How to Make a Video Darker?

Quick Navigation

1. Darkening Videos on Desktop

2. Darkening Videos on Mobile

3. The Benefits of Video Darkening

Have you ever tried watching a video that is too bright or overexposed? The glaring brightness can strain your eyes or make it difficult to see the actual content. Thankfully, there are several methods available to make the video darker using both desktop software and mobile apps.

How to Make a Video Darker on Desktop?

Desktop video editing software provides robust tools to adjust brightness, contrast, color curves, and more for altering light levels. Let's go over some easy methods using common programs.

#1. Using VLC Media Player

VLC, a popular free media player, offers an easy way to adjust the brightness of your video while playing in real time.

Launch VLC and open the video you wish to darken.
Navigate to "Tools" and choose "Effects and Filters".
In the "Adjustments and Effects" window, select the "Video Effects" tab and enable "Image adjust".
Move the "Brightness" and "Contrast" sliders to darken the video to your desired level.
Click "Close", the effect will last until you close the player.

While limited, it's a handy option without needing dedicated editing software installed.

#2. Using Free HD Video Converter Factory

If you prefer a standalone desktop software option with advanced controls, WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory is an excellent one for Windows.

Download, install, and run Free HD Video Converter Factory.
Open "Converter" to add your video file.
Choose a desired output format on the right side.
Click "Effect" button (the Magic Wand) to lower the brightness and contrast levels to make your video darker.
Specify a destination folder, and hit "Run" to start the video processing.

The great thing about this freeware is it offers many other advanced features beyond just darkening your video file.

#3. Using Clipchamp

If you don't want to install any software, online video editors like Clipchamp offer handy brightness controls for free.

Go to Clipchamp.com, log in to your account, and create a "New Project".
Upload your video file and add it to timeline.
Navigate to the left sidebar, click "Adjust colors".
Darken the video by adjusting the "Exposure" and "Contrast" sliders.
Preview the changes and click on "Export" to save the video.

Clipchamp offers tons of advanced options for video editing, and allows up to 1080p export for free users. Ensure you have an account and have internet access to upload, edit, and export your video.

How to Make Videos Darker on iOS and Android?

For those who prefer editing on the go, numerous mobile apps can help darken videos effectively on your smartphone. Inshot is a popular free mobile editing app available on both iOS and Android with a user-friendly interface. Here's the how-tos:

Install Inshot from APP Store or Google Play, open it and tap "Video" to add your video.
Tap the "FILTER" tab above the timeline.
Then tap "ADJUST" and navigate to "LIGHTNESS".
Tap and drag the slider to the left to make your video darker.
Tap the "tick" icon to save changes.
Finally, tap "SAVE" to initiating the video processing.

Inshot makes it simple to refine the darkness in seconds on mobile. You can also consider other alternative apps like YouCut, CapCut, Adobe Premiere Rush and more.

The Benefits of Darkening a Video

To set an ominous, tense, or scary tone
To make details and focal points stand out more
To fix overexposed or washed-out footage
To match the visual style of a scene or story
To make the video feel more cinematic or dramatic

Wrap Up

This comprehensive article aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools to effectively darken your videos at no cost. Whether you opt for desktop applications, online tools, or mobile apps, the key lies in subtle, balanced adjustments. So, go ahead and give it a try!