--- title: "Search Zvid's stock library" canonical_url: https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/stock-library/ source: docs/editor/stock-library.md content_revision: 5e30c731f37d8167 --- # Search Zvid's stock library Search for media from inside the editor, insert a result into your composition, and adjust it with the same controls used for your own uploads. ## When to use it Use Zvid's stock library for supporting footage, backgrounds, decorative images, GIFs, music, and short sound effects. Use [Your uploads](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/media/#how-to-upload-a-file) for your own product photography, branding, and recordings. ## Before you begin Choose the media tool that matches what you need. Video, audio, and GIF tools are available in video projects; image projects offer still-image search. Library availability and results can vary. If the editor shows an availability or account message, follow that message rather than assuming every media category is available. In a scene-based video, select the intended scene or **Scenes → Global overlays** before inserting content. Put the playhead near the desired start, then check the resulting timing after insertion. ## How to find and add an image, clip, or GIF Choose **Images**, **Videos**, or **GIFs** in the tool rail down the left edge of the editor, then find **Stock** in that panel. To reverse an insertion, use the curved left arrow in the top toolbar (**Undo**), immediately to the right of **Learn**. 1. Open the media tool and scroll past **Your uploads** to **Stock**. 2. Enter a short descriptive search term, such as `coffee beans`, in the search field. Press `Enter` to run the search immediately. 3. Browse the result thumbnails. Scroll down for more results; use **Load more** if that button appears. 4. Click a result once to insert it. To position a visual more precisely, drag the result onto the canvas instead. 5. Click the new element on the canvas to open its settings, then check **Design → Source**. Wait for it to load before judging the composition. 6. Set the desired [frame fit and position](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/images/), then check **Timing** in a video project. 7. Click the right-pointing triangle in the playback row below the stage (**Play**) to inspect motion. A stock video's thumbnail is not a full playback preview. > **On mobile or a narrow screen** The tools run horizontally along the bottom; swipe the strip to find **Images**, **Videos**, or **GIFs**. Tap the inserted element on the canvas to open its editing controls. **Done** at the upper right closes the bottom **Properties** sheet. For **Undo**, open the separate vertical three-dot button near the left of the top toolbar's second row. [![Stock search field containing coffee with a two-column grid of coffee photographs from Zvid's stock library.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/stock-coffee-search.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/stock-coffee-search.png) Search results depend on the query and library availability. Select a thumbnail to add the image, then inspect its loaded source and layout. **Result:** The result becomes an independent project element. Its source is referenced by the project, and its layout and timing can be edited. Use **Undo** if you inserted the wrong result. Deleting the element removes it from the composition; it does not remove the item from the stock library. Clicking and dragging can give a visual different initial placement and dimensions. Check **Layout** after either action rather than relying on the thumbnail's proportions. ## How to replace an existing image with a stock result 1. Select the image you want to replace. 2. Click the vertical three-dot button (`⋮`) below the stage, immediately to the right of **Pan** and above the timeline. This is **Selected element actions**; choose **Replace image…**. You can also right-click the image and choose **Replace image…**. 3. In the **Images** panel, confirm the replacement banner names the intended image. 4. Find a result under **Stock** and click it once. 5. Inspect the replaced image's crop, dimensions, and appearance. The old image's position, size, timing, and effects stay in place. Click **Cancel** in the replacement banner before choosing a result to keep the original source. After replacement, use **Undo** to return to the previous source. This workflow applies to image elements; it is not a general video-replacement command. ## How to preview and add music Choose **Audio** in the left tool rail, then **Music → Stock**. 1. Enter a term in **Search music…**. 2. Click the purple right-pointing triangle in the circle at the far left of a track's row (**Play preview**) to listen without adding it. Click the same button again to pause. 3. Click the track's name and artist area in the middle of the row to add it to the timeline. The duration is shown at the right. 4. Select the inserted audio clip and inspect **Timeline placement**. 5. Set **Volume** in **Mix**, then listen with the other audio and footage. > **On mobile or a narrow screen** Open **Audio** from the bottom tool strip, then scroll past **Your uploads** to **Music**. The preview button stays at the left of each row. **Done** at the upper right closes the sheet. [![Music stock search with a clear-search cross at the right of the query field, preview triangles at the left of each result, and track names and durations beside them.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/desktop-music-search.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/desktop-music-search.png) Previewing a track and adding it are separate actions. Music does not appear on the canvas. If music search is unavailable, use **Your uploads**, **Add audio by URL**, or **Sound effects**. A result can fail to preview even when it appears in search. If you see **Could not play this track**, try another result or use a reachable upload or direct audio URL. Clicking preview alone does not add an audio element. For a background track that follows the composition, use **Match project length** or **Match scene length**. Review [audio timing and looping](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/audio/#how-to-place-and-trim-audio) before applying this setting to narration. ## How to choose a sound effect Choose **Audio** in the left tool rail, then **Sound effects**. 1. Put the playhead at the intended cue. 2. Search for an effect, such as `chime`, `pop`, or `whoosh`. 3. Click the purple right-pointing triangle in the circle to the left of its name (**Play preview**) to listen without inserting it. Click the same button again to pause. 4. Click the effect's name and duration area to add it. 5. Select the audio element and refine **Starts at (enter)** and **Volume**. 6. Play from before the cue through its end. Check whether the insertion extended the timeline. > **On mobile or a narrow screen** Open **Audio** from the bottom tool strip. In its sheet, scroll past **Your uploads** to find **Music** and **Sound effects**. **Done** at the upper right closes the sheet. [![Sound effects list with Bright chime and other cues, each with a preview triangle on the left and a separate name-and-duration area for insertion.](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/audio-preview-controls.png)](https://cdn.zvid.io/library/docs/editor-guide/audio-preview-controls.png) The effect's preview button does not insert it. Use **Undo** to remove an accidental addition or delete the selected audio element. ## Library controls | Control or state | What it means | Next action | | --- | --- | --- | | Search field | Searches the current media category | Use a concise visual or mood description and press `Enter` | | Cross (`×`) inside the far-right end of the search field (**Clear search**) | Removes the query | Browse the initial results again | | Thumbnail | A visual result you can insert | Click to add, or drag to the canvas; then inspect the actual source | | **Play preview / Pause preview** | Auditions an audio result | Click the track row separately when you are ready to add it | | **Load more** | Additional results are available after automatic loading pauses | Click once and wait for the next set | | **Retry** | The library request failed | Retry the search and inspect any new message | | No results | The current query returned no matching items | Try fewer words or another term | | Library unavailable | This media category cannot currently be searched | Use an upload or direct URL, or switch category | The shape catalog has its own search and category controls under **Shape**. See [Add shapes and edit SVG](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/shapes/). ## Example: supporting visuals for Northstar Coffee 1. Open **Images → Stock** and search `coffee beans`. 2. Choose a result with clear space for a headline and insert it. 3. In **Design → Source**, compare **contain** and **cover**. Keep the setting that preserves the important details of the photo. 4. Add the heading **Northstar Coffee** and inspect its contrast against the image. 5. In a video project, set the photo's window to `0`–`5` seconds. 6. Open **Audio → Sound effects** and preview **Bright chime** for the headline reveal. Add it only if it suits the composition, then check its timing and volume. 7. Preview and [save](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/projects/) the composition. Search results can change. For a repeatable tutorial or template, keep the chosen source in the saved project rather than relying on the same result appearing in the same search position later. ## Troubleshooting | Symptom | Likely cause | Recovery | | --- | --- | --- | | Search results are empty | The term is too narrow for the selected category | Clear the search and try a shorter term in the correct media tool | | The library shows an error | The request failed | Use **Retry**; if it still fails, continue with an upload or direct URL | | Music is unavailable | Music search is not available for the current session | Use uploaded audio, an audio URL, or **Sound effects** | | A music preview says **Could not play this track** | This result's preview could not play in the current session | Try another result or use a reachable upload or direct audio URL; previewing alone does not insert a track | | A thumbnail appears but the inserted source fails | Preview and full media are separate resources | Check **Source**, try another result, or use a known accessible upload | | A click changes an existing image instead of adding one | Image replacement mode is active | Finish the intended replacement or click **Cancel** in the replacement banner before adding another image | | The new element is not visible | The playhead, selected scene, or stacking order hides it | Select it in the timeline or layers list and check its timing and layout | ## Related documentation - [URLs and account uploads](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/media/) - [Image and GIF controls](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/images/) - [Video trimming and source timing](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/video/) - [Audio placement and mixing](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/audio/) - [Preview and final output](https://docs.zvid.io/docs/editor/preview/)