-
Layers and transitions
So, today I had some time and thought I’ll give FCPX a go. So my background needed to be white for this commercial, so I made one with the custom generator and put it in my storyline. Then I needed to put in the logo and multiple layers of products, with transitions in between these multiple layers of products. So you can’t put transitions on layers without them being in a storyline, so I did that. and that’s where I ran into problems. When I have multiple layers and do transitions, my alpha channel turns black and the transition not even associated with a lower track effects the lower track. Maybe I don’t have my head quite wrapped around this thing yet, but I’ve been using FCP since version 1.0, and have always done things a certain way. Sometimes I’ll have 10 or more layers with products, logos, disclaimers, graphics, a bug, and so on. I just don’t see an intuitive way to do this, am I missing something?
Chip Whiting
99 Productions LLC
541-343-0099 -
20 Replies
-
No, you’re not. Secondary storylines are not behaving as you would expect, alphas and composites are not behaving as expected.
All the best,
Tom
Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP7,” “Basic Training for FCS” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Coming in 2011 “Complete Training for FCPX”
and “Final Cut Pro X for iMovie and Final Cut Express Users” from Focal Press -
Was just having a play around with multiple layers with transitions in secondary storylines and all “appeared to work” ok. It doesn’t help you I know 😉
For sure compositing modes are ignored with secondary storylines. Whether that’s an intended “feature” or not, I personally would like to see compositing modes recognised in secondary storylines.
What I have here below in the screenshot is a number of stock items from motion, PNG’s with alphas, and I have layered them up over a blue solid background. Also I have a text effect running the entire length as a bug.
Is this the sort of thing you were trying and it was not working, or were you using video with alpha channels?
Please ignore the cheesy comp of layers in the screenshot….not my best work….
Cheers,
Brendan
-
What problems are you seeing Tom? I had an issue with a flattened PSD with alpha channel that had a full frame of 45% black with some text and logos overlaid on it. The area of the 45% black looked translucent gray. I rebuilt the graphic with the same alpha channel but added a layer of full black behind everything before flattening and it worked fine. Otherwise I have not seen any compositing/transition issues. I am curious to see what I may be missing. Thanks
-
No composite modes in secondary storylines. No transitions on connected clips. It’s like each connected clip is entirely separate from the clip adjacent. Not very magnetic if you ask me.
All the best,
Tom
Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP7,” “Basic Training for FCS” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Coming in 2011 “Complete Training for FCPX”
and “Final Cut Pro X for iMovie and Final Cut Express Users” from Focal Press -
You don’t mention what sort of transitions you need, but on the off chance that it’s just dissolves, perhaps you could overlap the connected clips and ride the opacity levels instead. That way you could leave elements as connected clips (rather than promoting them to storyline status) and still have use of compositing modes, if you want ’em.
-
I do alot of retail spots with multiple layers and dve style transitions, I can make multiple layers and composite them, it only screws up when I try to do transitions, not just dissolves. Is FCP not where i should do compositing, or should i do it in motion? If that’s true, I’m seriously going to have to consider other NLE options.
Chip Whiting
99 Productions LLC
541-343-0099 -
Connected clips cannot have transitions applied. You have to convert the connected clips to a secondary storyline.
All the best,
Tom
Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP7,” “Basic Training for FCS” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Coming in 2011 “Complete Training for FCPX”
and “Final Cut Pro X for iMovie and Final Cut Express Users” from Focal Press -
Yes I did that, but the transitions were still not right.
Chip Whiting
99 Productions LLC
541-343-0099 -
Chip – In my opinion, this indeed appears to be a flaw in the 1.0 “trackless” FCP X. Piece of cake in FCP 7 since it is really a layer based compositor. I would use FCP 7 for now and then send some feedback to Apple. Perhaps they will get things fixed in the next FCP X update.
However with that said if you look at your project a little differently, and from the perspective of having to make the same type of spots over and over, FCP X combined with Motion 5 would be a fantastic platform. To get an idea of what I am talking about, look at the themes in FCP X. They are really motion file “rigs”. You could create a series of product moves and composites in motion that you could simply pop in your product images as you use them. In the end I think you could have a faster workflow. Just my 2 cents.
——
T. Payton
OneCreative, Albuquerque -
[Timothy Payton] “FCP X combined with Motion 5 would be a fantastic platform.”
I think this is a really important point. If you’re not using Motion 5 you’re really only using half of the FCPX experience and I’m sure Apple mean it that way. Compositing in an NLE is never going to be as effective or fast or flexible as doing it in a dedicated app like Motion and the tightness of the integration, even as it currently exists (without being able to Send to Motion from FCPX) is a huge boost to productivity. The very fact that Apple have not only kept Motion but made it so much more central to the editing experience is a big indicator how they see compositing working in the new “paradigm” – at least it seems that way to me.
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up