Simon Ubsdell
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COW Coins
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Hi Ashton
In your Motion project your Effect Source scale is set to 149.95% – you just need to reset that to 100%.
It’s always a good idea to set up your project with media that is the same size otherwise you can end up with problems like this.
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
You could also try using the new free effect that I shared just this week, see here for details:
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/344/8736
It addresses precisely this question and offers some advantages over doing it via the Color Board.
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Interesting and a bit weird – it was gone for quite a long time. I wonder if there are any differences in this version of the document?
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Apple used to have a set of recommendations that read like this (however the fact that they have withdrawn them suggests it may no longer be an issue):
Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, Compressor 4: Installation best practices
SummaryIt is strongly recommended that you install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, and Compressor 4 on a startup disk that does not have Final Cut Studio (2009) already installed. Use Apple’s preferred installation procedure when upgrading one version of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Studio to the next. This procedure is not unique to Final Cut Pro X.
…more
Products AffectedCompressor 4, Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5
If your Mac has only one hard disk and it already has Final Cut Studio (2009) installed on it, you can partition the hard disk to create a separate startup volume to install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4. For instructions, see the section below titled “Install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on a new partition”.
If you must install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on the same startup disk as Final Cut Studio (2009), see the section below titled “Install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on the same startup disk as Final Cut Studio (2009).”
Install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on a new partition
Use Apple’s preferred installation procedure when upgrading one version of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Studio to the next. This procedure is not unique to Final Cut Pro X.
To create a new partition of your hard disk, follow instructions in Partitioning a disk. The partition must be large enough to contain all the files required by the version of Mac OS X you are installing, the applications you install, and enough room for projects and media.
Note: By default, Final Cut Pro X saves imported and rendered media files in your Movies folder in your home folder (/Users/username/Movies/). Final Cut Pro X Templates (generators, effects, titles, & transitions) and Motion Templates created in Motion 5, are saved to the Movies folder as well.
Install Mac OS X on the new disk partition by inserting the Mac OS X install media and double-clicking the Install Mac OS X icon.
Follow the onscreen instructions. In the pane where you select a disk, select the disk partition you just created in step 1.
If you want to control which parts of Mac OS X are installed, click Customize, and then select the parts you want to install.
To start the installation, click Install.
Start up your system from the new startup volume.
From the Apple () menu, choose Software Update. Install the following updates if they appear in the list:
Mac OS X v10.6.8
ProKit Update Version 7.0
Purchase Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 from the Mac App Store. The app will begin downloading automatically, and the app icon will be added to your Dock with a progress bar below the app icon. Once the app is done installing, the progress bar below the app icon will go away.
From the Apple () menu, choose Software Update to download ProApps QuickTime codecs and the Final Cut Pro X or Motion supplemental content.You can now use Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 from this new startup volume. You can also restart on the other startup volume to use Final Cut Studio (2009).
Install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on the same disk as Final Cut Studio (2009)
If you are unable to install on a separate partition, this is an alternate method.
From the Apple () menu, choose Software Update. Install the following updates if they appear in the list:
Mac OS X v10.6.8 or later
ProKit Update Version 7.0
The latest versions of the Final Cut Studio (2009) applications
Purchase Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 from the Mac App Store. The app you purchase will begin downloading automatically, and the app icon will be added to your Dock with a progress bar below the app icon. Once the app is done installing, the progress bar below the app icon will go away.When you install Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on the same startup disk as Final Cut Studio (2009), the Final Cut Studio (2009) applications are moved to a new location (/Applications/Final Cut Studio).
To verify that the Final Cut Studio (2009) applications operate correctly, open Motion 4, and then quit Motion 4.Important: Make sure to open Motion 4 first, before opening any other Final Cut Studio (2009) applications.
You can now use Final Cut Studio (2009) and Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on the same system, from the same startup disk.
Note: Final Cut Server, Podcast Producer, Software Updates for Final Cut Studio (2009), and some third-party workflows and tools may require that the Final Cut Studio (2009) applications remain in their original location in the Applications folder.
Restore the Final Cut Studio (2009) applications to their original location
Follow these steps to move the Final Cut Studio (2009) applications to their original location while still being able to use Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, or Compressor 4 on the same system.
Create a folder called “Final Cut Pro X” (without quotations) in your Applications folder.
Drag the Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5, and Compressor 4 apps into the Final Cut Pro X folder you created.
When prompted, type your administrator password.
Locate the Final Cut Studio folder in the Applications folder. Modify the permissions on the Final Cut Studio folder by selecting it and choosing File > Get Info.
Click the disclosure triangle to the left of “Sharing & Permissions” to show the permissions for the Final Cut Studio folder (if they are not already visible).
Click the lock icon in the lower-right corner of the window.
When prompted, type your administrator password.
For the “admin” entry, click the current privilege setting and choose “Read & Write.” Close the Get Info window.
Drag the contents of the Final Cut Studio folder into the Applications folder.
Open Motion 4 (now located in the Applications folder). After it opens completely, quit Motion 4.
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Alex Gollner] “Can I suggest an ‘Invert Mask’ option?”
Hi Alex. Thanks for the feedback. Yes, there is already an Invert Mask option – I just forgot to mention it in the write-up!
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Just a small footnote to your excellent article.
I’ve tried out various tests to see what the state of play actually is with importing layered PSDs and some of my conclusions can be found here:
https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/344/8774
There are some glaring issues, it seems to me, most notably with adding and deleting layers and with transforms – just for starters. (Running all the possible tests would take far more time than I am prepared to devote to it at this point, but I think it’s clear that the issues are real and pretty fundamental.)
At the moment, I would say the best advice is to flatten all your layers if you don’t want unwelcome surprises. Which is as much as saying this feature doesn’t actually work – yet.
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Hi Nick
Thanks for confirming that I’m not hallucinating!
The frustrating part is trying to pin down exactly what does and doesn’t happen correctly.
But that point in time I think it’s fair to say that it’s all way too random to be reliable.
The sensible route for now is surely to just to flatten all your layers and pretend that the “new feature” doesn’t exist. Yet.
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
If you want to get serious about keying, I strongly recommend you have a look at the offerings from Conduit (from the makers of DV Garage), which now include a Beta version for FCPX:
https://www.dvgarage.com/conduit-64bit-beta
Conduit is a nodal compositor (a sort of mini-Shake) that is optimized for keying and the results are truly outstanding, once you have learned what you are doing. Their training materials are the best introduction to the real science of keying that you can find and well worth looking at even if you don’t end up buying the product (whcih is insanely good value!).
Particularly useful for cases like yours are their strategies for dealing with compressed source material of the 4:2:0 or 4:1:0 variety.
With Conduit you will be able to get results far superior to anything you could hope for with any one-stop keyer, even one as good as the one now in FCPX.
Disclaimer: I have nothing to do with Conduit or the organization that makes it.
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
In addition to Tim’s route, which is very ingenious, you could also look at Alex Gollner’s free FCPX template:
https://alex4d.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/fcpx-widescreen-matte/
It produces a matte (as a Title overlay) in as many different aspect ratios as you can think of.
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Note also that Motion doesn’t necessarily preserve the scaling or positioning of the original PSD layers depending on the canvas size, which may be what you are encountering here if you are seeing stuff on the edge you didn’t expect.
As Chris says, it’s often best just to flatten the layers rather than use a PSD if that is causing headaches. (Note that only some formats preserve the transparency – e.g. PNG will but JPEG won’t.)
Simon Ubsdell
http://www.tokyo-uk.com