Montage clips on the project timeline
Montage clips behave like ordinary video clips when it comes to operations on the project timeline, such as adding transitions, trimming and positioning.
A Montage template dropped onto the timeline is added by one of three methods: insert, overwrite and replace. When the editing mode button on the toolbar is set to smart, the replace method is chosen automatically. The default length of the clip varies from one template to another.
Inserting a Montage template before or after an existing clip: First, make sure the magnet button on the timeline toolbar is turned on. This will ensure that when you drop a clip very near the start or end of an existing clip, it will be positioned so that the clips adjoin exactly. Next, set the editing mode button to insert mode. This will ensure that existing material moves right to make space when you drop the clip, rather than any portion of it being overwritten.
It is not a requirement that a Montage clip should be dropped exactly at a cut point; as just described. It can be inserted into your production at any desired frame.
Replacing an existing Montage template: To replace an existing Montage template on the project timeline, hold down the Shift key on the keyboard, then drop the new template onto the old one. The new clip takes over not just the location but any existing customizations of the old clip. The placement lines, drawn in blue, show the boundaries of the clip to be replaced; regardless of its designed default length, the new clip will inherit these boundaries.
Overwriting clips with a Montage template: If you want to drop a Montage template onto a timeline track and have it simply overwrite other clips on the track without making any changes to the remainder of the timeline, you may do so by setting the editing mode button to replace. The length of the Montage clip will determine how much of the track is overwritten.
Although trimming operations on the timeline are the same for Montage clips as for video clips, the actual result produced by trimming may vary depending on the nature of the template.
In an all-animated template, such as a fancy rolled title, the animation always runs to completion. The animation speed therefore depends on the clip duration. Shortening the clip causes the animation to run faster, but does not truncate the sequence.
Clips that include video, in contrast, can be trimmed in the usual way. Many themes include a variable-length video subclip. When one of these is present, the clip can be expanded as far as the length of the subclip will allow – indefinitely, if the subclip happens to be a still image.
Transitions can be used at the beginning and end of Montage clips in the same way as with other clip types.
Video and audio effects can also be added to Montage clips as usual, and apply to all the content the clip embodies. However, a few effects, such as Speed, are not available for use with Montage clips.
To add an effect to a Montage clip, right click on the Montage clip on the timeline and choose Open Effects Editor from the context menu. Alternatively, drag an effect from the Library and drop it on the clip. Effects are located in the Creative Elements section of the Library.
To edit, copy or delete an effect on a Montage clip, right click on the magenta line along the top of the clip and choose the appropriately on the Effect context submenu.