… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1073: What Do These Transition Controls Do?

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

These controls allow trimming under a transition without removing it first.

The three transition trimming controls: Trim the In, edit point, or Out.

Topic $TipTopic

If you zoom into the timeline far enough, you’ll discover three icons at the top of every transition that can save you time.

NOTE: To zoom into the timeline, select it, then type Cmd + [plus]. To zoom out, type Cmd + [minus]. To reset the timeline, type Shift + Z.

As the screen shot illustrates, at the top of every transition are three trimming controls:

  • Left. Dragging this icon ripple trims the In of the incoming clip.
  • Center. Dragging this icon roll trims the edit point, moving it earlier or later in the timeline.
  • Right. Dragging this icon ripple trims the Out of the outgoing clip.

NOTE: All trimming is based on the underlying clip having sufficient “handles,” extra media before the In or after the Out.

The benefit to using these controls is that you can trim the clips under a transition without removing the transition. For dissolves, this probably won’t make any difference, but other transitions take time to set up. This means you don’t need to repeat your work.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #1074: Timeline Title Secrets

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

These new timeline menu options provide fast access to common taks.

The timeline menu linked to the name of the currently open project.

Topic $TipTopic

A new feature in the 10.4.9 update to Final Cut is located at the top of the timeline. But it is not easy to find.

Starting with the 10.4.9 update, when you click, not Control-click, the name of a project displayed at the top-center of the timeline, five new options appear:

  • Duplicate project
  • Reveal Project in Browser
  • Project Properties
  • Close [project]
  • Close other projects
  • Duplicate project copies your project, but does NOT make any compound or multicam clips independent. This is not a good idea. Instead, use Snapshot Project, which is an option available to all projects by Control-clicking the name of a project in the Browser.
  • Reveal Project is self-explanatory.
  • Project Properties is the same as Window > Project Properties, or typing Cmd + J.
  • Close [project] removes it from the timeline (which means it takes up far less memory), but does not remove it from the Browser or Library.
  • Close Other Projects closes other open timelines, again releasing the RAM they use, but does not remove them from the Browser or Library. Unless you are switching between different projects, closing projects you are not using is a good idea.

Locating these options at the top of the timeline is an excellent timesaver, except for Duplicate Project, which should be avoided.


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… for Apple Motion

Tip #1061: Create HDR-compatible Projects in Motion

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Motion can easily create HDR projects. You just need to change two settings.

The Color Space menu in File > Share > Settings.

Topic $TipTopic

We can create HDR-compatible projects in Motion by changing only two settings. Here’s what you need to know.

You can choose between two basic color spaces in Motion: Standard and wide gamut HDR.

NOTE: Wide gamut HDR refers to a greater range of colors and color saturation. It does not determine pixel brightness.

To work in a wide gamut HDR color space, also called Rec. 2020, you must first configure two settings. First:

  • Select the Project in the Layers panel.
  • Go to Inspector > Properties and change Color Processing to Wide Gamut HDR.

Next, when the project is complete and you are ready to export:

  • Choose File > Share.
  • In the Settings panel, change the Color Space setting to either Rec. 2020 HLG or Rec. 2020 PQ – depending upon what your distributor requires.
  • NOTE: Don’t use Rec. 2020 – it is an outdated setting.

    This setting determines the color of images you see in the canvas, as well as the color space and appearance of your exported project (the output media file). “Use canvas setting” matches the current project. Instead, set render color space to HDR Rec. 2020 HLG or HDR Rec. 2020 PQ if you intend to export an HDR movie when you complete the project

    The color-processing setting may affect the appearance of your final render. For example, when the project is changed from Standard to Wide Gamut HDR, the effect of some filters or blend modes may change in appearance.

    EXTRA CREDIT

    Remember, we can not use computer monitors to view HDR material. We need to use external, HDR video displays. Computer monitors are not accurate.


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    … for Adobe Premiere Pro CC

    Tip #1058: What is the Events Panel

    Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

    The Events panel explains alerts and warnings in Premiere.

    An empty Events panel in Premeire.

    Topic $TipTopic

    The Events panel is located in the Windows menu. What does it do? Here’s the answer from the Adobe Support Community:

    The Events panel lists warnings, error messages, and other information you can use to identify and troubleshoot problems, particularly those associated with plug-ins and other components from third-party developers.

    An alert icon on the status bar notifies you of an error. Double-clicking the icon opens the Events panel, and clearing the associated item from the Events panel removes the icon from the status bar.

    Do either of the following:

    • Double-click the alert icon in the status bar.
    • Choose Window > Events.

    Then do any of the following:

    • To learn more about an item in the list, select it and click Details.
    • To clear the events list, click Clear All.

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    … for Apple Final Cut Pro X

    Tip #1054: Be Careful of the Spell-Check Trap

    Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

    The Index does not display title content, only the label for that content.

    Correcting a spelling mistake for a title clip in the Timeline Index does NOT change the content of the title itself.

    Topic $TipTopic

    I fell into a trap this week, spell-checking titles in Final Cut Pro X. I thought I was correcting spelling, instead I was only correcting a list. Be cautious here! As I was finishing last week’s webinar on An Overview of Adobe Audition, I opened the Timeline index to proof-read markers and text titles.

    What I discovered is that you CAN use the Timeline Index to correct marker names. But you can NOT use the Timeline Index to correct titles. That’s because the Index displays the name of the title, not the content of the title. (See screen shot.)

    So, when I corrected the spelling of “slash” in the Index, it corrected the display in the Index, but NOT the actual text keyed into the video.

    So, while I thought I was being efficient in using the Index for spell-checking, in fact, I wasn’t changing anything that the viewer could see.

    EXTRA CREDIT

    This discovery meant I needed to reopen the show master, manually review each title in the Viewer, correct any mistakes in the Viewer, then reoutput the master file.

    A major pain in my timeline.


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    … for Adobe Premiere Pro CC

    Tip #1003: The Slide Tool – Relic of the Past

    Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

    The Slip tool is essential. The Slide tool is a relic of the distant past.

    The Slide tool moving the position of a clip, without changing content or duration.

    Topic $TipTopic

    Last week, I wrote about the Slip tool (Tip #986). Loren took me to task asking why I didn’t write about its cousin: the Slide tool. So, now, I am.

    The Slip tool (Shortcut: Y) changes the content of a shot without changing its duration or location in the timeline.

    The Slide tool (Shortcut: U) changes the position of a clip inside it’s track in the timeline, without changing its content or duration. It does this by trimming the Out of the clip before it and the In of the clip after it as you drag it in the Timeline.

    The Slide tool was invented back in the earliest days of non-linear editing, when we only had one video track and one title track to work with. The Slide tool allowed us to slide clips along that single video track to find the best place to put a shot.

    EXTRA CREDIT

    You can only Slide a clip as far as you have handles on the clips before and after it.

    While I use the Slip tool all the time, I never use the Slide tool anymore, simply because it is easier to raise a clip to a higher track where I can move it as much as I want without altering the clips on the main track.


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    … for Apple Motion

    Tip #990: Add Reflective Paint to 3D Text

    Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

    3D text provides almost unlimited design options for customizing text to fit our story.

    Distressed 3D text, with a reflective pink paint applied. A blue spotlight was added to highlight the texture.

    Topic $TipTopic

    As I was playing with distressing 3D text (Tip #989) I discovered another setting: Reflective Paint. Even if you never create your own lights – and especially if you do – adding sheen to the surface of 3D text can make it “pop” more effectively.

    To apply different paint surfaces to your text:

    • Create a 3D text clip.
    • Select Inspector > Text and scroll down until you see the Material section.
    • Below the Material section, select Options:Basic > Add Layer > Paint.
    • From the Paint menu, choose a surface that appeals to you.
    • In the settings for that surface option, select different looks from the Type menu. Drag sliders and watch what happens.

    EXTRA CREDIT

    In the screen shot, I applied a pink reflective paint, then added a deep blue spotlight from the side to highlight the texture of the text.


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    … for Adobe Premiere Pro CC

    Tip #985: Hidden Sort Options

    Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

    Thumbnails can be sorted in far more than simple file name order.

    The thumbnail sort options in the project panel.

    Topic $TipTopic

    Hidden in the Project panel is a wealth of sort options for all the elements in the Project panel or a bin. Here’s how to access them.

    • Open the Project panel.
    • Switch to thumbnail view.
    • To the right of the slider that determines thumbnail size, is an icon of three stacked lines with a down arrow. Click it.

    From this menu, you can sort thumbnails on over 30 criteria.

    EXTRA CREDIT

    For you list junkies, the default sort is alphabetically on file name. However:

    • To sort on any column, click the column header.
    • To sort in reverse order, click the column header again.

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    … for Apple Final Cut Pro X

    Tip #980: Final Cut Adds Custom Overlays

    Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

    Overlays provide custom framing display options.

    A Viewer image with an overlay showing 16:9, 4:3 and 1:1 grids.

    Topic $TipTopic

    A new feature in the 10.4.9 update to Final Cut Pro X is custom overlays. These are PNG or TIFF graphics that can be superimposed on clips in the Viewer to help frame shots – especially for different aspect ratios.

    In Photoshop, or the graphics app of your choice, create the image you want to import. While you can use any graphic, I recommend using a grid, because this will be placed over all Viewer images. Make sure the background is transparent, because, again, this will be supered over other images.

    Save the image in a location you can find later.

    • Open Final Cut and go to the View menu in the top right corner of the Viewer.
    • Choose Custom Overlay > Add Custom Overlay and select the image you just created.
    • From the same menu, choose Show Custom Overlay and choose the transparency percentage you want to use.

    NOTE: In the screen shot, the white grids indicate framing for 16:9, 4:3 and 1:1. Transparency is set to 75%.

    Overlays can be anything you want. Keep in mind, however, that these won’t output. If you need to include them in your project the images need to be in the timeline.

    EXTRA CREDIT

    To turn off the overlays, uncheck Show Custom Overlays.


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    … for Apple Final Cut Pro X

    Tip #981: Discover the Hidden Comparison Viewer

    Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

    Comparison view displays the In of the previous or next clip.

    Comparison View (left) with arrows pointing to Previous / Next edits.

    Topic $TipTopic

    Hidden in an unusual place inside Final Cut Pro X is Comparison Viewer. This can make effects like color matching a whole lot easier.

    Unlike most other interface options, display the Comparison View from Window > Show in Workspace > Comparison Viewer (Shortcut: Cntrl + Cmd + 6) .

    This displays a window to the left of the Viewer that, by default, shows the In of the clip just before the clip the playhead/skimmer is in.

    Click Previous Edit / Next Edit (red arrows in the screen shot) to jump between clips in this display.

    NOTE: You can’t play clips in the Comparison Viewer, just view the frame at the In.

    Click Saved at the top, then Save Frame at the bottom to capture the current frame under the playhead. Now, when you click Timeline, you view previous or next clips, then compare those to the frame saved as part of the Save option.

    EXTRA CREDIT

    The Comparison Viewer has the same display options as the Viewer. Go to the View menu to see different ways of displaying an image.


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