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477Final Cut Pro User Guide
Adjust and arrange captions in Final Cut Pro
You use the powerful timeline editing tools in Final Cut Pro to adjust the timing and
arrangement of captions in your projects.
Arrange and trim caption clips in the timeline
You control the timing of captions by arranging and trimming them in the timeline. In many
cases, you can move and trim caption clips just as you would other types of clips.
Caption clips are always connected clips. Unlike other types of clips, caption clips can also
be connected to other connected clips.
1. Open an existing project in the Final Cut Pro timeline.
2. Use the timeline index to show captions in the timeline and the viewer.
See Manage captions with the timeline index.
3. Do any of the following:
• Adjust a caption’s position in the timeline: Drag it left or right. When you drag a
caption clip to adjacent captions, it overwrites the adjacent captions.
You can also move caption clips by by entering a timecode value or nudging them
with keyboard shortcuts. See
Arrange clips in the Final Cut Pro timeline.
• Adjust a caption’s duration: Trim the caption clip by dragging its start or end point.
You can also use powerful trimming techniques with caption clips. See Extend or
shorten clips in Final Cut Pro.
• Roll the edit point between two caption clips: Make a roll edit using the Trim tool.
• Cut a caption at any point: Cut the clip using the Blade tool.
Connect a caption to a connected clip
When you create a caption, it’s connected to the primary storyline at the playhead position.
Sometimes, you may want to connect the caption to another connected clip instead—for
example, if the connected clip contains dialogue and you want to keep the caption in sync
with the dialogue.
1. In the Final Cut Pro timeline, select the caption that you want to connect.
2. Position a connected clip so that it overlaps the caption in the timeline.
3. Option-Command-click the connected clip.
The caption is connected to the connected clip at the frame where you clicked.