Version 14’s interface is as different from the previous version as night is to day - literally. Until now, HFE has sported a classic dark gray interface that’s been the style for most pro-level video editing apps. With the new version comes a light face, which is bound to distract some longtime users. I found the white interface way too bright and the contrasting orange color has an almost iridescent quality that goes poorly with video interfaces. If you were lucky enough to have owned previous versions of the app, the upgrade gives you the choice of either the dark or light interface. The dark interface is available for first time users only if they purchase a starter pack for $9. I hope the developers revisit the interface color scheme again and refine it a bit – or even better, continue to offer interface color choices in the default free version. You can now drag and drop a variety of special effects on to your video.

You can now double-click the effects panel to apply effects to a selected layer and drop 2D effects directly onto layers in the viewer. Certain effects – like Chroma Key, particle effects and Light Flares – can be positioned at a specific point. A handy new Favorites folder lets you quickly find your favorite and most-used effects. HitFilm Express 14 is a significant upgrade over previous versions, with the most noticeable changes being its new “light” interface, and a new fee structure for those who don’t mind paying for additional features. While I found the new interface a bit irritating, $9 isn’t much to spend to get the dark interface, as well as other enhancements. Other updates to text, panels, exports, and effects enhance the program’s usability and flexibility, and are easy to grasp, so novice video editors won’t face too steep a learning curve.

With each version, HitFilm Express keeps resetting the standard for what free video software should offer, so that both newcomers and old hands can hit the ground running.HitFilm Express is free video editing software with professional-grade VFX tools and everything you need to make awesome content, films or gaming videos.

Hitfilm express video editing software