… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #850: A Quick Way to View Photoshop Layers

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Double-click a Photoshop image

A Photoshop image (top), with it’s layers displayed in the timeline (bottom).

Topic $TipTopic

One of the benefits to using Photoshop images in your projects is that FCP X allows you to access each layer in the Photoshop document separately. But how?

Double-click it.

Whether the image is in the browser or the timeline, the Photoshop image will open in a special section of the timeline, where each layer is displayed.

At this point you can:

  • Hide a layer by selecting it and typing V
  • Animate a layer, for example, to have it slide into the frame
  • Change the timing of when a layer appears by trimming an edge
  • Add transitions to a layer; for example to have a layer fade in at a specific time
  • Delete a layer by selecting it and pressing Delete
  • Scale a layer
  • Reposition a layer

The possibilities are endless.

EXTRA CREDIT

If you adjust the clip in the browser, it will affect every iteration of that clip that is edited into the timeline.

If you adjust a clip in the timeline, it will affect only that iteration of the clip.

To “close” a Photoshop image opened into the timeline, open a different project into the timeline.


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Tip #854: A Hidden Search Feature

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Notes can be entered in the browser or the Info Inspector. (The Inspector is easier.)

The Browser Notes field. (It’s position is shifted left by several columns.)

Topic $TipTopic

There’s a hidden feature in Final Cut that can make your searches more effective. However, it’s hidden in plain sight.

When you use the Search box at the top of the browser to look for a clip, it is actually searching in two places: the file name and the Notes field. By default, the Notes field is empty but you can add anything you want. Here’s how:

  • Switch the browser to List view (Shortcut: Option + Cmd + 2).
  • Scroll right until you find the Notes column.

NOTE: Columns can be moved left or right by dragging the column header. Reveal columns by Control-clicking any column header.

  • Click once in the Notes field. Wait a few seconds.
  • Click once, again, in the Notes field. Wait a few seconds.
  • The Notes field will open for editing. Enter any relevant text pertaining to that clip.

EXTRA CREDIT

Many asset management systems allow you to add notes to a clip before importing it into Final Cut.

I find it faster to select a clip, then go to the Info Inspector and enter directly into the Notes field there. This bypasses all the waiting for the Notes field to open.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #855: Apply Common Keywords Faster!

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

You can create up to nine common keywords, each with its own keyboard shortcut.

The floating keyword palette, with common keywords displayed.

Topic $TipTopic There’s a hidden feature in the floating Keywords palette that makes applying keywords to selected clips, or ranges, much faster. Here’s how it works.

  • Type Cmd + K to display the floating Keyword panel.
  • Twirl down the small right-pointing arrow next to the words “Keyword Shortcuts.” This displays up to nine fields that you can fill with keywords you plan to use frequently. (See screen shot.)

NOTE: A Keyword can be more than one word, but they work best when phrases are kept short.

  • To enter a keyword, simply type it into an empty field.
  • To apply a keyword, type the keyboard shortcut listed next to it. For example, Control + 1 for “Exterior”
  • To remove a keyword from either a clip or the common keyword list, select it and press Delete.
  • To remove all common keywords, type Control + 0.

EXTRA CREDIT

Remember, to apply keywords you first need to select the clip, clips, or clip range in the Browser.

You can only have nine keywords with keyboard shortcuts, but you can change these keywords at anytime without affecting any keywords already applied to clips.


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #835: Create a Favorite Import Location

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

There’s no limit to the number of Favorites you can create.

Drag the icon for a storage location on top of “Favorites” to create a link.

Topic $TipTopic

If you frequently go to the same storage location to import media, Final Cut has a handy shortcut that gets you there faster.

  • Open the Media Import window (Shortcut: Cmd + I).
  • In the center panel, navigate to display the drive or folder you want to make a favorite location.
  • Drag the icon for that location in the center panel on top of the word “Favorites” in the sidebar on the left.

Poof!

I use this technique all the time.

EXTRA CREDIT

  • There is no limit to the number of favorite locations you can create.
  • You can create a favorite folder which is buried layers deep on any attached storage.
  • To remove a favorite location, Control-click it and select “Remove from Sidebar.”

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Tip #836: Automatic Keyword Creation

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Use folder names as key words to quickly find clips without manually creating lots of events.

Media is stored in clearly labeled folders. When you import a folder, the folder name is assigned to each clip as a keyword.

Topic $TipTopic

There’s a huge benefit to clearly naming the folders where media is stored before you import your clips. The reason? Keywords.

For example, in this screen shot, I gave each media folder an easy-to-read name.

NOTE: For your projects, pick names which help you determine which files are in each folder. Names need not be this simple, though shorter names are better.

When it comes time to import, select the containing folder (“Pond5” in this example), not just individual clips.

Make sure, in the Import Settings on the right of the Media Import window, that Keywords > From Folders is checked.

This means that, when you import the file, FCP X will assign a keyword to each clip with the name of the folder(s) that contained it. A mountain shot stored in the Scenic folder would be given “Scenic” and “Pond 5” as keywords.

These keywords make it VERY fast to find all the files stored in the same folder without having to create lots of extra events to organize them.


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Tip #837: A Simply Useful Shortcut

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Double-clicking the title enlarges or shrinks the Inspector.

Double-click the title at the top of the Inspector to expand to full height.

Topic $TipTopic

This is one of those techniques that, if you know it, you say “Everyone knows that!” And, if you don’t, you say: “How come nobody ever told me about this?”

By default, the Inspector displays to the top of the timeline, so you have lots of room to view your edit.

However, if you double-click the name of whatever is displayed at the top of the Inspector, (“Youth Culture,” in this screen shot), the Inspector expands to full height.

Yeah, once I learned this, I use it ALL the time.

EXTRA CREDIT

Double-click the top of the Inspector to shrink it back to half-height again.

SO useful!


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… for Apple Final Cut Pro X

Tip #816: A Baker’s Dozen Better Shortcuts

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

If I were to pick my favorite shortcuts, these are probably it.

Topic $TipTopic

When you start doing the same tasks over and over, keyboard shortcuts can make you more efficient. Here are the keyboard shortcuts I use everyday when editing in Final Cut:

  • Control + Cmd + 1 — Toggle Library and Browser display on/off.
  • Cmd + 4 — Toggle the Inspector open or closed
  • Shift + Z — Fit image into Viewer or project into Timeline.
  • Cmd + 7 — Show/Hide video scopes.
  • Shift + I / O — Jump the playhead to the In / Out.
  • Option + X — Delete both the marked In and Out.
  • V — Toggle clip visibility off or on.
  • E — Perform a standard append edit into the Primary Storyline at the end of the timeline.
  • W — Perform a standard insert edit at the position of the skimmer/playhead.
  • D — Perform an overwrite edit into the Primary Storyline at the position of the playhead.
  • Option + W — Insert a gap into the Timeline at the position of the skimmer/playhead.
  • Cmd + B — Cut all selected clip(s) at the position of the skimmer/playhead.

BONUS

  • Shift + comma/period — Move selected edit point or connected clip ten frames left/right.
  • S — Toggle skimming on or off.
  • F — Flag a clip or clip range as a Favorite.

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Tip #817: Here’s How to Consolidate Your Media

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Consolidate either moves or copies all library media into one place.

Control-click a Library name to reveal this option.

Topic $TipTopic

A hidden feature for any library in Apple Final Cut Pro is: “Consolidate Media Content.” You only see this option when Control-clicking the library name in the library sidebar (to the left of the browser). Here’s what it does.

If you, like me, tend to store media separately from the library when you are editing, you can end up with files scattered across your storage.

According to Apple’s Help files:

The Consolidate command places the files in the current library storage location. You view and set storage locations for media, Motion content, cache files, and library backup files using the File > Library Properties inspector.

The Consolidate command follows these rules:

  • When you consolidate files out of a library to an external folder, the files are moved.
  • When you consolidate files into a library from an external folder, or from an external folder to another external folder, the files are copied.

These rules prevent broken links from other libraries.

NOTE: If the media is already external, and no other libraries are using it, you can manually delete the original media after consolidating to save storage space.


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Tip #818: Change Media Storage Locations

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

Storage locations can be customized for each library.

The Library Storage Locations window.

Topic $TipTopic

It used to be that Final Cut only gave us two choices when importing media: Leave it where it is, or move it into the library. However, now, we have new options.

  • Select the Library name in the library sidebar next to the browser.
  • Open the Inspector.
  • Click Modify Settings next to Storage Locations.
  • In the dialog illustrated in the screen shot, you can set a custom location for media, Motion templates, cache files and project backups.

These settings can vary by library.

In general:

  • Leave cache files on the internal drive for speed.
  • Store media to a separate, external location.
  • If you plan to share the project between editors, store all custom Motion templates in the library.
  • Finally, store backups in a separate location from the project file itself… just in case.

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Tip #789: The Floating Source Timecode Window

Larry Jordan – LarryJordan.com

The Source Timecode window displays timecode for all project clips under the playhead.

The floating Source Timecode window.

Topic $TipTopic

Most of the time, we don’t need to pay attention to the specific timecode of the clips in a project. However, for those times when we do, Final Cut makes it easy.

  • Choose Window > Source Timecode to display a floating window containing the timecode of every clip under the playhead in the timeline.
  • Drag any edge to change the size of the display.

Control-click a clip to:

  • Copy just the timecode of the control-clicked clip to the clipboard
  • Copy the file name and the timecode of the control-clicked clip to the clipboard
  • Copy the file name and the timecode of all clips displayed in the window to the clipboard

NOTE: If a clip is selected, as “Barn in wheat fields” is here, it is highlighted with a gold box.

EXTRA CREDIT

Tip #788 discussed the floating Project timecode window.


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