How to Use the Slide Tool in Kdenlive

This article provides a quick guide on how to use the Slide tool in Kdenlive to shift a clip’s position on the timeline without changing its duration. You will learn how to activate the tool, apply the edit to your clips, and understand how Kdenlive automatically adjusts neighboring clips to maintain your timeline’s continuity.

Understanding the Slide Tool

In Kdenlive, the Slide tool allows you to move a clip left or right between two other clips. The duration of the selected clip remains exactly the same. To accommodate this movement, Kdenlive automatically shortens one adjacent clip and lengthens the other.

(Note: If you want to shift the actual footage content inside the clip boundaries without moving the clip’s position on the timeline, you should use the Slip tool instead.)

How to Use the Slide Tool

Step 1: Select the Slide Tool

To activate the Slide tool, locate the tool palette, which is typically found at the bottom of the Kdenlive window or near the timeline: * Click on the Slide Tool icon (represented by a clip sliding between two brackets). * Alternatively, press the keyboard shortcut Shift + S to quickly toggle to the Slide tool.

Step 2: Click and Drag the Clip

Hover your cursor over the clip you want to move. Left-click and hold, then drag the clip left or right.

Step 3: Monitor the Changes

As you drag, Kdenlive’s project monitor will display a multi-cam preview showing the out-point of the preceding clip and the in-point of the succeeding clip. This helps you align the cuts precisely.

Step 4: Release to Complete the Edit

Release the mouse button when the clip is in the desired position. The selected clip will have shifted its absolute position on the timeline, while the neighboring clips automatically extend or shrink to close any gaps.