Copy and paste attributes

Attributes include settings such as volume adjustments, zoom positions, color corrections, and more. In Descript, you can copy and paste these attributes between clips or layers. This guide will help you understand the differences between clips and layers, identify which attributes can be copied, and determine where to copy them from.

Getting Started

In Descript, clips refer to individual pieces of media on the timeline, such as audio, video, or image files, while layers refer to visual elements that can be overlaid on these clips, such as text or shapes.

  1. Select your source clip or layer (either single-click with the Select tool, or double-click with the Range tool).
  2. Open the menu in the top left and select Edit > Copy to copy it, or press Command + C (macOS) or Control + C (Windows).
  3. Select the destination clip, selection, or layer. If you would like to apply the effect to more than one, you can either press Shift + Click with the Select tool to select multiple, or select Edit > Select All to select all within the track or layer.
  4. Select Edit > Paste selected attributes or press Command + Shift + V (macOS) or Control + Shift + V (Windows) to apply the properties.
Where to Copy From Timeline vs. Scene Editor

Some attributes, like zoom and color corrections, must be copied from the scene editor as they pertain to visual adjustments. Other settings, such as volume or text style, can be copied directly from the Timeline.

Limitations on Attribute Copy

Not all attributes can be copied between all clip or layer types. Current limitations include the inability to copy certain layer-specific settings between non-script elements.

Attribute Copy from Paste to
Gain + Speed Script or Timeline selection Script or Timeline selection 

Size & Position

Fill color

Border color

Stroke weight

Opacity

 Layer selection, either in the scene editor or the Timeline Layer selection, either in the scene editor or the Timeline

Text styles + text size & position

 Text/captions layer selection, either in the scene editor or the Timeline Text/captions layer selection, either in the scene editor or the Timeline

Zoom level + Color adjustments

 Layer selection in scene editor or Timeline Layer selection in scene editor or Timeline