To scale a clip in the effect preview monitor while maintaining its aspect ratio, what should you do?

To scale a clip in the effect preview monitor while maintaining its aspect ratio, you should drag the top right handle. This method allows proportional scaling, meaning that both the width and height of the clip will adjust simultaneously. This is critical in video editing, as maintaining the correct aspect ratio ensures that the clip remains visually coherent and avoids distortion that can occur if one dimension is altered independently from the other.

Dragging the top right handle allows for this balanced adjustment, making it intuitive to resize clips while preserving their intended visual composition. In contrast, manipulating other handles or adjusting width manually can lead to an unintended alteration of the aspect ratio, causing the clip to appear stretched or compressed. Maintaining the integrity of the aspect ratio is essential, particularly in professional editing environments where visual quality is paramount.