Import a small batch and export your first shot

Start with three to five short videos whose contents you already know. By the end, you will have one exported clip that you have opened and checked. A small batch makes it easier to understand each stage before processing a larger library.

The estimated time is for following the instructions. Import and AI understanding take additional time depending on the footage and current processing conditions.

1. Prepare the files

Keep your videos in a stable folder and make sure you can open them. Use footage you are authorized to process. ShotAI keeps original files locally, while cloud AI understanding and semantic search involve online processing; read data and privacy before using confidential material.

If this is your first launch, complete the setup described in Installation and setup. Create a collection with a recognizable name for this exercise.

2. Import, then run AI understanding

Use the video or folder import entry to add the small batch to your collection. Wait for local processing to produce the video entries and detected shots. Check the task status if the operation is still running. Avoid importing the same batch again just because processing takes longer than expected.

Select the imported shots and run AI understanding. Wait for that work to complete before searching by visual content. A ready video entry and a set of thumbnails do not by themselves mean that AI understanding has finished. The import guide explains the distinction and where to look when work is incomplete.

3. Find a scene you recognize

Choose the exercise collection as the search scope. Describe something you know is in the footage, such as “hands writing in a notebook” or “a person watering plants.” Adapt the example to your files.

Open a likely result and review the returned shot. Confirm the subject and action in the video rather than relying on its thumbnail or AI summary. If the results are too broad, follow Search better to adjust one part of the query at a time.

4. Select one complete shot

Add the chosen shot to the current selection. Open Selected Shots and check that only the intended shot is selected, with the expected source and detected start/end range.

This workflow selects a complete detected shot. If you need only a shorter moment inside it, trim the exported clip later in your editor. Keep the original source available at its imported path throughout preview and export.

5. Export and inspect the file

Open the export dialog and choose Video File. Choose a destination folder and review the available settings. Check frame rate and dimensions against your intended use; an export preset can change source properties. Follow Review and export for the available choices.

Wait for export to finish, then open the output file. Confirm that it plays, contains the expected shot, has the intended duration, and includes audio if your source and task require it. If export fails, use Troubleshooting before repeating the operation.

You are finished when the exported file is usable. Next, try finding three B-roll shots to turn separate searches into a small promotional sequence.