Getting Started > The Desktop >
Selecting Clips to Apply a Desktop Command

Desktop commands apply image processes to clips on the Desktop. When you click a Desktop command button, the cursor changes, indicating the clip selection requirements for the command you want to apply.

To apply a Desktop command:

1. Click the Desktop command button in, for example, the Processing menu.

   The cursor becomes a red arrow.

2. The red arrow indicates that you should select:
   - The front clip, if the command performs a compositing process, such as Quick Composite (see Quick Compositing).
   - The first input clip, if the command is a mix operation, such as a Multiply logical operation (see Using Logical Operations).

   To select the front or first input clip on the Desktop reels, click its upper-left corner.

3. If the cursor becomes a green arrow, select the back clip or second input clip. Otherwise, continue with the next step.
4. If the cursor becomes a blue cursor, select the matte clip (the blue cursor only appears with compositing commands and modules). Otherwise, continue with the next step.
5. Once all the input clips for the command are selected, the cursor becomes a white arrow. The white arrow indicates that you are ready to select the destination Desktop reel for the processed result clip. Click any Desktop reel.

   The processed clip appears on the destination reel that you selected, with a red outline. The most recently processed clip on the Desktop always has a red outline.