How to create viral clips with motion graphics in Riverside
Create scroll-stopping clips by adding animated headlines and motion graphics to Magic Clips.
Create scroll-stopping clips by adding animated headlines and motion graphics to Magic Clips.
Published on October 10, 2026
A few intentional edits can give a great moment a better chance on social. This tutorial starts with Magic Clips and adds motion graphics in the Riverside Editor.
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00:00 This is a clip from a longer video, and this is the same clip with a stronger opening and motion graphics that make the main point stand out. The difference is a few intentional edits that give people a reason to keep watching. In this video, I'll show you how to create social clips with Riverside, starting with magic clips, then adding motion graphics in the Editor for YouTube Shorts, Instagram, Reels, or TikTok. Going viral isn't guaranteed, but you can give a great moment a better chance. Before we start ending graphics, we need a moment worth watching.
00:27 Think about the clips you actually stop scrolling for on social media. Maybe someone makes a shocking statement, shares a useful tip, or tells a story you immediately want to hear the ending of. That's what we're looking for here, something that makes sense to someone who hasn't watched the full video. In Riverside, open your project and go to the Made For You tab. Scroll down to Magic Clips, where Riverside's AI identifies highlights from your recording and turns them into short clips. You can preview those options here, because the moment you pick is going to shape everything else we do. For this example, I'm looking for a clip with one clear idea and a useful takeaway. Something where we can use an animated headline to introduce the topic, then highlight the main point later. Once you've found a clip you like, click Edit to open it in the Riverside Editor. Before adding motion graphics, I'll make a few basic edits. Check the framing, add captions, and trim anything
01:14 unnecessary from the beginning or end. Once that's looking good, let's add some motion graphics to help a hook and main takeaway stand out. Motion graphics are animated visual elements like headlines, quote cards, and callouts. For your social clip, I'd start with a headline that helps someone understand why they should watch. Let's say our clip is about getting better results from the camera you already own. A headline like Before You Buy a New Camera creates a little curiosity while introducing the topic.
01:40 To add it, move the playhead near the opening and click Motion in the editing toolbar. Hover over the templates to preview them, then choose a headline style that fits your clip. The template opens in Co-Creator where you can describe the changes you want. For this example, I'll write, change the headline to Before You Buy a New Camera, use bold white text with a yellow accent, and a simple animation. Once I'm happy with it, I'll click Add to Timeline. Select the graphic overlay to resize it on the canvas, then adjust its placement and duration on the timeline. For this headline, I keep it visible long enough to read, then let it clear so the viewer can focus on the speaker.
02:14 If the design needs another adjustment, you can ask Co-Creator to make some changes. The goal here is to make the opening easier to follow. If the graphic becomes the most distracting part of the clip, simplify it. Now we've given the opening some visual interest. Let's highlight the main takeaway. For a camera example, maybe the speaker's point is that better lighting can improve your image before you spend money on another camera. That's a good place for a call out. Start with your lighting. And with Riverside's updated motion graphics Editor, you can now create a graphic directly from a custom prompt.
02:41 So this time, I'll describe what I want. Create an animated graphic call out that says, start with your lighting. Use bold white text with a yellow accent, add an animated character above it, holding a light that you would see on a movie set. The light turns on and shines to the side. Keep the design minimal so it's easy to read on a vertical social clip. You can also upload an image reference to your custom motion graphic, a visual direction. That could be a design you like or reference showing the colors, fonts, and layout you're going for. Once it's generated, I'll preview it and ask for any adjustments needed to match the opening headline. Then I'll add it to the timeline.
03:15 Now we have two graphics with a clear purpose, a headline that introduces the topic and a custom call out that helps the takeaway stick. And if you need help writing a prompt, you can always ask Co-Creator or chat TBT or another AI assistant to help you create one. Then you can tweak the suggestion and use it to generate your graphic. Now, once everything looks good, export your finished clip and share it. You can repeat this process with another magic clip, choosing graphics that fit that particular moment. Some clips might only need one headline, others might benefit from a visual that explains the takeaway. So if you want to create social clips with motion graphics and Riverside, you can use the link in the description to get started. And if you want to learn more about recording, editing and creating better content with Riverside, I'll link a few more videos for you to watch right up here and in the description down below. Be sure to like this video and
04:00 subscribe for more content just like this. And if you have any questions about motion graphics or creating clips in Riverside, feel free to ask them in the comments and I'll be happy to answer them personally. Thank you so much for watching and we can't wait to see what you create.
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