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The SequenceWindow

Figure

Sequence Toolbar

Figure

WindowType

As with every window header, the first button allows you to set the type of window.

Menus

The triangular button expands/collapses menus. Menus provide a self-explanatory way to access all Blender's functions which can be performed in the Sequence Window. They are context sensitive and will change depending on the selected Object. Windows with menus, such as the Sequence Window, do not have the standard "Full Window" and "Home" header buttons, actions which have moved to the View Menu. Menu items are in general self-explanatory and the relative functionality will be explained later on in the HotKeys section.

DisplayImage

Figure

The window shows the result of the Sequences, i.e. a picture.

Figure

View Zoom

Move the mouse to zoom into or out of the SequenceWindow. This is an alternative for CtrlMMB Template-MMB.png and Wheel Template-MW.png. View Border Draw a rectangle to indicate what part of the SequenceWindow should be displayed in the full window.

Figure

Clear

Force a clear of all buffered images in memory.

SequenceWindow

Figure

In the SequenceWindow you arrange your scenes, external pictures or movie files for the post-production of your animation. The Strip in row 1 is a sequence of numbered jpeg-pictures. It will play for a few seconds and then SCENE 1 in row 2 will be superimposed with the ALPHAOVER effect in row 3. The ALPHAOVER generates some shadows, which can be seen in the film-strip below. In SCENE 1 (which is a normal Blender-scene) the titling is done with the usual animation features from Blender, which makes that system a very flexible titler. In the end a transition of strip in row 1 and the following in row 2 is done with the CROSS effect. The numbers 1-2 represent the row numbers the effect applies to. The result is a smooth fade between the two strips in row one and two.

The mouse

LMB Template-LMB.png

The position of the mouse cursor becomes the current frame. If DisplayImage is ON, the Sequences at this position are read or calculated at this position.

MMB Template-MMB.png and drag

Depending on the position within the window:

  • On the sliders; this can be moved.
  • The rest of the window; the view is translated.

CtrlMMB Template-MMB.png and drag

Zoom in/out on the SequenceWindow. For ease of use, you can only zoom horizontally. Use the HeaderButton if you must zoom vertically as well.

RMB Template-RMB.png

Selection works the same way here as in the 3DWindow: normally a maximum of one Sequence strip is selected. Use ⇧ Shift to extend or reduce the selection (extend select).

RMB Template-RMB.png and drag

Selects something and immediately starts translation mode, i.e. the Grabber.

⇧ ShiftRMB Template-RMB.png

Extend selection.

The HotKeys

==+ NumPad - NumPad== Zoom in, zoom out.

⇧ Shift+ NumPad

Insert gap. One second is inserted at the current frame position. This only applies to strips that are totally to the right of the current frame.

Alt+ NumPad

Insert gap. As above, but now 10 seconds are inserted.

⇧ Shift- NumPad

Remove gaps. All strips that are completely to the right of the current frame and do not start past the last frame are repositioned so that there is no longer an empty space.

. NumPad

The last selected strip is displayed completely.

↖ Home

All visible Sequences are displayed completely, centered in the window.

A

Select All / deselect All. If any strip is selected, everything is first deselected.

⇧ ShiftA

Add sequence. A PopupMenu asks you to make a choice. The first three are possible sources:

  • Images: Specify with FileSelect (with RMB Template-RMB.png select!), what pictures will form a strip.

If only 1 picture is selected, the strip is lengthened to 50 frames. Directories can also be specified; each directory then becomes a separate strip in the SequenceWindow.

  • Movie: Specify with FileSelect (with LMB Template-LMB.png or RMB Template-RMB.png!)

what movie will comprise a strip.

  • Audio: Specify with FileSelect (with LMB Template-LMB.png or RMB Template-RMB.png!)

what WAV file will comprise a strip.

  • Scene: A PopupMenu asks you to specify the Scene that is to be

inserted as a strip. The Scene is then rendered according to its own settings and processed in the Sequence system. The following menu options are effects that work on pictures; two strips must be selected for this. The order of selection determines how the effects are applied.

  • Plugin: A File Window let you choose a sequence plugin.
  • Cross: A fluent transition from strip 1 to strip 2.
  • GammaCross: This is a gamma-corrected cross. It provides a more 'natural' transition in which lighter parts are inserted before darker parts.
  • Add: Two strips are added together.
  • Sub: The second strip is subtracted from the first.
  • Mul: The strips are multiplied.
  • AlphaOver: The second strip, with its alpha, is placed over the first.

Pictures with alpha are normally 32 bits.

  • AlphaUnder: The first strip is placed behind the second, with the alpha

of the second strip.

  • AlphaOverDrop: Like AlphaOver, but now with a drop shadow.

B

Border select. Draw a rectangle with the LMB Template-LMB.png, all strips that fall within this rectangle are selected. Draw a rectangle with the RMB Template-RMB.png to deselect.

C

If one of the ends of a strip is selected (the triangles), the current frame is moved to this end. In all other cases, the Change menu is invoked. This menu allows you to change specific characteristics of the active strip. If this is an Image strip:

  • Change Images: The FileSelect appears and new pictures can be specified.

If this is an Effect strip:

  • Switch a-b: Change the sequence of the effect.
  • Recalculate: Force a recalculation of the effect.
  • Cross, Gammacross, Add, ...: Change the type of effect.

If this is a Scene strip:

  • Update Start and End: The start and end frame of the Scene is processed in the strip again.

AltD

Add Duplicate. All selected strips are copied. Immediately thereafter, translation mode is started. The images in an Image strip are reused; they take up no extra memory.

F

Set Filter: An extra Y filter can only be activated in Movie strips. This filter is for a stable video display with no flickering.

G

Translation mode (the Grabber). This works on selected strips or the (triangular) ends of selected strips. Alternative for starting this mode: RMB Template-RMB.png and drag;. The following options are available in translation mode:

  • Limiters: ⇧ Shift

with finer translation.

  • MMB Template-MMB.png limits the current translation to the X or Y axis. Blender

calculates which axis to use based on the already initiated mouse movement. Click MMB Template-MMB.png again to return to unlimited translation.

  • , , , :

These keys can be used to move the mouse cursor exactly 1 pixel.

  • Grabber can be terminated with:
  • LMB Template-LMB.png, Space or ↵ Enter: Move to the new position.
  • RMB Template-RMB.png or Esc: Everything returns to the old position.

M

Make Meta. The selected strips are combined into a Meta strip. This only occurs if no unselected strips are linked to the selection by effects. Use ⇆ Tab to view the contents of a Meta or to leave the Meta. Metas can be inside other Metas, and behave exactly like a normal Sequence strip. When Metas are duplicated, their contents are not linked!

AltM

Un-Meta. The selected Meta is 'unpacked' again.

N

Opens the Numeric Panel. If the selected strip is a Movie strip it allows you to set/unset the Y filter and the Mul factor. If the selected strip is an Audio Strip it opens the relevant Panel, with Gain, Pan and Mute options.

S

Snap menu. The PopupMenu offers you a choice: Sequence to frame the selected strips are placed with their starting point on the current frame.

X

Delete Sequence. The selected strips are deleted.