Night lapse
Also known as: NightLapse, night time-lapse, long exposure time-lapse
A time-lapse mode for dark scenes that uses long exposures per frame to capture stars, city lights and light trails, compressed into a short clip.
Updated
What it means
A normal time-lapse takes a frame at a set interval and plays them back quickly. In the dark, standard exposures are too short to capture much. Night lapse modes extend each frame exposure to several seconds or more, so the camera gathers enough light for stars, glowing clouds or the streets of a city.
GoPro calls its version NightLapse, and other brands offer similar modes. The camera chooses or lets you set the shutter time and interval, then records a sequence that turns hours of night into seconds of moving sky.
Long exposures also blur moving lights into streaks, which creates the classic look of car trails on roads.
How it works in practice
A stable mount is essential, ideally a tripod or a solid surface away from wind and vibration. Find a dark location for stars, frame some foreground interest like a tent, a ridge or a tree, and leave the camera undisturbed for at least an hour.
Battery life is the main limit. Long sessions in the cold drain batteries quickly, so use external power where possible. A lens heater or a hood helps prevent dew from forming on the lens during the night.
For star trails, some cameras combine frames into one image or a video where trails grow over time.
What to watch out for
Any movement ruins the shot: a bumped tripod, a gust of wind, or a person walking past with a headlamp. Choose a quiet spot and mark the camera so nobody trips over it.
Auto exposure can flicker as light levels change, for example when the moon rises or a car passes. Locked settings give smoother results, and deflicker tools in editors can smooth what remains.
Dew and frost on the lens slowly blur the image over the night. Check the lens before leaving it, and use a clean cover and some protection from moisture.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip uses the exported clip, not the individual frames. Upload the finished night lapse video file together with your daytime footage, and the AI can use it as a calm transition in your highlight.