Making process videos shouldn't slow down your creative flow. If you use MediBang Paint, you already have a built-in recorder that logs every stroke without bogging down your device RAM.
This guide walks you through activating the recorder, adjusting export settings, and exporting clean MP4 files ready for social media. Whether you're drawing on a phone, tablet, or desktop, here's how to turn your raw sketches into engaging time-lapse videos.
How MediBang Paint Records Your Canvas
Unlike external screen capture apps that record every stray click, menu navigation, and desktop notification, the native MediBang Paint recording engine tracks only what happens on the active canvas.
The software captures discrete states of your artwork at set intervals, logging brush strokes, color fills, and layer adjustments. Because it ignores off-canvas movements, your final speedpaint stays clean and focused entirely on the artwork. It runs quietly in the background, meaning you won't have to fiddle with third-party audio drivers or crop out your system taskbar later.
Step 1: Enabling and Starting the Recorder
You can initialize the recording feature in two ways depending on whether you're starting a fresh illustration or opening an existing project.
- For New Canvases: Open the app home screen, tap New Canvas, and check the box labeled Enable time lapse before hitting create. The recorder will start tracking the exact second your first layer loads.
- For Active Canvases: If you're already midway through a drawing, open the menu icon and tap Start Time Lapse. Look at the shortcut bar on the right side of your screen—if it glows red, your strokes are actively being recorded.
If you forget to turn it on immediately, don't panic. You can toggle the recording state at any point during your drawing session through the main menu settings.
Step 2: Managing and Stopping Your Recording
When you finish your drawing session or complete the piece, you need to stop the tracker before exporting.
- Open the main menu bar and navigate to Time-lapse.
- Select Time-lapse gallery to view a list of all recorded sessions stored locally on your device.
- Tap Stop Time Lapse if your session is still active.
Keeping multiple sessions organized helps if you break a single drawing across several days. The gallery stores each session safely, letting you preview the playback speed before committing to a final render.
Step 3: Exporting Your Time-Lapse as an MP4 Video
Raw session data isn't playable on standard video players. You have to compile the stored frames into a standard MP4 file format.
- Go to your Time-lapse gallery from the home screen or main menu.
- Tap on the specific artwork you want to export.
- Select Create video.
- Set the target duration for your final video (for instance, condensing a four-hour drawing session into a punchy 30-second clip).
- Choose your local save destination and confirm.
The app processes the frames in the background. Once completed, your file is saved locally, ready to upload to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts.
Advanced Tip: Combining Multiple Time-Lapse Files
Sometimes a massive illustration takes weeks, resulting in separate recording files that you want to merge into one continuous video. MediBang Paint includes a built-in concatenation feature for this exact scenario.
- Open your Time-lapse gallery.
- Press and hold down on the first file you want to connect.
- Select all other related sessions you want to string together in chronological order.
- Tap the Union (or Connect Time Lapse) button located at the top right of your screen.
The software merges the sequence into a single timeline, allowing you to export a unified speedpaint without needing separate desktop video editing software.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to check storage space: Rendering long, high-resolution canvas histories takes temporary memory. Clear out device space if your app crashes during export.
- Leaving hidden messy layers enabled: Everything visible on the canvas gets recorded. If you scribble notes or hide color tests midway, they might flash briefly in the final render. Clean up your layer palette before you start.
- Ignoring platform aspect ratios: Keep your initial canvas dimensions in mind. If you draw in a massive square format, vertical platforms like TikTok will crop your sides automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning on the time-lapse feature slow down the app?
No. Because the software tracks vector points and pixel changes internally rather than capturing continuous screen video, it has a negligible impact on device performance, even on mobile devices.
Can I edit the speed of the exported video?
Yes. When you select Create video, the app prompts you to define how many seconds the total time-lapse should fit into. Adjusting this slider lets you speed up or slow down the playback pacing.
Where are my recorded time-lapse files stored?
They are saved within the app's local storage directory under the time-lapse gallery. Always export them out to your device's main gallery or camera roll if you plan on uninstalling the app.
Why is the recording button not glowing red?
If the shortcut bar isn't glowing red, it means the feature is currently paused or disabled. Open your menu settings and ensure the time-lapse toggle is manually switched to active.
