Outlining the Letters of your text in FCP

Question

Outlining the Letters of your text in FCP

Hey guys another quick question,
Do hope your not getting sick of me. but i have a quick question that i believe will be easily answered, i'm just having trouble figuring it out for myself. I'm trying to put some text on a video, I want to keep the text white but the background is also very light so the letters get washed out. how do i outline the letters in black to make them pop?
Thanks in advance
Bruce

Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Jul 9, 2009 12:27 PM

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Answer 1

D Gilmore

Level 4

3,525 points

Jul 9, 2009 12:39 PM in response to Brucey Bizzit

if that's what you want then you'd be better off using Boris Title 3d. It's located pressing the generator button (the little A in the lower 3rd of the Viewer).

Once Boris Title 3D is launched you can create outlines using the outlines "T" that's seen after you click on the Viewer's Control Tab and clicking in the Title 3D box.

You can also modify Drop Shadows (which is what I think you really want) by clicking the bottom "T" and making adjustments

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Answer 2

Jul 9, 2009 12:42 PM in response to D Gilmore

No i do want drop shadows as well but i just want a general black outline around each of the letters... i just tried creating one using boris 3d.. set the outline edge from 2.20 to 4 something and hit apply but it keeps reseting it self? any explanation or help? im lost

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Answer 3

D Gilmore

Level 4

3,525 points

Jul 9, 2009 12:50 PM in response to Brucey Bizzit

You need to highlight your word when you make the changes, and click the box next to the parameter you're going to change

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Answer 4

Jul 9, 2009 12:51 PM in response to D Gilmore

ahh that might be it let me try that real quick

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Answer 5

Jul 9, 2009 1:21 PM in response to Brucey Bizzit

ok i figured out how to change the parameters in bores... but it seems very chopy..or pixelated for lack of better word, jaggy.

that and does anyone know how to add a color bar as a background... i found one but i cant figure out how to change its size and length?

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Answer 6

Jul 9, 2009 2:00 PM in response to Brucey Bizzit

hi, best bet to select colour solid ( colour of your choice) drop it on top of your picture in timeline and select it, then in the timeline (edit) window you can resize and place wherever you desire. finally place your text on top and it will layer nicely, remember you can adjust opacity of the colour clip to 50 etc to match the feel of your film, you can also feather the edges etc for a easy on the eye finish. hope this helps. regards.

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Answer 7

RedTruck

Level 4

2,145 points

Jul 9, 2009 2:07 PM in response to Mac Crow Pro

why not just use outline text in FCP text generator?

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Answer 8

Jul 9, 2009 3:23 PM in response to RedTruck

where is it? i cant seem to find that?

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Answer 9

RedTruck

Level 4

2,145 points

Jul 10, 2009 7:21 AM in response to Brucey Bizzit

Are you serious? You said in your original post that you had added text and it got washed out... Where did you get the text from? If you look in the same place, you'll find it. Not trying to be offensive here, but it helps to look a little. It's not hidden...

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