Since the Shadow Puppet app shut down and is no longer supported, I’ve been working on creating a more in-depth guide on how to create free accessible videos and narrated images with Clips, one of Apple’s video editing applications available for iPhone and iPad. One of my favorite things about Clips is that I can not only watch videos created with accessibility features like large print and captions in mind, but I can also create them myself with their authoring and editing tools. Here are my tips for creating videos and narrated images with Clips for iOS, as well as how to access Clips accessibility features and cool projects I’ve created with Clips.
Overview of the Apple Clips app
Clips is a free video editing app for iOS and iPadOS that makes it easy for users to combine photos, audio, and/or video clips to create multimedia videos that can be shared online or offline. Clips offers many of the same features that Shadow Puppet had, including options for adding text, stickers, audio tracks, and filters, all with a minimalist interface that makes it easy for users to customize their content. As of publishing time, Clips requires iOS 16.0 or later and supports over 30 different languages. The maximum length of a Clips video is 60 minutes.
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Video content vs Narrated images
For the purposes of this post, I’ve divided creating content with Clips into two categories: creating video content and creating narrated images.
Video tutorials combine multimedia content such as screen recordings, recorded video, and videos downloaded from other sources, along with audio content. Users can record audio narration directly from the Clips application and crop/trim videos as necessary, as well as add text, stickers, emoji, filters, and other visual content.
Narrated images combine multimedia content as well, pairing static/still images with audio content that is recorded directly from the Clips application. Again, users can crop and trim images as necessary, as well as add text, stickers, emoji, filters, etc. Narrated images are exported as videos.
Of course, users can combine images and videos together, and Clips makes this very easy to do, though I recommend selecting images and videos one at a time.
Related links
- Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision
- Tips For Screensharing With Low Vision
- Emoji and Low Vision
- Choosing High Contrast Color Schemes For Low Vision
How to create accessible videos with Clips
Step 1: Gather video content and/or create recordings
Before creating video tutorials with Clips, record or gather the video content that you plan to use. Some options for finding and recording videos include:
- Recording directly from the Clips app camera, which supports front-facing and back-facing cameras and allows users to record narration in real time
- Recording a video with the Camera application and uploading to Clips
- Uploading videos from the Photos gallery app
- Using a screen recording of another application. I have the Screen Recording feature pinned in Control Center, so I can swipe down and activate it from any app on my iPad
- Downloading videos from other sources, such as cloud storage and open-source video libraries
Step 2: Create a new project
For users that recorded content directly from the Clips app, a new project has been created automatically.
To upload other video content to Clips:
- Select the Show Projects button in the top left corner
- Select New Project. A live camera view will open
- Select the Media button and then Photos, which will open the Photos gallery
- Choose the desired video from the gallery- users will need to select videos one at a time if they want to record audio narration
- Select Preview and Record to record audio, or Add to Project if no audio recording is needed
Step 3: Recording audio
To record audio/narration tracks for videos, select and hold the large red record button. The video will play as the user records their audio, and releasing the button will automatically divide the video into smaller segments. However, if the user only records five seconds of audio total, then the video will be automatically trimmed to be five seconds long.
Video content can also be trimmed/split within the Clips app using the Trim/Split buttons. Users can also mute the original video if needed by selecting the Mute button.
Step 4: Adding visual effects
The Effects menu offers several options for adding visual effects, including filters, text, animated stickers, and emoji. Videos with a recorded vocal track also support Live Titles captioning, which can be automatically generated or edited as needed.
Text can be enabled to track with a recording video or have tracking disabled so that text stays in a consistent location.
Step 5: Adding additional videos and finishing touches
Once the user is done recording or editing a video clip, select the Done button in the top left corner to return to the main Clips screen. From here, users can adjust the aspect ratio of the video, add additional music, or upload additional photos/videos. Selecting the Record button again will duplicate the video clip and record another audio track.
Step 6: Save and share finished Clips project
Clips projects are automatically saved in the Clips app, though there are numerous options for sharing the finished Clips videos. To save and share Clips videos, select the Share button in the bottom right corner and select Save Video to save the video to the device, which can be accessed from the Photos app. Other options include saving to device files, sharing to a third-party app, sending videos via email or iMessage, or sharing on social media apps.
Clips videos can be uploaded to video hosting platforms like YouTube or Kaltura as well.
Related links
- How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See
- How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights
- How To Write Video Descriptions For TikTok
- YouDescribe: Audio Description For YouTube
How to create narrated images with Clips
Step 1: Gather images
Before creating narrated images with Clips, users can create or download the images that they plan to use. This can include photos, graphs/diagrams, illustrations, whiteboards, presentation slides, maps, or any type of static/still image content.
For users that want to draw on images, I recommend creating a screen recording of the image within another application, such as Markup, Notability, Microsoft Whiteboard, or similar. While Apple’s Screen Recording feature does not record audio from the microphone, the finished recordings can be edited using the instructions from the Video Tutorial section above.
Step 2: Create a new project
To upload images to Clips:
- Select the Show Projects button in the top left corner
- Select New Project. A live camera view will open
- Select the Media button and then Photos, which will open the device Photos gallery
- Choose the desired from the Photos gallery- users will need to select images one at a time if they want to record audio narration
- Select Preview and Record to record audio, or Add to Project if no audio recording is needed.
Step 3: Recording audio
To record audio/narration tracks for images, select and hold the large red record button. Releasing the button will automatically create another segment, allowing users to add visual effects as needed.
The Effects menu offers several options for adding visual effects, including filters, text, animated stickers, and emoji. Images with a recorded vocal track also support Live Titles captioning, which can be automatically generated or edited as needed.
Step 4: Adding additional images and finishing touches
Once the user is done recording or editing an image, select the Done button in the top left corner to return to the main Clips screen. From here, users can adjust the aspect ratio of the display, rearrange the order of images, add additional music, or upload additional photos/videos. Selecting the Record button again will duplicate the image clip and record another audio track.
Step 5: Save and share finished Clips project
Clips projects are automatically saved in the Clips app, though there are numerous options for sharing the finished Clips videos. To save and share Clips videos, select the Share button in the bottom right corner and select Save Video to save the video to the device, which can be accessed from the Photos app. Other options include saving to device files, sharing to a third-party app, sending videos via email or iMessage, or sharing on social media apps.
Clips videos can be uploaded to video hosting platforms like YouTube or Kaltura as well.
Related links
- How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision
- Using The iPad Markup Tool With Low Vision
- Notability and Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft Whiteboard With Low Vision
Clips accessibility features: large print and screen magnification
Clips has a minimalist interface with limited text labels, making it easy for users to memorize the layout of buttons and locate icons independently. I used Zoom’s magnification tool when I was first learning the layout of the Clips app so that I could identify icon shapes and colors, but I can use the app without additional magnification now.
Live Titles offers large print sizes that make it easy for viewers with low vision to create, edit, and follow along with captions, as well as several options for adjusting font sizes, emoji, and stickers with pinch-to-zoom gestures.
Related links
- Zoom Magnifier and Low Vision
- How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision
- Enabling Temporary Accessibility Settings For iPad
Clips accessibility features: VoiceOver
I love using Clips with VoiceOver! All buttons in the Clips app are labeled and can be independently activated, making this a great choice for recording videos. When selecting content from the Photos gallery, the type of image and date it was saved/added is provided, and users can also access content from Albums on their device.
To use the Record button, users will need to double-tap on the Record button and then press down, listening for a short audio tone. When the user releases the button, another short tone will play to signal the end of the video recording. In full transparency, this takes some practice, so I recommend spending a few minutes practicing with the record button.
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Creative ways to use Clips for low vision audiences
Looking for ways to use Clips for students with low vision? Here are some project examples that I’ve created for myself and for others!
- Describing a photo of family, sharing details or memories about where it was taken, who is in the photo, other funny stories, etc
- Creating a captioned video that I could edit and share on social media accounts
- Putting together a narrated slideshow for one of my classes, incorporating a mix of photos and videos
- Reading a book or other text- I helped a friend record themselves reading an original story for their kids that they could listen to any time
- Sharing the parts of a diagram and providing audio narration for each section
- Narrating a map for an orientation and mobility lesson
- Reading a math problem for a younger student who was still learning how to use a screen reader/text-to-speech- we hosted the videos in an iCloud folder and shared them as QR codes
- Designing an interactive fingering chart video that identified three different notes on the clarinet along with their sound. This is a two-person job as someone will need to hold down the record button while the other person plays the instrument
- Adding a video to an assignment created with Microsoft Office Sway
Related links
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- Alternatives To Trifold Presentations
- How To Find Accessible Picture Books For Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Diagrams For Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Map Charts For Low Vision
- How To Modify An Instrument Fingering Chart For Low Vision
- How To Create Accessible Assignments With Microsoft Office Sway
Other tips for creating accessible content with Clips
- Users can customize the aspect ratio of their images/videos by selecting the Aspect Ratio button, or by using the pinch-to-zoom gestures to resize images
- Clips and iMovie offer many similar features, however I prefer using Clips for narrated images and shorter video tutorials because I find it easier to navigate with low vision
- Looking for more resources on audio narrated images? Check out Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision
- Want more content on media accessibility? Visit Media Accessibility Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
