.. meta::
:description: Kdenlive Video Editor - Glossary
:keywords: KDE, Kdenlive, documentation, user manual, video editor, open source, free, learn, easy, glossary
.. metadata-placeholders
:authors: - Eugen Mohr
- Bernd Jordan (https://discuss.kde.org/u/berndmj)
:license: Creative Commons License SA 4.0
.. .. _glossary:
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When adding terms please observe alphabetical order. While Sphinx re-orders the glossary, editing
it unsorted and haphazardly makes checking for an entry so much more difficult. Thanks!
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.. |avfilter| raw:: html
avfilter
.. |frei0r| raw:: html
frei0r
.. |ffprobe| raw:: html
ffprobe
.. |store| raw:: html
store
.. |color_temp| raw:: html
color temperature
.. |color_space| raw:: html
color space
.. |subtractive_color| raw:: html
subtractive color
.. |field_order| raw:: html
Field Order
.. |interlaced_video| raw:: html
Interlaced Video
.. |techsmith| raw:: html
techsmith.com
.. |yiq| raw:: html
YIQ
.. |ypbpr| raw:: html
YPbPr
.. |ycbcr| raw:: html
YCbCr
.. _true_glossary:
========
Glossary
========
.. glossary::
:sorted:
Asset
An asset is any multimedia file (video, audio, image), title clip, color clip, and animation that can be and is used in a project. All assets are listed in the :term:`Project Bin`.
Audio Mixer
A widget that displays VU meters and has sliders to control the volume of the respective audio tracks. See :ref:`effects-audio_tools`.
Audio Track
A track in the :term:`timeline` that holds either the audio :term:`stream` of a video clip or an audio file itself
Bin
See :term:`Project Bin`
Backup
Kdenlive creates backup files for the current project. They are stored in a special folder. See the chapter :doc:`/project_and_asset_management/file_management/backup`.
Caret
See :term:`Playhead`
Chroma
Chrominance
The signal used in video systems to convey the color information of the picture. Chrominance is usually represented as two-color difference components: U (blue projection) = B' - Y' (blue - :term:`luma`) and V (red projection) = R' - Y' (red - luma). See also :term:`YUV`.
Clip
Essentially any file with video and/or audio, a simple image or any asset created through Kdenlive, e.g. title clip, color clip, animation (via Glaxnimate). A clip can be in the :term:`Project Bin` or :term:`Timeline`, or be referred to as the result of a :term:`Render`. See chapter :doc:`/project_and_asset_management/project_bin/clips`
CMYK
A |subtractive_color| model based on the CMY color model used in printing. The abbreviation refers to the four ink plates used: cyan, magenta, yellow and key (black).
Codec
Short for coder/decoder. Is a hardware- or software-based process that compresses or decompresses large amount of data. Examples are MPEG, H.264, VP8/VP9, Apple ProRes. Not to be confused with :term:`container`.
Color Correction
The process of correcting color issues and making footage appear as natural as possible. The idea is to make the images look like the human eyes would see them in the real world.
Color Grading
The process of creating consistent color tones throughout the film in order to give it a specific aesthetic look and style.
Color and Image Correction
A category of effects and filters to adjust or change the color components of the clip.
Color Matrix
Describes the balancing of different parts of the color spectrum in order to create an accurate representation for capture. By adjusting the properties of color matrix you can do things like shifting the white balance, alter the color palette, adjusting for color anomalies in the source.
Color Range
A term with more significance in broadcasting. Today's video recording equipment records in full range. Each color component is 8-bit and can have a value from 0 to 255, but only when in full range. Otherwise, for allowing headroom for video processing and exposure ranges, ranges are smaller, like 16-235 for :term:`luma`, and 16-240 for :term:`chroma`.
Color Space
A color space is a specific organization of colors. It is a useful conceptual tool for understanding the color capabilities of a particular device or digital file. When trying to reproduce color on another device, color spaces can show whether shadow/highlight detail and color :term:`saturation` can be retained, and by how much either will be compromised. See this article about |color_space| in Wikipedia.
Composition
Also referred to as a transition, it combines at least two input :term:`clips` to one output clip. Compositions cannot be stacked. See chapters :doc:`/compositing/compositions` and :doc:`/compositing/transitions`.
Container
Container Format
A type of file that encapsulates multiple (compressed) data :term:`streams` in one file (wrapper), usually together with metadata for identifying or further detailing the embedded streams. Examples are Matroska (.mkv), OGG (.ogg), MPEG-4 (.mp4), AVI.
Crash
The instance when you realize you have not saved your project for at least two hours and worked on the most difficult edits. See :term:`backup`.
Deprecated
Obsolete, not used anymore. Effects in the *Deprecated* category are still available but are not maintained and can lead to unwanted results.
Dynamic Text
An effect that can be applied to a :term:`clip`, :term:`track` or on :term:`master` to overlay the video with specific information. Available keyword are: timecode, frame, filedate, localfiledate, source frame rate, source codec, source bit rate, source width, source height, source comment
Effect
Also referred to as a :term:`filter`, an effect is used to change the appearance, size or position of a :term:`clip`. Most effects have :term:`keyframe` capabilities. More than one effect can be used on the same clip (stacking). In that case effects are processed top down, so sequence is important. See :ref:`effects-effect_stack`.
Edit Mode
A special function of the :term:`project monitor`. Needed in order to be able to use the mouse to manipulate certain aspects (e.g. size, position) of some effects (e.g. Transform, Rotoscope). Can be switched on and off using the |edit-mode| icon in the project monitor's toolbar.
Exporting
See :term:`Rendering`
Field Order
Also called *Field Dominance*. Determines in a video stream which field of an interlaced video stream comes first. See this article about |field_order|.
Filter
Kdenlive uses filters from |avfilter| and |frei0r| to modify frames. See :term:`effect`.
FPS
Frames per Second
Frame Rate
The frame rate expressed in frames per second or FPS is typically the frequency (rate) at which consecutive images (frames) are captured or displayed. A good frame-rate primer including a list of typical frame rates for different types of video can be found on |techsmith|.
Gamma
Gamma Correction
A description of the relationship between a color value and its brightness on a particular device. Hence Gamma Correction is the nonlinear operation for encoding and decoding :term:`luminance` in video or digital images to adjust color tones to how humans see them.
Guide
Static markings in the :term:`timeline` that do not necessarily move with clips. Not to be confused with :term:`markers`. Can be used to define regions for rendering and exported to provide chapters for YouTube videos. See :ref:`guides`.
Hamburger Menu
Sandwich Menu
A way to reduce clutter and save screen real estate. Looks like this |application-menu|. Replaces the Kdenlive menu bar. Can be expanded with :kbd:`Ctrl+M`.
Histogram
Displays a frequency histogram of the luminance of the color components of the video. See :ref:`view_menu`, and in particular :doc:`/tips_and_tricks/scopes/histogram_working` for a more detailed under-the-hood view.
Hue
Means a degree of lightness, darkness or strength of a color. Compare :term:`saturation`, :term:`tint` and :term:`shade`.
Icon
A graphical representation of an action, function, option or status.
Interlaced
Interleave
A technique for doubling the perceived frame rate of a video without using extra bandwidth. Compare :term:`progressive`. See this Wikipedia article about |interlaced_video|.
In-point
An In-point defines the beginning of a :term:`zone`. A zone can be defined in the :term:`timeline` and the :term:`project monitor` (it has the same result), or in the :term:`clip monitor` (useful to move only a certain section of a clip to the timeline). See :term:`zone` for possible usages.
Jog Shuttle
An external device that improves video editing by using a rotary knob to scrub through the timeline, and providing a special keyboard for actions like cutting, inserting, deleting, slip and ripple editing, etc. It can be used with Kdenlive and configured in :menuselection:`Menu --> Settings --> Configure Kdenlive -->` :doc:`JogShuttle`. See :doc:`Settings`.
KDE Store
An online app |store| where users can upload files like lumas for :doc:`wipes `, :ref:`presets ` for rendering, title templates, library clips and even project files. See :ref:`effects-effects_tab` icon #7.
Kelvin
Kelvin is the base unit of temperature in the International System of Units (SI). It is also used as a measure of the color temperature of light sources. True story: A physicist cooled himself to -273.15C. He was 0K.
Keyframe
Defines the frame in a clip where something starts or changes. Most :term:`effects` have keyframes to allow changes over time. For example, the X and Y coordinates of the Transform effect can be keyframed to move a clip across the screen. See :ref:`effects-working_with_keyframes`.
Layout
A particular way widgets are arranged on the screen to support different workflows or tasks. Kdenlive can save different layouts for logging, editing, audio and color. See :ref:`ui-workspace_layouts`.
Lightness
Also called brightness, lightness is the amount of white or black mixed in with the color. Lightness is more a subjective measure of perceived light, while brightness is an absolute measure of emitted or reflected light from an object. Compare :term:`tint` and :term:`shade`.
Luma
Luminance
Represents the brightness of an image or video. Luma is typically paired with :term:`chrominance`. Luma represents the achromatic (aka black-and-white) image, while the chroma components represent the color information.
Library
Holds assets for generic use in projects. For example, watermarks, logos, lower-thirds, intros, and so on. See the chapter :doc:`Library`.
Lock
Locks a track for editing. Indicated by a closed padlock icon.
Markers
Belong to the clip they have been created in/for and move with it. Changes to a marker apply to all copies of the clip in the timeline. See :ref:`markers`.
Mask
An area to block out parts of an image. Can be used to apply an effect only to the masked area (see :doc:`/effects_and_filters/video_effects/alpha_mask_keying/mask_apply`) or to have an underlying clip show through (see :doc:`/effects_and_filters/video_effects/alpha_mask_keying/rotoscoping`, :doc:`/effects_and_filters/video_effects/alpha_mask_keying/alpha_shapes`, :doc:`/effects_and_filters/video_effects/alpha_mask_keying/shape_alpha` and :doc:`/effects_and_filters/video_effects/alpha_mask_keying/rectangular_alpha_mask`).
Master
Master Effect
A special effect stack that applies to all clips in all of the tracks.
Master Audio
The volume of all of the audio tracks when merged into one during rendering. See :ref:`effects-audio_tools`.
Media Browser
Allows easy browsing of the file system and previewing media clips and other assets for importing to the :term:`Project Bin`. A widget that can be switched on and off via :menuselection:`Menu --> View --> Media Browser`. See the chapter :doc:`media_browser`.
MELT
melt
Melt was developed as a test tool for the MLT framework. If you will, Kdenlive is a front-end for melt writing :file:`.mlt` XML files that code the edit points and transitions. It then calls melt to render the video. See :ref:`troubleshooting-faq`.
Mixes
See :term:`Same-track Transition`
Monitor
A device to display a video signal. Kdenlive uses a Clip Monitor to play clips selected in the :term:`project bin` and :term:`Project Monitor` to play clips in the :term:`timeline`. Monitor is widget that can be switched on and off via :menuselection:`Menu --> View`. See :ref:`ui-monitors`.
MOVIT
A library for high-quality, high-performance video filters. Is needed to enable GPU-supported preview and playback. See :doc:`Configure Playback` in :menuselection:`Menu --> Settings --> Configure Kdenlive`.
Clip Monitor
The Clip Monitor plays the clip currently selected in the :term:`Project Bin`. See :ref:`ui-monitors` and :term:`overlay`.
Project Monitor
The Project Monitor plays clips selected in the :term:`timeline` or simply the project.
Opacity
A measure of impenetrability to electromagnetic or other kinds of radiation, especially visible light. An object that does not allow any visible light to go through is fully opaque or has 100% opacity.
Overlay
Clip and Project Monitor can have an overlay that helps with editing. Hover the mouse over the hot zone of the respective monitor (default is the top right-hand corner) and click on the grid icon to cycle through the available patterns. Different from :term:`Dynamic Text` and :term:`video overlay`.
Mute
Temporarily disable a video or audio track.
Nested Timeline
See :term:`Sequence`
Out-point
An Out-point defines the end of a :term:`zone`. A zone can be defined in the :term:`timeline` and the :term:`project monitor` (it has the same result), or in the :term:`clip monitor` (useful to move only a certain section of a clip to the timeline). See :term:`zone` for possible usages.
Video Overlay
Additional information (e.g. timecode) that is overlayed during the render process. Can be selected in the More Options section of the :ref:`Render Dialog`.
Playhead
The upside-down triangle in the timeline ruler. Indicates the (play) position in the timeline. During :ref:`3-point Editing` determines where a clip or clip zone will be added to the timeline. Drag it across to scrub the timeline.
Posterize
Posterization
Is the conversion of a continuous gradation of tone or color to several regions of fewer tones or color, causing abrupt changes from one tone or color to the other. The term comes from the process of creating posters. The effect is most visible when a JPEG image with millions of colors is converted to the GIF format with only 256 colors.
Preset
Used for :term:`rendering` to determine output format (container), codec, dimensions, aspect ratio, bit rate and various other parameters. See :ref:`render_profile_parameters`.
Progressive
A format of displaying, storing or transmitting video in which all the lines of each frame are drawn in sequence. The 'p' in 1080p indicates that the format is using progressive scan, i.e. the frame's lines are **not** :term:`interlaced`.
Project
The sum of all assets, clips, tracks, effects, transitions, compositions and settings, their arrangements in the timeline, and references to all the source materials including their :term:`proxy` work copies. The project file is associated with a working directory where Kdenlive generates proxies and thumbs.
Project Bin
Lists all the clips and assets that are associated with the project. Referred to as the 'Project Tree' in earlier versions. See the chapter :doc:`Project Bin`.
Project Settings
Defines the format (dimensions, aspect ratio, frames-per-second setting) of the project through the choice of profile or :term:`preset`, which working directory to use, how many video and audio tracks there are initially, and which profile to use for previews. Stores meta data for your project (e.g. title, author, copyright information). See chapter :doc:`Project Settings`.
Profile
For rendering see :term:`preset`, for project see :term:`project settings`
Proxy
A light-weight version of the original clip. Used to make editing and in particular playback easier and smoother. See :ref:`make_proxy_clip`.
Plane
Used on :term:`color correction` and blur application to separate color components for the purpose of applying an effect only to that component. Color components are RGB (Red, Green, Blue) and YUV (luminance (Y), blue projection (U), red projection (V)) , as well as alpha (channel).
Quality, custom
A setting in the :term:`rendering` dialog More Options section to control the quality of the rendered video.
Radio Button
Used to select one option and one option only from a list of option. Like in the old days on a radio to select a pre-programmed station: press the stations' button and the previously pressed button pops out.
Rendering
Also referred to as 'Exporting'. The process of saving the edited clips into a single complete video clip. See :ref:`render`.
Rendering Profile
See :term:`Preset`
Ripple Tool
Used in editing. Changes the original duration of the clip. Compare with working with old film material: The film strip is lengthened or shortened and in so doing the adjacent clips are moved back and forth. See :ref:`timeline_edit_tools`.
Saturation
Color saturation is a degree of intensity of a color in an image or video. As saturation increases, the color appears to be more pure. Compare :term:`hue` and :term:`tint`.
Same-track transition
Also known as mixes. A transition between clips on the same track. See :ref:`same_track_transition`.
Sequence
Introduced with version 23.04.0, a sequence is basically a timeline. Sequences are part of a project but can be rendered independently. A project can have multiple sequences (hence the alias 'nested timelines'). See :ref:`sequence`.
Shade
In color theory, a shade is a mixture of a color with black, increasing its darkness. Compare :term:`tint`, :term:`hue` and :term:`saturation`.
Slip Tool
Used in editing. Keeps the original duration of the clip. Compare with working with old film material: the film strip is slipped back and forth beneath the given "window" of the clip length. See :ref:`timeline_edit_tools`
Snap Point
Sections in :term:`clips` that other clips snap to when "snapping" is turned on. Snap points include markers, guides, zone in-points, zone out-points, transition start points, clip edges, and cuts.
Speed Ramping
See :term:`Time Remapping`
Stack
The list of effects applied to a clip, track or master. An effect stack is processed top down, so sequence is important. See :ref:`effects-effect_stack`.
Stream
A part of an (encoded) media file containing either video or audio data. Use a tool like |ffprobe| to examine media files.
Temperature
Color Temperature
A parameter describing the color of the visible light source. It is measured in :term:`Kelvins` (K). The range is from 1,000K to 10,000K where lower temperatures are considered "warm", and higher temperatures "cool". See this article about |color_temp|.
Theme
A set of colors, icons, fonts and other settings to change the appearance of an application or desktop. Can be set from :menuselection:`Menu --> Settings --> Color Scheme`.
Thumbnail
A small image representation of a much larger image. Used in the timeline at the start and end of a clip. See :ref:`timeline-show_video_thumbnails`.
Time Remapping
A special widget allowing to keyframe the speed of a clip to achieve effects like speed ramping. See :ref:`effects-time_remapping`.
Timeline
The :doc:`central part` of Kdenlive. This is where all the editing takes place. Keeps a chronological sequence of the clips and the relations to each other through tracks and compositions. Can be zoomed. See also :ref:`sequence` for nested timelines.
Timeline Ruler
Sits right above the tracks and displays the time code information (default notation is hh:mm:ss:ff, can be switched to frames) as well as any currently defined timeline :term:`zone` and/or preview render zone. See :ref:`timeline_ruler`.
Timeline Zone
See :term:`Zone`
Tint
In color theory a tint is a mixture of a color with white, increasing the lightness. Compare :term:`shade`, :term:`hue` and :term:`saturation`.
Title Bar
Part of a :term:`widget's` window displaying additional information (e.g. name, title, action icons). You can grab a widget by the title bar and move it around. See :ref:`ui-moving_widgets`.
Tooltip
A small window with more information about a function that pops up when hovering the mouse over an icon or button. Press Shift to get even more details (not available for all functions).
Track
Holds various :term:`assets ` in the timeline. Can be muted and locked individually. Can have effects in its own stack that apply to all clips in that track. Track height can be adjusted. Tracks can be inserted and deleted. Video tracks only accept clips with video, image, title, or color; audio tracks only accept pure audio clips or the audio track of a video clip. There is a relationship between video and audio tracks: A video clip with an audio :term:`stream` can only be put into a track where there is a corresponding audio track - V1/A1, V2/A2, V3/A3 and so on. See :ref:`tracks`.
Active Track
Can accept clips. Indicated by a highlighted track number.
Inactive Track
Cannot accept clips. Indicated by a greyed out track number.
Transcode
Converts a video or audio clip from one format to another. Is needed (and automatically proposed when loaded in to the :term:`project bin`) for files that are not in an editing-friendly format. See :ref:`transcode`.
Tutorial
A step-by-step instruction to use a function, tool, effect or combination of these to achieve a certain result. Often created as a video with commentary or just explanatory text. There are many tutorials for Kdenlive available via a simple Google or YouTube search.
Transition
A :term:`Wipe` or Dissolve :term:`composition` between two overlapping clips. See chapters :doc:`/compositing/compositions` and :doc:`/compositing/transitions`.
Video
An asset or file with a video :term:`stream`.
Video Track
A type of track that only accepts clips with video, image, title, or color. Needs a corresponding :term:`audio track` to accept a clip with video and audio :term:`stream`. See :ref:`tracks`.
Widget
A blend (portmanteau) of 'window' and 'gadget' coined by American playwright George S. Kaufman in 1924. A small applet as part of the :term:`layout` for a specific tool or panel that can be moved around the screen and docked in specific places in order to accommodate different workflows. See :ref:`user_interface`.
Wipe
A special type of :term:`composition` mostly used as a transition from one clip to another. See :doc:`Wipe `.
YIQ
Color space used by the analog NTSC color TV system. For more details see the Wikipedia page about |yiq|.
YPbPr
A color space used in video electronics. Also written as Y'PbPr or YP\ :sub:`B`\ P\ :sub:`R`. Used in particular when referring to component video cables. For more details see the Wikipedia page about |ypbpr|.
YCbCr
A color space used for any digital encoding of YCbCr suited for video and image compression and transmission formats such as MPEG and JPEG. For more details refer to the Wikipedia page about |ycbcr|.
YUV
A color model used to encode a color image or video taking human perception into account. Y stands for the :term:`luminance`, U for blue projection and V for red projection.
Zone
A defined region of a clip or the timeline. Use a clip zone to bring only a portion of the clip into the timeline. Use a timeline zone to render only that portion (see :ref:`rendering-selected_zone`). Define a zone for preview rendering (see :doc:`/tips_and_tricks/tips_and_tricks/timeline_preview_rendering`). A zone is defined by setting an :term:`in-point` and an :term:`out-point`.
Zoom
Increase or decrease the level of detail. You can zoom the timeline by using the icons or by :kbd:`Ctrl+wheel`. Clip and Project Monitor can be zoomed by clicking on the icons in the monitor :term:`overlay` or with :kbd:`Ctrl+wheel`.