YouTube launches video editing tools

YouTube has introduced a new set of editing features to the Google-owned website, allowing users to tweak their videos and add a range of effects.

Yesterday, the website introduced a suite of editing tools that enable filmmakers to trim down footage, stablise shakily shot videos, boost colours or contrast, and rotate images.

A range of effects are also available to apply to videos, including Black and White, Thermal, Lomo-ish, Colour Process and Cartoon. YouTube has also included a one-click colour correction function called I'm Feeling Lucky, similar to the feature on the Google search engine.

The changes, resulting from YouTube's acquisition of the Green Parrot image-editing firm in March, make it much easier for users to edit footage from the My Videos page.

YouTube software engineer John Gregg explained in a blog posting: "Until now, when you uploaded to YouTube, your video was hosted and shared, but couldn't really be changed. If you wanted to trim off the end, swap out the soundtrack or add an effect, you had to edit your video using a separate programme and upload again.

"[Now], you can edit your uploaded videos right on YouTube and maintain the same video IDs. This means you keep your view count and comments, and all existing links to your video will continue to work. No re-uploading necessary!"

He added: "We know you want your videos to look their best, and we're excited to see what you come up with using YouTube video editing!"

Watch a video demonstrating how YouTube's new editing tools work below: