Knowledge Base.

Welcome to the Lightworks knowledge base - your resource for learning about this pioneering and influential editing software. For over 30 years, Lightworks has been at the forefront of innovation in non-linear video editing tools. Our knowledge base offers essential information, tutorials, and tips for Lightworks video editors of all levels.

Getting Started.

New to Lightworks? Learn how to install the software and create your first edit in just a few simple steps.

Welcome to Lightworks

Installation and Setup

Quick Start Guide

The Workspace.

Explore the Lightworks interface, viewers, layouts, and keyboard controls to set up a workspace that suits your workflow.

Lightworks Interface

Viewers and Playback

Layouts and Workspaces

Keyboard, mouse and control surfaces

Projects and Organisation.

Set up projects, import and manage your media, and keep your bins, collections, and metadata organised from the start.

Projects

Importing Media

Media Management

Proxies and performance media

Bins, collections, tags and searching

Clip information and metadata

Clip Preparation.

Review, log, and sync your source clips before you start cutting, so your footage is ready to edit.

Reviewing source clips

Logging and subclips

Syncing picture and sound

Editing in Timeline.

Build sequences, trim and retime clips, and master multicam editing with our guides to working in the timeline.

Sequences and timeline

Basic editing

Selecting and moving material

Trimming

Speed and retiming

Timeline tools and commands

Multicam editing

Reusing sequences and building blocks

Audio Editing and Mixing.

From audio basics to mixing and voiceover recording, learn how to get clean, balanced sound in every edit.

Audio basics

Editing audio in timeline

The audio mixer

Audio effects

Recording and voiceover

Effects and Transitions.

Add keyframed animations, transitions, masks, and transform tools to bring style and polish to your sequences.

Effects overview

Keyframes and animations

Video transitions and fades

Transform, crop, and reframing tools

Masks and selective effects

Exporting and Delivery.

Export your finished project for web, social, or professional delivery, with guidance on formats, aspect ratios, and batch exports.

Export overview

Web and social delivery

Professional delivery

Aspect ratios, guides and letterbox

Batch export and background tasks

Preferences.

Customise application preferences, project settings, keyboard shortcuts, and panel layouts to match how you work.

Application preferences

Project settings

Keyboard shortcuts

Panel and UI customisation

Troubleshooting.

Find solutions to common issues, supported file formats, and a full glossary and command reference.

Troubleshooting common problems

Glossary

Supported formats reference

Menu and command

Keyboard shortcut tables

Advanced Workflows.

Collaborate on shared projects, interchange with other applications, and optimise performance for demanding workflows.

Collaboration and shared projects

Interchange with other applications

Media formats and technical settings

Performance optimisation

Archive and restoring work