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# Matching Clips with Their Source Clip

You can match a clip in the Record Area with its source clip. If a match is found, a copy of the clip is put in the Source Area.

You can also match a Source Area clip with an element in the Record Area.

In the Preferences menu, the Match option in in Editing group of the Timeline section determines where Smoke looks for the source clip.

If you are working with Batch setups, you can also match source clips used in any BFX level. See Matching and Copying Sources from BFX View.

Note Smoke has one level of Match. If you process a source clip, the new clip becomes the source clip, which can be found with the Match command. It is therefore a good idea to always keep a copy of the un-edited original material.

To match a clip with its source clip:

1. Select the elements that you want to match in the Record Area.
   TipIf you do not make a selection and the Record Area is set to Record Timeline view, the clip under the positioner's focus point is matched.
2. Do one of the following:
   - Press / to create a matching source clip with trimmed head and tail. The matching source clip appears in the Source Area, including all handles. If your selection included transitions, the source clips and handles are included in the match results.
   - Press Ctrl+/ to create a matching source clip with in and out points that mark the section of the source used in the Record Area. The matching source clip appears in the Source Area, without handles. If your selection included transitions, only those frames that are used by the transition are included in the match results.

To match a source clip to a timeline element (Reverse Match):

1. Select the source in the Source Area.
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+/.

   The instance of the selected source is highlighted on the timeline.