> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.tessact.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Zoom and resize the timeline

> Change temporal and vertical detail without changing the composition.

Timeline zoom changes how many screen pixels represent a frame. Timeline height changes how many rows and expanded keyframe lanes fit vertically. Neither operation changes timing data.

## Choose a temporal scale

| Task                           | Recommended view                                           |
| ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| Reorder scenes                 | Zoomed out enough to see structural sections               |
| Trim dialogue                  | Zoom in until waveform phrases and single frames are clear |
| Adjust keyframes               | Zoom in until points no longer overlap visually            |
| Compare long audio and picture | Moderate zoom with taller timeline                         |
| Inspect one-frame gap          | Maximum practical zoom around the boundary                 |

The playback strip exposes timeline zoom controls. Use `Cmd/Ctrl++` (or `=`) to zoom in, `Cmd/Ctrl+-` to zoom out, `Cmd/Ctrl+0` or unmodified `\` to fit the full sequence, and `Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+2` to fit the selected range.

## Resize vertically

Drag the boundary between canvas and timeline to allocate more height. A taller timeline is useful for many layers, expanded animation lanes, or large waveforms. A shorter timeline returns space to the canvas during detailed composition work.

The separator is keyboard-operable after focus: Arrow keys resize by `24 px`, `Shift+Arrow` uses `72 px`, `Home` moves to the minimum, `End` moves to the maximum, and double-click restores the default. The vertical separator beside the left panel uses the same step sizes and min/max/reset pattern for panel width.

## Scroll and playhead following

During playback, the visible timeline may follow the playhead so the current frame remains in view. Manual scrolling and seeking can reset the useful viewport. Pause before making a tiny trim; moving content underneath an actively advancing playhead is difficult to judge.

For manual navigation, middle-drag or `Space` + primary-drag pans horizontally/vertically, `Shift+wheel` scrolls horizontally, and `Cmd/Ctrl+wheel` zooms around the pointer. A simple `Space` tap still toggles transport; it becomes a pan gesture only once dragging begins.

Hovering ordinary timeline space shows a vertical guide with formatted time and `F<frame>`. The frame is rounded and clamped to the visible range. The guide hides during pan, marquee, drag/drop, or active scrolling so it is not mistaken for an edit boundary.

<Tip>
  Preserve context by zooming around the current playhead or selection. If you lose the clip, use a fit control or select its row before zooming again.
</Tip>

## Pixel ambiguity

At low zoom, several frames map to one screen pixel. Pointer gestures must quantize to an underlying whole frame, so a one-pixel drag can represent a large time change. Increase zoom before making decisions whose tolerance is smaller than the visible pixels per frame.

For the math behind this behavior, see [Timecode and frame math](/editor/reference/timecode-frame-math).