Autodesk 62205-051408-9001 User Guide - Page 396

15 Editing Clips Use the Edit operator to quickly and easily create a video sequence, which you can then composite, paint, or simply render out. Create wipes and dissolves to add elegance to the transitions between clips. About the Edit Operator Editing can be defined as a process whereby you assemble shots and scenes into a final project, and determine their length and ordering. The Edit operator expands the editing capabilities in Combustion by enabling you to edit images, and add transitions to segments, all in a linear fashion. Use the Edit operator to create image sequences that you can then output to another operator in the workspace. The Edit controls include the Timeline controls and the Output controls. You use the Output controls to choose the output format of the Edit operator. You can use the Timeline controls to import footage and add transitions; you can also move segments over time and trim them to choose which frames you want to view. The Edit timeline contains one video track, with no audio tracks. As with the other operators in Combustion, you can add an Edit operator as a branch, as a layer within a composite (via the Workspace panel, the Timeline, or the Schematic view), or output the result to any other operator. About Segments A segment in the Edit timeline is a graphical representation of the imported footage. Segments can be created from clips or from other operators. If the duration of a segment is shorter than the duration of the original clip, the head and tail frames are available. Head and tail frames are the frames at the beginning and end of the segment that are part of the original clip, but not used in the current segment. Head and tail frames are used for blending transitions, such as dissolves and wipes. Workflow You can work with Edit operators in any one of several ways, depending on your project requirements and preferences. Typically, you can use the Edit operator to easily edit a sequence of frames to obtain the desired footage, and then composite, paint, or add text to the resulting clip, or you can create effects on footage first, and then output the result to the Edit operator to create a final sequence on the Edit timeline. Since the Edit operator works the same way as the other operators in Combustion, you can also choose to add operators to segments in the Edit timeline. Changes you make to the operators are updated automatically. Edit Operator Interface This section briefly describes the Edit operator controls and available tools. It is intended as a quick reference for those who are familiar with using editing tools. Learn more about how to use these controls later in the chapter. 380