Pictory Review: What I Love and Hate

Pictory AI

Pictory AI is breaking new ground in the video marketing landscape with its innovative approach to brand-audience communication. We’ve put this AI-powered text to video generator through its paces, discovering its transformative potential in content creation, sharing, and engagement. Our detailed review takes a deep dive into Pictory AI’s distinct features, highlighting its strengths and identifying areas that may require further development or fine-tuning. The AI video platform simplifies the process of converting long-form content into compelling short videos – a boon for content creators and marketers without a background in video production. We’ve also evaluated Pictory AI’s pricing and competitive edge in the increasingly crowded text-to-video AI tools market. Keep reading as we unpack our experiences with Pictory AI. To see how it stacks up against the competition, see our article on the best AI video creation tools.

How I Made My First Video With Pictory

In today’s digital age, everyone has a narrative to share. Imagine transforming that narrative, your very own script, into a compelling video? Intriguing, isn’t it? With Pictory, it’s possible. This AI tool effortlessly converts your scripts into captivating visuals, eliminating the need for intricate video editing. Whether you’re a blogger, marketer, educator, or just someone eager to share a story, this tutorial will guide you step-by-step to craft immersive video content. Excited to get started? Let’s embark on this journey! If you’re looking for Pictory AI examples, this tutorial and the final video at the end serve as a hands-on demonstration of its capabilities.

Step 1: Getting Started

Begin by heading over to Pictory and logging into your account. If you don’t have one, it’s quick to create! Explore Pictory for free here.

Step 2: Access Your Dashboard

Once you’ve set up your account, sign in. You’ll be greeted by the user-friendly dashboard that lays everything out before you.

Step 3: From Script to Video

Once logged in, look for the “Script to Video” option and select it. This is where you transform your ideas into video form.

Step 4: Naming Your Project

Every project needs a name, right? Type in a descriptive name for your video project to keep things organized.

Step 5: Input Your Script

Got an article or script in mind? Type it in. For instance, I added content about using the ‘getIMG’ product.

Step 6: Adjusting the Scene Settings

Here, Pictory offers you a neat feature to set how your scenes are split. If you want a new scene only at new paragraphs or line breaks, set it accordingly. Grouping your content can make your video flow better.

Step 7: Proceeding Forward

Once you’re happy with your input, locate the “Proceed” button on the top right corner of the app and give it a click.

Step 8: Template Time

Pictory presents a wide array of templates. For beginners or general use, the “Standard” template is a solid choice.

Step 9: Getting the Right Fit – Aspect Ratio

Depending on where you’re sharing your video, choose an aspect ratio that fits best. I picked the 1:1 ratio, which is square.

Step 10: Let Pictory Do Its Magic

After selecting your settings, be patient and let Pictory turn your script into a visual storyboard.

Step 11: Evaluating Your Storyboard

When Pictory finishes, I had 6 slides ready and set, just how I envisioned.

Step 12: Refining Your Slides

By default, Pictory places text on your slides. But if you prefer visuals with voiceover instead of on-screen text, click on the ‘cc’ button under the slide. Choose “Hide Text” and then “Apply To All” for a cleaner look.

Now when I click on a scene, I see only the animations that Pictory has provided.

Step 13: Customizing Your Slides

For a personal touch, use the “Text” option on the left. You can add meaningful headings or any other text details. 

I chose to add a title on my first slide.

Step 14: Setting the Scene – Backgrounds

Navigate to “Visuals” and then “Textures” to pick and change the backgrounds for each of your slides.

Step 15: Bringing in Media

Under “Visuals,” Pictory offers a vast selection of stock images from StoryBlocks. Or, you can use personal clips, like how I included my video snippets for GetIMG.

Step 16: Positioning Your Media

Arrange your chosen media content across your scenes, ensuring they align with your script.

Step 17: Giving Voice to Your Video

Click “Audio” and dive into the “Voice-over” option. Pictory boasts a range of AI voices. I chose the voice named Stacy for a consistent sound across my video.

Step 18: Grab Your Video

Once you’re satisfied with every detail, click to download your masterpiece and share it with the world!

Step 19: Unveiling the Final Creation

Now, after all your hard work and creativity, it’s time for the grand reveal. Below is the video I created using Pictory. Want to see a Pictory AI demo in action? Click play to watch and see just what’s possible with this amazing tool.

Feel inspired? Dive in and start your own Pictory journey. Share your creations and let your stories shine!

Tips and Tricks for Using Pictory

• Pre-Plan Your Script: Before logging into Pictory, have a clear idea or draft of your script. This will streamline the process and save you time.
• Group Related Content: When inputting your script, ensure that closely related content is grouped together. This can improve the flow of your video and minimize abrupt transitions.
• Explore Templates: While the ‘Standard’ template is great for general use, don’t be afraid to explore other templates. Different styles might suit different projects better.
• Optimal Aspect Ratio: Think about where you’ll be posting your video (e.g., Instagram, YouTube, a blog). Choose your aspect ratio accordingly for the best viewer experience.
• Reuse & Repurpose: If you’ve created a video that works particularly well, consider reusing the format or template for other projects. It can be a real timesaver!
• AI Voiceover Variations: While sticking to one voice (like Stacy) provides consistency, don’t hesitate to explore other AI voices, especially for different characters or moods.

Remember, Pictory is a versatile tool designed to make video creation as seamless as possible. Experiment, play around, and find the workflow that best suits your needs!

Video Creation Capabilities

Script to Video Generation

Pictory AI’s “Script to Video” feature is an impressive AI video content creator tool that allows any written text to be transformed into a vibrant video. After testing this feature using the copied text from my AI-generated art article article, the AI engine highlighted keywords and picked matching visuals in about 2 minutes, generating 113 unique scenes that were all editable with text and video snippets.

Additional options provided by Pictory include the ability to add personal voice-overs, trim scenes, remove background music, and preview snippets in high-quality.

Article to Video Generation

The “Article to Video” function effectively transforms blog posts, articles, or other text-based content into engaging videos. I tried this feature using the URL of my AI-generated art article. Pictory AI identified key sections, creating 16 scenes and a 2-minute video. Although efficient at content summarization, some original article elements were overlooked.

Editing Videos Using Text

The “Edit Videos Using Text” function allows for a video clip to be uploaded and transcribed. However, changing the spoken text seemed to only affect the caption, not the audio, which could be a drawback for some users.

Visuals to Video Generation

The “Visuals to Video” feature is perfect for creating slideshows or photo montages by building a storyboard from user-uploaded visuals. However, when I used a Standard template with a GetIMG video clip, the background music stopped after 5 seconds. This feature might not be ideal for tutorial formats but proves to be beneficial for using stock footage.

Ease of Use and Interface

The interface of Pictory AI is intuitive and allows for seamless navigation, video segment trimming, and transition insertion. The tool provides distinct sections—Story, Visuals, Elements, Audio, Uploads, Text, Styles, Branding, and Format—each offering unique functionalities for a comprehensive video creation and editing experience. However, the AI voiceovers could use improvement to sound less mechanical, and sometimes, the visuals didn’t align perfectly with my content. Nonetheless, Pictory AI is a tool that I’d recommend to content creators and marketers, with the caveat to anticipate some minor hiccups.

Versatility

With Pictory AI’s Format tab, you can select the video size, switch between 720p and 1080p resolutions, and modify the aspect ratio. The tool provides a range of customizable options, such as logos, fonts, colors, emojis, gifs, stickers, text placement, styles, and branding options. However, the lack of non-English voiceover options was a disappointing limitation.

AI Features and Functionality

Pictory AI leverages AI to transform blog posts into videos, create video summaries and highlights, and provide captioning for better accessibility. Using the Auto Highlight feature, I was able to trim my video to 25% of its original length, turning a 28-second clip into a neat 16-second one. However, there’s a limit to how much you can condense the video content, as I discovered when further attempts to shorten the video failed. The AI voiceover option “Tom” sounded somewhat robotic but managed to narrate the content accurately.

What We Like

• The interface is intuitive and suitable for users of all skill levels.
• Captions, narration, music, and images can be added effortlessly.
• The availability of a free trial allows users to explore Pictory’s capabilities.
• Pictory is accessible from any device with an internet connection.
• Pictory AI enables users to create engaging videos quickly and easily.
• The platform offers a wide range of customizable options.
• With Pictory, users can enhance their SEO with the captioning feature.
• Pictory offers cost-effective plans, making high-quality video creation accessible to all.

What We Don’t Like

• Some aspects of customization may be limited.
• The free trial and Standard Plan may not meet the needs of advanced users.
• AI voices could be more natural sounding.
• Currently, Pictory only supports the English language.
• Pictory isn’t available on mobile, limiting accessibility.

Other Versions of Pictory AI

Pictory AI offers a free trial where users can create up to three video projects. The platform also offers three paid plans to cater to different video production needs: Standard, Premium, and Teams. The plans are priced at $19/month, $39/month, and $99/month, respectively, when billed annually.

Comparison Table

Pictory Alternatives

There are several video-generating tools that serve as worthy competitors to Pictory. Each alternative offers its unique set of features that might cater to different user needs and preferences. Here, I’ll give you an insight into the best Pictory alternatives, their distinct offerings, and why they could be worth your attention.

InVideo

InVideo is an incredibly intuitive tool and an excellent alternative to Pictory. With its straightforward drag-and-drop interface, extensive language support, and an impressive assortment of customizable templates, it allows for smooth and efficient video creation. InVideo makes it easy for beginners and professionals alike to create high-quality videos without any extensive technical know-how.

Vidnami

For those who admired Vidnami, it used to be a go-to choice for affordable online video creation, and its acquisition by GoDaddy in 2021 left many users looking for alternatives. Vidnami’s strong suite of features including clipping, editing, and creating videos, in addition to adding narration, static images, and background tracks made it a reliable video creation tool.

Lumen5

Lumen5 is another formidable alternative that’s worth a mention. Its unique offering is its ability to transform text into visually appealing videos. The platform provides customizable templates that can be easily tweaked using drag-and-drop technology to craft engaging videos. This makes it a highly user-friendly tool that’s perfect for users across the skill spectrum.

FlexClip

FlexClip, albeit not as feature-rich or automated as Pictory, is great for both professional and personal use. Its affordability and ease of use make it a popular choice for beginners in the video creation domain.

Wisecut

Wisecut differs from Pictory by focusing on editing existing videos using AI and voice recognition technology. It’s a boon for video creators who are willing to invest in a monthly subscription for intelligent and automated video editing. If you’re in the market for a video editor that can do the heavy lifting for you, Wisecut is worth a look.

In the ever-evolving text-to-video AI tools market, Pictory AI has carved a niche for itself with its distinct features and functionalities. The AI video creator tool has made video creation more accessible to content creators and marketers, eliminating the complexities of traditional video production. While there are areas that Pictory AI can refine and enhance, it’s undoubtedly a leading player in the AI video platform domain. If you’re looking for a comprehensive AI video content creator solution, Pictory AI might be an ideal choice. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a newbie, Pictory AI has the potential to cater to your video creation needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take for Pictory to convert a script into a video?

This largely depends on the length of your script and your settings, but generally, Pictory is quite fast and efficient.

Can I upload my own media or am I restricted to the stock images provided?

Yes, you can absolutely upload your own media! Pictory provides stock images as an added convenience.

Is there a limit to the number of slides Pictory can create from a script?

While Pictory can handle a significant number of slides, the exact number might depend on your subscription or plan details.

Can I customize the AI voiceover, like adjusting its speed or tone?

Pictory allows for some customization of the AI voiceover, but for more intricate adjustments, you might need external tools.

If I choose to hide text from my slides, is there a way to get it back?

Yes, you can always revert the ‘Hide Text’ option by going back into the settings for that particular slide.

Is my content safe and private when uploaded to Pictory?

Pictory values user privacy, and as per their privacy policy, they ensure that user content is kept confidential and not used without permission.