Using Media in Template Placeholders
When creating a custom template for Final Cut Pro X, you can add an image to a
placeholder layer to preview the effect you are building.
Important:
When adding preview media to a placeholder, use a still image rather than
a video clip, which can introduce timing conflicts in Final Cut Pro.
To add a placeholder image to a template
Do one of the following:
µ
From the File Browser or Library, drag an image onto the placeholder arrow in the Canvas.
When the pointer becomes a curved arrow, release the mouse button.
µ
From the File Browser or Library, drag an image to the Effect Source layer in the Layers
list. When the pointer becomes a curved arrow, release the mouse button.
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When you publish the template, the image is saved with the template. If you replace the
image placeholder after you’ve saved the template, you have the option to save the new
image with the new template.
To replace an image in a template saved with media
1
To replace a reference placeholder image, do one of the following:
• From the File Browser or Library, drag an image onto the placeholder arrow in the
Canvas. When the pointer becomes a curved arrow, release the mouse button.
• From the File Browser or Library, drag an image to the Effect Source layer in the Layers
list. When the pointer becomes a curved arrow, release the mouse button.
2
Choose File > Save (or press Command-S).
The “Media exists outside the document. Do you wish to copy it?” dialog appears.
3
Do one of the following:
• To save the new image with the template in the /Users/username/Movies/ folder, click
Copy.
• To save the template without the new image, click Don’t Copy.
When you save a template, media used in the project is stored on your computer in the
same folder as the template (/Users/username/Movies/Motion Templates/), potentially
creating multiple instances of media files and taking up valuable hard disk space. If the
“Include unused media” checkbox is selected in the template’s save dialog, media in the
Media pane (the storage area for media not used in the project) of the Motion project is
also saved to this location.
To prevent creating duplicates of images on your hard disk, you can clear placeholder
images from templates before saving. When you clear a placeholder image, its source
media is not loaded into Motion the next time you modify the template (by choosing the
“Open a copy in Motion” command in the Final Cut Pro media browsers).
To clear media from a template placeholder
1
In the template project, select an Effect Source, Title Background, Transition A, or Transition
B placeholder.
2
In the Image Inspector, click the Clear button in the Final Cut Placeholder controls.
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The preview media is removed from the template, and the placeholder arrow reappears
in the affected layer.
Click the Clear button to
clear media from the
template placeholder.
To manually remove media saved with a template
1
In the Finder, go to the /Users/username/Movies/Motion Templates/ folder.
2
In the appropriate Effects, Titles, or Transitions folder, open the theme folder that contains
your template, the open the Media folder.
3
Drag the media to the Trash.
Saving a template containing a source image in the placeholder saves the image to the
template’s Media folder (/Users/username/Movies/Motion Templates/). If you replace the
placeholder image and save the template again, a dialog may appear stating “Media
exists outside the document. Do you wish to copy it?” Click Copy to save the new image
with the template media.