Blue Bar Editing 

Although the main timeline is probably the place that most of us edit our video files the blue bar below the preview screen should not be dismissed.
The Blue Bar is a multifunctional tool that affects different conditions depending on the type of editing taking place.

What can it do................

1 / Project Playback Range identified by the red line.
2 / Trimming Tool to remove the end frames from a video clip in the top timeline.
3 / Overlay Track~~ sets Direction/Style duration
4 / Text ~~ sets the effects durations on some types of animation.


Navigating the Blue Bar

The full bar represents the length of the selected clip, whether it be a single clip or project.
This can make "Navigation" difficult as it can be any length, one frame to hours.



Notice the curser the small down arrow on the top of the blue bar.
You can drag the curser to any position
Using the Home and End move the curser accurately to the ends.
Using the digital clock allows you to move the curser frame by frame.
Then there is always the Play Button.


Project Playback Range (the Dreaded Red Line)


Setting this will allow you to play the selected range in Project Playback.
This is Indicated by the red line (orange in X3) immediately above the timeline.
I must admit that this option is usually found by mistake, you'll be wondering how to get rid, but it can be useful.
You can drag the Trim Handles (small black triangles) into position.
Using the Mark-In(F3) or Mark-Out(F4) or Square Brackets will position the small black Trim Handles to the curser position.

This selection will allow you to play the projaet range or render the project range to a separate video or sound file, which can be selected from the Save window under the Options button.

To remove the red bar---simply move the Trim Handles to the far right and left respectively.

Trimming Tool (Removing frames from the ends of clips)


Select a clip in the top track, the word clip will be shown adjacent to the start/play button.
To remove frames from the ends, play the clip, or position the curser.
Using the digital clock to position the curser is quite accurate.
Hitting the Mark-In, Mark-Out square bracket, (F3-F4) will re-positions of the Trim Handles
removing the end frames.

To remove frames from the middle of a clip, use the scissors to cut the clip. Then repeat as above.

This trimming method would also works for audio clips.


Overlay Track (setting direction and styles)

Select a clip in the overlay track.
Clips in the overlay track may have Direction/ Style applied, this a simple but effective animation.




Notice the blue bar is now shorter, by default in thirds, the blue section representing the Pause Duration.
The grey portions at either end represent the animation duration.
Drag the black triangles, now being used as a Pause Duration to change the timings/durations.


Titles~~Text (set animation durations)


Some titles allow us to customise the animation.

Hit the two TT's for manual approach.
Cross Fade for example can have its durations modified by dragging the black triangles, again used as Pause Durations.
The grey sections being the animation-In and Out.