Jaggy Motion Text in FCP. Solution?

Apple Motion

Jaggy Motion Text in FCP. Solution?

Posted by Kevin Jones on March 15, 2011 at 10:00 pm

I’m using Final Cut Studio 2 with the Motion 3 upgrade on a Mac OS X version 10.4.11.
These days I’m shooting HD video with a Sony XDCAM PMW EX-1, 1080p, 30fps.

When I create Motion text to import into FCP, I always set motion to match my video format.
Text looks great within Motion. Nice and smooth. But when it’s over-laid on video in the FCP timeline it looks jaggy.

Ironically, if I create the same text with the built-in Boris Title 3D, the text is very smooth.

If someone could point me in the right direction I would appreciate the help.
Thanks!

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2

Sergio Lorente replied 13 years, 5 months ago 5 Members · 19 Replies
19 Replies

Mark Spencer
March 15, 2011 at 10:03 pm

https://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/motion_text_in_fcp_spencer.html

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net
Kevin Jones
March 15, 2011 at 10:15 pm

Thanks.
I’ve been researching this for a couple of days now.
I’ve read that article. Made no difference.
Also, it’s a DV format example. I don’t know if that makes a difference or not.

I’m hoping to tap into someone who experienced the same problem, same set-up and discovered a solution.

Thanks!

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2
Mark Spencer
March 15, 2011 at 10:17 pm

DV or HD, doesn’t matter – you still need to check your sequence settings and make sure everything is set up correctly.

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net
Kevin Jones
March 15, 2011 at 10:26 pm

Mark,
Thanks for the fast response!
I believe I have everything set-up correctly. I went through your excellent article and followed the set-up recommendations.
Still looks jaggy.

SD (DV) text viewed on an interlaced SD monitor looks fine.
HD Motion text looks mighty poor.

Why does text generated in Text 3D look perfect?

Thanks again!

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2
Andrew Wilson
March 16, 2011 at 1:45 am

I’ve had several occasions where I’ll set the field dominance in motion as none and when I bring the clip into fcp, the field dominance changes to even. Control-click your clip in the timeline and make sure the properties there match the field dominance of the sequence.

Andrew Wilson
WestView Digital Video & Design
http://www.westviewdigital.com
Kevin Jones
March 16, 2011 at 3:43 am

Andrew,
I’ll give that a try in the morning and let you know how it works.
Thanks.

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2
Dave Davin
March 16, 2011 at 8:49 am

Hi Kevin

You’ve probably looked at this but make sure your fps’ are matched? Common mistake and will make text stutter.

Dave

Dave Davin
Creative Director

RAIC Productions
http://www.raicproductions.com
Kevin Jones
March 16, 2011 at 4:54 pm

Thanks Andrew,
Good call, but alas… not the solution in this case.
I checked Motion and FCP. Both are set for “Even”.
I’ll keep on looking for a solution.

Thanks again.

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2
Kevin Jones
March 16, 2011 at 4:57 pm

Dave,
Both Motion and FCP are set at 30fps.
Playback does not stutter or falter in any way.
All effects and filters work fine.
It just the text, when imported into FCP looks jaggy.

Thanks for the input.

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2
Andrew Wilson
March 17, 2011 at 12:22 am

You’re actually checking the properties of the clip right? Control-Click on the clip both in the timeline and the bin and check its properties to make sure field dominance is set to the same thing as your sequence settings.

Is your clip set evenly on a pixel? If I reposition a clip, I always make sure the position values are set to even numbers. Sometimes dragging a clip to slightly reposition it will jag up the edges.

One final question… are you rendering inside Motion and importing a self-contained movie file or are you dropping the motion project file into the timeline?

Andrew Wilson
WestView Digital Video & Design
http://www.westviewdigital.com

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