About video ads

Video Editing Overview - Google Web Designer

Google Web Designer lets businesses build video ads by editing video and audio, alongside standard content such as text and images. All media and other elements, including animation, are rendered in the final exported MP4 video file.

Creating a video document

Video ads should be created using a specific document type in Google Web Designer.

Use a template

If you want to get started more quickly with a pre-made design, you can use a video template. Browse the Video tab of the Template Gallery to find a template with the features and assets that you want.

Video Templates - Google Web Designer

Create a blank new video document

To create a blank video ad where you create the design from scratch:

1. Select File > New... from the top menu, or Create new file from the start page.
2. In the left-hand pane, select Video for the ad type.
3. Enter a file name.
4. Select the file location.
5. Select the video ad dimensions, or Custom to specify the width and height.
6. If you plan on making different-sized versions of this animated GIF, select the Multi-size layout checkbox.
7. Press OK.

The first time you create a video document, your workspace will be rearranged to show panels that may be useful for working on videos. You can save this workspace if you want to switch to it in the future.

Convert an HTML document to a video document

Most HTML documents created in Google Web Designer can be converted into video ads. Learn more about the conversion process and feature compatibility.

Working on a video document

Most HTML5 tools are available in video documents, with some limitations. Video documents also allow you to include video tracks and audio tracks, which appear as layers in the timeline.

Timeline

Video documents always use the Advanced mode timeline, where each element is represented as a layer. There is no Events track, as events aren't supported in video files.

Use the timeline to set the timing of any media or animation. The current time is displayed in the following format: minutes:seconds:frames. The number of frames per second is determined by the frame rate. Google Web Designer supports video ads up to 5 minutes long.

Audio and video are included in special layers called video tracks and audio tracks. These tracks can contain one or more clips of the matching media type (as well as image clips in video tracks). The timeline displays thumbnails of video and image clips and waveforms of audio clips for any media you add to your document.

Importing media assets

You can add video or audio assets to your document by using one of the following methods:

• Use the File > Import assets... menu command
• Drag a media asset from your file system onto the Google Web Designer stage
• Drag a media asset from the Library panel onto the stage or into an appropriate track in the timeline
• Use the Import assets button at the bottom of the Library panel (only adds to the Library)

The maximum supported media asset length is 5 minutes.

Supported media codecs

Video and audio assets used in video ads should be encoded using one of the following codecs:

Video ad size

To change the dimensions of your video ad:

1. Deselect any elements on the stage. (You can click an empty area of the stage.)
2. In the Properties panel, use the Size dropdown to select a size, or select Custom to specify the width and height.

Multi-size layout

A multi-size layout lets you design your video ad for different sizes within the same document. If your video ad uses a multi-size layout, you should make size changes in the Responsive panel.

Learn more about multi-size layouts.

Frame rate

By default, video ads are set to a frame rate of 30 fps, but will switch to match the frame rate of the first imported video asset.

When you publish your video ad, you have the option to select a lower frame rate in order to export a lower-resolution version. You can also manually adjust the frame rate while you're working on your video document. To change the frame rate:

1. Deselect any elements on the stage. (You can click an empty area of the stage.)
2. In the Properties panel, use the Frame rate dropdown to select one of the following options:
   • 5 fps
   • 10 fps
   • 12 fps
   • 12.5 fps
   • 15 fps
   • 23.98 fps
   • 24 fps
   • 25 fps
   • 29.97 fps
   • 30 fps
   • 50 fps
   • 59.94 fps
   • 60 fps

Changing the frame rate may disrupt the timing of existing animations or cause choppy playback for video clips with a different frame rate.

Editing media

The following video and audio editing features are available in video documents:

• Set when and how long each media clip plays during the video ad timeline
• Trim clips to use only part of the media source
• Split and merge clips
• Link clips to synchronize edits
• Duplicate clips
• Add transitions to clips
• Adjust audio volume
• Freeze on a video frame

Learn more about working with media clips.

Customizing video appearance

For even greater customization of any included videos, you can use the following features with video tracks:

• Animation
• Masks
• CSS effects
• Motion paths
• 3D tools

Variants

Variants let you build multiple versions of a video ad with different styles and content, all within a single document. Each variant is exported as a separate video file.

Learn more about variants.

Limitations

The following functionality is unavailable for video documents:

• Pages
• Components
• Events and JavaScript libraries
• Quick mode timeline
• Ad Validator
• Hyperlinked text
• Ad environments
• Saving the video document as a template
• Previewing the video document in a browser
• Publishing multiple video documents at the same time
• Publishing to Google Drive, Studio, Display & Video 360, or Campaign Manager 360

Previewing a video document

You can use the timeline controls to preview the document on the stage.

Jump to the first frame of the preview range

Go back to the previous frame

Play preview starting from the timeline playhead

Pause preview playback

Go forward to the next frame

Jump to the last frame of the preview range

Toggle looping for preview playback

Previewing in your browser (using the Preview button) is disabled for video documents.

Video preview resolution

You can adjust the preview resolution of videos on the stage by using the Preview resolution dropdown above the timeline.

By default the preview resolution is set to 1/2, but you can reduce it to 1/4 or 1/8 for smoother rendering, or increase it to full resolution.

Audio preview

Any audio in your video document plays during preview playback. The peak meters in the timeline activate to give you feedback on the volume level for each track and overall.

Learn more about audio in video documents.

Publishing a video document

When you're ready to export your document into a video file, use the File > Publish menu command or the Publish button.

Currently, you can only publish video ads locally to your file system. Only one video document can be published at a time.

The export dialog contains options specific to video documents:

Output	You can export the document as a video or as an animated GIF. Learn more about animated GIF options.
Sizes	For video documents with multi-size layouts, you can export all or only selected sizes. Each size will be generated as a separate video file.
Variants	For video documents with multiple variants, you can export all or only selected variants. Each variant will be generated as a separate video file.
Frame rate	Select the full or a lower frame rate in fps. Higher frame rates may provide smoother motion, but larger file sizes.
Resolution	Select the full or a lower resolution. The "Size" in the summary in the left-hand panel displays the dimensions in pixels for the current resolution.
Time range	Select the full timeline or the preview range.
H.264 profile	Select from Baseline, Main, or High (the default). High is the most common, but a different profile may be recommended depending on where you expect your video to be served.
Video bitrate	Set the video bitrate in mbps. Higher bitrates may provide clearer videos, but larger file sizes.
Audio bitrate	Select the audio bitrate in kbps. Higher bitrates may provide better sound quality, but large file sizes.

Exported files

If you select multiple variants or sizes, each one is exported as a separate video file. You can find published files in the folder specified in the export dialog.

Technical specifications

Google Web Designer exports video ads using the following specifications:

• Format: MP4
• Encoding: H.264
• Audio sampling rate: 48 kHz