Continue with the same timeline you have created in the exercise Timeline Assembly.

The edit that was previously created needs to be tightened up. We will use interactive trimming to remove unnecessary frames; these frames will still be available in the heads and tails of each clip.

1. Press Esc to display the Record player.
2. Select the Record Timeline view in the list, or press F5.
3. Set these Editing options on the EditDesk menu:
. Enable Trim.
. Enable Focus to interactively see the frame you are trimming.
. Enable Ripple and set it to End.
. Disable Lock.
When Lock is enabled, the head and tail values show as black numbers.
This locked mode can be useful when you want to prevent trimming the in-frame of a shot or when you slide a shot in the timeline but we don’t want to use it now.
4. To trim clips, drag their left and right edges to add or remove material.
A red trim cursor appears.
Since Ripple is on, the following clips move to compensate for removed frames.
5. Go ahead and trim the first clip head and tail while monitoring the player.
6. Continue to trim the shots on the timeline to create a more dynamic sequence.
For example, park at the beginning of the second shot and trim the head until the talent gets out of the shadows (around 10 frames).

To expand the track vertically and see more clip information, click and drag the track identifier (V1.L1).

Another way to trim clips is to use the trim keyboard shortcuts. The positioner determines which element will be trimmed.

1. Navigate to shot 7 on the timeline.
2. Scroll the shot and stop just before the gladiator’s spear gets out of frame.
3. Hold Shift+E+Up on the keyboard, and press SPACEBAR.
The frames are trimmed from the tail of the clip (about 12 frames).
4. In the next shot “8_Tilt_Up_Left”, scroll the positioner until the left foot of the gladiator touches the ground. Hold E+Down on the keyboard, and press SPACEBAR.
5. The frames are trimmed from the head of the clip (7 frames).
6. To replay the selection, press Alt+L.

Remember that the hotkeys are based on the User profile, in this case Final Cut Pro user. This profile can be changed in the Preferences menu. The Smoke profile hotkeys are different for editing. You can press "Ctrl+Alt+F8" to display the Hotkey editor.

You can transform a cut transition into a dissolve between two clips if there are enough frames available in the heads and tails.

1. Navigate to clip “8_Tilt_Up_Left”.
2. Trim 10 frames out of the tail of clip 8.
3. Trim 15 frames out of the head of the next clip, “9_Attack_LS_Right”.
4. Make sure you are parked on the transition between the two shots.

You can press the UP and Down Arrows to navigate to previous or next transition.

5. Select Dissolve from the Transition menu on left of the Timeline, or press the T key on the keyboard to add a dissolve.
Note that you will not see the Transition buttons if any other element is selected on the Timeline.
To deselect an element, click in the grey area of the timeline.
6. When you add a dissolve it should be selected by default; if it is not the case, click on the dissolve icon on the timeline.
Note that a 0 frame dissolve will be added if the clips do not have frames available in the heads and tails.
7. You can modify the dissolve length by dragging the dissolve numerical field.
You can also trim the dissolve.
Note: The default dissolve length is set in the Preferences.

To cut a shot at the positioner, press B.

You can type a value in the numeric keypad before pressing "T" to specify the duration for the dissolve on the record clip.

You can delete a dissolve by dragging the icon at the bottom of the screen until you see the recycle sign.

We will now insert a new source clip into the timeline.

1. Press SHIFT+ESC to access the Record/Source player.
2. Navigate to the shot “6_Raise_Sword”on the record timeline.
3. Park on the middle of the shot, just before you see the shadow of the sword on the gladiator.
4. Expand the “Extra_Clips” source folder in the EditDesk Library on the left.
5. Activate the View tab on this source folder to see its content.
6. Select the clip “Spin_Fork” clip in the EditDesk Library.
7. Scroll the Source clip in the left Player until the gladiator holds the spear firmly in his hand.
This becomes the implicit In point.
8. Press the Insert button on the editor operators (between the two players).
The clip gets inserted after the positioner in the record timeline, the following clips move towards the end because of the Ripple End option.

To undo an operation, click the Undo button on the interface or press "Command+Z" on the Mac keyboard.

As previously mentioned, it is recommended to save your work regularly at every important step.

1. Choose Record Area in the Item Box.
2. Make sure that your “Smoke_Essentials” library is selected in the Library box.
3. Press Save.
4. Choose Replace to overwrite the previous saved timeline.
5. Hit Confirm.
6. The Record Area is saved in the currently active Library.

To continue practicing with the exercises, click on the following link: