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The Nesting Challenge
OK FCP mavens…here is a challenge a client has requested. I have 50 pictures (psd files) that I imported at 10 sec each. I also have an animated picture frame background that is also 10 sec. The client wants the pictures ( both vertical and horiz) to be composited with the frame ( making whatever adustments necessary). Then the composites will float from about 50 size to full size and be on screen for about 5 secs. Then there is a 2 sec. dissolve to the next picture composite making the same move. We have all seen this “Eternel Pictures Moving Toward You” effect before. The problem I bumped into is as soon as I nest the picture and the frames ( to move them together) I cant apply a dissolve to the next composite. I have only used 5 seconds of the images and have 5 seconds left for use. Others systems I use handle this with no problem….what is the preferred way to do this with FCP 5?
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6 Replies
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The nest has to be 7 seconds long. Not just what’s in the nest. If you’re laying it out on the timeline, layout the 7 seconds worth of photo/frame. Nest it. Then backup 2 seconds and put in the next photo/frame layers above that. Nest those. Then drag them down, over the nest below. Now can add the dissolve.
That is if I understand your issue right.
Other way would be to make 1 7 second nest with the prescribed move. Once you’ve made the move on it, you can trim it back to 5 seconds. Then just copy and paste it 50 times. Open each nest and replace the photo in the frame. Drag all the nests up into the canvas to overlay with transition to add the 50 dissolves, etc.
Or, the fastest rendering method. Merge all the pics and frames with photoshop. Import them all and basically use above methods without needing a nest.
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Thats exactly what I needed to know! Thanks Bret. My only regret is that I layed out (on trk 1 – frame & trk 2 pix) all 50 shots ready for nesting. I guess with some creative moving of groups of clips I can
apply your approach.
Tom -
Second thought then, maybe nesting is not the right idea. A fast way to composite all those frames and pics is with freeze frames.
You’ve got them all laid out so you could simply put the playhead on each, and with an empty layer 1 (turned off just to be sure) press shift+n to make a freeze frame appear of the composite in the viewer. It should have an alpha. Make sure it works before you go do 50 of them.
If you set the still duration in user prefs to 7 seconds, it may make life even easier. Make your freezes and put them in a bin. Drag from a bin to the canvas window – overwrite with transition. Blamo. 50 dissolving photos with frame. Then, create the prescribed move on the first clip. Copy the clip, and then highlight the other 49 and do a “paste attributes” and just paste the motion.
I’m thinking the whole thing should take 10-15 minutes from import of the clips.
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Bret…you da man. I will give it a shot!
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Final thought….by making freeze frames I reduce the ability to make requested image changes easily. If Ive learned anything over the last many years editing…its that change is inevitable, so I guess I will plod through the nexting route. Thanks again for all your help!
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What would that make a change any more difficult than a nested effect? I doesn’t. Simply do the 15 mins of work again, or just fix the requested freeze frame. Seems easy to me.
Have fun with it!
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