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This guide walks you through creating your first video in Cardboard. You will sign up, upload media, give the AI an editing instruction, and export a finished video.
1

Sign up and open the editor

Go to usecardboard.com/app/home and create a free account. Once you are in, click New Project to open the editor.Sign up and create a new project in Cardboard
2

Upload your media

Drag and drop video files, images, or audio into the Media Library panel on the left side of the editor. You can also click Upload to browse your files.Cardboard supports MP4, MOV, WebM, MP3, WAV, PNG, JPG, and GIF files.
3

Add clips to the timeline

Click on any media file in your library and drag it onto the Timeline at the bottom of the screen. You can add multiple clips — they will play in order from left to right.Adding clips to the timeline in Cardboard
4

Give the AI an editing command

Open the AI Chat panel on the right side of the editor. Type a plain-English instruction and press Enter. Here are some commands to try:
  • “Trim this video to the most exciting 30 seconds”
  • “Add captions to the entire video”
  • “Create a fast-paced montage with transitions”
  • “Remove all the silent parts”
  • “Add upbeat background music”
The AI will process your request and apply the edits to your timeline. You can see exactly what changed and undo anything you don’t like.
5

Preview your video

Click the Play button on the canvas in the center of the editor to preview your video. If you want to make adjustments, type another instruction in the AI Chat or manually drag clips on the timeline.
6

Export your video

When you are happy with the result, click the Export button in the top-right corner. Choose your resolution and format, then click Export. Your video will render and be ready to download in a few moments.Export dialog in Cardboard
You don’t have to do everything with AI. You can manually trim, split, and rearrange clips on the timeline at any time. Use whatever mix of AI and manual editing feels right.

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Example prompts to try next

Once you have the basics down, try these prompts in the AI Chat:
  • “Add a title card that says ‘My First Video’ at the beginning”
  • “Speed up the middle section to 2x”
  • “Add a fade transition between every clip”
  • “Make this video vertical for Instagram Reels”
  • “Find the funniest moment and make it a 15-second clip”

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What’s next?

The Editor Layout

Learn where everything is in the editor.

Editing with AI Chat

Discover everything the AI can do for you.

AI Prompts Cheat Sheet

Copy-paste prompts for common editing tasks.

Export Your Video

Learn about export formats and quality settings.