Quick Guide: How to Use Video Effects in PowerDirector
Five steps: apply an effect, blur only the faces you choose, aim it with a mask, then add a filter or a LUT.
Updated Oct. 25, 2026 · 1 min read
Steps
1Apply an effect and open its settings
Drag an effect onto a clip, then click the shortcut above the timeline to open Effect Settings. Or click the i in the clip's lower-left corner.
Use the i when a clip is carrying several effects, because it lets you pick which one.
2Blur only the faces you mean
With a Face Blur effect applied, uncheck any face in Detected Faces that should stay visible.
Every detected face starts out checked, and you can set how heavy the blur is with the Strength slider.
3Aim the effect with a mask
Click Select one object in the Effect mask row, cover the subject with the selection tool, then click Track Object and OK.
Cover the subject completely before tracking, so you only have to track once.
4Lay a filter over the clip
Drag a filter onto a clip, and it applies to the whole clip.
Depending on the filter, it adds light leaks, grain, or texture over your footage.
5Re-grade the color with a LUT
Drag a LUT onto a clip, and its color tone applies right away.
To tone it down, lower the Strength slider in Effect Settings from its starting value of 100.
We tested these steps in PowerDirector 365 versions 23.6 and 25.0.10 on Windows.
