Tucked away behind a comically tiny gear icon are the Lightworks system settings. Click “Create a new project” to start fresh, or double-click any thumbnail to open an existing project. Tabs at the top allow quick navigation between four different modes: Log for importing and organizing media Edit, which offers a familiar dual-monitor, timeline-based approach to editing VFX for applying real-time filters, transitions, and color grades and Audio, designed for working with sound.Īt launch, editors are greeted with a tiled grid of thumbnails where projects appear as they’re created. The rest of the Lightworks 14 user interface hews closer to what Mac editors have come to expect. Coming from years of experience with native Mac editing software, the transition was a bit jarring to say the least. Likewise, the file browser has a distinctly Unix look and feel that makes macOS seem like a second-class citizen. (The flexible “classic” mode is still available from the Project Layout settings.) With the organized, single-window UI comes an easier to use application, but Mac users won’t feel quite at home.įor starters, there are no menu options at all, and Lightworks shuns Apple’s traditional contextual menu shortcuts in favor of the Windows right-click approach. With version 14, developer EditShare has taken great strides to make the Lightworks more consumer-friendly, consolidating the previously modular user interface into a fixed, full-screen workspace. Bookwalterīy switching to the VFX or Audio tabs, editors can spice up their videos using fast, intuitive tools and real-time effects. Lightworks Console (now offered at the affordable price of “only” $2,800) for those who prefer more tactile control. There’s also support for AJA, Blackmagic, and Matrox I/O hardware, as well as the legendary The Pro version allows exporting in up to 4K resolution using any compatible file format, stereoscopic 3D output, and timeline rendering. Lightworks Pro requires a $25 per month subscription, with annual and perpetual license options also available.

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