Main Window

OpenShot Video Editor has one main window which contains most of the information, buttons, and menus needed to edit your video project.

Overview

_images/main-window.jpg

#

Name

Description

1

Main Toolbar

Contains buttons to open, save, and export your video project.

2

Function Tabs

Switch between Project Files, Transitions, and Effects.

3

Project Files

All audio, video, and image files that have been imported into your project.

4

Preview Window

This is the area that the video will playback on the screen.

5

Edit Toolbar

This toolbar contains buttons used for snapping, inserting markers, and jumping between markers.

6

Zoom Slider

This slider will adjust the time-scale of your timeline.

7

Play-head / Ruler

The ruler shows the time-scale, and the red line is the play-head. The play-head represents the current playback position.

8

Timeline

The timeline visualizes your video project, and each clip and transition in your project.

9

Filter

Filter the list of items shown (project files, transitions, and effects) by using these buttons and filter textbox. Enter a few letters of what you are looking for, and the results will be shown.

For step-by-step instructions on the basic usage of OpenShot, be sure to read the Quick Tutorial.

Built-in Tutorial

When you first launch OpenShot, you will be presented with a friendly built-in tutorial. It will point out and explain the basics. Clicking Next will jump to the next topic. You can always view this tutorial again from the Help→Tutorial menu.

_images/built-in-tutorial.jpg

Tracks & Layers

OpenShot uses tracks to layer videos and images. The top most track is the top layer, and the bottom track is the bottom layer. If you are familiar with layers in a photo editing application, then you should be quite familiar with this concept. OpenShot will mix each layer together, just like a photo editing application. You can have an unlimited number of tracks, but typically a video project will not need more than 10 (or so) tracks.

For example, imagine a 3 track video project

_images/tracks.jpg

#

Name

Description

1

Top Track

Clips on this track will always be on top and visible

2

Middle Track

Clips in the middle (might or might not be visible, depending on what is above them)

3

Bottom Track

Clips on this track will always be on the bottom

Keyboard Shortcuts

Here is a list of the default keyboard shortcuts supported by OpenShot. You can configure these shortcuts in the Preferences dialog. Learning a few of these shortcuts can save you a bunch of time!

Shortcut

Action

Ctrl+H

About OpenShot

Ctrl+M

Add Marker

Ctrl+Shift+T

Add Track

Ctrl+W

Add to Timeline

Ctrl+B

Animated Title

Ctrl+P

Choose Profile

Ctrl+C

Copy

Delete

Delete Item

Backspace

Delete Item

Ctrl+D

Details View

Ctrl+E

Export Video

L

Fast Forward

F11

Fullscreen

Ctrl+F

Import Files

Ctrl+End

Jump to End

Ctrl+Home

Jump to Start

Ctrl+N

New Project

Right

Next Frame

Ctrl+Right

Next Marker

Ctrl+O

Open Project

Ctrl+V

Paste

Space

Play/Pause Toggle

Up

Play/Pause Toggle

Down

Play/Pause Toggle

K

Play/Pause Toggle

Ctrl+Shift+P

Preferences

Left

Previous Frame

Ctrl+Left

Previous Marker

Ctrl+I

Properties

Ctrl+Q

Quit

Ctrl+Y

Redo

J

Rewind

Ctrl+S

Save Project

Ctrl+Shift+S

Save Project As…

Ctrl+A

Select All

Ctrl+Shift+A

Select None

Ctrl+K

Slice All: Keep Both Sides

Ctrl+L

Slice All: Keep Left Side

Ctrl+J

Slice All: Keep Right Side

Ctrl+G

Toggle Snapping

R

Toggle Razor tool

Ctrl+X

Split Clip

Ctrl+Shift+D

Thumbnail View

Ctrl+T

Title Editor

Ctrl+Z

Undo

=

Zoom In

–

Zoom Out

Ctrl+Scroll

Zoom In/Out

Ctrl+Middle Button

Scroll Timeline