Scenes, groups and hierarchy
Keep simple projects flat and organize longer motion work into understandable, editable sections.
Scenes are optional editorial sections. Groups are local compositions. A short title card can remain flat; a product explainer benefits from scenes, with groups for interface cards, device mockups or logo systems.
Knowledge network orbit
Three story sections with independently editable media, graphic groups and typography.
Nested source
<section id="scene-context" data-jc-clip data-jc-kind="scene"
data-jc-name="01 · Context" data-jc-start="0" data-jc-duration="4.6"
data-jc-track="0">
<div id="network-card" data-jc-clip data-jc-kind="group"
data-jc-name="Network card" data-jc-start="0.2" data-jc-duration="4.1"
data-jc-track="2">
<div id="orbit" data-jc-clip data-jc-kind="shape"
data-jc-start="0.2" data-jc-duration="4.1" data-jc-track="1"></div>
<h2 id="source-count" data-jc-clip data-jc-kind="text"
data-jc-start="0.5" data-jc-duration="3.5" data-jc-track="2">128 SOURCES</h2>
</div>
</section>HTML nesting is the source of truth. Studio shows the same hierarchy in its timeline and layer tree.
- Moving a group shifts all children together.
- Trimming a group clips its visible interval; child timing remains intact.
- A compositing layer affects only lower siblings in the same parent.
- Higher tracks and later siblings render above lower content.
- Stored scene and child times are absolute decimal seconds.
For long Agent-created videos, create the project first, then add or patch one scene at a time. This avoids one oversized request while preserving a single validated project.
Scene or group?
| Use | Scene | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial chapter with a defined interval | Yes | Sometimes |
| Move several layers as one visual unit | No | Yes |
| Local matte or erase composition | No | Yes |
| Short flat title card | Optional | Optional |
Nested timing remains expressed in project seconds. The hierarchy determines containment and local stacking; it does not create a second hidden clock. A group timing edit can explicitly shift its children when that behavior is requested.
Stacking rules
Draw order is derived among siblings. Higher visual order renders in front inside the same parent. A matte or eraser affects lower siblings only in that local stacking context, so put the target and the composite layer in the same group.
Bounded hierarchy edits
The public edit contract supports grouping, ungrouping, reparenting, timing changes and front/forward/backward/back reordering. These operations preserve stable layer IDs and are safer for an Agent than replacing unrelated source.