The Chosen AI Tool

Among the many text-to-video AI options available today, I opted for Pictory.ai for several compelling reasons:

• Free trial available
• Access to over 3 million licensed stock videos and images
• User-friendly interface
• High-quality output
• Positive feedback from fellow writers

Copyright Considerations

To date, I've successfully created seven videos using Pictory.ai and uploaded them to YouTube without encountering any copyright issues—a crucial aspect for anyone familiar with YouTube's stringent policies.

Now, let’s dive into the process!

The Process of Script Creation

Using this method, you’ll find a straightforward script editor where you can paste your title and content or type directly. Once you’re satisfied with your title and script, click "Proceed" in the upper right corner to continue.

Video Editing Environment

You will be directed to the main video editor, where the AI will segment your text into concise scenes for video production. These scenes can be viewed in the "Story" tab on the left side.

Should you wish to modify how the scenes are divided, simply retype the desired text in the scene blocks. Words highlighted in blue indicate the keywords the AI will use to select visuals for your video.

Visuals Selection

I find that a significant amount of my editing time is spent in the Visuals tab, assessing whether the AI's visual choices align with my vision. At times, the AI may be overly literal; for instance, when I mentioned "walking in someone’s shoes," it suggested many shoe visuals— not quite what I intended.

You can click on individual scenes at the bottom of the right pane to explore other visual options. If none of the suggested visuals resonate, enter new search terms in the search bar.

Audio Considerations

Once you’re satisfied with the visuals (or even earlier), it’s time to select background music. Often, the AI's choices are too upbeat for the educational tone I aim for, so I prefer to explore options in the "Mood" dropdown menu.

Incorporating Voice Overs

Initially, I overlooked the option to add a voice-over that reads the text aloud for each scene. After observing this feature in another creator’s video, I realized it enhances viewer engagement and reduces video length— my first video was over nine minutes before the voice-over, and after its addition, it clocked in at six and a half minutes.

Adjusting Styles and Formats

Another important step is to customize the theme in the Styles tab. It defaults to Theme 2, but I prefer a black background to ensure text visibility against certain visuals. The theme can be switched quickly to find the best fit for your content.

Making Edits and Finalizing the Video

You can preview your video at any time, though I recommend waiting until most edits are complete. When satisfied, hit "Generate" to create the final product. Following generation, you have the option to download the video, copy a link, or export text. I usually download the video for YouTube upload.

While this process may seem lengthy when detailed, rest assured that with practice, you can produce a video in under an hour—sometimes even in 30 minutes if your scripts are concise.