Creating Video NFTs: A Comprehensive Tutorial and Technical Guide

6 min readDec 13, 2023

In today’s dynamic marketing landscape, digital video content plays a pivotal role in engaging audiences and enhancing brand visibility. The integration of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has introduced groundbreaking opportunities for content creators, especially in the realm of video.

This tutorial explores the significance of Video NFTs, their technical underpinnings, and a step-by-step guide to creating and selling them.

Understanding Video NFTs

What are Video NFTs?

A Video NFT, or Non-Fungible Token video, is a unique digital asset created by minting a video as an NFT. Each NFT video is assigned a distinct code, establishing its one-of-a-kind status. This uniqueness, recorded on the blockchain, introduces a concept of digital scarcity, adding value and collectibility.

Key Features of Video NFTs

Ownership: NFTs grant exclusive ownership of a particular digital video.
Authentication: Blockchain technology ensures secure ownership verification.
Value: NFT Videos can be bought and sold like physical items, with value determined by demand.
Uniqueness: Each NFT represents the uniqueness of the associated digital video.

How It Works

NFTs are stored on the Ethereum blockchain, a decentralized and secure ledger. Blockchain technology ensures transparent and verifiable ownership. The value of an NFT is based on its uniqueness and can be traded in the market.

Things to Consider Before Creating NFT Videos

Before diving into creating NFT videos, several factors must be considered:

1. Choose the Right NFT Marketplace

Select a marketplace that aligns with your goals. Notable options include OpenSea.io, Rarible, Foundation, and SuperRare. Each platform caters to different needs and has specific requirements.

2. NFT Video Size and Format

Different marketplaces have varying size and format requirements. Ensure your video adheres to the specified limits for platforms like OpenSea, Rarible, Foundation, and SuperRare.

3. Digital Wallets

Have a digital wallet supporting the relevant cryptocurrency, typically Ethereum. Monitor cryptocurrency prices and use trading journals for informed decisions.

Creating NFT Video Art: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Select Your Artistic Style and Software

Choose software aligned with your artistic vision. For 3D animations, Blender or Maya may be suitable, while Adobe After Effects or Toon Boom Harmony could be chosen for 2D animations.

2. Craft Your Video Art

Experiment with various techniques, from live-action footage to stop-motion animation. The creative process allows for vast possibilities in producing unique video art.

3. Enhance and Export Your Video

Add elements like sound effects or background music to enhance the viewer’s experience. Export the final video in a format compatible with NFT marketplaces.

4. Transform Your Video into an NFT

Publish your video on an NFT marketplace such as OpenSea or Rarible. Provide a description, set a price, and link your digital wallet. The platform guides you through the process.

5. List Your NFT for Sale

Choose a fixed price or auction format. Once sold, you receive payment in cryptocurrency.

6. Promote Your Video NFT

Maximize exposure by sharing your NFT on platforms like Twitter and engaging with NFT-related communities on Reddit.

Solidity Code Operation

Certainly! Let’s create a simple Solidity smart contract, explain its components, and then update the content to include additional features.

Sample Solidity Smart Contract: NFTVideoContract

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC721/ERC721.sol";
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/access/Ownable.sol";
contract NFTVideoContract is ERC721, Ownable {
 // Variables
 uint256 public nextTokenId;
 mapping(uint256 => string) private _tokenURIs;
// Events
 event Minted(address indexed owner, uint256 indexed tokenId, string tokenURI);
// Constructor
 constructor() ERC721("NFTVideoContract", "NVC") {}
// Mint NFT Video
 function mintNFT(address to, string memory tokenURI) external onlyOwner {
 uint256 tokenId = nextTokenId;
 _safeMint(to, tokenId);
 _setTokenURI(tokenId, tokenURI);
 nextTokenId++;
 emit Minted(to, tokenId, tokenURI);
 }
// Internal function to set token URI
 function _setTokenURI(uint256 tokenId, string memory tokenURI) internal {
 require(_exists(tokenId), "ERC721Metadata: URI set of nonexistent token");
 _tokenURIs[tokenId] = tokenURI;
 }
// External function to get token URI
 function getTokenURI(uint256 tokenId) external view returns (string memory) {
 return _tokenURIs[tokenId];
 }
}

Explanation of the Solidity Code:

1. Import Statements:
— `ERC721`: This is a standard Ethereum contract for NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).
— `Ownable`: This contract provides basic authorization control functions, simplifying the implementation of user permissions.

2. Contract Declaration:
— `NFTVideoContract` is declared, inheriting from `ERC721` and `Ownable`.

3. Variables:
— `nextTokenId`: A variable to keep track of the next token ID to be minted.
— `_tokenURIs`: A mapping to store the URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) associated with each token ID.

4. Events:
— `Minted`: An event emitted when a new NFT video is minted.

5. Constructor:
— The contract constructor initializes the ERC721 contract with the name “NFTVideoContract” and the symbol “NVC.”

6. Mint NFT Function:
— `mintNFT`: Allows the contract owner to mint a new NFT video. It increments the token ID, mints the NFT, sets the token URI, and emits the `Minted` event.

7. Internal Function to Set Token URI:
— `_setTokenURI`: An internal function to set the URI for a given token ID.

8. External Function to Get Token URI:
— `getTokenURI`: Allows external parties to retrieve the token URI for a given token ID.

Update: Additional Feature — Royalties

Let’s add a royalties feature to the contract, allowing creators to receive a percentage of future sales.

// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
pragma solidity ^0.8.0;
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/token/ERC721/extensions/ERC721Enumerable.sol";
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/access/Ownable.sol";
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/interfaces/IERC2981.sol";
import "@openzeppelin/contracts/utils/math/uint256.sol";
contract NFTVideoContract is ERC721Enumerable, Ownable, IERC2981 {
 using SafeMath for uint256;
// Variables
 uint256 public nextTokenId;
 mapping(uint256 => string) private _tokenURIs;
 mapping(uint256 => address) private _creators;
 mapping(uint256 => uint256) private _royalties;
// Events
 event Minted(address indexed owner, uint256 indexed tokenId, string tokenURI);
// Royalties
 uint256 private _royaltyPercentage;
// Constructor
 constructor(uint256 royaltyPercentage) ERC721("NFTVideoContract", "NVC") {
 _royaltyPercentage = royaltyPercentage;
 }
// Mint NFT Video
 function mintNFT(address to, string memory tokenURI) external onlyOwner {
 uint256 tokenId = nextTokenId;
 _safeMint(to, tokenId);
 _setTokenURI(tokenId, tokenURI);
 _setCreator(tokenId, msg.sender);
 nextTokenId++;
 emit Minted(to, tokenId, tokenURI);
 }
// Internal function to set token URI
 function _setTokenURI(uint256 tokenId, string memory tokenURI) internal {
 require(_exists(tokenId), "ERC721Metadata: URI set of nonexistent token");
 _tokenURIs[tokenId] = tokenURI;
 }
// Internal function to set creator
 function _setCreator(uint256 tokenId, address creator) internal {
 _creators[tokenId] = creator;
 }
// External function to get token URI
 function getTokenURI(uint256 tokenId) external view returns (string memory) {
 return _tokenURIs[tokenId];
 }
// External function to get creator address
 function getCreator(uint256 tokenId) external view returns (address) {
 return _creators[tokenId];
 }
// External function to get royalties for a token
 function royaltyInfo(uint256 tokenId, uint256 value) external view override returns (address, uint256) {
 address creator = _creators[tokenId];
 uint256 royaltyAmount = value.mul(_royaltyPercentage).div(100);
 return (creator, royaltyAmount);
 }
// External function to set royalty percentage
 function setRoyaltyPercentage(uint256 newRoyaltyPercentage) external onlyOwner {
 require(newRoyaltyPercentage <= 100, "Royalty percentage cannot exceed 100%");
 _royaltyPercentage = newRoyaltyPercentage;
 }
}

Updated Explanation:

1. Royalties Feature:
— Added `_creators` mapping to store the creator’s address for each token.
— Added `_royalties` mapping to store the royalties for each token.
— Added `_royaltyPercentage` to set the percentage of royalties.

2. Updated Constructor:
— Takes `royaltyPercentage` as a parameter to set the initial royalty percentage.

3. Updated Mint NFT Function:
— Sets the creator and initializes royalties when minting.

4. Updated Internal Function to Set Creator:
— Sets the creator’s address when minting.

5. Updated Royalty Functions:
— `getCreator`: Allows external parties to retrieve the creator’s address for a given token ID.
— `royaltyInfo`: Implements the ERC2981 interface to provide royalty information for a given token.

6. Updated External Function to Set Royalty Percentage:
— Allows the contract owner to update the royalty percentage.

This updated contract introduces a royalties feature, ensuring creators receive a percentage of future sales. The ERC2981 interface is implemented to standardize royalty information retrieval. The contract remains flexible for further enhancements and customization.

Conclusion

Video NFTs have revolutionized the digital content landscape, providing creators with a unique monetization avenue. The blockchain-backed ownership and programmable capabilities hint at exciting possibilities. As Video NFTs reshape our digital experiences, this tutorial serves as a comprehensive guide for creators and enthusiasts looking to navigate the world of Video NFTs with confidence.

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