The Mini 2 SE is DJI’s most beginner-friendly Mini entry to this point, that includes single-tap launchings and landings, over half-hour of flight time, and Clever Flight Options catered towards rookies. 

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 do you have to use for the job? Is what DJI offers ok, or do you have to 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 hold helpful for getting simply the best results on my drone footage. 

DJI Mini 2 SE digicam – How good is it?

However first, let’s have a short chat concerning the Mini 2 SE’s digicam. 

DJI geared up this low-cost entry into the Mini sequence with a 1/2.3-inch digicam 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 speculated 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 digicam, it wouldn’t be. And that brings me to my third level: it is a newbie drone. Inexperienced persons 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 concerning the high quality.

Fortuitously, when 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 Footage)

Finest 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 the event you ask me, Adobe is the cream of the crop in the case of picture modifying. Lightroom is certainly one of its handiest apps. You should utilize the desktop model in your laptop computer or work laptop, or take it on the go in your cellphone or pill. 

I really like the Lightroom app. It should actually assist when you have undertaking deadlines, as you possibly can ship your photos out of your drone to your cellphone, then start modifying with out having to depart the jobsite. 

Listed below are another nice options and benefits of Lightroom:

• Take away what you don’t need: You may’t management your surroundings to the letter when taking drone photographs, however Lightroom makes it seem like you possibly can. You may 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 lots extra.
• Masking: The masks characteristic you’re used to in laptop editions of Adobe software program is obtainable within the Lightroom app, permitting you to supply skilled footage regardless of the place your adventures take you.
• Save tasks throughout units: 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 kind of costly, and the desktop model is much more difficult. 

» MORE: How one can Edit Drone Pictures for Social Media Utilizing Lightroom (Information)

Adobe Photoshop/Photoshop Categorical 

Photoshop is the penultimate photo-editing software program, however it’s not confined to your laptop computer or desktop laptop anymore! You may and may take Photoshop with you in all places you go in your drone jobs with Photoshop Categorical. 

Full disclosure: I’ve been utilizing Photoshop Categorical rather a lot longer than the cell model of Lightroom. It’s my go-to after I need my photographs to look polished, modern, 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 rather a lot. The cell model is much more streamlined, solely offering the instruments you want.
• Search: Are you in search of a selected software inside Photoshop Categorical? You may seek for it within the app, which I believe is superior. 
• Fast actions: In the event you’re quick on time, the fast actions characteristic will assist. Photoshop Categorical can clean pores and skin, repair saturation, or edit some other aspect of your drone pictures with this characteristic.
• Saved kinds: When you discover a picture fashion you like, it can save you it and use it anytime on different photographs. 
• Textual content: I additionally love how one can add textual content and templates to your photographs, kind of like what Canva enables 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 Categorical. 

» MORE: Drone Pictures Planning (Defined for Inexperienced persons)

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 often, 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 realize widespread program languages like Scheme, Python, Perl, C++, or C, you possibly can configure the skeleton of this modifying program. 
• Nice colours: Incorporate the form of higher-end colours you’ve seen in different DJI drone cameras inside GIMP. You may form of pretend it till you make it, with out paying a cent.
• Suitable with different instruments: In the event you already use Inkscape or Scribus, GIMP performs properly with each these instruments.

Whereas GIMP is probably not fairly as strong 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 units.

» MORE: Drone Pictures: Newbie’s Information to Getting Began

Snapseed 

Whereas GIMP would be the best-known free photo-editing software program, it’s not the one one. Snapseed is one other no-cost choice for iPad, iPhone, and Android units. I’ve personally tried it on iPhone and iPad, and it’s stellar.

Let’s overview 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 cope with these recordsdata. Snapseed does. It can save you the recordsdata in JPG format, however I discover it’s higher to save lots of them as RAW recordsdata after modifying to retain the complete breadth of element.
• Many filters and instruments: With virtually 30 choices to select from, you received’t thoughts that you could’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 Categorical if you would like textual content in your drone photos. Snapseed has virtually 40 textual content kinds to pick out from, and all free of charge. 

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 as we speak, 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 stated, Neo works as a plug-in for Lightroom and Photoshop, so if you have already got these Adobe instruments and wish to take them to the subsequent degree, you’ve discovered your resolution.

Listed below are some options:

• A number of presets without delay: As soon as you discover your favourite presets, you don’t need to 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 photographs 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 trip of modifying, making use of modifications robotically. You may tweak any edit you need, in fact. 
• Easy interface: I hate while 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 quicker to be taught. 
• 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: Finest Drones for Architectural Pictures

Finest video modifying software program for DJI Mini 2 SE

What if you happen to use the Mini 2 SE extra for movies than you do photographs? Don’t fear; listed below are your advisable modifying instruments from yours really. 

DJI LightCut

You don’t need to go far for this primary one, as DJI LightCut comes along 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 Modifying: LightCut gives One-Faucet Modifying utilizing AI to enhance your video high quality. All it’s important to do is save and share. 
• Video previews: By no means marvel how your footage will look earlier than you put it aside when you possibly can preview what you’re recording inside LightCut. 
• AI highlights: AI expertise determines what your most highlight-worthy moments are and can even choose the template that makes your footage shine. 

LightCut is obtainable to make use of with many different DJI apps, together with the Mini 3 sequence, Mavic 3 sequence, Air 3, and Mini 4 Professional.  

iMovie 

Are you a Mac consumer like I’m? Then you definitely solely need to open your Launchpad to discover a preinstalled video editor, iMovie. 

iMovie isn’t just for computer systems anymore. You can even obtain it for cell and take your tasks in your iPad or iPhone. The app is appropriate with Closing Reduce 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 gadget.
• Themes and filters: Transfer over, LightCut. iMovie has themes galore, and you can too pair them with filters. Select from 13 assorted filters and virtually 10 themes that embrace 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 on your drone movies. 
• Able to transition between units: Ship your half-finished drone video between your pill, laptop, and cellphone 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 units. 

» MORE: Finest Drone Video Editor (With Screenshots)

DaVinci Resolve

How about one other free resolution so as to add to your repertoire? That’s why I really like DaVinci Resolve as a lot as I do. Effectively, it’s a part of the rationale I like it. I imply, it’s been used to make Marvel films, which says sufficient if you happen to ask me. 

Listed below are another advantages of this selection on 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 seems like a sophisticated software. You may even add keyboard shortcuts to save lots of you time throughout your subsequent spherical in submit.
• Wonderful colour: Wow, is the colour web page the most effective I’ve seen in any modifying software program. There’s a purpose Hollywood administrators select Resolve for modifying the subsequent blockbusters, and the colour web page is definitely certainly one of them. You may customise a lot, reminiscent of the colour curves and HDR colour wheels, to get simply the best 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. 
• Put up virtually wherever: Whenever 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 can allow you to maximize what you are able to do on this software program.  

» MORE: Suggestions for Capturing & Modifying Drone Movies (Information for Inexperienced persons)

Adobe Premiere Components 

I really like Adobe, even when it’s expensive. I don’t thoughts shelling out to get glorious modifying instruments, together with the abovementioned picture choices and Premiere Components 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 very best of AI and machine studying come collectively in Adobe Sensei AI, a characteristic that may automate highlights and different parts of your video modifying for you. 
• Guided Edits: Slightly 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 really like this characteristic after I don’t know the place to start!
• Auto backups: I hate after I don’t keep in mind to save lots of a video, and I’m positive you’re the identical. Fortuitously, Adobe Premiere Components has auto-backup and sorting. You should utilize the latter characteristic 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 need to discard your footage. Adobe Premiere Components is superior at eradicating graininess with out sacrificing colour or element.

Adobe Premiere Components is a tad tough to be taught at first, however much less so if you happen to’ve used different Adobe software program. You may typically purchase it in a package deal cope with Photoshop Components so that you’re all set when flying the Mini 2 SE. 

» MORE: 5 Important Security Guidelines You Have to Take into account 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 selection, so now it’s time to get to work. Listed below are some pointers that can aid you make it occur. 

Benefit from tutorials

Most video and picture modifying software program choices in the marketplace 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, typically seeing issues in motion may also help. In the event you’re the identical approach, 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 purpose – that will help you if you happen to make a mistake. And belief me, at first, while 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 vary it again.

Discover the undo button, be taught it, and like it. 

» MORE: How Do I Join My DJI Mini 2 SE to My Pc (Defined)

Edit sparsely 

You may consider modifying drone footage as reducing your personal hair (or another person’s if the considered trimming your personal is simply too scary). You may at all times lower 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 drawback is, it’s often so time-consuming that you just may not wish to do it in any respect. Then it’s important to revert to an earlier save, and it turns right into a catastrophe. 

Slightly than go whole-hog into any modifying software, apply a light-weight contact. You may at all times ramp that slider up additional if you’ll want to. 

Save separate variations

Save typically when modifying, however don’t hold saving over the identical file time and again.

Generally, when you shut it out, you don’t have any approach 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 enables you to evaluate your progress. In the event you don’t like the ultimate model of how one thing turned out, you possibly can hint again to the place you final favored the progress, then proper your wrongs from there. 

» MORE: Finest SD Playing cards for DJI Mini 2 SE

Select your file format fastidiously

With so many file codecs to pick out from, how do you select?

I like to recommend preserving picture and video high quality and readability above all else. Meaning avoiding picture recordsdata like JPG if you happen to may also help it.

Clearly, RAW recordsdata are greatest, and for the reason that 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 the most effective.

Right here’s the factor about good high quality footage. It takes up much more house than your common file, so do your self a favor and spend money on SD playing cards. 

» MORE: Drone Pictures Pricing – How A lot Ought to I Cost?