How to Add a Text Match Cut to Your Edit in CapCut
Once you have downloaded your text match cut, the next step is putting it into your video. CapCut is one of the most popular free editors for short videos, so this guide uses it as the example. The same steps work in most other editors.
1. Import the clip
Open your project in CapCut and tap Import. Find the file in your downloads or files app. On iPhone, save it to Photos first if it does not appear. Select it and add it to the timeline.
2. Move it to the start
Most text match cuts work as an intro. Drag the clip to the very beginning of the timeline, before your first shot. If you want it as a chapter title instead, place it between two clips.
3. Check the size
If the clip and your project are both 9:16, it will fill the screen automatically. If you made a 1:1 clip for a 9:16 project, pinch to scale it up or add a blurred background from the Canvas menu.
4. Sync it with music
Text match cuts feel best when they land on the beat. Add your music track, then use the Beats feature to mark the beat points. Trim the end of the match cut so the next shot starts exactly on a strong beat.
If you made the clip with a sound effect, lower the music slightly during the intro so the paper or shutter sound is heard.
5. Add a transition
A hard cut is often the best choice: the fast match cut stops and the main video begins. If you prefer something softer, try a quick zoom or a flash transition. Avoid slow fades, which work against the energy of the effect.
6. Add captions
Because the highlighted word already tells viewers the topic, you may not need a title. If you add one, keep it short and place it above or below the centre so it does not cover the highlighted word.
7. Export
Export at 1080p and 30 frames per second for TikTok, Reels and Shorts. Higher frame rates rarely help with this effect, and they make files bigger.
Using other editors
- Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve: drag the file to the timeline and set the sequence to match the clip size.
- The TikTok editor: tap Upload, choose the clip and your main video together, then arrange them in order.
- Instagram Reels: add the clip as the first segment, then add your other clips after it.
Common problems
The file will not import. Some older editors do not open WebM files. Convert the file to MP4 with a free converter, or make the clip again in Chrome, Edge or Safari, which record MP4.
The colours look washed out. Check that no filter or adjustment is applied to the whole project.