Canva Video Editing
Canva includes a video editor built on the same timeline concept found in dedicated video software. You trim clips, add music, and layer text without leaving the browser or learning a separate program. This topic covers the timeline, transitions, audio, and exporting a finished video.
The Video Timeline on Screen
The layout guide below shows how clips, text, and audio line up along the timeline at the bottom of the editor.
Each row represents one track, and each shaded box represents one clip placed along that track. Lining tracks up vertically shows exactly which sounds and captions play during which video clip.
Understanding the Timeline
The timeline sits along the bottom of the editor when working on a video project. Each clip, audio track, and text overlay occupies its own row, stacked in the order they play from start to finish.
A Simple Way to Picture It
A video timeline works like a music sheet with several instrument lines stacked together. One line carries the melody, another carries the bass, another carries the drums. Playing the sheet combines every line into one song, exactly like Canva combines every timeline row into one finished video.
Timeline Diagram
| Track | Content |
|---|---|
| Track 1 | Video Clip One, then Video Clip Two |
| Track 2 | Text Overlay |
| Track 3 | Background Music |
Trimming a Clip
Click a clip on the timeline and drag its edge inward to shorten it. The preview window updates instantly, showing the trimmed result before you commit to the change permanently.
Adding Transitions
Click the small icon between two clips on the timeline to open transition options. A fade eases one clip into the next smoothly. A slide pushes the new clip in from one side of the frame for a more dynamic change.
Adding Text and Captions
Drag a text element onto a clip the same way you would on a static design. Setting the duration by dragging the text bar's edges on the timeline matches exactly when it should appear and disappear during playback.
Adding Background Music
Opening the Audio tab in the side panel reveals Canva's royalty-free music library. Dragging a track onto the audio row of the timeline, then trimming it to match the video's total length, completes the soundtrack.
Audio Placement Steps
- Open the Audio tab in the side panel
- Select a track and drag it onto the timeline
- Trim the track to match the video length
- Lower the volume if voice narration plays over it
Exporting the Final Video
Clicking "Share" and choosing "Download" opens the export options. Selecting MP4 as the file format and picking a quality level finishes the process. Higher quality settings produce larger files, so matching the setting to where the video will play keeps file size reasonable.
A Practical Walkthrough
A real estate agent records three short clips walking through a new listing. She trims each clip down to its most interesting ten seconds, adds a fade transition between rooms, layers a text caption naming each room, and adds a calm background track from the music library before exporting the finished tour as an MP4.
Quick Recap
- The timeline stacks video, text, and audio tracks in playback order
- Trimming and transitions control how clips connect to each other
- Background music comes from a built-in royalty-free library
- Exporting as MP4 with a matched quality setting keeps file size reasonable