How to Trim Clips and Use Multi Trim in PowerDirector
Mark the parts of a clip to keep, one segment or several.
Updated Oct. 31, 2026 · 4 min read
In a hurry? Use the trim quick guide instead.
PowerDirector's Trim window cuts a clip down to the part you want, and Multi Trim pulls several segments out of one clip. The window was redesigned in version 24.3. For versions before that, see the guide to the earlier layout. Use it to pull the usable seconds out of a long take before it reaches the timeline.
- Select the clip, click Edit above the timeline, then Video > Tools > Trim. Or click the scissor icon above the timeline.
- Pick Single Trim for one piece or Multi Trim for several.
- Park the playhead and press I to mark in, then O to mark out.
- In Multi Trim, repeat for each segment you want.
- Click Select Range on a segment to zoom in on it, or its trash can icon to remove it.
- Click Output to preview what you kept, then click Apply.
Steps to Trim a Clip
Prefer to watch? Here's the whole thing in under 3 minutes.
Step 1: Open the Trim Window
Select the clip on the timeline and click Edit in the toolbar above the timeline.
For a rough cut, you can also drag a clip's edge on the timeline. The Trim window is for frame-accurate cuts. Don't hold Ctrl while you drag an edge, or you change the clip's speed instead of its length.
On the Video tab, under Tools, click Trim.
If you trim often, click the scissor icon in the toolbar above the timeline to open the same window directly.
Step 2: Single Trim or Multi Trim
The window has two tabs at the top: Single Trim and Multi Trim. Both trim with the same precision, so pick the one that matches how many pieces you want from the clip.
| Mode | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Single Trim | The clip is straightforward and you only need to change where it starts and ends. |
| Multi Trim | You want several highlights out of one long take. Marking them all in one pass is faster than trimming the clip repeatedly. |
Step 3: Mark In and Mark Out
Move the playhead to where the clip should start and press I, then move it to where the clip should end and press O. Or click the Mark in and Mark out buttons below the timeline in the Trim window.
You can also drag the yellow markers at either end of the selection. That's quicker when you're judging the shot by eye instead of working to a number.
Reading the In and Out Frames
The right-hand column lists three values you can type into: Duration, In Position, and Out Position. Under each position you see a still of that frame. Type a value to place a cut on an exact frame. Or click the up and down arrows beside a value to move it one frame at a time.
Step 4: Add More Segments in Multi Trim
Switch to the Multi Trim tab at the top of the window. A selection you made in Single Trim carries over as Segment 1.
Mark in and out repeatedly, and each pair becomes a segment.
The segments build up in the Selected Segments list on the right.
Step 5: Fine-Tune or Remove a Segment
Click a segment in the list to show its two icons. Then click Select Range, the top icon, to zoom the timeline in around that segment.
In the Select Range window, drag the markers on the zoomed-in timeline to nudge the segment's start and end precisely, then click Apply at the bottom of the window.
To remove a segment instead, click the trash can icon below Select Range on its entry.
Step 6: Preview the Output and Apply
Below the preview, to the left of the playback controls, Original plays the whole clip and Output plays only what you have kept. Check Output to catch a segment that starts a beat too late.
Then click Apply at the bottom right of the window.
In Multi Trim, each segment lands on the timeline as its own clip.
We tested these steps in PowerDirector 365 version 25.0.10 on Windows.
Don't have PowerDirector yet? Trim clips down to the frame, and pull several segments out of one long take with Multi Trim.
Download PowerDirector Free →
