!["[Updated] Blur the Borders Enhancing Your Video's Appeal on YT"](https://www.lifewire.com/thmb/WpEjByZxjDiu1dRhYVfqcDWX2LU=/2000x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Phones_GettyImages-1314284781_ORIG_d3sign._CROPPEDjpg-c1cb62860b3e4228b51aa8566e84abb0.jpg)
"[Updated] Blur the Borders Enhancing Your Video's Appeal on YT"
![](/images/site-logo.png)
Blur the Borders: Enhancing Your Video’s Appeal on YT
How to Blur Background of Your YouTube Video
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A lot of YouTubers like to vlog in front of blurred backgrounds. Blurring the background of your YouTube video is a fast way to make it look more professional – you stand out when you are entirely in focus, and everything behind you is blurry. Plus, it is an easy way to disguise the room you are vlogging from.
Even if your set is clean, there could be things like books behind you, which will distract viewers; they will be trying to read the spines. Blurring out the background of your shot makes your video look polished and keeps people’s focus entirely on you.
- Part 1: Blur YouTube Video Background in Shooting Videos
- Part 2: Add Tilt-Shift Effects to Video in Editing
Part 1: How to Blur Background of Your YouTube Video in Shooting Videos
Blurring your background is also how you create a beautiful bokeh lighting effect. Bokeh is when you blur lights in the background of your shot, creating halo-like circles of light. By attaching a filter with a shape cut out to the camera lens, you can even generate bokeh lights in other shapes, like hearts or stars.
Aperture refers to the hole in your lens which allows light into your camera. A narrow aperture lets in less light, and a wide aperture lets in more. The wider your aperture is, the shallower your depth of field will be. Widening your aperture also helps your camera perform better in low-light situations. Widening your aperture too much under the wrong circumstances can let in too much light and result in your footage being overexposed.
Depth of Field is the area of your image that is in focus. If you have a large depth of field, then objects close to and far away from your camera will all be in focus. Only a select area will be focused and the rest will be blurred if you have a shallow depth of field.
F-Stops are the measurement of an aperture’s width. The higher your f-stop, the narrower your aperture will be. To create a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need a wide aperture, and thus a small f-stop. F-stops are written like ‘f/1.4’. You need an f-stop of less than f/4 to blur your background, and less than f/2.8 for bokeh.
1. Blurring and Bokeh
Blurred backgrounds and bokeh are very closely related. A bokeh effect is essentially a blurred background that includes lights.
To achieve a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need to have a shallow depth of field. That means a wide aperture and a low f-stop.
2. How to Blur your Background
Place your subject – in the case of a vlog, your subject is probably yourself – in a shallow depth of field, and they will remain sharply in focus while everything behind them is blurred.
If the subject is yourself, you might need a helper to either operate your camera or stand in for you while you set up your camera. You will need to be able to check that the place you plan to stand or sit is in focus.
To get a shallow depth of field, make sure your aperture is wide. Do this by setting a low f-stop. Ideally, your f-stop will be 2.8 or lower, but if your camera cannot go that low, then f/3 or f/4 can also work.
Creating a bokeh effect is mostly the same, except that it works best when your subject/depth of field is very close to the camera, and you have a light source off in the background. Zoom Lenses do not usually have wide enough apertures to create bokeh backgrounds.
Blur Video Background in Post-Production with Wondershare Filmora Video Editor
If you need to blur the video background after shooting, you can use some video editing software to add the bokeh effect or the tilt-off effect in post-production. Here, I will show you how to do that in Filmora.
Filmora is one of the most widely used video editing software among YouTubers. Its user-friendly interface and tutorial guide enables green-hands to start video editing quickly. Besides, you can find many free filters, effects, and elements pre-programmed, so you can use them directly without looking for presets and templates somewhere else.
1. Add Bokeh Filter to Video in Filmora
There are about 20 bokeh effects available in filters and overlays. You can find them easily by typing bokeh in the search bar in Effects.
Note: you should select Included to see all bokeh effects pre-programmed in Filmora. If you need more visual effects, just go to the Filmstock effects store.
Double click the bokeh effect to preview the result, and if you find the bokeh effect fits the video, just drop it to the track above the video. And the bokeh filter or overlay will be applied to the video automatically.
2. Use Tilt-Shift Circle/Linear Effect to Blur Video Background
Filmora features two tilt effects, tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear, which allows you to highlight people in the video, blur, and conceal the video background.
Go to the Effects tab and then switch to the Utility menu under Included category.
Here, I will select the Tilt-Shift Circle effect and drop it to the track above the video. Now, you can adjust the size, position, and intensity of the tilt-shift circle effect
You see, the video background is blurred, and the people are highlighted. Now it’s your turn to download the Filmora video editor and try it yourself.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A lot of YouTubers like to vlog in front of blurred backgrounds. Blurring the background of your YouTube video is a fast way to make it look more professional – you stand out when you are entirely in focus, and everything behind you is blurry. Plus, it is an easy way to disguise the room you are vlogging from.
Even if your set is clean, there could be things like books behind you, which will distract viewers; they will be trying to read the spines. Blurring out the background of your shot makes your video look polished and keeps people’s focus entirely on you.
- Part 1: Blur YouTube Video Background in Shooting Videos
- Part 2: Add Tilt-Shift Effects to Video in Editing
Part 1: How to Blur Background of Your YouTube Video in Shooting Videos
Blurring your background is also how you create a beautiful bokeh lighting effect. Bokeh is when you blur lights in the background of your shot, creating halo-like circles of light. By attaching a filter with a shape cut out to the camera lens, you can even generate bokeh lights in other shapes, like hearts or stars.
Aperture refers to the hole in your lens which allows light into your camera. A narrow aperture lets in less light, and a wide aperture lets in more. The wider your aperture is, the shallower your depth of field will be. Widening your aperture also helps your camera perform better in low-light situations. Widening your aperture too much under the wrong circumstances can let in too much light and result in your footage being overexposed.
Depth of Field is the area of your image that is in focus. If you have a large depth of field, then objects close to and far away from your camera will all be in focus. Only a select area will be focused and the rest will be blurred if you have a shallow depth of field.
F-Stops are the measurement of an aperture’s width. The higher your f-stop, the narrower your aperture will be. To create a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need a wide aperture, and thus a small f-stop. F-stops are written like ‘f/1.4’. You need an f-stop of less than f/4 to blur your background, and less than f/2.8 for bokeh.
1. Blurring and Bokeh
Blurred backgrounds and bokeh are very closely related. A bokeh effect is essentially a blurred background that includes lights.
To achieve a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need to have a shallow depth of field. That means a wide aperture and a low f-stop.
2. How to Blur your Background
Place your subject – in the case of a vlog, your subject is probably yourself – in a shallow depth of field, and they will remain sharply in focus while everything behind them is blurred.
If the subject is yourself, you might need a helper to either operate your camera or stand in for you while you set up your camera. You will need to be able to check that the place you plan to stand or sit is in focus.
To get a shallow depth of field, make sure your aperture is wide. Do this by setting a low f-stop. Ideally, your f-stop will be 2.8 or lower, but if your camera cannot go that low, then f/3 or f/4 can also work.
Creating a bokeh effect is mostly the same, except that it works best when your subject/depth of field is very close to the camera, and you have a light source off in the background. Zoom Lenses do not usually have wide enough apertures to create bokeh backgrounds.
Blur Video Background in Post-Production with Wondershare Filmora Video Editor
If you need to blur the video background after shooting, you can use some video editing software to add the bokeh effect or the tilt-off effect in post-production. Here, I will show you how to do that in Filmora.
Filmora is one of the most widely used video editing software among YouTubers. Its user-friendly interface and tutorial guide enables green-hands to start video editing quickly. Besides, you can find many free filters, effects, and elements pre-programmed, so you can use them directly without looking for presets and templates somewhere else.
1. Add Bokeh Filter to Video in Filmora
There are about 20 bokeh effects available in filters and overlays. You can find them easily by typing bokeh in the search bar in Effects.
Note: you should select Included to see all bokeh effects pre-programmed in Filmora. If you need more visual effects, just go to the Filmstock effects store.
Double click the bokeh effect to preview the result, and if you find the bokeh effect fits the video, just drop it to the track above the video. And the bokeh filter or overlay will be applied to the video automatically.
2. Use Tilt-Shift Circle/Linear Effect to Blur Video Background
Filmora features two tilt effects, tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear, which allows you to highlight people in the video, blur, and conceal the video background.
Go to the Effects tab and then switch to the Utility menu under Included category.
Here, I will select the Tilt-Shift Circle effect and drop it to the track above the video. Now, you can adjust the size, position, and intensity of the tilt-shift circle effect
You see, the video background is blurred, and the people are highlighted. Now it’s your turn to download the Filmora video editor and try it yourself.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A lot of YouTubers like to vlog in front of blurred backgrounds. Blurring the background of your YouTube video is a fast way to make it look more professional – you stand out when you are entirely in focus, and everything behind you is blurry. Plus, it is an easy way to disguise the room you are vlogging from.
Even if your set is clean, there could be things like books behind you, which will distract viewers; they will be trying to read the spines. Blurring out the background of your shot makes your video look polished and keeps people’s focus entirely on you.
- Part 1: Blur YouTube Video Background in Shooting Videos
- Part 2: Add Tilt-Shift Effects to Video in Editing
Part 1: How to Blur Background of Your YouTube Video in Shooting Videos
Blurring your background is also how you create a beautiful bokeh lighting effect. Bokeh is when you blur lights in the background of your shot, creating halo-like circles of light. By attaching a filter with a shape cut out to the camera lens, you can even generate bokeh lights in other shapes, like hearts or stars.
Aperture refers to the hole in your lens which allows light into your camera. A narrow aperture lets in less light, and a wide aperture lets in more. The wider your aperture is, the shallower your depth of field will be. Widening your aperture also helps your camera perform better in low-light situations. Widening your aperture too much under the wrong circumstances can let in too much light and result in your footage being overexposed.
Depth of Field is the area of your image that is in focus. If you have a large depth of field, then objects close to and far away from your camera will all be in focus. Only a select area will be focused and the rest will be blurred if you have a shallow depth of field.
F-Stops are the measurement of an aperture’s width. The higher your f-stop, the narrower your aperture will be. To create a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need a wide aperture, and thus a small f-stop. F-stops are written like ‘f/1.4’. You need an f-stop of less than f/4 to blur your background, and less than f/2.8 for bokeh.
1. Blurring and Bokeh
Blurred backgrounds and bokeh are very closely related. A bokeh effect is essentially a blurred background that includes lights.
To achieve a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need to have a shallow depth of field. That means a wide aperture and a low f-stop.
2. How to Blur your Background
Place your subject – in the case of a vlog, your subject is probably yourself – in a shallow depth of field, and they will remain sharply in focus while everything behind them is blurred.
If the subject is yourself, you might need a helper to either operate your camera or stand in for you while you set up your camera. You will need to be able to check that the place you plan to stand or sit is in focus.
To get a shallow depth of field, make sure your aperture is wide. Do this by setting a low f-stop. Ideally, your f-stop will be 2.8 or lower, but if your camera cannot go that low, then f/3 or f/4 can also work.
Creating a bokeh effect is mostly the same, except that it works best when your subject/depth of field is very close to the camera, and you have a light source off in the background. Zoom Lenses do not usually have wide enough apertures to create bokeh backgrounds.
Blur Video Background in Post-Production with Wondershare Filmora Video Editor
If you need to blur the video background after shooting, you can use some video editing software to add the bokeh effect or the tilt-off effect in post-production. Here, I will show you how to do that in Filmora.
Filmora is one of the most widely used video editing software among YouTubers. Its user-friendly interface and tutorial guide enables green-hands to start video editing quickly. Besides, you can find many free filters, effects, and elements pre-programmed, so you can use them directly without looking for presets and templates somewhere else.
1. Add Bokeh Filter to Video in Filmora
There are about 20 bokeh effects available in filters and overlays. You can find them easily by typing bokeh in the search bar in Effects.
Note: you should select Included to see all bokeh effects pre-programmed in Filmora. If you need more visual effects, just go to the Filmstock effects store.
Double click the bokeh effect to preview the result, and if you find the bokeh effect fits the video, just drop it to the track above the video. And the bokeh filter or overlay will be applied to the video automatically.
2. Use Tilt-Shift Circle/Linear Effect to Blur Video Background
Filmora features two tilt effects, tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear, which allows you to highlight people in the video, blur, and conceal the video background.
Go to the Effects tab and then switch to the Utility menu under Included category.
Here, I will select the Tilt-Shift Circle effect and drop it to the track above the video. Now, you can adjust the size, position, and intensity of the tilt-shift circle effect
You see, the video background is blurred, and the people are highlighted. Now it’s your turn to download the Filmora video editor and try it yourself.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
A lot of YouTubers like to vlog in front of blurred backgrounds. Blurring the background of your YouTube video is a fast way to make it look more professional – you stand out when you are entirely in focus, and everything behind you is blurry. Plus, it is an easy way to disguise the room you are vlogging from.
Even if your set is clean, there could be things like books behind you, which will distract viewers; they will be trying to read the spines. Blurring out the background of your shot makes your video look polished and keeps people’s focus entirely on you.
- Part 1: Blur YouTube Video Background in Shooting Videos
- Part 2: Add Tilt-Shift Effects to Video in Editing
Part 1: How to Blur Background of Your YouTube Video in Shooting Videos
Blurring your background is also how you create a beautiful bokeh lighting effect. Bokeh is when you blur lights in the background of your shot, creating halo-like circles of light. By attaching a filter with a shape cut out to the camera lens, you can even generate bokeh lights in other shapes, like hearts or stars.
Aperture refers to the hole in your lens which allows light into your camera. A narrow aperture lets in less light, and a wide aperture lets in more. The wider your aperture is, the shallower your depth of field will be. Widening your aperture also helps your camera perform better in low-light situations. Widening your aperture too much under the wrong circumstances can let in too much light and result in your footage being overexposed.
Depth of Field is the area of your image that is in focus. If you have a large depth of field, then objects close to and far away from your camera will all be in focus. Only a select area will be focused and the rest will be blurred if you have a shallow depth of field.
F-Stops are the measurement of an aperture’s width. The higher your f-stop, the narrower your aperture will be. To create a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need a wide aperture, and thus a small f-stop. F-stops are written like ‘f/1.4’. You need an f-stop of less than f/4 to blur your background, and less than f/2.8 for bokeh.
1. Blurring and Bokeh
Blurred backgrounds and bokeh are very closely related. A bokeh effect is essentially a blurred background that includes lights.
To achieve a blurred background or a bokeh effect, you need to have a shallow depth of field. That means a wide aperture and a low f-stop.
2. How to Blur your Background
Place your subject – in the case of a vlog, your subject is probably yourself – in a shallow depth of field, and they will remain sharply in focus while everything behind them is blurred.
If the subject is yourself, you might need a helper to either operate your camera or stand in for you while you set up your camera. You will need to be able to check that the place you plan to stand or sit is in focus.
To get a shallow depth of field, make sure your aperture is wide. Do this by setting a low f-stop. Ideally, your f-stop will be 2.8 or lower, but if your camera cannot go that low, then f/3 or f/4 can also work.
Creating a bokeh effect is mostly the same, except that it works best when your subject/depth of field is very close to the camera, and you have a light source off in the background. Zoom Lenses do not usually have wide enough apertures to create bokeh backgrounds.
Blur Video Background in Post-Production with Wondershare Filmora Video Editor
If you need to blur the video background after shooting, you can use some video editing software to add the bokeh effect or the tilt-off effect in post-production. Here, I will show you how to do that in Filmora.
Filmora is one of the most widely used video editing software among YouTubers. Its user-friendly interface and tutorial guide enables green-hands to start video editing quickly. Besides, you can find many free filters, effects, and elements pre-programmed, so you can use them directly without looking for presets and templates somewhere else.
1. Add Bokeh Filter to Video in Filmora
There are about 20 bokeh effects available in filters and overlays. You can find them easily by typing bokeh in the search bar in Effects.
Note: you should select Included to see all bokeh effects pre-programmed in Filmora. If you need more visual effects, just go to the Filmstock effects store.
Double click the bokeh effect to preview the result, and if you find the bokeh effect fits the video, just drop it to the track above the video. And the bokeh filter or overlay will be applied to the video automatically.
2. Use Tilt-Shift Circle/Linear Effect to Blur Video Background
Filmora features two tilt effects, tilt-shift circle and tilt-shift linear, which allows you to highlight people in the video, blur, and conceal the video background.
Go to the Effects tab and then switch to the Utility menu under Included category.
Here, I will select the Tilt-Shift Circle effect and drop it to the track above the video. Now, you can adjust the size, position, and intensity of the tilt-shift circle effect
You see, the video background is blurred, and the people are highlighted. Now it’s your turn to download the Filmora video editor and try it yourself.
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Best Approach for Managing CC Rights & Usage
How to Use Creative Commons Copyright Licenses [Complete Guide]
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
You might have noticed that, when you post a video, you get to choose how you want to copyright it: standard license, or creative commons. You’ve also probably noticed that when you looking for royalty-free music or stock footage a lot of it is licensed through creative commons.
So, what exactly are creative commons ?
To hold the copyright to a creative work means that you own it, and anybody who wants to use your work for anything (i.e. uses a song you composed in their YouTube video) has to do so on your terms. When you license your work through creative commons you do not give up your rights to your creative work (a common misconception).
When you use a creative commons license you are outlining the terms under which other creators are allowed to use your creations in their projects for free if they credit you for your work.
If you do not want anyone using your work for free in any context, you stick to traditional copyrighting.
But if you’ve created a piece of music, a photograph, or a clip that you wouldn’t mind other people using, potentially as a way to get your name out there, you might want to consider creative commons.
There are 6 different creative commons licenses. Which is right for you will depend on your answers to these two questions:
Are you okay with a creator making money off of something they create using your work?
Are you okay with a creator producing a derivative of your work?
To say ‘no derivatives’ is to say ‘I’m okay with people using it, so long as they don’t change it’. One example of a derivative is a techno remix of a song. If you are alright with other creators making derivatives of your work, you may also want to require them to ‘ShareAlike’. ShareAlike means that the creator of that techno remix of your song has to use the same creative commons license you used for your original to distribute the remix.
An example of a derivative someone might make of a YouTube video would be auto-tuning it to make a song or cutting up your video to make one that’s just ‘the funny parts’.
Here are the 6 creative commons licenses, and a chart you can use as a quick reference tool.
Attribution – CC BY
If you’re using music or other media with this license, all you need to do is credit the artist.
If you license your video this way, people can do whatever they like with any element of it (video or sound) so long as they credit you. I.e. if someone wanted to mute your clips and use you as stock footage in a bigger project, they could.
Attribution-ShareAlike – CC BY-SA
If you use music, photos, or any other media licensed this way, then you must both credit the artist and license your video this same way. Meaning, you can’t use YouTube’s standard license and must instead allow for others to use your work the way you are using the licensed media.
If you apply this license to your video, you’re saying you don’t mind people using all or portions of your video for their project so long as they allow others to use their work in the same way.
Attribution-NoDerivs – CC BY-ND
This one can get tricky.
Essentially, you can use media licensed this way so long as you don’t alter it or create a different version. For example, you can’t take a song licensed this way and use it in a mashup with another song. That part is clear. Where it gets tricky is when you want to use a song in your video.
Under normal copyright rules, using a royalty-free song in the background of your video would not count as creating a derivative. The definition of derivative according to creative commons is a bit broader and includes ‘syncing’. This means you can’t take an ‘Attribution-NoDerivs’ song and create any kind of music video for it.
For example, you can’t edit clips of yourself snowboarding so that they’re in sync with a song that has this license.
Whether or not you can play the song in the background of your vlog while you are speaking can be a bit of a grey area. In theory, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re accessing the music through a social site like SoundCloud then it might be best to ask the artist first.
There’s no reason to license your YouTube videos this way. If people cannot alter your video, all that’s left is for them to repost it. Even though they’d also be crediting you, they’d still essentially be stealing views and ad revenue from your original video.
Attribution-NonCommercial – CC BY-NC
If you’re using stock footage, music, or stock photos licensed this way then you should still be able to monetize your video. YouTube monetization and commercial use are different things. However, there is a lot of confusion about this issue, and chances are the rights holder intends for this license to mean ‘no monetization’.
What you definitely could not do with a NonCommercial license is to use the song/other media in an actual commercial for a product, including product placement that a brand is paying you for.
If you license your video this way, people can use it in whatever way they like so long as they credit you and don’t try to make money off of it. Once again, that doesn’t mean they can’t use it in a YouTube video which they monetize because, technically, they’d be making money off of the ad that ran ahead of the video and not the video itself.
The thing to be careful of with this license is that it’s not ‘ShareAlike’. So, if you license your video this way somebody could use your clips as stock footage and then provide them - as part of their project – for free to a third person to use in a project they were making money off of.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike – CC BY-NC-SA
Music and other media with an ‘Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike’ license can be used in and altered for your videos, so long as you aren’t making money off those videos. You must also use this same license for the video you create using elements licensed this way.
If you license your video this way, people can use it or a portion of it in their project if they credit you. They must also use this same license for their video if they do. This protects you from the situation where a third person who never licensed your original content is making money off of it.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs – CC BY-NC-ND
There aren’t many situations where you would be using media licensed this way in your YouTube videos. You can’t alter it, sync videos to it, or make money from any video that uses it.
You also probably shouldn’t use this license for your videos. ‘NoDerivs’ means there are not many ways people could use your content, except to repost full videos and steal your views.
Edit Video with the Most Excellent Video Editor
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
You might have noticed that, when you post a video, you get to choose how you want to copyright it: standard license, or creative commons. You’ve also probably noticed that when you looking for royalty-free music or stock footage a lot of it is licensed through creative commons.
So, what exactly are creative commons ?
To hold the copyright to a creative work means that you own it, and anybody who wants to use your work for anything (i.e. uses a song you composed in their YouTube video) has to do so on your terms. When you license your work through creative commons you do not give up your rights to your creative work (a common misconception).
When you use a creative commons license you are outlining the terms under which other creators are allowed to use your creations in their projects for free if they credit you for your work.
If you do not want anyone using your work for free in any context, you stick to traditional copyrighting.
But if you’ve created a piece of music, a photograph, or a clip that you wouldn’t mind other people using, potentially as a way to get your name out there, you might want to consider creative commons.
There are 6 different creative commons licenses. Which is right for you will depend on your answers to these two questions:
Are you okay with a creator making money off of something they create using your work?
Are you okay with a creator producing a derivative of your work?
To say ‘no derivatives’ is to say ‘I’m okay with people using it, so long as they don’t change it’. One example of a derivative is a techno remix of a song. If you are alright with other creators making derivatives of your work, you may also want to require them to ‘ShareAlike’. ShareAlike means that the creator of that techno remix of your song has to use the same creative commons license you used for your original to distribute the remix.
An example of a derivative someone might make of a YouTube video would be auto-tuning it to make a song or cutting up your video to make one that’s just ‘the funny parts’.
Here are the 6 creative commons licenses, and a chart you can use as a quick reference tool.
Attribution – CC BY
If you’re using music or other media with this license, all you need to do is credit the artist.
If you license your video this way, people can do whatever they like with any element of it (video or sound) so long as they credit you. I.e. if someone wanted to mute your clips and use you as stock footage in a bigger project, they could.
Attribution-ShareAlike – CC BY-SA
If you use music, photos, or any other media licensed this way, then you must both credit the artist and license your video this same way. Meaning, you can’t use YouTube’s standard license and must instead allow for others to use your work the way you are using the licensed media.
If you apply this license to your video, you’re saying you don’t mind people using all or portions of your video for their project so long as they allow others to use their work in the same way.
Attribution-NoDerivs – CC BY-ND
This one can get tricky.
Essentially, you can use media licensed this way so long as you don’t alter it or create a different version. For example, you can’t take a song licensed this way and use it in a mashup with another song. That part is clear. Where it gets tricky is when you want to use a song in your video.
Under normal copyright rules, using a royalty-free song in the background of your video would not count as creating a derivative. The definition of derivative according to creative commons is a bit broader and includes ‘syncing’. This means you can’t take an ‘Attribution-NoDerivs’ song and create any kind of music video for it.
For example, you can’t edit clips of yourself snowboarding so that they’re in sync with a song that has this license.
Whether or not you can play the song in the background of your vlog while you are speaking can be a bit of a grey area. In theory, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re accessing the music through a social site like SoundCloud then it might be best to ask the artist first.
There’s no reason to license your YouTube videos this way. If people cannot alter your video, all that’s left is for them to repost it. Even though they’d also be crediting you, they’d still essentially be stealing views and ad revenue from your original video.
Attribution-NonCommercial – CC BY-NC
If you’re using stock footage, music, or stock photos licensed this way then you should still be able to monetize your video. YouTube monetization and commercial use are different things. However, there is a lot of confusion about this issue, and chances are the rights holder intends for this license to mean ‘no monetization’.
What you definitely could not do with a NonCommercial license is to use the song/other media in an actual commercial for a product, including product placement that a brand is paying you for.
If you license your video this way, people can use it in whatever way they like so long as they credit you and don’t try to make money off of it. Once again, that doesn’t mean they can’t use it in a YouTube video which they monetize because, technically, they’d be making money off of the ad that ran ahead of the video and not the video itself.
The thing to be careful of with this license is that it’s not ‘ShareAlike’. So, if you license your video this way somebody could use your clips as stock footage and then provide them - as part of their project – for free to a third person to use in a project they were making money off of.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike – CC BY-NC-SA
Music and other media with an ‘Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike’ license can be used in and altered for your videos, so long as you aren’t making money off those videos. You must also use this same license for the video you create using elements licensed this way.
If you license your video this way, people can use it or a portion of it in their project if they credit you. They must also use this same license for their video if they do. This protects you from the situation where a third person who never licensed your original content is making money off of it.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs – CC BY-NC-ND
There aren’t many situations where you would be using media licensed this way in your YouTube videos. You can’t alter it, sync videos to it, or make money from any video that uses it.
You also probably shouldn’t use this license for your videos. ‘NoDerivs’ means there are not many ways people could use your content, except to repost full videos and steal your views.
Edit Video with the Most Excellent Video Editor
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
You might have noticed that, when you post a video, you get to choose how you want to copyright it: standard license, or creative commons. You’ve also probably noticed that when you looking for royalty-free music or stock footage a lot of it is licensed through creative commons.
So, what exactly are creative commons ?
To hold the copyright to a creative work means that you own it, and anybody who wants to use your work for anything (i.e. uses a song you composed in their YouTube video) has to do so on your terms. When you license your work through creative commons you do not give up your rights to your creative work (a common misconception).
When you use a creative commons license you are outlining the terms under which other creators are allowed to use your creations in their projects for free if they credit you for your work.
If you do not want anyone using your work for free in any context, you stick to traditional copyrighting.
But if you’ve created a piece of music, a photograph, or a clip that you wouldn’t mind other people using, potentially as a way to get your name out there, you might want to consider creative commons.
There are 6 different creative commons licenses. Which is right for you will depend on your answers to these two questions:
Are you okay with a creator making money off of something they create using your work?
Are you okay with a creator producing a derivative of your work?
To say ‘no derivatives’ is to say ‘I’m okay with people using it, so long as they don’t change it’. One example of a derivative is a techno remix of a song. If you are alright with other creators making derivatives of your work, you may also want to require them to ‘ShareAlike’. ShareAlike means that the creator of that techno remix of your song has to use the same creative commons license you used for your original to distribute the remix.
An example of a derivative someone might make of a YouTube video would be auto-tuning it to make a song or cutting up your video to make one that’s just ‘the funny parts’.
Here are the 6 creative commons licenses, and a chart you can use as a quick reference tool.
Attribution – CC BY
If you’re using music or other media with this license, all you need to do is credit the artist.
If you license your video this way, people can do whatever they like with any element of it (video or sound) so long as they credit you. I.e. if someone wanted to mute your clips and use you as stock footage in a bigger project, they could.
Attribution-ShareAlike – CC BY-SA
If you use music, photos, or any other media licensed this way, then you must both credit the artist and license your video this same way. Meaning, you can’t use YouTube’s standard license and must instead allow for others to use your work the way you are using the licensed media.
If you apply this license to your video, you’re saying you don’t mind people using all or portions of your video for their project so long as they allow others to use their work in the same way.
Attribution-NoDerivs – CC BY-ND
This one can get tricky.
Essentially, you can use media licensed this way so long as you don’t alter it or create a different version. For example, you can’t take a song licensed this way and use it in a mashup with another song. That part is clear. Where it gets tricky is when you want to use a song in your video.
Under normal copyright rules, using a royalty-free song in the background of your video would not count as creating a derivative. The definition of derivative according to creative commons is a bit broader and includes ‘syncing’. This means you can’t take an ‘Attribution-NoDerivs’ song and create any kind of music video for it.
For example, you can’t edit clips of yourself snowboarding so that they’re in sync with a song that has this license.
Whether or not you can play the song in the background of your vlog while you are speaking can be a bit of a grey area. In theory, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re accessing the music through a social site like SoundCloud then it might be best to ask the artist first.
There’s no reason to license your YouTube videos this way. If people cannot alter your video, all that’s left is for them to repost it. Even though they’d also be crediting you, they’d still essentially be stealing views and ad revenue from your original video.
Attribution-NonCommercial – CC BY-NC
If you’re using stock footage, music, or stock photos licensed this way then you should still be able to monetize your video. YouTube monetization and commercial use are different things. However, there is a lot of confusion about this issue, and chances are the rights holder intends for this license to mean ‘no monetization’.
What you definitely could not do with a NonCommercial license is to use the song/other media in an actual commercial for a product, including product placement that a brand is paying you for.
If you license your video this way, people can use it in whatever way they like so long as they credit you and don’t try to make money off of it. Once again, that doesn’t mean they can’t use it in a YouTube video which they monetize because, technically, they’d be making money off of the ad that ran ahead of the video and not the video itself.
The thing to be careful of with this license is that it’s not ‘ShareAlike’. So, if you license your video this way somebody could use your clips as stock footage and then provide them - as part of their project – for free to a third person to use in a project they were making money off of.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike – CC BY-NC-SA
Music and other media with an ‘Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike’ license can be used in and altered for your videos, so long as you aren’t making money off those videos. You must also use this same license for the video you create using elements licensed this way.
If you license your video this way, people can use it or a portion of it in their project if they credit you. They must also use this same license for their video if they do. This protects you from the situation where a third person who never licensed your original content is making money off of it.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs – CC BY-NC-ND
There aren’t many situations where you would be using media licensed this way in your YouTube videos. You can’t alter it, sync videos to it, or make money from any video that uses it.
You also probably shouldn’t use this license for your videos. ‘NoDerivs’ means there are not many ways people could use your content, except to repost full videos and steal your views.
Edit Video with the Most Excellent Video Editor
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions
You might have noticed that, when you post a video, you get to choose how you want to copyright it: standard license, or creative commons. You’ve also probably noticed that when you looking for royalty-free music or stock footage a lot of it is licensed through creative commons.
So, what exactly are creative commons ?
To hold the copyright to a creative work means that you own it, and anybody who wants to use your work for anything (i.e. uses a song you composed in their YouTube video) has to do so on your terms. When you license your work through creative commons you do not give up your rights to your creative work (a common misconception).
When you use a creative commons license you are outlining the terms under which other creators are allowed to use your creations in their projects for free if they credit you for your work.
If you do not want anyone using your work for free in any context, you stick to traditional copyrighting.
But if you’ve created a piece of music, a photograph, or a clip that you wouldn’t mind other people using, potentially as a way to get your name out there, you might want to consider creative commons.
There are 6 different creative commons licenses. Which is right for you will depend on your answers to these two questions:
Are you okay with a creator making money off of something they create using your work?
Are you okay with a creator producing a derivative of your work?
To say ‘no derivatives’ is to say ‘I’m okay with people using it, so long as they don’t change it’. One example of a derivative is a techno remix of a song. If you are alright with other creators making derivatives of your work, you may also want to require them to ‘ShareAlike’. ShareAlike means that the creator of that techno remix of your song has to use the same creative commons license you used for your original to distribute the remix.
An example of a derivative someone might make of a YouTube video would be auto-tuning it to make a song or cutting up your video to make one that’s just ‘the funny parts’.
Here are the 6 creative commons licenses, and a chart you can use as a quick reference tool.
Attribution – CC BY
If you’re using music or other media with this license, all you need to do is credit the artist.
If you license your video this way, people can do whatever they like with any element of it (video or sound) so long as they credit you. I.e. if someone wanted to mute your clips and use you as stock footage in a bigger project, they could.
Attribution-ShareAlike – CC BY-SA
If you use music, photos, or any other media licensed this way, then you must both credit the artist and license your video this same way. Meaning, you can’t use YouTube’s standard license and must instead allow for others to use your work the way you are using the licensed media.
If you apply this license to your video, you’re saying you don’t mind people using all or portions of your video for their project so long as they allow others to use their work in the same way.
Attribution-NoDerivs – CC BY-ND
This one can get tricky.
Essentially, you can use media licensed this way so long as you don’t alter it or create a different version. For example, you can’t take a song licensed this way and use it in a mashup with another song. That part is clear. Where it gets tricky is when you want to use a song in your video.
Under normal copyright rules, using a royalty-free song in the background of your video would not count as creating a derivative. The definition of derivative according to creative commons is a bit broader and includes ‘syncing’. This means you can’t take an ‘Attribution-NoDerivs’ song and create any kind of music video for it.
For example, you can’t edit clips of yourself snowboarding so that they’re in sync with a song that has this license.
Whether or not you can play the song in the background of your vlog while you are speaking can be a bit of a grey area. In theory, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re accessing the music through a social site like SoundCloud then it might be best to ask the artist first.
There’s no reason to license your YouTube videos this way. If people cannot alter your video, all that’s left is for them to repost it. Even though they’d also be crediting you, they’d still essentially be stealing views and ad revenue from your original video.
Attribution-NonCommercial – CC BY-NC
If you’re using stock footage, music, or stock photos licensed this way then you should still be able to monetize your video. YouTube monetization and commercial use are different things. However, there is a lot of confusion about this issue, and chances are the rights holder intends for this license to mean ‘no monetization’.
What you definitely could not do with a NonCommercial license is to use the song/other media in an actual commercial for a product, including product placement that a brand is paying you for.
If you license your video this way, people can use it in whatever way they like so long as they credit you and don’t try to make money off of it. Once again, that doesn’t mean they can’t use it in a YouTube video which they monetize because, technically, they’d be making money off of the ad that ran ahead of the video and not the video itself.
The thing to be careful of with this license is that it’s not ‘ShareAlike’. So, if you license your video this way somebody could use your clips as stock footage and then provide them - as part of their project – for free to a third person to use in a project they were making money off of.
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike – CC BY-NC-SA
Music and other media with an ‘Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike’ license can be used in and altered for your videos, so long as you aren’t making money off those videos. You must also use this same license for the video you create using elements licensed this way.
If you license your video this way, people can use it or a portion of it in their project if they credit you. They must also use this same license for their video if they do. This protects you from the situation where a third person who never licensed your original content is making money off of it.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs – CC BY-NC-ND
There aren’t many situations where you would be using media licensed this way in your YouTube videos. You can’t alter it, sync videos to it, or make money from any video that uses it.
You also probably shouldn’t use this license for your videos. ‘NoDerivs’ means there are not many ways people could use your content, except to repost full videos and steal your views.
Edit Video with the Most Excellent Video Editor
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Also read:
- The Complete Guide to Edit Your Video with YouTube Studio Editor
- [Updated] Boosting YouTube Ad Revenue Keeping CC Active
- In 2024, Discover 7 Essential Free Audio Tracks for YouTubers
- 2024 Approved Digital Converters Showcase Optimal YTVideo Text Extraction
- In 2024, Best Tools for Transforming Your Spotify Mixes Into YouTube Channels
- [New] Craft Proficient Content for Short-Form Video Best Edits Reviewed
- Banishing the Blank Screen From YouTube Videos for 2024
- Efficiently Broadcasting Twitch Streams to YouTube Audiences
- Cutting-Edge Editing Techniques YouTube & Comparable Tools for 2024
- Educational History Vlogs - The Ultimate List for 2024
- Essential FreeFire Hashtags to Skyrocket Video Views on YouTube for 2024
- [Updated] Elite Audio Modifying Tools Tailored to YouTube Creators
- The Essential Checklist for Consistent Content Creators
- 2024 Approved Enhance Creativity on a Budget Pick From These 8 Zero Price Edits
- Keep Your Videos Secure - YouTube-to-MP4 Downloading Safely
- [Updated] 5 Tips to Get More Views with YouTube Optimization [Free Checklist]
- Unlock Viral Potential with YouTube Short Strategies
- In 2024, Building an Engaging Sports Highlight Reel
- [New] DSLR's Rivalry with Mirrorless for Video Artistry
- Is It Illegal to Document Video on YouTube Platform?
- 2024 Approved Download Premium Video Covers - Free, Fast & Easy
- Aim for Affluence Enroll Now in YouTube's Partner Programme
- Yogic Journey Discovering Top Online Practitioners
- [Updated] Evolution of Engagement Key Post-VidCon Events
- [Updated] Customize & Captivate Thumbnail Magic for Shorts
- In 2024, Essential Audio Transforming Software for Streamers
- Crafting Captivating Edu-Videos Essential Techniques and Tips for YouTube Success
- Quick Start to Clear Background Filming
- [New] Effortless Estimation of Digital Gains
- [New] Crafting Timeless Videos with Retro Filmmaking Skills
- Optimizing YouTube Content With Social Blade - A Stats Journey
- [Updated] Content Strategy Unleashed - Top 8 YouTube Ranks Explored
- Download Your Favorite Videos Without Limits
- Buy YouTube Likes for 2024 Does It Really Help Boost Your Channel?
- Rapid Learning From Visuals To Vivid YouTube Channel Thumbnails
- The Video Venture A Vlogger's Journey to Judicious Gains
- In 2024, Boost Length on YouTube Entry Filming
- Building a Professional Online Brand as a Game Vlogger
- [Updated] Comprehensive Instructions for Disposing of Video Downloads
- Earning Potential Unveiled YouTube AdSense Earning per Thousand Video Observations
- Visionary Composer Sensory Media Masterpiece
- 2024 Approved Compreranzo Il Background Ottenere Video Più Chiaro Su YouTube
- Cutting Edge Excellence Top Editors for Videos
- [New] Discover Essential List of 7 High-Performance Mobile Video Streaming Tools (iPhone/Android)
- Affordable Gear for Aspiring Content Creators
- [New] Elevating Video Experience Best YouTube-to-AVI Companions
- Become a Viral Sensation Maximizing Your YouTube Reach for 2024
- Sharing Stories that Resonate with a Digital Audience YT
- In 2024, Beam Your Content Upward Perfecting YouTube SEO Techniques
- [Updated] 2024 Approved Creative Filmmaking on a Budget Using Smartphones as Webcams
- In 2024, Chrome OS Best Free Video Capture Tools Compilation
- [New] The Ultimate Guide to Instagram Video Descriptions for 2024
- Top Windows Simulations for PlayStation 3 Games (5) for 2024
- Updated Converting Audio Clips A Podcast to MP3 Guide with Three Key Steps for 2024
- In 2024, How Do You Unlock your Apple iPhone X? Learn All 4 Methods | Dr.fone
- New How to Change Volume in Media Files with Filmora
- [Updated] In 2024, Optimizing Zoom Conferences The Power of Filters
- Recover your contacts after Sony Xperia 10 V has been deleted.
- Best Android Data Recovery - Retrieve Lost Photos from Vivo Y27 4G.
- Can I use iTools gpx file to catch the rare Pokemon On Poco F5 Pro 5G | Dr.fone
- 2024 Approved Sony Digital Camcorder Video Editing Tutorial for Beginners
- [Updated] In 2024, Command the Room with Discord Text-to-Speech
- Possible ways to recover deleted files from Oppo A18
- 2024 Approved Best Practices for Shooting Nighttime Selfies & Portraits
- Updated In 2024, The Ultimate Guide to Time-Lapse Apps for iPhone and Android
- How to Upgrade Apple iPhone 13 mini to the Latest iOS Version? | Dr.fone
- Updated Step-by-Step Walkthrough The 5 Essential Skills to Record Sounds on a Mac
- The Oddball Gaming Guide Best Outlandish TikTok Titles for 2024
- 2024 Approved Conquering TikTok A Step-by-Step PC and Mac Manual
- 2024 Approved Beat Junkies' Essentials Online, Cost-Free Software
- [New] In 2024, Instagram Visual Mastery Crop and Edit Videos Like Pros
- New A Roster of 8 Top Color Match Generators
- Updated In 2024, XML for FCPX Beginners and Beyond A Comprehensive Resource
- [Updated] Comprehensive Look at Razer Kiyo Webcam
- Top 5 Itel P55 5G Bypass FRP Tools for PC That Actually Work
- The Easy Way to Remove an Apple ID from Your MacBook For your iPhone 6s Plus
- Are You Curious About the Functionality of LUTs in LumaFusion? This Article Will Satisfy Your Queries with Ease for 2024
- 2024 Approved Get Your Glitch On The Best Video Editing Tools for Windows, Mac, and Web
- [Updated] Overcoming Instagram Video Errors Solutions Now
- [New] In 2024, Maximizing FB Ad Success A Step-by-Step Animated Guide
- Android Safe Mode - How to Turn off Safe Mode on Oppo A78 5G? | Dr.fone
- [New] In 2024, Visionary Software Solutions for Virtual Meetings
- 9 Solutions to Fix Realme C51 System Crash Issue | Dr.fone
- How to Convert Videos to Slow Motion? Complete Guide for 2024
- In 2024, Best 5-Frame Sequence Recorder - Fast & Easy
- [New] Streamlining Virtual Screen Display in Google Meet Chats for 2024
- The Premier Selection of Economical Video Collaboration Tools Business/Education Edition for 2024
- Title: "[Updated] Blur the Borders Enhancing Your Video's Appeal on YT"
- Author: Kevin
- Created at : 2024-05-25 16:39:08
- Updated at : 2024-05-26 16:39:08
- Link: https://youtube-videos.techidaily.com/updated-blur-the-borders-enhancing-your-videos-appeal-on-yt/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.