Importing powerpoint xml files into final cut pro

Not sure this will work, since you say the PPt has xml file extensions, but...

Have you tried making a copy of the PPt (w/xml extensions), then try changing the extension on the copy to .ppt?

OR

Do you have iWork? If so, can you open the PPt presentation in Keynote, then choose File/Export/choose your flavor.

I just had to do this on the fly last week and it was the first time I had to do it, so I'm not up to snuff on all the details for the processes involved.

K

On the Devil's Advocate side of things - most people who do Powerpoint are totally clueless about video. They don't understand: title safe area and/or color and/or fonts and text size.

PPT files, when exported, seem oblivious to video resolution and quality.

It's sometimes easier to simply recreate the PPT slides in FCP or Motion.

x

So true about title/action safe and powerpoint, well there is no need for them to concern themselves with this and it would be a waste of real estate anyway.

I find the best way is to export high res png's from powerpoint, at each stage of build if required, means re-working presentation specifically for the export and the client needs to be made aware of this. Often the client will say look don't worry about the build, it is for a limited audience anyway, saving them money.

Create a coloured background in PS for the slide to sit over, so that it is as close to seamless as possible. Drop the png over the background in FCP and scale the png to title safe, even better, run an action over the folder of pngs that resizes the slide so that no scaling needs to be done in FCP.

Tony

Ask them to supply you with a copy the actual PPT file that they created. Tell them the XML they sent you isn't cutting it.

-DH

A quick chat with the two graphic designers I work with, specialists in PPT, go back to the client and ask for a new version of the PPT project saved as a .ppt file.

Tony