How to Use Kdenlive On-Monitor Edit Handles

This guide explains how to quickly enable and use the “On-Monitor Edit” handles in Kdenlive to visually resize, reposition, and rotate video clips directly within the project preview window. By applying the right effect and activating the monitor overlay, you can bypass manual coordinate entry and manipulate your media dynamically.

Step 1: Apply the Transform Effect

The on-monitor editing handles are not visible by default; they require an effect that supports direct manipulation.

1. Select the clip you want to resize in your timeline.
2. Open the Effects tab (typically located in the bottom-left or side panel).
3. Search for the Transform effect.
4. Drag and drop the Transform effect directly onto your timeline clip.

Step 2: Select the Effect to Activate Handles

For the visual handles to appear on the project preview screen, the effect must be actively selected.

1. Click on the clip in your timeline to open its properties.
2. Navigate to the Effect/Composition Stack panel (usually in the top-right or center-left control area).
3. Click on the Transform effect in the stack to highlight it.

Step 3: Enable the Edit Mode on the Project Monitor

If the handles still do not appear in the Project Monitor (the video preview screen), you need to toggle the edit mode.

1. Look at the toolbar directly underneath or inside the Project Monitor window.
2. Locate the Show/Hide edit mode icon (which looks like a rectangular box with editing points at the corners).
3. Click this icon to toggle the on-screen controls on. A colored bounding box with square handles at the corners and sides will now overlay your video.

Step 4: Visually Resize and Adjust the Clip

With the handles visible, you can now manipulate the clip directly:

• Resize: Click and drag any of the corner or edge handles. To maintain the aspect ratio while resizing, hold down the Shift key while dragging (or check the “Keep aspect ratio” option in the Transform effect properties).
• Reposition: Click and hold anywhere inside the bounding box, then drag the clip to your desired position on the screen.
• Rotate: Hover your cursor just outside any of the corner handles until the cursor changes to a curved rotation arrow. Click and drag to rotate the clip.