# Library

Source: [Library](<https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/library>)

Documentation index: [llms.txt](<https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/llms.txt>)

Last updated: 2026-10-12

This page covers the built-in content supplied by ChatCut. In the editor, **Library** contains effects, transitions, LUTs, and sound effects. **Templates** is a separate adjacent tab, but it belongs to the same built-in-content group. Both are different from the media you import, record, or generate in **My Assets**.

## Use Library content

1.  Open the **Library** tab in the media panel beside the Viewer. If it is hidden, use **Workspace → Library**.
2.  Choose **Effects**, **Transitions**, **LUTs**, **Sound Effects**, or another category currently shown.
3.  Use search or preview controls when that category provides them.
4.  Drag the item to a compatible clip, cut, or track. A successful drop places it at that Timeline location or applies it to the target clip.

If a drop does nothing, check that the target accepts that content type. For example, sound effects belong on audio tracks, while transitions belong on a cut between adjacent clips on the same video track.

## Use Templates

1.  Open the **Templates** tab.
2.  Browse **Popular** and the available categories. Select **Favorite** to show only templates you have saved.
3.  Select a template card to inspect its preview and actions.
4.  Select **Add to timeline** to place the template at the current playhead, or drag it onto a compatible Timeline track.
5.  Select **Use with AI** to add the template to the current Agent request instead of placing it directly on the Timeline.
6.  Select the star to add or remove the template from **Favorite**. A published template must be unpublished before it can be removed from Favorite.

When one Motion Graphic is selected in My Assets and Templates is available, right-click its card and choose **Add as template to Favorite**. ChatCut creates a reusable template while keeping the original Motion Graphic in My Assets.

## Add a sound effect

1.  Open **Library → Sound Effects**.
2.  Select a sound to preview it, or search for the sound you need.
3.  Drag it to the desired time on an audio track. After you drop it, it becomes an audio clip that you can move or trim.

If Library does not contain the sound you need, ask AI to generate one from its action, environment, duration, and listening distance; see [AI Music and Sound Effects](https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/music-and-sound-effects).

## Add a transition

1.  Put two compatible visual clips next to each other on the same video track.
2.  Open **Library → Transitions**.
3.  Drag a transition to their shared cut. After you drop it, the transition connects the two clips.

If a transition will not attach, close the gap and confirm that both clips have enough source duration for the overlap. Deleting or separating either adjacent clip can also remove the transition.

## Find effects in Desktop

In ChatCut Desktop 0.6.6 or later, **Library → Effects** groups effects into categories such as **Color** and **Masks & Keying**.

-   Type in **Search effects** to search every effect by name or description, in the current interface language or in English. Choose a category to narrow the same search; clear the search to return to that category.
-   Select the star on an effect card to save it under **Favorites**.
-   Use the sort menu to switch between **Name A–Z** and **Recently used**.

Hover over an effect card to preview it, then drag it onto a clip.

## Grade color in Desktop

ChatCut Desktop 0.6.6 or later includes two color-grading effects under **Library → Effects → Color**: **Color Wheels** for balancing shadows, midtones, and highlights, and **Film Look Creator** for a film-style grade. The web editor does not include these effects.

1.  Open **Library → Effects** and choose **Color**, or search for the effect by name.
2.  Drag **Color Wheels** or **Film Look Creator** onto a video or image clip.
3.  Select the clip and adjust the effect in the Inspector.

Each effect changes only that timeline item. Delete the effect or use Undo to return to the original picture; the source file in **My Assets** is not changed. You can also ask the Agent in ChatCut Desktop to apply either effect to a clip. To use an imported LUT instead, see [AI Effects](https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/ai-effects).

### Color Wheels

**Color Wheels** has three wheels: **Lift** for shadows, **Gamma** for midtones, and **Gain** for highlights.

-   Drag inside a wheel to shift that range’s color balance. Double-click the wheel to reset its balance.
-   Drag the master slider below a wheel to darken or lighten that range.
-   Use the reset button beside a wheel to reset it, or **Reset all** to reset all three wheels.

Each completed drag is one Undo step. Press **Esc** during a drag to cancel it.

### Film Look Creator

**Film Look Creator** applies a film-style grade to video and images without importing a LUT. Start from a base look, then refine exposure, contrast, highlights, white balance, split tone, vignette, and film grain. Optional groups have their own on/off switch, and resetting a group is one Undo step.

For an original video clip, **Camera Profile** can read the clip’s color metadata automatically or use the profile you choose; other inputs use their current color space. The output is SDR.

### Adjust individual colors with HSL

Inside **Film Look Creator**, **HSL** adjusts eight color ranges: red, orange, yellow, green, aqua, blue, purple, and magenta. Choose the **Hue**, **Saturation**, or **Luminance** tab, or **All** to see every value. Double-click a color’s name to reset it, or double-click a tab to reset all eight colors on that tab. HSL has its own on/off switch.

To adjust a color directly in the picture:

1.  Choose the **Hue**, **Saturation**, or **Luminance** tab.
2.  Select **Targeted adjustment**.
3.  In the Viewer, drag up or down on the color you want to change, then select **Done**.

Targeted adjustment is unavailable on the **All** tab and during playback.

Templates, Skills, and Design Styles serve different purposes: Templates add prebuilt editing content to a project; Skills save reusable AI workflows; Design Styles control the visual style of generated content.

See [My Assets](https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/my-assets), [Timeline](https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/timeline), [Motion Graphics](https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/motion-graphics), [Skills / My Skills](https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/skills-overview), and [Design Styles / My Styles](https://pr-569-preview.chatcut.dev/docs/design-styles).
