5

By default, a 60-frame video clip played back at 30 frames per second takes two seconds
to display its 60 frames. If its In point is frame 1, its Out point is frame 60. Speed and
duration are interdependent; that is, if you increase the a clip’s playback speed, its duration
decreases. Playing back the same clip at 15 frames per second would take twice as long;
the clip’s In point remains the same, but its Out point becomes 120.
For more detailed information about retiming, see Retiming. For more information on
using the Retiming behaviors, see Retiming Behaviors.
Adjusting a Video Clip’s Speed
Motion allows you to easily change the timing of video objects in the Timeline.
To shorten the video clip’s duration and speed up its playback speed
1 With the pointer over the end of a video clip’s object bar (the Out point), press and hold
down the Option key.
The pointer turns into the retime pointer.
2 Drag the Out point of the clip’s bar to the left.
As you drag, the tooltip displays the clip’s speed and duration.
Note: To use the retime pointer, Constant Speed must be chosen from the Time Remap
pop-up menu in the Properties Inspector. When Variable Speed is chosen, the retime
pointer has no effect. You cannot retime images, effects, and other non-video objects.
To lengthen a video object’s duration and slow down its playback speed
1 With the pointer over the end of a video clip’s object bar (the Out point), press and hold
down the Option key.
The pointer turns into the retime pointer.
2 Drag the Out point of the clip’s bar to the right.
As you drag, the tooltip displays the clip’s speed and duration.
Looping a Clip
Another way of extending a video clip’s duration is by looping it. When a looped clip
reaches its last frame, it starts playing again from its first frame. You can easily loop a clip
by adjusting it in the Timeline.
To loop a clip
1 With the pointer over the end of a video clip’s object bar (the Out point), press and hold
down the Option and Shift keys.
The pointer turns into the loop pointer.
347Chapter 8 Using the Timeline