Editing

Transform

Options

Overlap Mode

Overlap Mode defines the result of transforming a strip so that it overlaps another strip.

Shuffle

The overlapping strip will be moved to the nearest free space so that it does not overlap.

Overwrite

The overlapped strip will be overwritten, trimmed or split by the overlapping strip.

Expand

All strips on the right side of (each) transformed will be shifted forward to accommodate the overlapping strip.

Snapping

It is possible to enable snapping in the header of the Video Sequencer. The snapping behavior can be configured as follows:

Snap to
Current Frame

Snaps the transformed selection to the Playhead.

Hold Offset

Snaps the transformed selection to the Hold Offset.

Ignore
Muted Strips

Muted Strips are not considered as snap targets.

Sound Strips

Sound Strips are not considered as snap targets.

Current Frame
Snap to Strips

Snaps the Playhead to all strips.

Move

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Move

Shortcut:

G

Pressing G moves all the selected strip(s). Move your mouse horizontally (left/right) to change the strip’s position in time. Move vertically (up/down) to change channels.

Holding down Ctrl while dragging enables or disables snapping.

You can also lock the direction to time with X or to change the strip’s channel with Y.

It is possible to move strips using mouse by dragging them while holding LMB. Currently it is possible to move only one strip by dragging.

Start Frame Offset

The Start Frame Offset for that strip can be selected by clicking LMB on the left handle of the strip; holding it down (or pressing G and then moving the mouse left/right) changes the start frame within the strip by the number of frames you move it. The frame number label under the strip displays the start frame of the strip.

  • If you have a 20-image sequence strip, and drag the left handle to the right by 10 frames, the strip will start at image 11 (images 1 to 10 will be skipped). Use this to clip off a roll-up or undesired lead-in.

  • Dragging the left handle left will create a lead-in (copies) of the first frame for as many frames as you drag it. Use this when you want some frames for a transition at the start of the clip.

End Frame

The End Frame of the strip could be selected by clicking LMB on the right handle of the strip; holding it down (or pressing G) and then moving the mouse changes the ending frame within the strip. The frame number label over the strip displays the end frame of the strip.

  • Dragging the right handle to the left shortens the clip; any original images at the tail are ignored. Use this to quickly clip off a roll-down.

  • Dragging the right handle to the right extends the clip. For movies and images sequences, more of the animation is used until exhausted. Extending a clip beyond its length will render as a copy of the last image. Use this for transitions out of this clip.

Note

Multiple selection

You can select several (handles of) strips by Shift-LMB clicking: when you press G, everything that is selected will move with your mouse – this means that, for example, you can at the same time move a strip, shorten two others, and extend a forth one.

Move/Extend from Current Frame

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Move/Extend from Current Frame

Shortcut:

E

With a number of strips selected, pressing E lets you interactively extend the strips. This is similar to moving but is useful for extending (or shortening) time around the current frame.

All selected strip handles to the “mouse side” of the current frame indicator will transform together, so you can change the duration of strips at the current frame.

Hint

Extend is a convenient way to adjust the time of rough edits such as an “animatic” (sequential storyboards). Where it’s possible to select everything and adjust the length of strips around the current frame. This can be especially useful when adding in audio or other elements that could cause the timing to need adjustment.

When performing this operation you may want to enable Markers ‣ Sync Markers so markers are updated too.

This simply a convenience operation, instead of manually selecting strips on one side of the current frame, as well as handles on one side of overlapping strips. Then selecting and transforming markers as well. This avoids the manual process, so re-timing can be accessed quickly.

Slip Strip Contents

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Slip Strip Contents

Shortcut:

S

The Slip tool allows you to change the position of the contents of a strip without moving the strip itself.

Snap Strips to the Current Frame

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Snap Strips to the Current Frame

Shortcut:

Shift-S

Moves the strip or control point to the current frame.

Clear Strips Offset

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Clear Strips Offset

Shortcut:

Alt-O

To reset the (soft) start/end frame handles.

Swap Strips

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Swap Strips

Left Alt-Left

Swaps the active strip with the strip to the left.

Right Alt-Right

Swaps the active strip with the strip to the right.

Remove Gaps

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Insert Gaps

Shortcut:

Backspace

Remove blank frames between the current frame and the first strip to the left, independent of selection or locked state of strips.

All Gaps

Remove gaps to the right of the strip along with the left.

Insert Gaps

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Transform ‣ Insert Gaps

Shortcut:

Equals

Insert blank frames between the current frame and the first strips to the right, independent of selection or locked state of strips.

Image Transform

Scale to Fit

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Image Transform ‣ Scale to Fit

Adjusts the strips Scale Transforms so the visual contents of the strip to fit exactly within the project’s Resolution while maintaining the original aspect ratio.

This may mean that the transparent areas may be added along the content’s border to fit the content in the rendered area.

Scale to Fill

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Image Transform ‣ Scale to Fill

Adjusts the strips Scale Transforms so the visual contents of the strip to span the project’s Resolution while maintaining the original aspect ratio.

This may mean that portions of the original image no longer fit the content inside the rendered area.

Stretch to Fill

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Image Transform ‣ Stretch to Fill

Adjusts the strips Scale Transforms so the visual contents of the strip to fill the project’s Resolution. Note, unlike the other two methods described above, Stretch to Fill does not maintaining the original aspect ratio.

This may mean that the original image becomes distorted to fit the content inside the rendered area.

Clear Position

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Image Transform ‣ Clear Position

Resets the strips Position Transforms to a value of zero.

Clear Scale

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Image Transform ‣ Clear Scale

Resets the strips Scale Transforms to a value of one.

Clear Rotation

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Image Transform ‣ Clear Rotation

Resets the strips Rotation Transform to a value of zero.

Clear All

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Image Transform ‣ Clear All

Resets the strips position, scale, and rotation Transforms to their default values.

Split

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Split

Shortcut:

K

This splits the selected strip in two at the current frame. This will result in two strips which use the same source, fitting the original strip’s timing and length.

Hint

This can be thought of as a quick way to duplicate the current strip, adjusting the start/end frames to form two non-overlapping strips showing the same content as before.

Hold Split

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Hold Split

Shortcut:

Shift-K

Like Split, it splits a strip in two distinct strips; however you will not be able to drag the endpoints to show the frames past the split of each resulting strip.

Although you can adjust the Hold Offset number fields in the Strip Info panel.

Hint

This can be thought of as a way to simulate splitting the video file in two parts at the cut-point, replacing the current strip with each.

Duplicate Strips

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Duplicate Strips

Shortcut:

Shift-D

Duplicate a strip to make an unlinked copy; drag it to a time and channel, and drop it by LMB click.

Delete

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Delete

Shortcut:

Delete, X

Delete the selected strip(s).

Update Scene Frame Range

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Update Scene Frame Range

For Scene strips only – Updates the strip’s Time properties to match the referenced scene’s frame range. This operator should be used when the referenced scene’s length is extended or shortened.

Separate Images

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Separate Images

Shortcut:

Y

For images sequence only – Converts the strip into multiple strips, one strip for each frame. Useful for slide shows and other cases where you want to bring in a set on non-continuous images.

Length

You have to specify the duration you want the resulting strips will be.

Movie Strip

Set Render Size

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Set Render Size

Sets the render resolution and aspect to match the strip’s resolution.

Deinterlace Movies

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Deinterlace Movies

Converts interlaced video into progressive video.

Effect Strip

Change Effect Input

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Effect Strip ‣ Change Effect Type

Swaps which strips are the input for the effect strip.

Change Effect Type

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Effect Strip ‣ Change Effect Type

Switch the effects on a selected Effect strip.

Reassign Inputs

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Effect Strip ‣ Reassign Inputs

Shortcut:

R

This tool can be used to assign (reconnect) effect strips in a different way. Select three arbitrary strips and press R. If you don’t create a cycle, those will be connected to a new effect chain.

Swap Inputs

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Effect Strip ‣ Swap Inputs

Shortcut:

Alt-S

Swaps the first two inputs for the effect strip.

Lock/Unlock

Lock Strips Shift-L

Disables the strip from being transformed.

Unlock Strips Shift-Alt-L

Enables disabled strips allowing them to be transformed.

Mute/Unmute

Mute/Unmute Strips H, Alt-H

Mute or unmute the selected strips.

Mute/Unmute Deselected Strips Shift-H, Ctrl-Alt-H

Mute or unmute all strips but the selected.

Inputs

Reload Strips Alt-R

Reloads the strips from their external saved location.

Reload Strips and Adjust Length Shift-Alt-R

Reloads the strips from their external saved location and re-adjusts the strip duration.

Change Path/Files

Changes the source file contained in a selected strip.

Swap Data

Swaps two sequence strips.

Context Menu

You can activate context menu by clicking RMB in the Sequencer’s timeline. In this menu you can quickly access some commonly used tools.

Fades

Reference

Menu:

Add ‣ Fades

This submenu contains tools to add or remove fades to strips. In case of visual strips the tools will animate the opacity or volume in case of audio strips.

Clear Fades

Removes fade animation from selected sequences.

Fade In and Out

Fade selected strips in and out.

Fade In

Fade in selected strips.

Fade Out

Fade out selected strips.

From Current Frame

Fade from the current frame to the end of overlapping sequences.

To Current Frame

Fade from the start of sequences under the Playhead to the current frame.

Retiming

../../../_images/video-editing-retiming.png

Strips can be sped up or, slowed down by adding and moving retiming keys. Retiming controls can be activated for individual strips, after which keys can be selected and moved.

Hint

To quickly change selected strip speed, press R and enter desired speed.

Note

Effect strips can not be retimed.

Adding Retiming Keys

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Retiming ‣ Add Retiming Key

Retiming key can be added to selected strips from retiming menu, or by pressing I and choosing Add Retiming Key option. This adds a key to current frame. This operation will also create keys at strip start and end point, since these keys must be always present.

When keys are selected, strips are deselected, but it is still possible to add new keys. In this case keys will be added to strips where any key is selected.

Selecting Retiming Keys

Retiming keys are always shown on strip as inactive by default. To select them, a strip property must be enabled. This can be done from retiming menu, side panel or by pressing Ctrl-R. After this is done, retiming keys can be selected.

Multiple keys can be selected at once with box selection. Box select will select keys, only if a key is already selected. Otherwise it will select strips only.

Moving Retiming Keys

Retiming key can be moved by dragging it with mouse, or by pressing G. The key is mapped to particular frame of strip content, so moving it effectively means moving a frame to a new position and therefore stretching, or contracting time flow.

When a key is moved, this does not affect position of other keys inside of the strip. If strip has more keys inside, multiple keys have to be selected, if only 1 segment has to be retimed. However if there are retiming keys outside of strip boundary, these will be moved along with first or last key in strip in order to preserve existing retiming, that is not visible.

Hint

Speed can be set by clicking on retiming key and pressing R or using context menu.

Note

Only strip content is retimed, existing animation is not handled by the tool.

Removing Retiming Keys

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Retiming ‣ Delete Retiming Keys

Retiming key can be deleted by selecting and pressing Del or X. When handle is deleted, strip size will not change, therefore speed will change to average between 2 retimed segments.

Hint

You can quickly revert back to original strip by resetting retiming from strip retiming menu.

Note

When transition key is removed, it will re-create simple retiming key from which transition was created.

Smooth Transitions

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Retiming ‣ Add Speed Transition

It is possible to create smooth transition from one speed to another speed. This can be done by selecting retiming key between 2 segments of different speeds, and choosing Add Speed Transition either from strip retiming menu or context menu. This will create 2 keys, that are linked and always move in opposite direction. if both keys are moved at once, this changes where transition starts and ends.

Freeze Frames

Reference

Menu:

Strip ‣ Retiming ‣ Add Freeze Frame

Freeze frame is used to stop strip playback at particular frame for any duration. Freeze frame can be added from strip retiming menu or context menu.

Note

It is not possible to make smooth transition into or from freeze frame.