Edit video layer timing and duration

Last updated on Oct 10, 2026

Learn how to drag duration bars, trim frames, or split clips to control when layers appear in your timeline in Photoshop.

These techniques control when video and animation layers appear by adjusting In points (first visible frame) and Out points (last visible frame). Trimming operations are reversible—restore hidden frames by extending the duration bar. Moving operations permanently change layer timing and save to your file. Requires the Timeline panel to be in timeline mode.

You can adjust layer timing by dragging duration bars directly in the Timeline panel, trimming to hide frames temporarily, or moving layer points permanently. For more complex edits, you can remove sections of footage or split layers at specific frames.

Timeline panel set to timeline mode (not frame animation mode).

Video or animation layer in your document.

Familiarity with the Timeline panel interface.

Drag layer duration bars

Select the video or animation layer in the Timeline panel.

Drag the beginning or end of the layer duration bar to set new In and Out points.

Drag the entire duration bar left or right to reposition the layer's appearance in the timeline.

Tip

For best results, trim the start and end points before repositioning the duration bar.

Trim layer frames

Select the layer in the Timeline panel.

Move the current-time indicator to the frame you want as the new In or Out point.

From the Timeline panel menu, select Trim Layer Start To Current Time or Trim Layer End To Current Time.

Trimming hides frames between the current-time indicator and the layer's start or end without deleting them. Extend the duration bar ends to reveal hidden frames.

Move layer points

Select the layer in the Timeline or Layers panel.

Move the current-time indicator to the frame you want as the new In or Out point.

From the Timeline panel menu, select Move Layer In Point To Current Time or Move Layer End Point To Current Time.

Caution

Moving layer points permanently changes layer timing and saves to your file. You cannot restore these changes by extending the duration bar.

Remove footage with a gap

Select the layers you want to edit.

Drag the work area bar handles to define the duration you want to remove.

From the Timeline panel menu, select Lift Work Area.

The Lift Work Area command deletes selected footage and leaves a gap of the same duration.

Remove footage without a gap

Select the layers you want to edit.

Drag the work area bar handles to define the duration you want to remove.

From the Timeline panel menu, select Extract Work Area.

The Extract Work Area command deletes selected footage and automatically removes the time gap. Adobe Photoshop copies the remaining content to new video layers.

Split layer footage

Select a video layer in the Timeline panel.

Move the current-time indicator to the frame where you want to split the layer.

From the Timeline panel menu, select Split Layer.

Adobe Photoshop duplicates the selected layer and places it immediately above the original. The original layer is trimmed from its start to the current time, and the duplicate is trimmed from the current time to its end.

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