# Edit on a timeline

Arrange clips, keep the best moments, add a headline, and adjust the frame.

Source: https://www.creativly.ai/docs/video-editor/overview

![Actual dark Video Editor with two uploaded blue-cup films, an eight-second timeline, a separate text track, and the headline Make room for slow mornings above the product.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/editor-workspace-f9fe2426cbffb136.webp)

Two product clips, one short edit. Uploads are on the left, the preview is on the right, and timing lives below.

Use the **Video Editor** to assemble existing footage. To change what happens *inside* a clip with a prompt and references, use [AI video editing](https://www.creativly.ai/docs/sessions/edit-video) instead.

## Bring in your footage

Open **Uploads → Upload media** and choose a video. Move the playhead before adding the next clip, then drag clips into the order you want on the timeline. Keep clips on the same track for a simple sequence; leave no gap between them.

Try the same source files: [Terracotta clip](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/flow-reference-source-original-06f972cc78cea13c.mp4) · [Studio clip](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/flow-reference-result-original-d2a1ed2b589b0652.mp4). These are the original inputs, not an exported edit.

## Keep the best moment

Select the clip, move the playhead to your cut, and choose the **scissors — Split** button. Select the unwanted piece and choose **Delete**. The uploaded source stays available.

![Timeline close-up showing the scissors and delete controls, with a five-second source split into two pieces at about three seconds.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/editor-split-f60ee1b263169f2f.webp)

Split at the playhead. Here the first three seconds are kept and the remaining tail is removed.

Use **Fit Timeline** to see the whole sequence, or the zoom slider to work more precisely. **Snapping** helps line up clips.

## Add the finishing touches

### Text

Open **Text**, enter your headline, and choose **Add Text**. Select it to open **Props**, then set the font, weight, size and colour. Drag the text in the preview to position it.

![Text properties showing Montserrat Bold, size 60, dark text, transparent fill and centre alignment.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/editor-text-controls-3bd1bf3a97707d34.webp)

The headline is a separate timeline item, so its position and duration are independent of the video.

**Color** changes the letters; **Fill** changes the background behind them. Click the colour swatch to open its picker.

### Clip & sound

Select a video and open **Props**. **Volume** adjusts that clip's sound; the speaker beside a timeline track mutes the track. **Opacity** and **Speed** are separate controls.

![Video properties with Volume 60, Opacity 100, Speed 1 and the ratio lock enabled.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/editor-clip-controls-c6207e3eb1b04ee5.webp)

This clip's volume is reduced to 60. Its speed stays at 1×.

### Format

Open **Format** and choose **16:9**, **1:1** or **9:16**. Check the framing of every clip after changing the shape. A selected clip's **Fill canvas** control fills the frame; check that important details have not been cropped.

![Format panel with landscape 16:9 selected beside square 1:1 and portrait 9:16.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/editor-format-fdaf597e341bffce.webp)

Choose the shape of the edit here. Export size is a separate setting.

## Preview the whole edit

Choose **Jump to start**, then **Play**. Check both sides of each cut, the text's timing, and the sound—not just a single frame.

### If a transition preview goes black

Keep a straight cut for this example. A fade transition made the later preview go black in our latest check; removing it restored playback. Transition playback needs another check before relying on it.

## Export controls

The download icon at the top right opens **Export**. Choose the output size, decide whether to **Include audio**, select **MP4**, then choose **Download MP4**.

![Export popover with Include audio enabled, Canvas 1920 by 1080, format choices, and Download MP4.](https://pub-60e30bed45514f03933d3900731bea31.r2.dev/public-app-sessions/v1/documentation/editor-export-7f9be286ceefe3d3.webp)

Export settings for a landscape 1920 × 1080 canvas.

**Current export issue:** MP4 export failed in our latest production check because of a browser security-policy error. No finished file was created. Keep your original media; an error or a closed export panel does not mean the download succeeded.

This standalone editor keeps its working project in this browser. Refreshing preserved this edit, but clearing browser data can remove local work. Do not treat it as a cloud backup or a project you can automatically reopen on another device.

Open in Creativly: [Video Editor ↗](https://www.creativly.ai/apps/videoeditor)