set to 0.45.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/image-layout.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/image-layout.png)

**Result:** A darkened photo fills the stage. If it does not appear, check the source loading state and use the recovery steps in [images and GIFs](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/images/).

## 3. Add the title above it

1. Open **Text**, then click **Add a heading**.
2. Click the heading on the canvas to open its text settings in the left panel.
3. Replace the content with `Northstar Coffee`.
4. Set **Size** to `64`; keep white **Color** and **Weight 800**.
5. Keep the centered position. The heading sits on the next visual track, above the photo.
6. In **Timing**, check that **Appears at (enterBegin)** is `0` and **Disappears at (exitEnd)** is `5`. Check the photo has the same visible window.

> **On a phone or narrow window**
Swipe the bottom tool strip to find **Text**. Tap the heading on the canvas to open its settings in the bottom **Properties** sheet; tap **Done** at its upper right when finished.

[![Northstar Coffee heading above a darkened coffee photograph, with its text properties and two timeline tracks.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/quickstart-title.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/quickstart-title.png)

If the photo covers the text, select the heading and use the three-dot button (**⋮**) beside **Pan** to open its actions, then choose **Bring forward (track +1)**. See [canvas and positioning](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/canvas/) for layer order and alignment.

## 4. Preview the five-second composition

1. Click the large purple circular button with a right-pointing triangle (**Play**) in the playback row above the timeline.
2. Watch the complete composition. Both layers should remain visible for five seconds.
3. Pause and scrub near the end to check the text is still present.
4. If the frame is clipped by your workspace, click the zoom percentage between the minus and plus buttons at the right edge below the stage. This resets the view to fit the composition.

[![Stage and playback controls with Pan at the left, canvas zoom at the right, and the large purple Play button above the timeline.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/desktop-playback-controls.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/desktop-playback-controls.png)

This example is a still title card encoded as a video; motion and audio are optional next steps. Editor playback is a preview. The downloaded render is the final output to review.

## 5. Keep an editable copy

1. Click **Save**. Sign in if prompted.
2. Enter the project name in **Save project to your account**, then click **Save project**.
3. Wait for confirmation before leaving. To reopen a saved draft, click the round initials avatar at the far upper right, choose **My projects**, then **Open** on that project.

> **On a phone or narrow window**
The **Save** button is a floppy-disk icon beside **Render** in the top toolbar.

[![Save project dialog with the Northstar Coffee name and Save project button.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/save-project.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/save-project.png)

For a portable editable copy, choose **Export → Download JSON**. See [projects and saving](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/projects/) for saving, reopening, and importing compositions.

## 6. Render and download the MP4

1. Click **Render** and review the output name, dimensions, duration, available credits, and any validation errors.
2. The video dialog shows available credits, not a pre-submission price quote. For an account-aware estimate, export the JSON and follow [validate and estimate](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/validate-and-estimate/) before submitting.
3. When you are ready to spend credits, click **Start render** once.
4. Wait for completion. If the dialog closes or a request times out, check your [dashboard renders](https://app.zvid.io/videos) before starting another job.
5. Click **Download** and review the MP4. Download before the expiry date shown in the dialog.

[![Completed Northstar Coffee video with its preview, Download link, and output expiry notice.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/video-render-complete.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/video-render-complete.png)

**Result:** A five-second, 1280×720 MP4 with the coffee photo and readable white title. Rendering creates a media file; keep your saved project or JSON for future edits.

## Next steps

- Add a fade using [animations](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/animations/).
- Add a second card using [scenes](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/scenes/).
- Make the title replaceable using [variables and templates](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/templates/).
- Create a square still with [image projects](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/image-projects/).
- Resolve missing media, saving problems, or render errors with [troubleshooting](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/troubleshooting/).