Motion into Final Cut Pro HD, what is the correct way to use Motion in FCP?

[Adolfo Rozenfeld]

There isn’t a single “correct” way. More so with Motion than Livetype, since Motion is more a full-blown motion graphics application than a complement (which it also can be,of course).
The coolest way, but not the only wayl, is to simply save your Motion project and them import that into FCP as if it was a clip. You skip the step of rendering from Motion, but you will have to render the clip when you place it on FCP’s timeline. The main advantage is that you can then modify the content by just calling it from within FCP. You also save yourself quite a lot of space, since Quicktime movies with tranparency can be (not always, the animation codec is a subject in itself) very big.
You need to make sure that Motion is to transparent background. One important tip, though. If when you import the clip, type and graphics look jagged, then FCP did a wrong interpretion of the Alpha type. Go to Modify > Alpha type and set it to “black”, to begin.
If you have other questions let me know.

Adolfo Rozenfeld
Buenos Aires – Argentina
https://www.adolforozenfeld.com
adolfo@adolforozenfeld.com

[Sebastian Knight]

Adolfo I need a couple of clarifications on what you said.

1-The main advantage is that you can then modify the content by just calling it from within FCP. You also save yourself quite a lot of space, since Quicktime movies with tranparency can be (not always, the animation codec is a subject in itself) very big.

What do you mean by this?

2-You need to make sure that Motion is to transparent background. One important tip, though. If when you import the clip, type and graphics look jagged, then FCP did a wrong interpretion of the Alpha type. Go to Modify > Alpha type and set it to “black”, to begin.

Where do I modify, in FCP or Motion?

3-Hoe do I begin with Transparant backbround in Motion, before I begin building my Project?

Thank you in advance for your reply to me Post,

Sebastian

[Adolfo Rozenfeld]

1-. What I mean is that you save yourself the disk space required by a rendered file from Motion. The render you do in FCP’s timeline will likely be smaller in size, because you’re surely working with DV and a file rendered from Motion with transparency uses an uncompressed codec called Animation. As I said, just import Motion’s project file into FCP.

2-. In FCP, but only do that if you experience the problem I mentioned. If not, it’s not necessary.

3-. By default, Motion mantains the transparent background. Especially if you import the Motion project instead of rendering a file from Motion (because most codecs don’t support embedded transparecy).

Adolfo Rozenfeld
Buenos Aires – Argentina
https://www.adolforozenfeld.com
adolfo@adolforozenfeld.com

[Daniel Klein]

Hello Adolfo,

I have a question related to importing Motion into FCP4.5. When I import a motion file that has video with masks, the masks do not come in or otherwise have an effect, as well as the luma key filter.

Any ideas on why?

Thanks!

Daniel