Cropping in Photoshop prior to import into FCP

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Level 1

10 points

Cropping in Photoshop prior to import into FCP

Hello All,

Forgive me for posting a PS question here, but it is directly related to FCP. I'm attempting to take images and prep them for importation into FCP. I have set my cropping tool in PS to 1800w x 1350H x 72px. The PS is hanging up on this request. I'm not sure why. Is there a work around on this so I can get on with my project? Or better yet, is there a way to correct PS so it will perform this task.

Sorry about the tangential inquiry.

DG

MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.4.10), Final Cut Pro 6.0, 2.4 GHz, 4GB Ram, LaCie:1 Terrabyte, Panasonic DVX100B

Posted on Mar 15, 2009 9:51 AM

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Answer 1

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Mar 15, 2009 12:01 PM in response to djonathang

Unless you intend to zoom and pan the PS images, choose one of Photoshop's built in video presets that fits your FCP Sequence and paste your images into that.

If you wish to zoom or pan the images bring them into FCP as they are. Use the controls in the Motion tab to move, resize and crop.

Cropping the images in Photoshop beforehand leaves you no room to change the crop in FCS afterwards should you need to do so.

Make sure the images are in RGB color space and either TIFF or PNG format for best results.

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Answer 2

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Mar 15, 2009 12:12 PM in response to djonathang

Drat! double post.

Message was edited by: Nick Holmes

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Answer 3

djonathang Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 15, 2009 3:24 PM in response to Nick Holmes

Nick,

Thanks for the reply. I'm taking the Lynda.Com tutorial presented by Larry Jordan. I don't know if he knows his stuff, but he basicall says that you want to bring the photo in at 100%. So bring in in larger than you need it if you want to zoom out, and the frame appropriate dimension if you are going to keep it static or zoom in.

He also says for 4:3 productions, create a a full-size image in Photoshop of 720x540x72 and for moving around (Ken Burns style), make the image 1800x1350x72.

Any thoughts?

DG

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Answer 4

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Mar 15, 2009 4:30 PM in response to djonathang

I don't know Larry's stuff, so lets hope he does.

My personal preference is to have source still images larger than they will be in the end result. That keeps things flexible and retains the best quality. The SD PAL widescreen job I just finished included stills at 3543x2362. No problems there at all.

Start worrying when your client sends you a postage stamp sized .gif and expects it to be animated over video...

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Answer 5

djonathang Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 15, 2009 4:39 PM in response to Nick Holmes

Makes sense. Thanks for the follow-up.

DG

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