--- name: blender-vse-pipeline description: "\ud83e\udde0 The right skill, one API call. AI agent skills registry with token-efficient skill resolution. 5,000+ skills from 500+ top repos." --- # Blender VSE Pipeline ## Overview Automate video editing with Blender's Video Sequence Editor (VSE) using Python. Add and arrange strips (video, image, audio), create transitions, apply effects, assemble edits from file lists, and render final video — all headlessly from the terminal. ## Instructions ### 1. Initialize the sequence editor ```python import bpy scene = bpy.context.scene if not scene.sequence_editor: scene.sequence_editor_create() sequences = scene.sequence_editor.sequences scene.frame_start = 1 scene.frame_end = 250 scene.render.fps = 24 ``` ### 2. Add strips ```python # Video strip strip = sequences.new_movie(name="Clip_A", filepath="/path/to/video.mp4", channel=1, frame_start=1) strip.frame_offset_start = 24 # trim start (skip 1 sec) strip.frame_offset_end = 48 # trim end # Image strip (hold for duration) img = sequences.new_image(name="Title_Card", filepath="/path/to/title.png", channel=2, frame_start=1, fit_method='FIT') img.frame_final_duration = 72 # 3 seconds at 24fps # Image sequence import glob img_files = sorted(glob.glob("/path/to/frames/frame_*.png")) img_seq = sequences.new_image(name="Render", filepath=img_files[0], channel=1, frame_start=1) for f in img_files[1:]: img_seq.elements.append(f.split("/")[-1]) # Audio strip with fade in/out audio = sequences.new_sound(name="Music", filepath="/path/to/music.mp3", channel=3, frame_start=1) audio.volume = 0.0 audio.keyframe_insert(data_path="volume", frame=1) audio.volume = 0.6 audio.keyframe_insert(data_path="volume", frame=24) audio.volume = 0.6 audio.keyframe_insert(data_path="volume", frame=audio.frame_final_end - 48) audio.volume = 0.0 audio.keyframe_insert(data_path="volume", frame=audio.frame_final_end) ``` ### 3. Transitions and effects ```python # Cross dissolve (strips must overlap and be on different channels) cross = sequences.new_effect( name="CrossDissolve", type='GAMMA_CROSS', channel=3, frame_start=clip_a.frame_final_end - 24, frame_end=clip_b.frame_final_start + 24, seq1=clip_a, seq2=clip_b ) # Color strip (solid background) color = sequences.new_effect(name="BlackBG", type='COLOR', channel=1, frame_start=1, frame_end=48) color.color = (0, 0, 0) # Text overlay text = sequences.new_effect(name="Title", type='TEXT', channel=4, frame_start=1, frame_end=72) text.text = "My Video Title" text.font_size = 80 text.color = (1, 1, 1, 1) text.location = (0.5, 0.5) text.align_x = 'CENTER' text.align_y = 'CENTER' text.use_shadow = True # Speed control speed = sequences.new_effect(name="SlowMo", type='SPEED', channel=5, frame_start=clip_a.frame_final_start, frame_end=clip_a.frame_final_end, seq1=clip_a) speed.speed_factor = 0.5 # Transform (position, scale, rotation) transform = sequences.new_effect(name="Transform", type='TRANSFORM', channel=5, frame_start=1, frame_end=100, seq1=clip_a) transform.scale_start_x = 1.2 transform.scale_start_y = 1.2 ``` ### 4. Strip modifiers for color correction ```python strip = sequences["Clip_A"] bc = strip.modifiers.new(name="BrightContrast", type='BRIGHT_CONTRAST') bc.bright = 0.1 bc.contrast = 0.15 cb = strip.modifiers.new(name="ColorBalance", type='COLOR_BALANCE') cb.color_balance.lift = (0.95, 0.95, 1.0) cb.color_balance.gain = (1.1, 1.05, 0.95) ``` ### 5. Render the final video ```python scene = bpy.context.scene scene.render.filepath = "/tmp/final_edit.mp4" scene.render.image_settings.file_format = 'FFMPEG' scene.render.ffmpeg.format = 'MPEG4' scene.render.ffmpeg.codec = 'H264' scene.render.ffmpeg.audio_codec = 'AAC' scene.render.ffmpeg.audio_bitrate = 192 scene.render.resolution_x = 1920 scene.render.resolution_y = 1080 # Auto-set frame range from strips all_strips = scene.sequence_editor.sequences_all if all_strips: scene.frame_start = min(s.frame_final_start for s in all_strips) scene.frame_end = max(s.frame_final_end for s in all_strips) bpy.ops.render.render(animation=True) ``` ## Examples ### Example 1: Assemble an edit from a shot list **User request:** "Build a timeline from video clips with crossfades between them" ```python import bpy, os clips = ["/path/to/shot_01.mp4", "/path/to/shot_02.mp4", "/path/to/shot_03.mp4", "/path/to/shot_04.mp4"] crossfade_frames = 12 scene = bpy.context.scene scene.render.fps = 24 if not scene.sequence_editor: scene.sequence_editor_create() sequences = scene.sequence_editor.sequences current_frame = 1 prev_strip = None for i, clip_path in enumerate(clips): if prev_strip and crossfade_frames > 0: current_frame -= crossfade_frames strip = sequences.new_movie( name=os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(clip_path))[0], filepath=clip_path, channel=1 + (i % 2), frame_start=current_frame ) if prev_strip and crossfade_frames > 0: sequences.new_effect(name=f"Fade_{i}", type='GAMMA_CROSS', channel=3, frame_start=current_frame, frame_end=current_frame + crossfade_frames, seq1=prev_strip, seq2=strip) current_frame += strip.frame_final_duration prev_strip = strip scene.frame_start = 1 scene.frame_end = current_frame ``` ### Example 2: Batch add text overlays from data **User request:** "Add text titles at specific timecodes" ```python import bpy titles = [("Introduction", 0, 3), ("Chapter 1", 15, 4), ("Chapter 2", 120, 4), ("Conclusion", 300, 5)] fps = bpy.context.scene.render.fps sequences = bpy.context.scene.sequence_editor.sequences for text_content, start_sec, dur_sec in titles: start_frame = int(start_sec * fps) + 1 text = sequences.new_effect(name=text_content[:20], type='TEXT', channel=5, frame_start=start_frame, frame_end=start_frame + int(dur_sec * fps)) text.text = text_content text.font_size = 60 text.color = (1, 1, 1, 1) text.location = (0.5, 0.15) text.align_x = 'CENTER' text.use_shadow = True ``` ## Guidelines - Always call `scene.sequence_editor_create()` if `scene.sequence_editor` is `None`. - Use `sequences.new_movie()`, `new_image()`, `new_sound()`, `new_effect()`. Avoid `bpy.ops.sequencer.*` in background mode. - Cross dissolves need strips on different channels with overlapping frames. Alternate channels (1, 2, 1, 2). - `frame_offset_start/end` trims content without moving the strip. `frame_start` moves it on the timeline. - For audio fades, keyframe `strip.volume` — no built-in fade effect in VSE. - Render long edits as image sequences first, then assemble with ffmpeg. - Set resolution to match source footage to avoid scaling artifacts. - VSE processes channels bottom-to-top — higher channels layer on top. --- Source attribution: TerminalSkills Original project: https://github.com/TerminalSkills/skills License: MIT License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub. ## Upstream license notice MIT License Copyright (c) 2026 SkillsHub Contributors Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE. # Mega AI Hub resource metadata Creator / publisher: TerminalSkills Original project: https://github.com/TerminalSkills/skills Attribution basis: Original repository namespace preserved by package mirror Fields of work: Content & Media, Design, Marketing Roles: Content Marketer, Graphic Designer, Video Producer Specialties: Specialty not specified Tools: Blender Country applicability: Country not specified Classification basis: Source catalog labels Instruction SHA-256: 5bb7ca1cce3ca458bb5a51487b751b6aaaa9ba88fa91503d35bba44dc5903d5b Metadata reviewed: 2026-10-27 This metadata supersedes earlier Mega AI Hub catalog attribution. Original instruction and supporting files are preserved.