Three-point editing
Three-point editing means setting any three of the four edit points (source in, source out, timeline in, timeline out) and letting the editor work out the fourth. It's how professional editors place almost every shot.
The four points
Every edit has four points: where the shot starts and ends in the source clip, and where it starts and ends in the timeline. Because the length of the shot is the same in both places, you only need to set three. The editor calculates the fourth.
| You set | The editor works out | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Source in, source out, timeline in | Timeline out | The usual edit: you know which part of the shot you want and where it starts. |
| Source in, timeline in, timeline out | Source out | Filling an exact gap, for example cutaways over a line of dialogue. |
| Source in, source out, timeline out | Timeline in | Backtiming: the shot has to end on a specific moment, such as a beat in the music. |
A basic three-point edit, step by step
- Open a clip in the source viewer (or select it in the browser in Final Cut Pro).
- Play it with J, K and L and press I where the shot should start and O where it should end.
- Move the playhead in the timeline to where the shot should go. That's your third point.
- Press insert or overwrite.
Insert or overwrite?
Insert pushes everything after the playhead later to make room. Use it when you're building a sequence and adding new material. Overwrite replaces whatever is already in the timeline for the length of the new shot. Use it for cutaways and replacements, where the overall length mustn't change.
| Final Cut Pro | Premiere Pro | DaVinci Resolve | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark in / out | I O | I O | I O |
| Insert | W | , | F9 |
| Overwrite | D | . | F10 |
| Add above, as a cutaway | Q (connect) | Overwrite onto a higher track | F12 (place on top) |
| Backtimed edit | Shift D overwrite, Shift Q connect | Set a timeline out only, then overwrite | Set a timeline out only, then edit |
Backtiming
Sometimes the end of a shot matters more than the start: a door closing on a music hit, or a reaction that must land as a line finishes. Mark the source range, put the playhead (or a timeline out point) where the shot must end, and backtime it. Final Cut Pro has dedicated keys (Shift-D and Shift-Q). In Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, set a timeline out point without a timeline in point; Adobe recommends overwrite for backtimed edits, because an insert shifts the clips around it.
Why it's taught first
Dragging clips into a timeline works, but it's slow, and it encourages long, loose edits that need lots of chopping afterwards. Three-point editing makes you decide what you want before it goes in. It's faster, more precise and entirely keyboard-driven, which is why every film school starts with it.
Four-point editing
If you set all four points and the durations don't match, the editor has to change the speed of the shot to fit (often called fit to fill). It's occasionally useful, but usually a sign one of your points is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What is three-point editing?+
Three-point editing is the technique of setting any three of the four edit points (source in, source out, timeline in and timeline out) so the editing software calculates the fourth. It's supported in Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve and Avid Media Composer.
What is the difference between insert and overwrite?+
An insert edit adds the new shot at the playhead and pushes everything after it later, so the sequence gets longer. An overwrite edit replaces whatever is already in the timeline for the length of the new shot, so the sequence stays the same length.
What are the insert and overwrite shortcuts?+
Final Cut Pro uses W for insert and D for overwrite. Premiere Pro uses comma for insert and full stop for overwrite. DaVinci Resolve uses F9 for insert and F10 for overwrite.
What is backtiming in editing?+
Backtiming means lining up the end of a shot with a point in the timeline, rather than the start. You use it when a shot must finish on a specific moment. Final Cut Pro has dedicated backtimed edits on Shift-D and Shift-Q; in Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve you set only a timeline out point.
Written by Philip Brumpton, a product designer who builds KeyCut. Last checked October 2026.
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