The Mini 2 SE is DJI’s most beginner-friendly Mini entry up to now, that includes single-tap launchings and landings, over half-hour of flight time, and Clever Flight Options catered towards freshmen.
As you start digging deeper into this drone, you’ll get the itch to load your footage into modifying software program to start your post-production work.
The query turns into – what software program must you use for the job? Is what DJI supplies ok, or must you dig deeper?
I like to recommend digging deeper! This information will introduce you to my favourite post-production software program choices and instruments that I at all times preserve useful for getting simply the suitable results on my drone footage.
DJI Mini 2 SE digital camera – How good is it?
However first, let’s have a quick chat in regards to the Mini 2 SE’s digital camera.
DJI outfitted this low-cost entry into the Mini collection with a 1/2.3-inch digital camera with a CMOS sensor. Its max video decision is 2.7K, and its max picture decision is 12 MP.
Yeah, it’s not nice, however it’s important to cease and take into consideration a few factors first.
A type of is that the DJI Mini 2 SE is a continuation of the Mini 2 line. It’s not imagined to be the subsequent Mini 3 Professional or Mini 4 Professional, which boast 48 MP picture high quality every.
Second, the Mini 2 SE is a low-cost drone. If it had a greater digital camera, it wouldn’t be. And that brings me to my third level: this can be a newbie drone. Freshmen don’t fairly thoughts the standard that a lot.
As soon as you narrow your tooth flying the Mini 2 SE, it’s solely then that you just begin to care in regards to the high quality.
Luckily, whilst you’re saving up for a Mini 3 Professional or one other DJI drone (or possibly even a non-DJI drone, who am I to say?), you possibly can pretend the standard of the Mini 2 SE with modifying software program.
» MORE: DJI Mini 2 SE Digicam High quality (With Photos)
Greatest picture modifying software program for DJI Mini 2 SE
Are you able to get to work? Listed below are my prime photo-editing instruments for the Mini 2 SE.
Adobe Lightroom
In case you ask me, Adobe is the cream of the crop with regards to picture modifying. Lightroom is one in every of its handiest apps. You should use the desktop model in your laptop computer or work laptop, or take it on the go in your telephone or pill.
I like the Lightroom app. It can actually assist when you’ve got undertaking deadlines, as you possibly can ship your pictures out of your drone to your telephone, then start modifying with out having to go away the jobsite.
Listed below are another nice options and benefits of Lightroom:
- Take away what you don’t need: You’ll be able to’t management your atmosphere to the letter when taking drone images, however Lightroom makes it appear like you possibly can. You’ll be able to edit out any imperfections and folks or objects you don’t need in your picture.
- AI modifying: Handbook effort? Not right here! Lightroom has AI-driven presets that allow you to edit brightness, colour saturation, cinematics, and many extra.
- Masking: The masks function you’re used to in laptop editions of Adobe software program is offered within the Lightroom app, permitting you to provide skilled footage regardless of the place your adventures take you.
- Save tasks throughout gadgets: Adobe understands the typical particular person is busier than ever, therefore why you can begin a undertaking on the app, then choose it up on the Lightroom web site or laptop app, and vice-versa!
The one draw back is Lightroom is sort of costly, and the desktop model is much more sophisticated.
» MORE: How you can Edit Drone Pictures for Social Media Utilizing Lightroom (Information)
Adobe Photoshop/Photoshop Specific
Photoshop is the penultimate photo-editing software program, nevertheless it’s not confined to your laptop computer or desktop laptop anymore! You’ll be able to and will take Photoshop with you in all places you go in your drone jobs with Photoshop Specific.
Full disclosure: I’ve been utilizing Photoshop Specific so much longer than the cell model of Lightroom. It’s my go-to once I need my images to look polished, smooth, and social media-ready in a few minutes.
Listed below are its standout options:
- Simpler to make use of than the desktop model: I like the desktop model of Photoshop too, however I’ll be the primary to confess that it’s so much. The cell model is much more streamlined, solely offering the instruments you want.
- Search: Are you on the lookout for a selected software inside Photoshop Specific? You’ll be able to seek for it within the app, which I feel is superior.
- Fast actions: In case you’re brief on time, the short actions function will assist. Photoshop Specific can clean pores and skin, repair saturation, or edit another aspect of your drone pictures with this function.
- Saved types: When you discover a picture model you like, it can save you it and use it anytime on different images.
- Textual content: I additionally love how one can add textual content and templates to your images, form of like what Canva helps you to do, however with out having to make use of Canva.
Nevertheless, it’s important to pay Adobe costs to make use of Photoshop and Photoshop Specific.
» MORE: Drone Pictures Planning (Defined for Freshmen)
GIMP
The forever-free GNU modifying software GIMP works for Home windows, Mac, and Linux, so you possibly can choose your poison and nonetheless use this software program. It’s up to date steadily, so you possibly can stay assured you’ve the newest modifying instruments at your fingertips.
Listed below are a few of its plusses:
- Programming assist: If you understand widespread program languages like Scheme, Python, Perl, C++, or C, you possibly can configure the skeleton of this modifying program.
- Nice colours: Incorporate the type of higher-end colours you’ve seen in different DJI drone cameras inside GIMP. You’ll be able to type of pretend it till you make it, with out paying a cent.
- Suitable with different instruments: In case you already use Inkscape or Scribus, GIMP performs properly with each these instruments.
Whereas GIMP will not be fairly as sturdy as a number of the different picture modifying instruments on this part, it’s nice for what it’s, and that’s free. Nevertheless, you possibly can’t apply it to cell gadgets.
» MORE: Drone Pictures: Newbie’s Information to Getting Began
Snapseed
Whereas GIMP stands out as the best-known free photo-editing software program, it’s not the one one. Snapseed is one other no-cost possibility for iPad, iPhone, and Android gadgets. I’ve personally tried it on iPhone and iPad, and it’s stellar.
Let’s evaluate what caught my eye about this app:
- RAW modifying: The Mini 2 SE can shoot in RAW, however not each picture editor has the capability to take care of these information. Snapseed does. It can save you the information in JPG format, however I discover it’s higher to avoid wasting them as RAW information after modifying to retain the total breadth of element.
- Many filters and instruments: With virtually 30 choices to select from, you received’t thoughts which you can’t use Snapseed on a pc. A few of my favourite instruments are rotate, crop, white steadiness, and lens blur.
- Textual content: Sure, that’s proper, you don’t want Photoshop Specific if you would like textual content in your drone pictures. Snapseed has virtually 40 textual content types to pick from, and all totally free.
Nevertheless, the app high quality is not so good as it was years in the past, again within the late 2010s. It’s nonetheless usable immediately, however to not the identical extent.
Luminar Neo
I haven’t performed round with Luminar Neo as a lot as the opposite instruments, however from the few hours I’ve spent with it, I actually prefer it. It has nice potential, particularly if you would like a desktop software that’s not an Adobe product.
That mentioned, Neo works as a plug-in for Lightroom and Photoshop, so if you have already got these Adobe instruments and need to take them to the subsequent stage, you’ve discovered your resolution.
Listed below are some options:
- A number of presets directly: As soon as you discover your favourite presets, you don’t must commit them to reminiscence to make use of them once more. Neo will save your presets and apply them to the subsequent batch of drone images you add.
- AI capabilities: A lot of what Neo can do is AI-driven, from Improve to Relight, Sky, GenSwap, GenExpand, and GenErase. These options take all of the guesswork and outing of modifying, making use of adjustments robotically. You’ll be able to tweak any edit you need, after all.
- Easy interface: I hate if you open a brand new photo-editing program and are bombarded with 7,000 menus. Luminar Neo retains it simple to work with, making it sooner to study.
- All the time upgrading: Neo by no means stays the identical. Behind the scenes, Luminar works tirelessly to enhance this software program for a greater consumer expertise.
» MORE: Greatest Drones for Architectural Pictures
Greatest video modifying software program for DJI Mini 2 SE
What should you use the Mini 2 SE extra for movies than you do images? Don’t fear; listed here are your really useful modifying instruments from yours actually.
DJI LightCut
You don’t must go far for this primary one, as DJI LightCut comes together with your Mini 2 SE. This official video-editing software is designed to additional facilitate the easy-for-beginners expertise of utilizing the Mini 2 SE.
Right here’s how:
- One-Faucet Enhancing: LightCut provides One-Faucet Enhancing utilizing AI to enhance your video high quality. All it’s important to do is save and share.
- Video previews: By no means surprise how your footage will look earlier than you reserve it when you possibly can preview what you’re recording inside LightCut.
- AI highlights: AI know-how determines what your most highlight-worthy moments are and can even choose the template that makes your footage shine.
LightCut is offered to make use of with many different DJI apps, together with the Mini 3 collection, Mavic 3 collection, Air 3, and Mini 4 Professional.
iMovie
Are you a Mac consumer like I’m? Then you definitely solely must open your Launchpad to discover a preinstalled video editor, iMovie.
iMovie isn’t just for computer systems anymore. You may also obtain it for cell and take your tasks in your iPad or iPhone. The app is suitable with Ultimate Minimize Professional and is at all times updating to make enhancements.
Listed below are the options included with iMovie that make it glorious for modifying Mini 2 SE footage:
- It’s free: Sure, that’s proper, you received’t pay a cent for iMovie, even when it’s important to obtain it to a cell system.
- Themes and filters: Transfer over, LightCut. iMovie has themes galore, and you can even pair them with filters. Select from 13 diversified filters and virtually 10 themes that embody music, transitions, and titles.
- Cinematic Mode: Make your footage extra in-depth with Cinematic Mode, which lets you toggle the depth of discipline and focus factors.
- Animations and backgrounds: Incorporate patterned or gradient backgrounds and choose greater than 10 enjoyable Apple-designed animations in your drone movies.
- Able to transition between gadgets: Ship your half-finished drone video between your pill, laptop, and telephone with iCloud Drive or Airdrop so you possibly can choose up the place you left off and end later.
One draw back of iMovie is it doesn’t work for non-Apple gadgets.
» MORE: Greatest Drone Video Editor (With Screenshots)
DaVinci Resolve
How about one other free resolution so as to add to your repertoire? That’s why I like DaVinci Resolve as a lot as I do. Effectively, it’s a part of the rationale I find it irresistible. I imply, it’s been used to make Marvel films, which says sufficient should you ask me.
Listed below are another advantages of this alternative in your Mini 2 SE video modifying:
- Easy however efficient cuts and edits: The drag-and-drop performance makes it simple to implement the edits you need in what in any other case appears to be like like a sophisticated software. You’ll be able to even add keyboard shortcuts to avoid wasting you time throughout your subsequent spherical in submit.
- Superb colour: Wow, is the colour web page among the best I’ve seen in any modifying software program. There’s a motive Hollywood administrators select Resolve for modifying the subsequent blockbusters, and the colour web page is actually one in every of them. You’ll be able to customise a lot, akin to the colour curves and HDR colour wheels, to get simply the suitable hue that units the temper of your drone video.
- Fairlight Audio Core: Throw in booming explosions, loud music, and dramatic whooshing sounds with Fairlight Audio Core, which helps as much as 2,000 simultaneous audio tracks.
- Publish virtually anyplace: If you end, you possibly can ship your movies to social media platforms like Twitter and YouTube, and even Vimeo.
Whereas Resolve has many glorious options, DaVinci Resolve Studio is the paid model that may allow you to maximize what you are able to do on this software program.
» MORE: Suggestions for Capturing & Enhancing Drone Movies (Information for Freshmen)
Adobe Premiere Parts
I like Adobe, even when it’s pricey. I don’t thoughts shelling out to get glorious modifying instruments, together with the abovementioned picture choices and Premiere Parts for video.
This on-the-go app makes modifying movies extra easy than ever earlier than, shortening your time in submit. I used to be amazed by what it may do with options like:
- Adobe Sensei AI: The most effective of AI and machine studying come collectively in Adobe Sensei AI, a function that may automate highlights and different parts of your video modifying for you.
- Guided Edits: A little bit extra hands-on however nonetheless not requiring an excessive amount of of your effort, Guided Edits take you step-by-step, implementing options like animations, cinematics, results, and small edits. I like this function once I don’t know the place to start!
- Auto backups: I hate once I don’t keep in mind to avoid wasting a video, and I’m certain you’re the identical. Luckily, Adobe Premiere Parts has auto-backup and sorting. You should use the latter function to seek for any video in your assortment.
- No extra graininess: Uh-oh, was the lighting at your final drone shoot worse than you thought, and now your video got here out all grainy? You don’t must discard your footage. Adobe Premiere Parts is superior at eradicating graininess with out sacrificing colour or element.
Adobe Premiere Parts is a tad difficult to study at first, however much less so should you’ve used different Adobe software program. You’ll be able to generally purchase it in a package deal take care of Photoshop Parts so that you’re all set when flying the Mini 2 SE.
» MORE: 5 Important Security Guidelines You Have to Contemplate When Filming with a Drone
Suggestions for modifying drone footage from DJI Mini 2 SE
You’ve chosen your picture and video modifying instruments of alternative, so now it’s time to get to work. Listed below are some pointers that may assist you to make it occur.
Reap the benefits of tutorials
Most video and picture modifying software program choices available on the market have tutorials. They exist that will help you, so be sure to use them!
If the introductory tutorials don’t do sufficient to enlighten you, take a look at YouTube movies from actual customers (or from the modifying software’s channel).
I do know for me, generally seeing issues in motion may also help. In case you’re the identical means, attempt that tip!
» MORE: DJI Mini 2 SE for Actual Property Pictures (All You Have to Know)
Use the undo button
The undo button exists for a motive – that will help you should you make a mistake. And belief me, to start with, if you’re studying how every part works, you will make a mistake. You’ll click on or faucet on one thing, having no concept what you modified, however being keen to alter it again.
Discover the undo button, study it, and find it irresistible.
» MORE: How Do I Join My DJI Mini 2 SE to My Laptop (Defined)
Edit sparsely
You’ll be able to consider modifying drone footage as slicing your individual hair (or another person’s if the considered trimming your individual is just too scary). You’ll be able to at all times reduce extra, however you possibly can’t put again what you took away.
Effectively, besides that in modifying, you possibly can put again what you took away. The one downside is, it’s often so time-consuming that you just may not need to do it in any respect. Then it’s important to revert to an earlier save, and it turns right into a catastrophe.
Reasonably than go whole-hog into any modifying software, apply a lightweight contact. You’ll be able to at all times ramp that slider up additional if it is advisable to.
Save separate variations
Save typically when modifying, however don’t preserve saving over the identical file repeatedly.
Generally, when you shut it out, you haven’t any means of going again and seeing the edit historical past or reverting to any outdated variations.
Saving just a few variations of the identical picture or video helps you to evaluate your progress. In case you don’t like the ultimate model of how one thing turned out, you possibly can hint again to the place you final appreciated the progress, then proper your wrongs from there.
» MORE: Greatest SD Playing cards for DJI Mini 2 SE
Select your file format rigorously
With so many file codecs to pick from, how do you select?
I like to recommend preserving picture and video high quality and readability above all else. Meaning avoiding picture information like JPG should you may also help it.
Clearly, RAW information are greatest, and because the Mini 2 SE helps them, it’s value modifying and saving in that format.
On the very least, use PNGs.
As for movies, MPVs are the bottom high quality, whereas MOV and AVCHD are one of the best.
Right here’s the factor about good high quality footage. It takes up much more area than your common file, so do your self a favor and spend money on SD playing cards.