# 🔥❄️ CAPCUT TUTORIAL - POST #5 "THE HINT"

**For:** Michael (The Wizard)  
**Purpose:** Create blurred logo teaser video for FOMO campaign  
**Time:** 10-15 minutes  
**Difficulty:** Easy - Simple blur animation effect  
**Post Date:** Friday, April 10, 2026 @ 4:00 PM CDT

---

## 📱 WHAT YOU'LL NEED

### 1. CapCut App
**Mobile:** iPhone/Android app  
**Desktop:** https://www.capcut.com/download  
**Cost:** FREE

### 2. Asset Needed
- **Logo:** Firefrost logo on pure black background (the one you mentioned)
  - File should be: Logo with black background, no transparency needed

---

## 🎬 WHAT YOU'RE MAKING

**A 5-7 second mystery teaser video:**

```
[0-2 seconds]    Logo HEAVILY blurred (unrecognizable abstract colors)
[2-5 seconds]    Blur gradually reduces (shape starts emerging)
[5-7 seconds]    Still blurred but ALMOST visible (teasing the reveal)
```

**The Goal:** Viewers think "I can almost see what that is... what IS that?"

---

## 📝 STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

### STEP 1: Start Your Project
1. Open CapCut
2. Tap/Click "New Project"
3. Select **9:16** (vertical) for social media
   - *Note: We'll export both vertical and horizontal versions*

---

### STEP 2: Import the Logo
1. Tap "+" to import media
2. Select your Firefrost logo (black background version)
3. It will appear on the timeline
4. Tap the clip
5. Set **Duration** to **7.0 seconds**

---

### STEP 3: Duplicate the Clip (Important!)
1. Tap the logo clip on the timeline
2. Tap "Copy" or "Duplicate"
3. You now have TWO identical 7-second clips
4. **Why?** One will be the blurred layer, one will be the underneath layer

---

### STEP 4: Apply Blur to Top Layer
1. Tap the **TOP clip** (the second one)
2. Tap "Effects"
3. Search for "Blur" or scroll to "Blur Effects"
4. Select **"Gaussian Blur"** or **"Blur"**
5. Set blur strength to **MAXIMUM** (100%)
6. Tap checkmark

**You should now see:** A heavily blurred abstract blob of orange and cyan colors

---

### STEP 5: Create Keyframe Animation (The Magic Part!)

#### On Mobile:
1. Tap the blurred clip (top layer)
2. Move the playhead to **0 seconds** (start)
3. Tap the clip → Tap "Effects" → Find the blur you applied
4. Make sure blur is at **100%** (maximum)
5. Tap the **diamond icon** (keyframe button) - this locks blur at 100% at start
6. Move playhead to **7 seconds** (end)
7. Reduce blur strength to **40%** (still blurred but shape visible)
8. Tap diamond icon again (creates second keyframe)
9. Tap checkmark

#### On Desktop:
1. Click the blurred clip
2. In the right panel, find "Blur" effect
3. Move playhead to **0 seconds**
4. Set blur to **100%**
5. Click the **stopwatch icon** next to blur slider (creates keyframe)
6. Move playhead to **7 seconds**
7. Set blur to **40%**
8. Second keyframe auto-creates

**What this does:** Blur gradually reduces from 100% to 40% over 7 seconds

---

### STEP 6: Add Subtle Glow Effect (Optional but Nice!)
1. Tap the logo clip (bottom layer, the clear one)
2. Tap "Effects"
3. Search "glow" or find "Light Effects"
4. Select **"Outer Glow"** or **"Soft Glow"**
5. Color: Set to cyan (#4ECDC4) or orange (#FF6B35) - your choice
6. Intensity: **20-30%** (subtle!)
7. Tap checkmark

**Why?** Adds a gentle halo that bleeds through the blur, enhancing the mysterious vibe

---

### STEP 7: Fine-Tune the Blur End Point
1. Play the video from start
2. Watch how the blur reduces
3. **At 7 seconds:** Can you ALMOST tell it's the Firefrost logo but not quite?
   - ✅ **Perfect!** That's the sweet spot
   - ❌ **Too clear?** Increase end blur to 50-60%
   - ❌ **Too blurry?** Decrease end blur to 30-35%

**The goal:** Viewers should see circular shape + fire/frost colors but NOT be able to read it clearly

---

### STEP 8: Add Ambient Sound (Optional)
1. Tap "Audio" at bottom
2. Tap "Sounds"
3. Search "mysterious" or "ambient" or "drone"
4. Find a low, mysterious tone
5. Add to timeline
6. Set volume to **50-60%** (subtle background)

**Alternative:** Add a soft "whoosh" sound at the end when blur reduces

---

### STEP 9: Preview Your Work
1. Tap "Play" button
2. Watch the full 7 seconds
3. Does the blur gradually reduce from "totally unrecognizable" to "almost visible"?
4. Does it end with mystery intact (not fully revealed)?

**If yes:** You're ready to export!  
**If no:** Adjust the blur keyframes in Step 5

---

### STEP 10: Export Vertical Version
1. Tap "Export" (top right)
2. Settings:
   - **Resolution:** 1080p
   - **Frame rate:** 30fps
   - **Quality:** High
3. Tap "Export"
4. Save to Photos/Files
5. Rename: `Post-5-The-Hint-VERTICAL.mp4`

---

### STEP 11: Export Horizontal Version (16:9)
1. Go back to project (don't close it)
2. Tap the canvas (video preview area)
3. Tap "Ratio" or "Canvas"
4. Select **16:9** (horizontal/landscape)
5. Check that logo is centered and not cut off
6. Export again
7. Rename: `Post-5-The-Hint-HORIZONTAL.mp4`

---

## ✅ YOU'RE DONE!

You now have a mysterious teaser video that says:
> "Something is coming... but you can't quite see it yet."

---

## 🎯 POST COPY (From FOMO Campaign)

**Caption:**
```
Something is almost ready.

The fire has been burning for a while now.
The frost has been building just as long.

When the two meet — you'll want to already be inside.

firefrostgaming.com/discord
```

**Hashtags:** #Gaming #Minecraft #ModdedMinecraft #ComingSoon #FirefrostGaming #Teaser

**Platforms:** Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X/Twitter, Bluesky  
**Post Time:** Friday, April 10, 2026 @ 4:00 PM CDT

---

## 💡 PRO TIPS

### Adjusting Blur Intensity:
- **Want MORE mystery?** End blur at 50-60% (less visible)
- **Want MORE reveal?** End blur at 30-35% (more visible)
- **Sweet spot:** 40% (can see shape, can't read details)

### Alternative Approach (Simpler):
If keyframes are confusing, just:
1. Import logo
2. Add blur effect at 100%
3. Manually reduce blur over time by splitting the clip into 3 sections
4. Section 1 (0-2s): 100% blur
5. Section 2 (2-5s): 60% blur
6. Section 3 (5-7s): 40% blur

### Color Bleeding Effect (Advanced):
- Add a second copy of the logo
- Set to "Screen" or "Add" blend mode
- Apply slight motion blur
- Creates dreamy color bleed between Fire and Frost sides

---

## 🆘 TROUBLESHOOTING

**Problem:** "I can't find keyframe button"  
**Solution:** Some mobile versions: tap clip → Animation → Custom (then you can keyframe effects)

**Problem:** "The blur doesn't animate smoothly"  
**Solution:** Make sure you have TWO keyframes (one at start, one at end)

**Problem:** "The video is too short"  
**Solution:** Extend duration in Step 2 to 8-10 seconds if needed

**Problem:** "Logo is cut off in vertical mode"  
**Solution:** Pinch to resize logo smaller, or use 16:9 horizontal instead

**Problem:** "Blur effect isn't smooth"  
**Solution:** Use "Gaussian Blur" specifically (smoothest option)

---

## 🎨 VISUAL REFERENCE

**What you should see at different timestamps:**

**0 seconds:**
- Abstract blob of warm orange and cool cyan
- No recognizable shape
- Just colorful blur on black

**3-4 seconds:**
- Circular shape starting to emerge
- Can tell "something" is there
- Still can't identify what it is

**7 seconds (end):**
- Can see it's a circular logo
- Can see fire/frost division
- CANNOT read text or see details clearly
- Viewer thinks: "What is that? I need to see it!"

---

## 📊 TECHNICAL SPECS

**Duration:** 5-7 seconds (7 seconds recommended)  
**Resolution:** 1080p (1920x1080 horizontal, 1080x1920 vertical)  
**Frame Rate:** 30fps  
**File Size:** ~5-10MB  
**Background:** Pure black (#000000)  
**Logo Colors:** Fire Orange (#FF6B35), Frost Cyan (#4ECDC4)

---

## 🔮 THE STRATEGY

**Why this works:**

Post #5 comes AFTER viewers have seen:
1. Post #1: Fire vs Frost question
2. Post #2: Twenty seats warning
3. Post #3: Fire/Frost philosophy
4. Post #4: Legacy message

**By Post #5:** They're invested. They want to know "WHAT IS THIS?"

The blurred logo says:
> "You're about to find out... but not quite yet."

It builds tension perfectly before:
- Post #6: Price reveal ($1 door + $499 Sovereign)
- Post #7: Butter CEO reveal
- Post #8: The Wanderer identity
- Post #9: FULL LOGO REVEAL

**This blur = mystery = FOMO = Discord joins.**

---

## ⏱️ TIME ESTIMATE

**First time:** 15 minutes  
**After practice:** 5-10 minutes  
**Adjustments/tweaks:** 2-3 minutes

---

## 📞 NEED HELP?

If you get stuck:
1. Try the "simpler approach" in Pro Tips (no keyframes)
2. Export with what you have and see how it looks
3. Adjust and re-export if needed
4. Remember: You can't break anything, unlimited undo!

---

**Fire + Frost + Mystery = The Hint** 🔥❄️

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**Created:** April 7, 2026  
**For:** Post #5 FOMO Campaign  
**By:** Chronicler #67
