Polotno SDK lets you embed a full video editor inside your app. Users can upload, trim, resize, and animate videos directly on the same canvas they use for images or templates. Everything runs client-side or on your own infrastructure, keeping data and UX fully under your control. For heavy export workloads or automation pipelines, Polotno Cloud Rendering API can handle rendering at scale.

The video element schema defines every editable parameter — playback, duration, masking, animations, transitions, and visual effects — giving developers complete programmatic control. You can generate or modify videos automatically using JSON schemas or integrate with AI systems to build dynamic creative workflows.

Key features

Upload and playback

Import MP4, MOV, or WebM files and play them directly on the canvas. Polotno handles in-browser decoding and preview, allowing users to interact with video layers instantly without waiting for server uploads.

Trim and resize

Adjust clip duration, crop, or aspect ratio directly in the browser. Polotno performs these edits locally for fast interaction and zero data transfer delays.

Layering and animation

Combine multiple videos, text, and graphics in one composition. Animate any element with fades, slides, or custom motion parameters to create polished, dynamic visuals.

Masks and overlays

Apply brand frames, custom shapes, or transparency masks to video layers. This allows flexible composition and style control across different creative formats.

Automation and schema control

Every video property — playback, duration, position, masking, transitions, and effects — is defined in the video element schema. Developers can generate, modify, or automate layouts via JSON for integration with AI or data-driven systems.

Export and rendering

Render final compositions to MP4 or GIF either locally, through your self-hosted rendering service, or via the Polotno Cloud Render API for automation and scale. Self-hosting gives you full control over performance, privacy, and infrastructure — while the cloud option handles heavy or parallel workloads seamlessly. Both methods use the same API and schema, so you can switch between them without changing your integration.

Example use cases

• Marketing and ad builders – Generate short branded videos from reusable templates and campaign data.

• AI content platforms – Combine generative visuals, text, and audio into complete video outputs through schema-based automation.

• E-commerce platforms – Let merchants create quick reels or product ads directly inside their store admin.

• Social media schedulers – Add a built-in video editor for trimming and branding content before publishing.

• Print and design platforms – Extend existing image or layout editors to support video compositions with no new infrastructure.

• Creative automation systems – Generate thousands of personalized videos using JSON schemas and render them via Polotno Cloud.

• Learning and training tools – Enable teams or educators to produce short branded explainers and internal content.

• Enterprise creative hubs – Provide in-house teams a secure, on-brand video editor hosted on internal servers, with optional cloud scaling for export.

Developer benefits

• One SDK for images, templates, and video — unified architecture.

• Self-hosted by default, cloud-ready when needed.

• Schema-driven for automation and reproducibility.

• Commercial-safe licensing for SaaS and enterprise apps.

FAQs

Can I run everything locally?

Yes. The editor and rendering service can be fully self-hosted.

Does Polotno support cloud rendering?

Yes. The Cloud Rendering API handles export workloads at any scale.

How does automation work?

All elements, including videos, are defined through JSON schema. You can generate or update projects programmatically.

Which export formats are supported?

MP4 and GIF, both locally and via cloud.

Can I mix videos with text, images, and graphics?

Yes — all creative layers share one canvas and one schema.