Select the intended shot
Choose a picture clip in Edit, then open Color. If the selected shot is outside the sequence playhead, use Go to Selected Shot in Corrections when offered. The viewer can contain several layers; confirm which clip’s values you are changing.
Source interpretation describes the incoming recording; a creative correction changes its appearance. Use Color → Source Color Interpretation when file metadata needs checking. Choose a documented camera interpretation, rather than treating a different curve as a quick look.
Balance before adding a look
The basic controls include Exposure, Contrast, Saturation, Temperature, and Tint. Start with exposure and color balance, then compare neighboring shots. Highlights and Shadows adjust tonal regions. Vignette, Grain, Glow, Blur, and Monochrome provide additional effects.
Tap a displayed value to enter a number, or use its slider. Reset returns that control to its stated neutral value. A reset affects that value; inspect animation scope before assuming it clears every keyframe.
Build an ordered correction stack
Use Corrections, or Inspector → Color → Correction stack, curves and LUTs. Add Primary, RGB Curves, or Import LUT. Each operation has Enabled, Earlier, Later, Duplicate, and Remove controls. Processing order matters: the next operation receives the result of the earlier one.
Use Scopes to inspect the composed picture. A creative LUT does not fix incorrect input interpretation. Test a short export when a LUT, wide-gamut source, or HDR recording is central to the film.
Fit the shot to the canvas
Open Inspector → Transform. Fit to canvas chooses the available spatial-conform behavior; Scale, Rotation, Position X, Position Y, and Opacity refine placement. Push-in zoom at end gives a simple end zoom. Enable safe-area guides when placing important text.
For a vertical copy of a landscape project, recheck the subject throughout each moving shot. A fit or fill choice cannot know which part of the recording matters to your story.
Compose layers
Open Inspector → Composition or Tools → Compositing. The available controls include Blend mode, Flip horizontally, Flip vertically, and Add Crop or Mask. Crop, Rectangle mask, Ellipse mask, Draw mask, Gradient mask, and Chroma key are distinct operations.
Use Preview matte to inspect transparency rather than only the final picture. Mask combination and effect controls depend on the operation. Do not add a second crop or keyer when the existing one is the effect you need to adjust. Alpha delivery also requires an export format that can carry transparency.
Know the delivery boundary
The current declared preview and delivery output is SDR Rec. 709. Supported PQ/HLG sources are converted through the managed input path; selecting an HDR source or a ProRes preset does not turn the output into HDR mastering. Results can differ from Photos or another app’s display treatment. Check important highlight detail and color in the completed movie on the intended destination.
Specialist composition forms may need more room on a small screen. Use a wider layout or the numeric controls, and validate the result rather than assuming every desktop arrangement has identical touch behavior.