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Need to keyframe a rig snapshots in FCP X. Can’t figure it out.
Folks, I built a simulated chat window in Motion as a generator for FCP X. I setup rigs for each state of the scroll of the chatting (texting people) because the space is limited to the height of two user icons. Each time someone sends a message it scrolls up to a finite position – as a snapshot for the drop down menu.
This is great in Motion, but in FCP X, the timing between texts is never known. So i need the editors to be able to set a keyframe in FCP X when they use the drop down menu to establish the position state with the drop down menu I created.
Think of it like this: each message is a snapshot state and position. So the menu allowed editors to choose, message, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. up to 8. And the scroll will automatically move up into the appropriate position.
This can’t work though if they can’t set keyframes in FCP X for each state so it moves between them rather than changes the state permanently for the entire generator.
The only way I can achieve this right now is another version of the generator where I don’t use any rigging. I just published the Y parameter of the chat scroll and let editor set keyframes in FCP X while adjusting positions manually. Not ideal considering what Motion allows me to do for FCP X, but doable.
Any ideas? Hope this makes sense. I am simply not allowed to keyframe the rig states in FCP X.
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9 Replies
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That’s right, you cannot keyframe rig states. Or any snapshots for that matter.
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Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net -
I don’t understand the talk about snapshots. I thought they were just for differentating different project resolutions
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https://BretFX.com Plugins & Templates for FCP X Editors & Motion Graphics Artists -
I don’t mean those snapshots. Every “state” of a widget is also called a snapshot. For example, checked or unchecked for a checkbox, or each of the “states” that you can select from a drop-down menu. Or positions along a slider widget. You can’t keyframe those to change in FCP X.
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Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net -
Thanks for clarifying Mark. I know the terminology can be confusing…sort of like timeline, sequence, project, and storyline 🙂
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I’ve always referred to those as states. Never realized they’re called snapshots too.
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https://BretFX.com Plugins & Templates for FCP X Editors & Motion Graphics Artists -
It’s too bad they can’t be keyframed in FCP X. I like using the states so that I can have exact positioning of the chat messages. Right now it’s just a manual sort of thing – set start keyframe, set keyframe some seconds later to match the first position, then move the scroll up, and set keyframe again. Repeat as necessary per the timing of the messages.
If I could keyframe the states, I wouldn’t have to have manually move the scroll up. I could just choose the state and voila.
It’s be nice if we get a Motion update with an FCP X update soon. I’ve been using Motion for a while instead of AE for a lot of work.
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Why not create the effect as a title. Make it one message bubble that pushes pops up from below the bottom edge of the screen. The animation speed could simply be constant with a build in marker. So then you can stretch it out as long as you need in FCP X. Make it optional which side of the screen you want it to be on. Left or right. Then, you simply keep adding message bubble effects above. Because it’s a title effect, it will affect everything below it. So the second layer of the effect will slide up the screen and drag the layer below it. So no key framing needed. Just drop the effects into FCP and drag them out to length. Wherever you add a new message it’ll automatically slide up the messages that have been added earlier. Make sense?
Better yet, just get Deyson Ortiz’ messenger pack!
https://motion-master-templates.com/messenger-pack/_______________________________________________________________________
https://BretFX.com Plugins & Templates for FCP X Editors & Motion Graphics Artists -
That’s a cool idea, but if it affects everything underneath (as indeed it will if you leave the title placeholder enabled), then the underlying video clip will be moved as well, which you don’t want.
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Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net -
Build for timing, then simply compound all the titles. Once you’ve built this simple example below, you’d start adding options galore. Maybe have the move before the next bubble animates in. Right or left side of screen. Spring in or not, etc.
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https://BretFX.com Plugins & Templates for FCP X Editors & Motion Graphics Artists
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