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# Creating Matte Containers

Containers are a convenient way of grouping elements on the timeline. The elements, which can come from different layers, can be edited as a unit and individually. A matte container is a container with the RGB portion of an image on one track and its matte on another. If the matte for a clip exists separately from it, you can add the clip and its matte to the timeline as a single element by creating a matte container for them.

For single-frame mattes and virtual sources, there are special considerations. If the matte consists of a single frame, it is automatically repeated to match the duration of the front clip. If both the front and matte clips are virtual sources, the matte container is created as a virtual source. You can trim, slip or slide it to any extent.

You can create a matte container in the following ways:

- Using the Axis soft effect quick menu or editor.
- Using the Ctrl hotkey.
- By importing the RGBA file directly into a matte container. See Importing RGBA Files. (This option does not repeat single-frame mattes to match the front clip.)
- Using the Container Fx tool. See FX Tools.

NoteFor more information on containers, see Working with Containers.

To create a matte container using the quick menu:

1. Load your fill to the timeline and apply a soft Axis to it.
2. In the Axis quick menu, click Matte.
3. Select your external matte from the EditDesk.
   NoteYou cannot use a timeline element as your matte selection.

   A matte container is created.

To create a matte container using the editor:

1. Load your fill to the timeline and apply a soft Axis to it.
2. Enter the Axis Editor.
3. Click Load Matte.
4. Select your external matte from the EditDesk.
   NoteYou cannot use a timeline element as your matte selection.

   The matte container is created.

To create a matte container using the Ctrl hotkey:

1. Make sure your fill is on the Primary video track of the EditDesk record timeline.
2. Make sure your matte is on the Secondary video track.
3. Select the element(s) you want to use for the fill.
4. Select the element(s) you want to use for the matte.
5. Ctrl-click the Container button.

   The matte container is created on the Primary video track.

6. Apply a soft Axis to the matte container.

   You now see the result of the external matte with the matte container.

To enter a matte container:

1. Double-click the matte container or click E beside the Container button.

   The matte container contains two tracks: your fill on V1 and the external matte you selected on V2. You edit the contents of a matte container the same way as a normal container.

To mute a matte from the Axis Editor:

1. Select the matte container.
2. Enter the Axis Editor.
3. Select Off from the Matte box.

   The matte is temporarily removed from the vertical edit.

To mute a matte from the timeline:

1. Click the Container button.

   The LED turns yellow.

   NoteTo unhide the matte, click the Container LED button so that it turns purple.