Creating a Transition for Final Cut Pro X
Use the Final Cut Transition template to create a custom transition for use in Final Cut Pro X.
For detailed information on the Project Browser, see
The Project Browser
. For information
on applying and editing transitions in Final Cut Pro, see Final Cut Pro Help.
To create a transition template
1
In Motion, choose File > New From Project Browser (or press Command-Option-N).
The Project Browser appears.
2
In the Project Browser, click Final Cut Transition, then choose a project size from the Preset
pop-up menu.
Important:
Be sure to create the template at the highest resolution you will use in your
Final Cut Pro project.
3
Click Open (or press Return).
If the correct preset is already chosen, you can double-click Final Cut Transition in the
Project Browser.
A new, untitled Motion project opens containing two placeholder layers: Transition A
and Transition B.
4
To add a reference image to the placeholders to preview your work, do the following:
a
From the File Browser or Library, drag an image onto the Transition A layer in the Layers
list (or onto the Transition A arrow in the Canvas). When the pointer becomes a curved
arrow, release the mouse button.
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b
From the File Browser or Library, drag a second image onto the Transition B layer in
the Layers list. When the pointer becomes a curved arrow, release the mouse button.
Be sure to drag the images directly from the File Browser or Library to the placeholders.
If you accidentally place the images into a new layer, you can’t move them to the
placeholder layers.
The images are added to the Transition A and B placeholder layers, replacing the arrow
graphics in the Canvas, and are resized if they are not the same size as the project. The
images serve as temporary media to preview the result of the transition you are building.
They are not used in the Final Cut Pro X transition.
5
Modify Transition A and Transition B so they flow into each other midway through the
transition, using filters, behaviors, or other combinations of effects. For example, animate
a lens flare that moves across the screen as Transition A fades into Transition B.
When designing the template, think about how to best get the end of incoming clip A
to line up with the beginning of the transition, and the end of the transition to line up
with the incoming clip B. For example, a transition that begins on a full-screen Placeholder
A and ends on a full-screen Placeholder B avoids jarring jumps. Because the default
behavior between the transition placeholders is a cut, you will often need to adjust the
placeholder timebars so they overlap in the Timeline to smooth out your transition, and
then animate their opacity using keyframes or a behavior.
Note: To override the default transition length set in Final Cut Pro Preferences and use
the duration of the transition template, select the Project object in the Layers list, then
select the Override FCP Duration checkbox in the Properties Inspector.
For more information on working with filters, see
Using Filters
. For more information on
behaviors, see
Using Behaviors
.
6
To allow Final Cut Pro users to modify parameters, choose Publish from the Animation
pop-up menu of each parameter you want to make accessible.
Publishing a parameter makes its user interface control (the slider, checkbox, or dial)
available in the Final Cut Pro Inspector when the custom effect is applied to a clip.
Published parameters can be adjusted and keyframed in Final Cut Pro. For more
information, see
Publishing Parameters in Templates
.
7
Optional: When you're satisfied with the transition you’ve built, you can remove the
preview images from the template by selecting each Transition layer, then clicking the
Clear button in the Image Inspector.
The temporary image is removed.
8
Choose File > Save, then do the following:
a
In the save dialog, enter a name for the template.
If you don’t specify a name, the template appears in the Final Cut Pro Transitions Browser
as “New Template.”
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b
Choose a category from the Category pop-up menu.
You can also create a custom category. Categories appear in the Motion Project Browser
and the Final Cut Pro Transitions Browser.
c
If needed, choose a theme from the Theme pop-up menu.
You can also create themes. Themes appear in the Motion Project Browser and the
Final Cut Pro Themes Browser. A theme is a metadata tag that helps categorize
templates. For more information on Motion Project Browser themes and categories,
see
The Project Browser
.
d
To retain unused media in the project (media or audio in the Media list that is not used
in the template), select “Include unused media.”
e
If you want a preview movie to appear in the Motion Project Browser, select Save
Preview Movie.
9
Click Publish.
The template and remaining media are saved and exported to the Final Cut Pro Transitions
Browser.