# Getting Started

There are two ways to use Curves in the timeline:

1. Animate a single clip by applying Curves as an effect.
2. Animate multiple clips by applying Curves to an adjustment clip.

# Animating a single clip

Before you can apply Curves to a clip, you need to turn it into a compound clip.

This is because in Final Cut, plugins are forbidden from moving objects outside of their original size. So if your clip is smaller than the project dimensions, trying to use Curves to move it will result in the clip being cut off.

Since compound clips are always exactly the same size as the project, Curves can move a compound clip to any position on the screen.

After making your clip a compound clip, drag the Curves effect from the effects browser and apply it to your compound clip.

You can also combine multiple clips into one compound clip and animate that. Select your clips, create a new compound clip, and apply Curves as an effect.

See more about compound clips in the Final Cut Pro Documentation.

# Animating multiple clips at once

You can use an adjustment clip to apply the same Curves animation to multiple clips at once without joining them into a compound clip. Since adjustment clips are always the same size as the project, you don't need to convert individual clips into compound clips when using an adjustment clip.

Adjustment clips require Final Cut Pro 11.1 or newer. See more about adjustment clips in the Final Cut Pro Documentation.