# Import Clip Button
## Where to Find It
The Import Clip button is located in the **Composer toolbar**, to the left of the Frame Capture button. It appears as a video camera icon (🎥).
### What It Does
When you click the Import Clip button:
1. **Detects the selected clip** on your Premiere Pro timeline
2. **Exports the clip region** (respects in/out points if set)
3. **Trims to timeline selection** (not the entire source file)
4. **Generates a thumbnail** for preview
5. **Adds to composer** as a video attachment
6. **Ready for editing** with SAM 3, Kling VFX, or other video tools
### Important: Source Video vs. Rendered Effects
#### Understanding What Gets Imported
**Regular Clip Export (Default Behavior):**
* ✅ **Source video file** - The original media file
* ✅ **Timeline in/out points** - Respects your selection
* ❌ **No color grading** - Lumetri corrections are NOT included
* ❌ **No effects** - Time remapping, effects, titles are NOT included
* ❌ **No adjustments** - Adjustment layers are NOT included
**Why this matters:**
* If you've applied color grading, effects, or time remapping in Premiere Pro, these won't be included in the exported clip
* The imported video will be the raw source file, not the rendered version you see on your timeline
#### Including Color Grading and Effects
**To include all your Premiere Pro work (color, effects, time remapping):**
1. **Nest the clip first** in Premiere Pro:
* Select your clip(s) on the timeline
* Right-click → **Nest** (or use keyboard shortcut)
* Give the nested sequence a name
* The nested sequence now contains all your effects, color, and adjustments
2. **Select the nested sequence** on your timeline
3. **Click Import Clip button** in Chat Video Pro
4. **Media Encoder export** - Chat Video Pro automatically uses Adobe Media Encoder to export the nested sequence
* Includes all color grading (Lumetri)
* Includes all effects and adjustments
* Includes time remapping
* Matches your sequence settings (frame rate, resolution)
* Takes a few seconds longer (Media Encoder processing)
**Workflow comparison:**
| Method | Includes Color/Effects | Speed | Use When |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Direct clip export** | ❌ No | ⚡ Fast | Raw footage, no effects needed |
| **Nested sequence export** | ✅ Yes | 🐢 Slower | Color graded, effects applied, time remapped |
### How to Import Videos
#### Method 1: Import Clip Button (Timeline → Composer)
**Best for:** Clips already on your Premiere Pro timeline
1. **Select a clip** on your Premiere Pro timeline (click on it)
2. **Click the Import Clip button** (🎥) in Chat Video Pro
3. **Wait for export** - Button shows pulse animation while processing
4. **Clip appears** in composer as video thumbnail
**For clips with effects:**
1. **Nest the clip first** (Right-click → Nest)
2. **Select the nested sequence**
3. **Click Import Clip button**
4. **Wait for Media Encoder export** (takes longer but includes everything)
#### Method 2: Drag & Drop from Library
**Best for:** Previously generated videos or saved media
1. **Open Library** - Click Library icon in sidebar or use Library panel
2. **Find your video** - Browse generated videos, imported clips, etc.
3. **Drag video** from Library
4. **Drop onto composer** - Video appears as attachment
5. **Ready to edit** - Same as imported clips
**Library videos include:**
* Previously generated videos
* Videos imported from timeline
* Videos saved to Library
* All your Chat Video Pro media
#### Method 3: Drag & Drop from File System
**Best for:** External video files
1. **Open file explorer/finder**
2. **Find your video file** (MP4, MOV, etc.)
3. **Drag video file** onto the Chat Video Pro composer
4. **Video appears** as attachment
5. **Ready to edit**
### Workflows After Importing
Once you have a video in the composer, you can access multiple editing workflows:
#### Workflow 1: SAM 3 Background Removal
**Best for:** Professional rotoscoping and transparent video
1. **Import video** (using any method above)
2. **Click "Edit"** on the video thumbnail
3. **Select "SAM 3"** from model selector
4. **Choose selection method:**
* **Text prompt:** "the person in the white shirt"
* **Box selection:** Draw rectangle around subject
5. **Preview:** Click "Track Frame" to see mask preview
6. **Process:** Click "Track Entire Video" to process all frames
7. **Export:** Click "Remove Background" to get transparent ProRes 4444 video
**Output:** Professional transparent video ready for compositing
#### Workflow 2: Kling VFX Visual Effects
**Best for:** Adding effects without After Effects
1. **Import video** (3-10 seconds recommended)
2. **Click "Edit"** on the video thumbnail
3. **Select "Kling VFX"** from model selector
4. **Enter effect description:**
* "Add rain to the scene"
* "Make it nighttime"
* "Add fire in the background"
* "Change the lighting to golden hour"
5. **Optional:** Add 1-4 images best results use a nanobanana image for style reference
6. **Click "Edit Video"** to generate
7. **Compare:** Use Before/After toggle to see changes
**Output:** Video with effects applied, original audio preserved
#### Workflow 3: Video Upscaling
**Best for:** Increasing resolution for final delivery
1. **Import video**
2. **Click "Edit"** on the video thumbnail
3. **Select "Upscale"** from model selector
4. **Choose upscaler:**
* **Topaz** - Industry standard (1.5×–4×)
* **Flash VSR 2** - Maximum control, ProRes output (1.5×–10×)
* **Bria** - High quality up to 8K (2×–4×)
5. **Set scale factor** and other parameters
6. **Click "Generate"** to upscale
7. **Click "Done"** to add upscaled video to chat
**Output:** Higher resolution video ready for delivery
### Technical Details
#### What Gets Imported (Regular Clips)
* **Source media file** - Original video file from disk
* **Selected region** - Only the portion on your timeline
* **Timeline in/out points** - Respects your selection
* **No rendering** - Uses source file directly (fast)
#### What Gets Imported (Nested Sequences)
* **Rendered video** - Fully processed with all effects
* **Color grading included** - All Lumetri corrections
* **Effects included** - Time remapping, effects, titles
* **Adjustment layers** - All adjustments rendered
* **Sequence settings** - Matches your sequence frame rate and resolution
* **Media Encoder export** - Uses Adobe Media Encoder (slower)
#### Supported Clip Types
**Regular Clips:**
* Imported instantly using source media file
* Fast export, no processing needed
* No effects/color included
**Nested Sequences:**
* Automatically exported via Adobe Media Encoder
* Takes a few seconds longer
* Includes all effects and color grading
* Matches sequence settings
**Adjustment Layers, Titles, Graphics:**
* Require nesting first (to include in export)
* Processed through Media Encoder
* May take longer depending on complexity
#### Export Limits
* **Maximum file size:** 1 GB
* **Maximum duration:** 5 minutes
* **Longer clips:** Trim on timeline before exporting
* **Nested sequences:** May take longer depending on effects complexity
#### File Format
**Regular Clips:**
* Uses source file format directly
* No conversion needed
**Nested Sequences:**
* **Export format:** H.264 MP4 (for compatibility)
* **Quality:** Matches timeline quality settings
* **Frame rate:** Matches sequence frame rate
* **Resolution:** Matches sequence resolution
### Tips for Best Results
1. **Nest first for effects** - If you want color/effects included, nest the clip before exporting
2. **Keep clips short** - Under 30 seconds for faster SAM 3 processing
3. **Trim on timeline first** - Only export what you need
4. **Select single clips** - Import one clip at a time for best results
5. **Check file size** - Keep under 1 GB limit
6. **Use Library for reuse** - Drag videos from Library to reuse in multiple projects
### Troubleshooting
#### "No clip selected"
**Solutions:**
* Click directly on a clip in your timeline
* Ensure the clip is actually selected (highlighted)
* Check that you have an active sequence
* Try selecting a different clip
#### "Color grading not included"
**Solution:** You need to nest the clip first:
1. Select your clip(s) on timeline
2. Right-click → Nest
3. Select the nested sequence
4. Click Import Clip button
5. Media Encoder will export with all effects included
#### "Clip export taking too long"
**Common causes:**
* Nested sequence (requires Media Encoder export)
* Adjustment layers or graphics (need rendering)
* Very long clip (trim on timeline first)
* Complex effects (may slow export)
**Solutions:**
* Wait for export to complete (shows progress)
* Trim clip to shorter duration on timeline
* Simplify nested sequences if possible
* Check Media Encoder is running (for nested sequences)
#### "Export failed"
**Common causes:**
* Clip is offline or missing source file
* Insufficient disk space
* File format not supported
* Clip duration exceeds 5-minute limit
**Solutions:**
* Relink offline media in Premiere Pro
* Check available disk space
* Ensure source file is a valid video format
* Trim clip to under 5 minutes
#### "File size too large"
* Trim clip to shorter duration
* Use lower quality export settings (if available)
* Split into multiple shorter clips
* Check source file size
### Related Features
* [**Frame Capture Button** ](/getting-started/interface-overview/frame-capture-button.md)- Export single frames (not entire clips)
* [**Video Canvas Editor** ](/features/video-editing-tools/video-canvas-editor.md)- Edit imported clips
* [**SAM 3**](/features/video-editing-tools/sam-3-rotoscoping.md) - Professional rotoscoping tool
* [**Kling VFX** ](/features/video-editing-tools/kling-vfx.md)- Visual effects and scene modifications
* [**Library**](/getting-started/interface-overview/library.md) - Store and reuse imported videos
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