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

# B-roll: pictures and video over your footage

> Show a photo or a video clip on top of your recording while your voice keeps playing.

**B-roll** is a picture or video that shows on top of your footage for a little while. Your voice keeps playing underneath. For example, show a photo of the product while you talk about it.

B-roll is different from adding a clip to the video row. A clip on the video row plays **instead of** your recording. B-roll plays **over** it. To add a clip instead, see [Add more video or photos](https://cutaway-docs.mintlify.site/edit/timeline-and-clips.md#add-more-video-or-photos).

## Add B-roll at the playhead

**1. Go to the moment**

Click the timeline where the picture or video should appear.

**2. Press + on the text and effects row**

It's at the end of the top row of the timeline. Choose **Photo or video over the footage…**.

**3. Pick your files**

Choose one or more photos or videos from your Mac. A photo shows for 4 seconds. A video shows for up to 6 seconds. If you pick several, they play one after another.

**4. Make it last as long as you want**

A block appears on the text and effects row. Drag its ends to make it shorter or longer.

## Add B-roll to a stretch you select

Already added pictures or videos to your project (for example in **Sources**)? You can put one over an exact stretch of time.

1. Drag across the video row to select the stretch.
2. In the panel on the right, under **Add**, find **B-roll from this project**.
3. Open **Insert an asset…** and pick the picture or video.

It fills the stretch you selected.

## Change how it looks

Click the B-roll block on the timeline to open its panel on the right.

* **Asset**: swap it for another picture or video in your project.
* **Start inside the clip**: for a video, choose which part of it plays.
* **Fit**: **Fill frame** fills the whole video and may cut off the edges. **Show all** shows the whole picture, with space around it if the shape doesn't match.
* **Use this clip's sound**: turn on to hear the B-roll video's own sound. Leave it off to hear only your voice.
* **Fade in** and **Fade out**: how slowly the B-roll appears and disappears. All the way left is a **Hard cut** (no fade).

To remove B-roll, click its block and press **Backspace**.

> [!TIP]
>
> Your voice always keeps playing while B-roll is on screen. Nothing in your recording is cut.

## Make B-roll with AI

Don't have the right picture? Cutaway can make one for you. Press **+** on the text and effects row and choose **Generate an image…** or **Generate a video…**. See [Make voice, music and pictures with AI](https://cutaway-docs.mintlify.site/edit/ai-generation.md#make-a-picture-or-a-short-video).

## Let the first cut place your B-roll

When you make a [first cut](https://cutaway-docs.mintlify.site/edit/first-cut.md), leave **Use my B-roll where it fits** on. If your project has pictures or videos, Cutaway can show them at good moments over your footage. This needs the [AI helpers](https://cutaway-docs.mintlify.site/ai/set-up-ai.md). Without them, the first cut leaves your shots clean.


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