The amazing technique of time lapsing enables you to record the passing of time in a creative manner. This is made by taking a series of pictures at regular intervals over a certain time span. A video is produced from the stitched together pictures that are then sped up to create a unique artistic expression.
Following, we will present the 12 most popular time-lapse computer software available in 2020. To make the content simple to understand, we’ve divided it into a number of segments:
- Time-lapse Photography Camera Control Software
- Post editing software for Time-lapse images
- Time-lapse Software for Merging pictures into a Video
Let’s take a look:
Camera Control Software for Time-lapse Photography
An important part of time-lapse photography is the intervalometer (remote control). With time-lapse photography, you should not be clicking on the shutter manually.
Some intervalometers are attached to the camera, some are built into the camera, and they control the frequency, the period and the number of photos taken.
Standalone intervalometer devices are available if your camera didn’t come with a built-in intervalometer. Another option is to use the camera control software that will let your computer control the shutter period of your DSLR. These perform the function of Intervalometers by letting you set the time period between each picture. For this to work, your DSLR camera will have to be constantly connected to your computer via a USB cable for the full duration of the time-lapse project.
Below are the recommended software for doing time-lapse projects with some cameras.
Nikon users:
All of the newer model Nikon digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras like the high-end models D3, D3x, D3s, D700 support Sofortbild. Also included are the consumer D90, D300, D300s and D5000.
2. D-Software Cam Control (Win)
A compatible Nikon DSLR camera can be operated via remote with the software on the PC. The camera settings below can be changed (Dial Mode Defendant).
- Aperture
- Exposure Com.
- ISO
- Shutter Speed
3. Nikon Capture 4.0 (Win & Mac)
The intuitive and powerful image-editing software Nikon Capture 4.0 maximizes possibilities and optimizes workflow. It manages almost all pictures taking controls, and enables pictures to be saved straight to a PC. Furthermore, it permits you to browse and edit any picture files created with the Nikon D-series cameras.
Canon users:
When experts have to control their Canon EOS DSLR via USB from a Windows computer, this is their favourite software.
iPhone users:
5. Lapse It (Best Time-lapse App for iPhone)
Lapse It has every possible feature you will ever need for taking time-lapse videos. Manually set features such as ISO mode, focus mode, white balance and scene mode. Other features that Lapse It fully controls include selecting the intervals once every frame is clicked. Both time-lapse and stop-motion videos can be shot with the app. The resolution, frames per second, codec, audio and effect are editable after shooting the video before it is eventually rendered.
The disadvantage of this app is that the majority of the features are in the pro version, which costs $2.99. The free version is very limited and you will be left wondering what would have been possible with the pro version.
Software for Post Editing Time-lapse Photos
When you are done taking images, you’ll end up with hundreds, maybe thousands of images, depending on how long your project is. Prior to blending them into a video, there are a few things you might need to adjust like cropping, brightness, white balance etc.
It would be a very tedious task to edit each individual photo. To edit your photos quickly, here are two useful software.
Lightroom is a popular tool for editing time-lapse sequences. When combined with LRtime-lapse (more on this later), this tool becomes even more effective. However, it doesn’t have all the flexibility and tools that Photoshop gives you for editing still images. Most people are not aware that Photoshop could be used to edit only time-lapse. Look at the video tutorial below to find out more:
When editing time-lapse sequences, Lightroom is one of the most popular options.
Another good option for batch post-production editing of images is Adobe Lightroom This tutorial shows you exactly how to do this:
Time-lapse Post Production Software to Assemble a Time-lapse Video
Before diving into this topic, it is important to understand how time-lapse videos are usually produced.
Video makers creating time-lapse videos use two popular approaches:
Method1. Shoot a Video and Speed It Up
Creating a time-lapse video using this method is just as simple as it looks. Take an extended video recording, next open it in a video editing software and accelerate the video recording up 5 x or more, based on how quickly you would like the pictures in your video footage to be going or the length of time you need your completed video clip to be
This isn’t an actual time-lapse video, however, the ultimate effect is similar.
Method2. Create a Video from Photos
This method is more challenging, however, it is usually more gratifying: create a time-lapse recording from hundreds ( or even thousands ) of still pictures. You might ask: “Why would I even take the time with capturing that many pictures when I could simply create a video recording using the method mentioned earlier?”
Well, you will discover a minimum of two valid reasons:
#1. Quality
Your end product will look amazing even when it is created using consumer-grade devices due to the high definition of the pictures. With video footage, your quality is going to be reduced.
#2. Size
Videos take up a lot of digital space, particularly if you’re filming in 4K for an extended time (3-5 hours). Still images take up significantly less space on your storage device and will need less computer resources during post-production.
Irrespective of the approach you opt for, we have you covered.
1. Best Overall: Movavi Video Editor
Movavi Video Editor is a complete video editing software applications and slideshow creator, which enables you to produce expert looking time-lapse videos on your PC – even if you lack expertise.
The editing toolset provided in Movavi easily allows you to either turn a regular video recording to time-lapse by making your video clip speed up or put together time-lapse video clips from plenty of still pictures for Windows as well as Mac.
Additionally, it is possible to include audio, produce text captions, and utilize visual effects or transitions to your footage and even more.
Here’s a short quick tutorial for creating a simple time-lapse by utilizing Movavi Video Editor.
#1. How to Convert a Normal Video to Time-lapse in Movavi
With this approach, all you have to do is shoot your video at a normal frame rate and after in Movavi Video Editor, speed up the playback.
Step 1. With Movavi Video Editor opened, click on the Add Media Files button to add your video recording. Once completed, drag your video clip on to the timeline below.
Step2. Choose the footage on the timeline. Next, click on the icon Click Properties to start up a basic panel of editing tools.
Step 3. Move the slider to adjust the speed of the video to produce a time-lapse effect similar to the one below:
#2. How to Make a Time-lapse Video with Pictures in Movavi
Step1. Download and install Movavi Video Editor for Windows or Mac, start the downloaded file and go along with the installation directions. Open the Movavi Video Editor when installation is complete and in the full feature mode select Create a project.
Step2. Upload Your Content to the Software.
Connect your video recording device and move your pictures to the hard drive of your PC. Next, in the Video Editor’s Import tab, select Add Media Files. Find the folder with all your pictures and upload them to the software.
Step3. Create the Time-Lapse
On the Timeline, all the images should be instantly selected. If not, select all, by pressing Ctrl + A. Select the Clip properties icon and in the Tools menu find Duration. Adjust the duration of your frames manually to 00:00:00.100 (adjust the milliseconds first, after that the seconds).
Step4. Add Audio
A good soundtrack is key to a successful time-lapse video. Return to the Import tab, select the Add Media Files and pick some atmospheric audio for your almost complete time-lapse video. A separate Audio Track will show the audio you have chosen.
Another option is to choose from the audio included. Do this by opening the collection and clicking on Music. Next, drag the audio you want to the Timeline.
Step5. Save Your Video
You’re nearly done! This is when the magic starts: the only thing left is to create the time-lapse video if to transform the sequence of still images to a video format. Click Export to do this and pick the video format you want and click Start.
2. Best Free Time-lapse software: Virtualdub
VirtualDub is a video capture/editing open source software for Windows available in 32 and 64-bits. This tool is mostly for editing AVI files.
VideoDub includes batch-processing features for processing huge amounts of files and could also be extended with outside video filters. It doesn’t have the overall editing power editors like Movavi Video Editor, however, it is specifically made for quick linear operations over video.
For our needs, it is a great way to produce time-lapse videos. VideoDub was made specifically for time-lapse, but it also has other tools. Watch the video tutorial below to understand the fundamentals of using it to produce a time-lapse video.
3. Best Free Time-lapse Software for Mac: iMovie
Converting your time-lapse images to a movie using your Mac PC is simple using iMovie.
This is a great tool for newbies to video editing. It is useful for those who want to create home movies and videos of kids over the years.
Editing a time-lapse is easy, just import all your pictures into iMovie and then drag them to the timeline. Once completed, choose all the pictures on the timeline and head to the Clip Information panel, and set the interval for every picture to 0.1 seconds. That’s it!
Remember that the fastest fps that is allowed in iMovie is 0.1 fps. This means, at the most, it will only play 10 pictures per second. If you think the video came out too slow, below are a few ways to speed it up:
Begin by saving it as a video file and then export it once you have gathered all the photos into a video. Next, import the video again using iMovie.
After that, you can increase the video clip’s speed by choosing it in the timeline and then selecting the speedometer looking icon:
On the “Speed” popup menu and select “Fast” or “Custom”. With the “Custom” setting, you can choose the speed you want such as 50% or 200%.
4. Best Time-lapse Software for Professionals: LRTimelapse (requires Adobe Lightroom)
LRTimelapse is a computer program that assists with time-lapse editing. In your time-lapse, you can select the keyframes to be edited in Lightroom and animates them all at one to produce a smooth shift from one to the next.
Although most of the new smartphones/cameras are able to take good quality time lapses with an “app”, experts use a more advanced workflow to capture time-lapses.
When it comes to creating professional time-lapses, there are no shortcuts. To produce a polished end product, professional time-lapse photographers have to go through a number of steps. The beginning of the process is taking a series of raw pictures taken at regular intervals. Next, the images are edited using software such as Lightroom Classic CC, which lets you fully benefit from the camera’s dynamic range and resolutions.
But, there are a number of problems that Lightroom is unable to fix. Flicker and uneven exposure ramping are the biggest problems. LRTimelapse will ramp and even out Holy-Grail sequences, it will also eliminate flicker in the workflow that is very intuitive.
5. Best Time-lapse App for Android: Framelapse
The Framelapse app allows you to take a set of images and produce a time-lapse video using your Android device.
Do you want a time-lapse app with virtually no rendering time? Then download Framelapse.
You have great control over the settings with this app. You have the ability to change camera settings such as white balance, timer, exposure as well as include filters in your time-lapse. Set up the frame interval, orientation and duration of the video.
You also have the option to select the app’s bitrate and resolution. For Android devices, Framelapse is one of the simplest time-lapse apps to use.
Hey, My name is Paul – nice to e-meet you 🙂 I’m a freelance video editor who has over 4 years experiences of making all types of videos. I founded this website to provide step-by-step and easy-to-follow instructions to first-time editors or beginners like you who want to start their journey in video editing.
