Version 11 - probably a daft question...

Housepiglet · Post by **Housepiglet** » Wed May 14, 2008 6:49 pm

Hi there,

It's a while since I've used this product and today something is driving me mad. I've inserted a video file into the library and I want to trim it so I can use it in the timeline. I can choose the part I want by moving the two sliders, but what's confusing me is that the little 'cut' icon--shaped like scissors--seems to be blanked out most of the time. Can anyone please tell me why? And does it matter, since I can drag the sliders or move them by clicking the time up or down?

Many thanks for any help

westlight · Post by **westlight** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:49 pm

When you drag the sliders in you are in a way trimming the clip. Slide the trim handles to where you want the video to start and end then drag that clip to your timeline. You can always re-edit the start/end points later.

If you actually want to "cut" the video, using the scissors, which will end up giving you two separate clips, that's different. To do that, using the scissors, just drag the "slider" on top of the bar where the trim handles are located, to the point in the clip where you want to "cut" the video. You will then see two additional clips added to your library.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed May 14, 2008 9:54 pm

I think that the *really* simple answer is that you can't use the scissor icon while the clip is *only* in the library. The icon only becomes active once you drag the clip into the timeline. Trimming, after all, is editing, and editing is only carried out in the timeline.

Housepiglet · Post by **Housepiglet** » Sat May 17, 2008 3:24 am

Many thanks to both of you. I seem to have got the hang of it again