# Creating New Sources Using Tools from the Tools Tab

The Tools tab provides access to numerous effects and tools allowing you to create modified clips that you can then use as sources on the timeline or in ConnectFX. The tools use input clips (or in some cases are generated from scratch) that are then modified through parameters to produce a result directly in the workspace.

Some tools allow you to set parameters directly in the Tools quick menu, and instantly see a rendered result in the workspace. Other tools have full editors that you enter, allowing you to tweak numerous settings before rendering your result back to the workspace. In either case, new modified clips are created that you can use in your project.

## Saving and Loading Tool Setups

For each tool that has a full editor, you are able to save and load setups. A setup is a file that contains a record of all changes you make to a clip in a particular tool. This record includes references to clips used—not the clips themselves. Setups let you save your work separately from clips, so you can load and work on the setup at anytime or apply the setup to other clips. Setups can be shared between instances of the same effect, whether accessed from the Tools tab, as a Timeline FX, or from the ConnectFX node bin.

In the tool editor, use the Save and Load buttons to enter the file browser (pointing to the default directory location for each tool type). From the Load browser, you can also delete previously saved setups. For most tools, you can load or save setups or preferences/defaults. Preferences are settings that let you customize the display or functioning of some tool elements, keyboard shortcuts, pen and tablet, and audio (defaults are the default preferences). Some tools, such as Paint, have more saving and loading options.

#### Topics in this section

- Accessing Tools

#### Related Information

- About Loading and Saving ConnectFX Setups
- Saving, Loading, and Importing in Action
- About Paint Setups