<p>Adobe After Effects is what I use. It's pretty simple and there are a ton of tutorials out there.</p>

<p>If you need something free there is Hit Film Express, which I hear is decent though I've never used it.</p>

<p>Lastly what editing software are you using? You should be able to do simple things like that in any old editing program out there.</p>

<ul>
<li>Spencer</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-10T11:17:04.647Z
Hi Spencer. Thank you for your answer. I am using no special software, just plain and simple Windows Movie Maker. The editing and cutting is easy and effective in that program, but it has no real custom-animation tools except for some small stuff with text animations. I will look into the Hit Film Express and return. I have also heard of Blender, which is an actual 3D animation software but a freeware. It is a bit complicated to start out with though.
Steeven
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T17:33:17.823Z
Here I am a year later! I'm guessing you're done with your project by now... But anyway I would definitely not suggest Blender or Fusion for something like this as Michael suggest. Blender is a 3D application (though it does other things) and not at all built for this. And Fusion is made for high-end compositing, similarly not really made for this. Fusion can absolutely do what you want and it is free, but the learning curve isn't worth it for simple text animation.
Spencer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T20:02:01.420Z
Actually, I ended up using Hit Films  Thank you for the suggestion. It worked like a charm for my purpose, although a bit heavy for my poor laptop
Steeven
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T20:04:38.170Z
Glad it worked out! And yes, welcome to the world of video production... faster is never good enough, and no matter how much storage you have it's always full.
Spencer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-10T03:42:08.227Z
2017-08-10T03:42:08.227Z
Spencer
<p>Blender is wonderful, but only the most dedicated use it for making text annotations.  Davinci Resolve 15 (currently at beta 2) runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux (with constraints).    Its big new feature is the integration of Fusion, a comprehensive 2d and 3d compositing and effects package.  It also offers templates that animate text fades (against backgrounds if you like).  YouTube tutorial videos show these features in detail.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-08T11:10:49.307Z
2018-05-08T11:10:49.307Z
Michael Tiemann
<p>I need to be able to add small graphical things onto a recorded movie clip. Things like arrows and text. I will need to be able to do simple animation, such as making the arrow elongate, making the text fade in, making an object rotate and such.</p>

<p>I have seen Apple's Motion but I am  not able to use that software.</p>

<p>What other software can do this job?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-07T19:11:37.070Z
Why are you not able to use Motion?  You may also want to search for "motion graphics" and see if any of the pre-existing questions cover your needs.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-07T19:37:26.397Z
Are you limited to any particular platform?
Fridaypants
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-07T20:19:06.027Z
@AJHenderson I do not have access to Apple software without an Apple computer
Steeven
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-07T20:19:41.353Z
@Fridaypants I am not limited more than I hope for a free or cheap (free-trial perhaps) software, since this is for a small project.
Steeven
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-07T20:44:29.707Z
Take a look at https://video.stackexchange.com/questions/13082/what-are-motion-graphics.  Not 100% sure it's a duplicate, but seems likely to cover your needs.  If so, let me know and I'll close this one as a dupe.
AJ Henderson
<software-recommendation><animation>
Best tool for adding simple graphics such as fading-in text on a video
Steeven
# Best tool for adding simple graphics such as fading-in text on a video

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-07)

I need to be able to add small graphical things onto a recorded movie clip. Things like arrows and text. I will need to be able to do simple animation, such as making the arrow elongate, making the text fade in, making an object rotate and such.

I have seen Apple's Motion but I am not able to use that software.

What other software can do this job?

**Tags:** software-recommendation, animation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why are you not able to use Motion?  You may also want to search for "motion graphics" and see if any of the pre-existing questions cover your needs.  
> **username_2**: Are you limited to any particular platform?  
> **username_0**: @AJHenderson I do not have access to Apple software without an Apple computer  
> **username_0**: @username_2 I am not limited more than I hope for a free or cheap (free-trial perhaps) software, since this is for a small project.  
> **username_1**: Take a look at https://video.stackexchange.com/questions/13082/what-are-motion-graphics.  Not 100% sure it's a duplicate, but seems likely to cover your needs.  If so, let me know and I'll close this one as a dupe.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-08-10. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Adobe After Effects is what I use. It's pretty simple and there are a ton of tutorials out there.

If you need something free there is Hit Film Express, which I hear is decent though I've never used it.

Lastly what editing software are you using? You should be able to do simple things like that in any old editing program out there.

* username_3

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hi username_3. Thank you for your answer. I am using no special software, just plain and simple Windows Movie Maker. The editing and cutting is easy and effective in that program, but it has no real custom-animation tools except for some small stuff with text animations. I will look into the Hit Film Express and return. I have also heard of Blender, which is an actual 3D animation software but a freeware. It is a bit complicated to start out with though.  
> **username_3**: Here I am a year later! I'm guessing you're done with your project by now... But anyway I would definitely not suggest Blender or Fusion for something like this as Michael suggest. Blender is a 3D application (though it does other things) and not at all built for this. And Fusion is made for high-end compositing, similarly not really made for this. Fusion can absolutely do what you want and it is free, but the learning curve isn't worth it for simple text animation.  
> **username_0**: Actually, I ended up using Hit Films  Thank you for the suggestion. It worked like a charm for my purpose, although a bit heavy for my poor laptop  
> **username_3**: Glad it worked out! And yes, welcome to the world of video production... faster is never good enough, and no matter how much storage you have it's always full.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2018-05-08. Score: 1

Blender is wonderful, but only the most dedicated use it for making text annotations. Davinci Resolve 15 (currently at beta 2) runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux (with constraints). Its big new feature is the integration of Fusion, a comprehensive 2d and 3d compositing and effects package. It also offers templates that animate text fades (against backgrounds if you like). YouTube tutorial videos show these features in detail.


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