Build In Optional and Camera Framing

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Level 6

12,015 points

Build In Optional and Camera Framing

I seem to have run into a problem I cannot solve.

I have a Title template that uses a Camera with 3 Framing behaviors. I have two rectangles and the Title Background. The 2 rectangles can be drawn anywhere on the screen and any size - it doesn't matter — it's just something to set the framing target to.

The first Framing behaviors starts at about 1/3 into the project and has an out point 1.5 seconds later. Its target is the first rectangle.

The second Framing behavior starts at about halfway into the project and has its out point about 1.5 seconds later. Its target is the second rectangle.

The last Framing behavior starts about 1 second before the end of the project and lasts about 1 second. Its target is the Title Background.

I have a Build In Optional marker for the project, originally at the last frame, but have moved it in a few frames and still after the end (which has made no difference...)

When I run this title in Final Cut with the Build In active, it works perfectly. If I turn off the Build In Optional, the camera framing moves do not work... at all.

I'm running Mac OS 10.14.16 (Mojave), FCP 10.4.10 and Motion 5.4.7. [My template is 1920x1080, 60fps — but it shouldn't make a difference!]

Is it just me? Or does this break in other setups? Or is there something about markers and Camera behaviors that I've forgotten about?

TIA!

Posted on May 6, 2023 9:53 PM

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Answer 1

May 7, 2023 2:53 AM in response to fox_m

If I understand correctly, I can reproduce this but I think it is the correct behavior...

That's pretty much what turning off the build-in optional does - by turning it off, any animation before the marker is not applied.

Here is a simple way to test this:

Move the marker to somewhere between the first and second framing behavior, and you will see that the second behavior is still applied when you turn the build-in off.

Of course, there is always the possibility that I am misunderstanding the problem.

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Answer 2

fox_m Author

Level 6

12,015 points

May 7, 2023 9:54 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I'm supposed to be able to set a Build In Optional at the end of a template to maintain the animation timings from the beginning of the template to the marker. Anything after the marker will be "time stretched". Turning off the Build In Optional is supposed to still "play" all the animations, but time stretch the template as if there were no marker.

I built a template that has camera behavior animations and I placed the Build In after the animations to preserve their timing and provide the option of time stretching. Everything works as expected with Build In turned on, BUT once it's turned off (in FCP) there are **NO animations!!!** — according to the documentation, those animations should continue to be part of the template. [I cannot find any exceptions to camera behaviors — like you see with "rasterizations" for 3D objects.]

If I remove the Build In Optional from the template, all the camera animations work (in FCP)...

I also tried the Zoom In/Out behavior, and that also exhibits the same issue with Build In Optional [I expect the other camera behaviors will too]. The effect will work with Build In Optional turned on, and it will be ignored with the Build In turned off *in FCP*. Or, in other words: turning off the Build In Optional turns off the camera behaviors. [the exception is that "state" of the first frame of the template if a camera behavior is applied — and this is somewhat conditional, I expect.]

I'm trying to figure out if this is just an FCP 10.4.10 "issue", or is it still the same in newer updates. If it is the same, I'll still be able to put it to use, just for a different purpose. [Specifically, using the framing behavior on the first frame to display selectable non-animating targets.]

I really need the feedback on this one!!

If anyone wants the starter Title template I outlined above (so you don't have to make it yourself) you can download it here:

https://fcpxtemplates.com/?sdm_process_download=1&download_id=26343

It's a Motion 5.4.7 project so you shouldn't need to backdate it. I'm only really interested in how it works in newer versions of FCP and Motion.

TIA

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Answer 3

★ Helpful

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

62,270 points

May 7, 2023 12:28 PM in response to fox_m

I had made my own little version, and now I have tested yours, using FCP 10.6.5 in Ventura, and I see the same thing as you do, in both cases.

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Answer 4

fox_m Author

Level 6

12,015 points

May 7, 2023 1:15 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thank you! Wish there had been something about it in the documentation, but I can still use it for other purposes. It's easy enough to rename ;)

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Build In Optional and Camera Framing

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