Introduction
Trimming adjusts the point where two clips touch i.e Edit Point. A clip’s edge is a clip’s In or Out point or edit point. Clip on the left side of edit point is called as A side clip. Clip on right side of the edit point is also known as B side clip. Trimming clips modify how they play back in a sequence. Clips can be edited in the Source Monitor, Program Monitor, or on Timeline. This post is about trimming clip in Timeline. Below image shows tools which are used for Trimming.
Ripple Edit Tool
Ripple edit trims a clip and shifts subsequent clips in the track by the amount you trim. It also preserves all edits to the left or right of the trimmed clip. Keyboard shortcut to select this tool is B key. To trim using this tool:
- Select Ripple Edit tool from Tools Panel.
- Hover mouse pointer over the edge of the clip you want to trim.
- When pointer change to the ripple tool, drag it in a direction to trim
- Using Program Monitor split screen to find a better matching edit. Frame on the left shows last frame of the A side clip. Frame on the right shows first clip of the B side clip.
To enable Ripple Edit tool in Editing Mode
- Select Selection Tool.
- Press Ctrl (Command) and then click on the clip. Cursor will change to Ripple Edit tool.
- Drag the icon in a direction to trim. Alternatively press Ctrl (Option) and right/left arrow key to trim.
Ripple tool can also used to trim the clip from the edit point till the playhead. For trimming clip till playehead
- Select Selection Tool.
- Press Ctrl (Command) and then click on the clip. Cursor will change to Ripple Edit tool.
- Adjust the playhead position and press E key to trim.
Rolling Edit Tool
Rolling edit rolls the cut point between two adjacent clips, shortening one and lengthening the other by the same amount of frames. It retains the overall length of the project. Keyboard shortcut to select this tool is N key. To trim using this tool:
- Open sequences in Timeline, if it is not already open.
- Select the Rolling Edit tool in the Tools panel. Hover mouse pointer over the edge of the clip you want to trim.
- When pointer change to the Rolling Edit, drag the edit point between clips to trim.
- Using Program Monitor split screen to find a better matching edit. Frame on the left shows last frame of the A side clip. Frame on the right shows first clip of the B side clip.
To enable Rolling Edit tool in Editing Mode
- Select Selection Tool.
- Press Ctrl (Command) and then click on edit point. Cursor will change to Rolling Edit tool. To trim only one track Press Alt (Option) along with Ctrl (comamnd).
- Drag the icon in a direction to trim. Alternatively press Ctrl (Option) and right/left arrow key to trim.