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Layers PSD files are failing for me.
I understand the lure for people of the layered photoshop file. Creating layers in PS and importing them so you can animate the layers individually has a certain appeal.
For me, I hated the layers in legacy. Everytime I double-clicked an imported image in FCP7, it opened in timeline mode. Everytime I added a layer to the psd file, the link broke and couldn’t be fixed without reimporting the psd file. I took to creating two versions of every still. One layered image I could re-edit, and one flat image I could import into final cut.
I actually loved the way FCPX handled psd files. I could re-edit the originals, adding or deleting as many layers as I wished, and the file in the browser would update and ripple through my timeline. Brilliant.
Now we have layered psd files again, and I want a way to turn them off.
Firstly, my current project made all of my layered ps files go offline when I upgraded to 10.0.3, and I can’t seem to relink them. I get the error:
“Incompatible file. The original file wasn’t in PSD format, but the new file is. Relinked files must have the same media type, same frame rate and similar audio channels as the orginal files…”
I’m sorry, but the original WAS a psd file. Yikes.
I tried re-importing the offline files, and they all come in as layered psd files, and the originals were still there and offline.
On top of it, the layered file doesn’t look the same as the psd file. I can see a subtle outline around the edges of the top layer. The manual says I can modify an image file and the modifications will show up in the clip in the browser. Doesn’t work like I expect. I tried adding a layer, and it created a new clip in the bin, with the old clip going offline. I’ve also got layers turned on that were turned off in the psd file. It’s a mess.
Is there a way to import psd files as a single layer? Or am I stuck going back to creating two versions of every psd?
Anyone else liking this new “improvement?”
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14 Replies
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It certainly looks a bit flaky in operation to say the least.
I haven’t had time to look very closely at this yet, but it does seem as though only very basic updates are reflected when you resave the original PSD in Photoshop.
I could change the colour of a text layer perfectly well, but most other changes didn’t show up – disabling or deleting layers certainly doesn’t seem to update or even something as simple as changing a layer’s position.
(And I can’t even get the layer styles to come through which seems a bit limited.)
I could be doing it completely wrong but I don’t think so.
For now it’s clearly best to save a flattened version (in the old way) rather than trying to use the new layer options – unless all you want to do is basic stuff like changing a text colour.
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
What seems to work best is merge your layers in Photoshop first. Don’t flatten, but merge each layer separately to flatten layer effects and rasterize shapes and text. Then export the file with layers. This comes into FCP X as a compound clip and works just fine.
I prefer the new (legacy) way, but I understand Mark’s concern. I does seem odd that they didn’t do this with a dialogue/toggle to bring it in as a flattened file or with layers. Choice would have been the best approach.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
I tried a layered photoshop file with four layers. Bottom layer solid white and turned off. Second layer plain text and turned off. Third layer plain text with layer styles added and turned off. Fourth layer is merge of layer three and is the only visible layer. The file would not import eventually requiring a force quit after hanging on an “evaluating media” message.
After removing the layer with the layer styles the file imported and worked as expected. I can work with this since it is akin to what I used to do (same as Mark) with a flattened file with an alpha channel. However it is not necessary to create an alpha channel, just to have a file with no layer styles in any layers.
It’s not ideal but it’s not the end of the world for me since I never liked using layered PSD files. I have submitted feedback anyway.
I like having output through my Kona card! That seems to be working nicely so far. Some have mentioned a delay when hitting the space bar to play but I have seen that on FCP7 as well.
I have not yet tried importing any previous version project files. That should prove ineresting.
NT
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Agreed, that’s the way to handle it under the circumstances, but the irritating this is how little you can actually update and it carries through to FCPX.
If even a simple transform doesn’t translate then it’s of very limited value in the kind of dynamic linking sense that I think Mark and I were hoping for.
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Amen. For me, they broke something that worked. If I wanted to animate layers, I can do that in motion. Or I suppose even use a script to export separate layers out of photoshop.
Grrrrr.
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FCX. She tempts me, abuses me, beats me up, makes me feel worthless, then in the end she comes around, helps me get my work done, gives me hope and I can’t stop thinking about her.Mark Morache
Avid/Xpri/FCP7/FCX
Evening Magazine,Seattle, WA
https://fcpx.wordpress.com -
[Simon Ubsdell] “but the irritating this is how little you can actually update and it carries through to FCPX.”
Although it doesn’t really solve your problem, have you checked whether relinking benefits your workflow in some way? Change the PSD file and then relink to the changed version. Just a thought.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
[Oliver Peters] “have you checked whether relinking benefits your workflow in some way?”
Hi Oliver …
Sadly, I have no meaningful “worfklow” that involves FCPX – and I will never have one until OMF (at least) is introduced as an integral and totally robust part of the application.
[Oliver Peters] “Change the PSD file and then relink to the changed version”
I’ve probably misunderstood what you’re saying, but surely the PSD automatically updates without any extra interaction – at least that’s what it does for me insofar as it updates at all. What is the specific relinking process you are suggesting?
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Simon Ubsdell] “I’ve probably misunderstood what you’re saying, but surely the PSD automatically updates without any extra interaction”
I hadn’t actually checked. I had assumed it would go offline if you updated it.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
So I tried creating a still with an alpha channel, and a drop shadow.
I brought it into FCPX, and the drop shadow wasn’t black, it was whitish-grey. It’s not filling the shadow with black.
I tried this with the layer style, and without the layer style (merging the layer with a transparent frame to flatten the layer). It made no difference.
Someone verify this…
Still 1: A single layer PSD file with a drop shadow (not as a layer style, but merged with the image) comes into FCPX as an image, not a layered sequence, and it comes with an alpha channel with white mixed in with the semi-transparent black (not pre-multiplied?)
Still 2: If I duplicate the layer, so that there is more than one layer, now the file imports as a layered still sequence. I can turn off all the layers except the one that was in still 1, and the drop shadow acts like it should.
Still 3: I add a transparent layer behind the layer in still 1, and it still imports like still 1. Fail.
Still 4: I use the brush tool to just put a dot on the transparent layer. Now the still imports as a layered sequence.
I didn’t keep any layer styles, but rasterized them all before importing.
This is crazy behavior. Can we go back to the way it handled stills in 10.0.2?
———
FCX. She tempts me, abuses me, beats me up, makes me feel worthless, then in the end she comes around, helps me get my work done, gives me hope and I can’t stop thinking about her.Mark Morache
Avid/Xpri/FCP7/FCX
Evening Magazine,Seattle, WA
https://fcpx.wordpress.com -
X does not like flattened psd files with alpha channels. This was true in previous versions. Make a text layer and add effects with layer styles. Merge that into a blank layer to rasterize the text/effects. Turn off any remaining layers. Save and import. Should work fine with all transparency correct.
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