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Keyframe Nightmare when try to keyframe Jpegs!
I am a long time FCP 7 editor…recently forced to switch over to FCP X for work. I am running OS X 10.8.2
and running FCP X 10.0.7I am going out of my f*&$king mind trying to figure out how to move pics the way I want in FCP X. I have watched tutorials, read editing websites, talked to other editors…I can not figure this out. here’s the issue:
I am attempting to do a series of moves on some jpgs…on the timeline, I select my clip, I open up the Video animation and in the inspector, I go to the Transform option and select “add keyframe”(I’ll call this keyframe A)…then I put the cursor in the clip where I want the next keyframe to go…then I select the “transform” option in the lower left hand corner of the player window and move my jpg to the desired position (I’ll call this keyframe B). I want the jpg to remain in the same position for a second or so…so I move the cursor 1 second forward and add another keyframe in the “transform” option in the inspector (I’ll call this keyframe C). Now – I move my cursor a second or 2 ahead on the timeline and move the jpg again to the desired position and add another keyframe (i’ll call this keyframe D). So…the end result should be that the jpeg moves from the starting point, keyframe A to keyframe B…remains in the same position through keyframe C…and then moves to keyframe D.
The problem I am having is that, for some unexplained reason, the jpg does not stay in position between keyframes B & C…it “floats” or “drifts” between these 2 keyframes even though the keyframes are identical for both positions. When I look at the inspector, the keyframe positions in the “transform” option are identical for both keyframes…but I can see when I go frame by frame along the timeline that the positioning actually moves ie. – the numeric values of the keyframes change between keyframes B & C but end up identical positioning on the keyframes themselves.
Here’s some additional info – the jpg will stay static in the desired position between keyframes B & C until I add the next keyframe D. Once I add keyframe D, the image floats or moves between keyframes B & C.
I have tried everything I can think of to fix this, but I can not figure it out…and I am starting to go a little crazy. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dan
Dan Herz
danherzproductions.com -
20 Replies
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Might have read your post too quickly, but it sounds like you moved the position of jpeg BEFORE setting new keyframe. E.g, set 2nd keyframe later on timeline, without touching position, so THAT keyframe represents the end point of a “hold position” duration. Then move cursor to new position, set another keyframe, THEN change position. If you did all that, then I too would like to know what is causing the drift.
Doug D
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Yes, I did what you suggest…still floats
Dan Herz
danherzproductions.com -
Only other thing I notice is if you try to keyframe the “Ken Burns” effect you get trouble, as it is a “canned” effect designed to decelerate at end of shot, rather than the “keep moving at same rate” move that looks better at cut to next still. But if you are just using position, scale, keyframes…that result is baffling.
Doug D
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Also, zoom way in or use the “go to next/previous” keyframe, to make sure you don’t have an accidental extra keyframe in there, immediately adjacent to desired one. That will cause the problem.
Doug D
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I checked…no extra keyframes to be found…I’m mystified…and frustrated!
Dan Herz
danherzproductions.com -
Get the free Pan and Zoom plug-in from Noise Industries. Works like a charm.
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The issue here is that FCPX has a tendency of setting the keyframes to smooth (bezier) rather than linear. The order you set your keyframes in does affect the result. I tend to set my B and C keyframes first. However, I do regularly get the problem you have, and don’t understand why. Apple does need to improve this by adding the option to change this in the inspector, even though I feel that its a great improvement to FCP 7.
You need to use the Keyframe editor in the viewer as well as the one in the inspector. If you’ve set them in the inspector or inspector doesn’t really matter.
You should also be able to do it in the timeline by opening the video animation (crtl + V). Then ctrl + click on each keyrame and change it to linear. I don’t have final cut infront of me at the moment, so I’m not sure, I usually use the keyframe editor in the viewer, since the clients I do jpeg animation for like curves, and controlling curves handles can only be done in the viewer.
So, once your four keyframes are set, use the viewer keyframe editor. You will notice that Keyframes B and C are on the same position in the viewer. Ctrl + click on that keyframe you see, a menu should appear that gives you the option of a linear or smooth keyframe. Change it to linear. However you will notice that there still is some movement. The problem here is that both keyframes are at the same position in the viewer. Because of this the mouse can’t click on both, kind of buggy. In the inspector or viewer navigate using the arrows to C, grab it in the viewer and pull it from its original position, now you can see B and C and you will see a curved line between them. Ctrl + click each keyframe and change them to linear, now the line between them should be straight. Since you moved the C key frame you can either pull it back with the mouse, or to be more exact and avoid any movement change it back in the inspector.
Nik
“Always look on the bright side of life” – Monty Python
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[Dan Herz] “I have tried everything I can think of to fix this, but I can not figure it out…and I am starting to go a little crazy. Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.”
it’s a bug… there’s a workaround…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Euyathw6fI4#!
you may only need to add/delete keyframes once, not 3 times. This’ll make sense after you check out the video
————————————————————-~”It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools.”~
~”The function you just attempted is not yet implemented”~ -
Hey Charlie, I don’t think the video is the solution to Dan’s problem. As far as I understand it, he needs the second and third keyframe to be the same, so that the image doesn’t move at all between the keyframes. His issue has to do with the interpolation of the keyframes.
Nik
“Always look on the bright side of life” – Monty Python
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The linear refers to the the spatial curve. Shouldn’t have anything to do with easing anyway. In 7, there was a separate ease control, but it had its own set of problems.
Another answer is to use the crop tool to animate in a ken burns style, but without any curve or easing. I use it for basic stuff like zoom and scale.
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