Jaggy Motion Text in FCP. Solution?

[Kevin Jones]

Good Questions!

Yes I am have been checking the clips to be sure they match Motion.
Both are set to Sony XDCAM EX 1080p 30fps. This is the only HD format I use.

Yes I always enter numerically even numbers both horizontally and vertically in FCP to position my text clips. (This is a great tip by the way).

Typically, I create a Motion text file. Then import the project file into FCP. Then I place the motion project file onto the timeline where I need it. I find this method is easier to make tweaks. I don’t usually create a self-contained movie.

Thanks for the input!

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2

[Andrew Wilson]

Sounds like you’re covering your bases pretty well. One small inconsistency though…

You said you checked the frame dominance of both clips and they were set to even, yet you said in the previous post that you use 1080 30p. Which is progressive which would mean that your field dominance should be set to none. And the setting you confirmed in that last post as 1080 30p isn’t the setting I’m talking about, it’s the compressor – not the field dominance.

Just to be sure, I’m uploading screen grabs of the setting I’m talking about. One is from SEQUENCE/SETTINGS, one is the field dominance column in the bin and the last is from CTRL-CLICKING a clip the timeline and selecting ITEM PROPERTIES / FORMAT

ITEM PROPERTIES:

SEQUENCE / SETTINGS:

CLIP SETTINGS IN BIN:

And finally… did you try a different font? Could be a bogus font – not that I want to add more things to try! Jaggy text has been a huge issue for me in the past – but more with LiveType which never seemed to be able to import with the right field dominance so I’ve learned to get pretty observant about all the settings.

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

[Kevin Jones]

Andrew,
I re-read your comments and re-checked the properties of my Motion text clip as it was in my FCP timeline. Son-of-a-gun if the field dominance didn’t say “Upper(Odd)”.

I checked the properties of the same text file in Motion and it said under Field Order “None”
All my video clips, and my FCP timeline are set for “None”.
This is starting to make sense now.
Motion Project Properties said the project was “None”
I assumed the file would remain that way.
Apparently somewhere between Motion and FCP the Motion file is changed to “Upper(odd)”

I think you are on to something here. I must not have something in Motion set properly.
What do I need to do to make sure my Motion project file are being saved and imported correctly?

We’re getting close!
Thanks!

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2

[Kevin Jones]

Sorry Andrew.. I meant “None”. I’m getting a little foggy.
Looks like it’s the Motion file that is my problem.
I must have something set up wrong.
Never had this problem with SD Motion text files.

I’m currently using “Arial”.
I find it to be pretty smooth for this experiment in Motion text fontdom.

Thanks.

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2

[Andrew Wilson]

Let me know if you figure it out. ;

okay, so the way to fix it is to CONTROL-CLICK on the clip in the timeline, get properties–>Format and where it says Upper – then control click on that property and select NONE.

I’ve had this problem for a long time. I set field dominance to none in Motion and import into FCP, edit it into the timeline and *Most* of the time, the FD switches in upper and I have to change it manually.

One more thing to add from my experience, if your timeline has been rendered already, sometimes switching the FD won’t “unrender” that segment of the timeline and you won’t see any change. Drop a SLUG clip (or any clip) onto the timeline above your motion clip, then delete the SLUG. Now FCP will see the chance you made for the re-render.

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

[Kevin Jones]

Thanks Andrew!
That did it alright. Nice smooth text again!
This is an excellent work-around for the problem.
I tend to use a lot of Motion text in my projects and this will certainly help.

Now if I could just figure out why the Motion text file changes field dominance after I save and import it.

Thanks again Andrew.

Kevin Jones

2.5GHz Quad-core PowerPC G5
Final Cut Studio 2

[Andrew Wilson]

(fist pump… big smile… high five…)

Glad I could help.

BTW – I’m on FCS 3 and it’s been a problem there too. I was so hoping it would go away when I upgraded. No such luck.

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

[Mark Spencer]

Great job, Andrew – yes, FCP frequently loses the flag for field dominance, as well as aspect ratio…

—
Mark Spencer
Freelance Producer/Editor/Motion Graphics Artist
Apple-certified Master Trainer
Author, Motion 4 from Peachpit Press
https://www.applemotion.net

[Sergio Lorente]

From Final Cut Pro 7, if you import a Motion proyect (progresive) it´s possible with de-interlaced to progresive. It´s simple and it´s very nice trick.

– Select item (motion proyect) from Browser in FCP7.
– Right clik, Item Properties / Format
– Just to the right of Field Dominance and over Upper (Odd)…

Press CTROL-clik and you´ll see 4 options (None, Upper, Lower and Not Set).

If you press None, jaggy dissapear.

Bye!!

Sergio Lorente
Consultant Network Europe
sergio@integravideo.com
Valencia – Spain