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Point size when adding text
I recently worked on a project where I added some titles that were superimposed over selected video images. One of the titles was hard to read over a section of video. All the other titles read fine. I had all the settings set the same on each title. I’m confident the problem lies in the fact that I cannot change the point size of the drop shadow to make it thicker so the title will read better over my selected image. My settings were Offset: 1, Angle: 135, Color: Black, Softness: 0, Opacity: 100. The Offset just moves the drop shadow further away or closer from the text. Am I missing something? I tried changing the Offset to 2 and then 3 but it’s still not the way I want it. Tried looking in the manual and found nothing on point size. Thanks!
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4 Replies
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Al,
The readability of white text against picture is affected by the luminance of the BG image more than anything else. You have to create more contrast between the two elements, and there are only a few ways to do that.
1. Lower the luminance of the BG.
2. Add a dark drop shadow behind the text.
3. Add a dark edge to the text.
4. Add a colored lower-thirds BG between the text and the video.
Adding the edge should help considerably. If you are not completely satisfied with your control of the drop shadow, you can always copy your title, color it black, and place on a second video layer beneath the white layer. You then have complete control of the black layer uisng the motion controls and you can resize, offset, and change its opacity in infinte ways.
DRW
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I was thinking of your idea of adding the 2nd text as an experiment to see if that would work but that should not be the correct way to add thickness to a drop shadow. You suggested adding a color to the text but the clients titles are all white and they want to stay consistent. I cannot believe that there is not a way to change the point size on a drop shadow in FCP.
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Whzt title generator are you using?
You should avoid the built-pin FCP tltlers.You should be using the Boris “Title 3D” generator INCLUDED on the FCP install discs.
With Title 3D, you can adjust every aspect of
size, color, softness , position, opacity, etc.
on the font, the edge, and the shadow. -
And Title 3D lets you create multiple drop shadows & strokes (outlines). so you could conceivably add drop shadows in up to 5 directions!
Arnie
https://www.arniepix.com
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