PSD Layers Don’t Show in FCP 6 – Pulling my hair out!

[Joe Murray]

I rarely use Photoshop files directly in FCP. There are too many opportunities for something to go wrong if the project is updated in the future and compatibility between PSD and FCP has changed as a result of software updates. Also, if someone opens and alters the PSD it throws everything out of whack in the FCP project that uses that file. I use targa files with alpha channels. These can easily be updated/replaced and FCP still just looks at the pixels, not having to interpret layers and possibly misinterpret them. Yes, on the surface it’s easier to pull in a layered PSD but in my experience it’s way more hassle in the end if something gets screwed up and makes its way to a client.

Sorry I don’t have a solution, this is more of a vote of no confidence in the general workflow. Good luck.

Joe Murray
Edit at Joe’s
Charlotte, NC

[Rafael Amador]

What about trashing Preferences?
rafael

http://www.nagavideo.com

[Neil Sadwelkar]

I’m intrigued by this problem, as I’ve seen it too…

To summarize…

PSD Creating system
MacBook running Leopard.
CS3 Photoshop
Layered PSD file with Max Compatibility

PSD Receiving system
Mac 8 core and Snow Leopard
FCP is 6.0.6
Photoshop NOT installed

The file is a simple, two layered RGB file
Not a Windows PSD thing, both are Mac
Not CMYK
Not 16bit

Same PSD opens in other systems – Intel MBP, 2.33 MBP, 3G MacPro etc
and in FCP 4.5 system on older G5

I tried this test.psd on
MBP 2.33 w OSX 10.5.8, FCP 6.0.6, QT 7.6.4
MacPro 4-core 2.66 w OSX 10.5.6, FCP 6.0.6, QT 7.6.4
Both don’t have Photoshop installed
Both open your test.psd fine and with layers.

But in both these systems I’ve seen Photoshop layer issues in the past.

So may be something about your installation. In the two machines I tested on, the MBP is an old installation and continuously updated via Software Update. So its ‘unclean’.
My MacPro recently had 10.5.7 issues so very recently I did a complete clean install – OS, FCP everything.

If you ever solve this, please let us know.

———————————–
Neil Sadwelkar
neilsadwelkar.blogspot.com
twitter: fcpguru
FCP Editor, Edit systems consultant
Mumbai India

[Leland Parker]

Now THERE’s an IDEA!!! I was so wrapped up in the software, I kind of forgot about basic OS causes! I’ll ask the editor to try that on Monday. Wow, good old corrupt preferences file… wouldn’t that be something!

-L

[Leland Parker]

Those are good points, but in my situation, the ease of sending jpegs to client for layout approval, and .psd to editor for motion video far outweighs the challenges… in fact there has never been any challenges ’til this bug came along! When my client says, oops, the date of the event is wrong, I can change it in my psd and send to the editor and FCP is aware of the updated PSD and whalla! If I had to kick out a new .tga for every layer that simple text change effected I would either lose money or annoy clients billing them 10 minutes for a 30-second repair.

-L

[Leland Parker]

Well, at long last a solution… and from what I can tell, it simply must be an OS bug. Here’s what worked. I gave the file to someone running PSD on a MBP running Snow Leopard. He opened it, saved it, and then gave it to my editor who is also running SL. Works! Problem not so much solved as it is beaten!

Now. Does anyone know the best way to bring this little issue to the attention of Apple and Adobe? Perhaps to gain an actually solution to those not willing to jump to SL? I personally intend to but after a font issue I saw go down today I’m hesitant.

Leland
SYZYGY Media

[Ian Lawton]

Long time lurker – First time poster.

I too am tearing my hair out trying to solve this exact same problem.

The test.psd ends up merged on my timeline as an image (icon with ABC rather than a sequence)

Running Photoshop CS4 on a MacBook 2.4 Intel Core 2 Duo running OSX 10.6.4

Final Cut Pro running on G5 Dual 2 PPC running OSX 10.4.11

I have done EVERYTHING outlined above, even before finding this thread.

Is the conclusion that the issue is an operating system mismatch?

I have multiple titles all with multiple layers that I wish to animate in FCP exporting each layer to TGA will take days, not to mention in turn re-aligning everything in FCP.

My poor hair…

[Ian Lawton]

I am an idiot.

I have a very old copy of Photoshop installed on the G5 (v8)

I didn’t think you could open files created in newer version of a program in an older version…

Looks like you can! Opened, re-saved & I’m good to go in FCP.

So it definitely must be a cross OS issue…

Nothing to see here, please move along 🙂