Without a doubt, the ripple effect is one of the best ways to add a wow factor to your videos. Smooth water-like waves even give clips a touch of romance. But there is still no native option to do this.
Still, there is no reason to worry. If you want to know how to do this effect, we’ve got you covered. Let’s move on to the methods and requirements right away.
before you start
This article assumes you have already downloaded and installed TikTok. More importantly, make sure the app is updated on your Android or iOS device.
You should also update the firmware of the smartphone and your battery should have more than 50% charge. This is because the effect requires some computing power, which is usually very battery intensive. After all, you are effectively shooting video through an internet-based application.
With that in mind, you should also have a stable Wi-Fi connection. Otherwise, the ripple may not be as smooth as you expect.
It is also possible to make the TikTok ripple effect on your tablet. But the process is much more complicated, so it’s best to stick with smartphones.
In the meantime, it’s time to get down to business.
Ripple, Ripple, Ripple Your Videos
Whichever method you choose, the trick is to get the right video speed. As mentioned, you will shoot in slow motion at about 0.5 speed for desired smoothness. However, this speed is not strictly determined, so feel free to experiment.
First Method
step one
Launch the TikTok app on your smartphone. For example, this article uses TikTok for iOS but the steps are the same on Android devices.
Press the plus icon to add a new video and then select the speed icon to start recording in slow motion. The speed bar will open at the bottom of the screen and you need to click on “0.5x”.
Second step
Press the record button and choose the recording time. The 60s option may work better, but you can get fast fluctuations in the 15s.
While recording, you must quickly move/shake your phone towards and away from the object you are trying to record. And voila, your video with ripple effects should be ready to be published.
Important notes
Moving your phone slowly away from the object won’t do you any good as you have to do it really fast. And you shouldn’t shake the phone left or right, as motion neutralizes the waves.
As you can imagine, this method takes some practice before nailing the good-looking ripples.
Second Method
The good thing about this method is that you don’t need to move your phone around like there is no tomorrow. But it takes a little extra work and Video Star implementation.
step one
Open TikTok, hit the plus icon and record a video in slow motion. That being said, you don’t need to move or shake, just shoot and save the recording to your Gallery or Camera Roll.
Second step
Access Video Star, select the video and press Edit for further action. But first, you need to tap “Make Video” for the app to create an editable recording.
Now, select “Quick Split Scene” and choose where you want the split. Then tap “New” and select “Re-Effect”. Select the magnifying glass icon and type wiggle in the search bar to start the effects search.
The slider at the bottom of the screen allows you to adjust the effect of the effect. To reduce the claustrophobic feeling by the default 50%, it is recommended to shift it a little to the left.
step three
Finally, you can export the video, return to TikTok and upload it from your Gallery or Camera Roll.
Important notes
The Video Star app is only available on the Apple Store at the time of writing. But there is another video editing software with wiggle/wake effect on Android.
More importantly, Video Star UI is not exactly intuitive and it may take some getting used to before you master all the functions and options. However, the app offers one of the most comprehensive editing tools.
And with a little practice, you’ll be able to create stunning videos comparable to those created in Adobe Premiere for mobile.
Also, Video Star produces a ripple effect that looks different from the manual method. It is better for some users because they have more control over the final result.
But the movement trick is great for some instantly valuable fluctuations.
Ripples Plenty
There are users who try to get the effect by putting their phone on maximum vibration while shooting video. However, this often causes image stabilization issues that render the clip useless. However, if you manage to get it right, feel free to leave us a comment below.
Which effects attract the most attention on TikTok? Do you apply effects to every TikTok video you post? Share your preferences with the rest of the TJ community.