How do I make graphics for a video

[Minor Annoyance]

I have a concept for a youtube video I want to make but it might be more than an amateur can do, but I managed more c++ coding without any previous experience than I thought would be possible so I though I should see what's possible.
Part of what I want to do is have several video clips on a background (which I would need to create and possibly animate)and have the camera view zoom in to the individual clips, move between them, zoom back out. Plus other things, but that's what I'd need to start with.
So what program can I get that can do things like that, which would not be too complicated for an amateur to work? I'm not against buying a program but since I don't how well I could actually execute all this I don't want to buy something just to confirm I can't use it well enough to complete anything.

 

[warpus]

Adobe Premiere / After Effects would be good for that.. But AFAIK they are fairly expensive, and you'd need some training - wouldn't be able to just jump into it.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

You should be able to get a free 30-day trial for adobe AE and Premiere. Like warpus said though, you'd need some training. Premiere you can more or less get away with trying out different things, but After Effects you need to at least have some idea of what you're doing.

Ill say this: the main part of your idea, that is moving between clips would be fairly simple with Premiere. You'd need to position them on your canvas and then pan and zoom around the canvas. The animated background might be slightly more difficult, but besides that it sounds pretty easy tbh.

If you have the clips ready, I would go ahead and and get the Premiere trial and play around with it. If you have a clip that you can substitute for the background, it's even better as you will be able to do everything with just Premiere.

EDIT -- I think Premiere Elements should be able to do what you want, and there is definitely a trial available: http://www.adobe.com/products/premiereel/?promoid=121DJGSC_P_US_FP2_PRE_MN&tt=P_US_FP2_PRE_MN

http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/?promoid=121DJGSX_P_US_FP2_PR_CS4_MN&tt=P_US_FP2_PR_CS4_MN -- Premiere Pro trial is also available, but the full program is 800$. If you had a previous version, it would still be 300$ to upgrade.

http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/ -- Similarly, AE is 1000$, and it too has a trial.

As an aside, if once you finish this little project and feel interested in learning more about how to use Premiere or AE, Id look to see if your local community college offers courses in either of the two programs. If they do, they will likely offer both of the programs for a really low price, or maybe even free.

 

[warpus]

Lynda.com has EXCELLENT After Effects video tutorials. I would assume that they also have good ones for Premiere.

I'm not sure how much it is - my work pays for that stuff...

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Its between 25 and 38$ per month or 250$ per year. If you're serious about it, thats not very expensive, but I don't suggest it if you just want to try.

 

[Minor Annoyance]

OK I'll try Premiere Elements, when I get a new computer in a few months because mine is pretty old, and couldn't run it well. Also I'll try another less ambitious idea before then with just windows movie maker.
Thanks y'all.