Compound clips with adjustment layers and timeline display

Question

Level 2

165 points

Compound clips with adjustment layers and timeline display

Am I going crazy or is this the normal behaviour? If I make a compound clip with an adjustment layer, in the timeline all I see is the thumbnail of the adjustment layer. In the screenshots it's a new project with one clip and a blank adjustment layer above. I create a compound clip and the result is as shown. The clip plays normally in the viewer.

The AL I've used is from Ripple, but the same effect happens with others. I'm on 10.8.1 and Sonoma 14.7.2. And I've deleted preferences.

MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Posted on Dec 18, 2024 4:43 AM

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Answer 1

fox_m

Level 6

12,661 points

Dec 19, 2024 6:24 PM in response to FilRmonic

This appears to be "normal behavior" for adjustment layers that have custom "thumbnails". I was able to reproduce it with one of my own.

If you create a 640x360 "blank" PNG and name it "large.png" and a 192x108 "blank" PNG and name it "small.png" and drag them into the Adjustment Layer title folder, *replacing* the default thumbnails, you can get rid of that icon that appears for the compound clip. I believe if you double click the compound clip to open its timeline, the thumbnails will be cleared when you return to the main storyline.

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Answer 2

BenB

Level 6

12,697 points

Dec 18, 2024 6:51 AM in response to FilRmonic

So you're putting an adjustment layer, and a clip, inside of a compound.

I've no clue what that icon is you're seeing.

But I use a plain adjustment layer I made myself, put it in a compound with another clip, I see the final result as the filmstrip representation.

That just looks weird, cause an adjustment layer has no icon or image. That's not normal on any version of FCP.

Delete preferences and all render files.

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Answer 3

FilRmonic Author

Level 2

165 points

Dec 18, 2024 7:05 AM in response to BenB

The icon is Ripple Tools thumbnail. If I use another one then the icon for that supplier appears. I’ve deleted preferences and this is a brand new test library/project just to simplify things, so there are no render files. It happens in another library I’m currently working on. I’ll try generating a simple one in Motion later.

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Answer 4

FilRmonic Author

Level 2

165 points

Dec 19, 2024 1:42 AM in response to FilRmonic

This is getting weird now! I created a simple AL in Motion (Opened "Title", deleted text line, saved) and it appears in FCP. However it doesn't do anything to any clips below, I mean nothing! Anything I apply to the layer (colour, effects,...) has zero effect - just as if it isn't there. The ones from other places do work but act as my first post. Might try updating to 11 and trying it on my test library.

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Answer 5

FilRmonic Author

Level 2

165 points

Dec 19, 2024 3:29 AM in response to FilRmonic

I've just gone to my old iMac (2017, Ventura 13.6.9, FCP 10.7.1) and tried it on that with the same result. So maybe this is the normal behaviour and I've just never used that combination before (in all the years!)? Can anyone confirm?

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Answer 6

Dec 20, 2024 12:13 AM in response to fox_m

*replacing* the default thumbnails, you can get rid of that icon that appears for the compound clip.

I was confused by the warning icon that I had never seen before. I had no idea that replacing the thumbnail would solve the problem!

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Answer 7

Dec 20, 2024 4:03 PM in response to FilRmonic

I get the same result if I use Ripple Training's adjustment layer, put it on top of a clip and them make a compound clip. Final Cut Pro is pretty wonky with its thumbnails. If I have a keyed clip, then I have another masked image on top of that without the key (to make the green part of someone's shirt remain green, for example) and then compound clip them together, I get a weird double image that doesn't make any sense. FCP is just weird about thumbnails and I've just lived with it.

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Answer 8

Dec 18, 2024 6:03 AM in response to FilRmonic

What effect did you apply to the adjustment layer?

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Answer 9

FilRmonic Author

Level 2

165 points

Dec 18, 2024 6:59 AM in response to LocaAlicia

No effect, just a blank layer.

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Answer 10

Dec 19, 2024 2:40 AM in response to FilRmonic

Make sure that the “Title Background” layer is present and enabled in Motion. If it is disabled, enable it and save. The replace the AL in the timeline with one from the browser and try again.

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Answer 11

FilRmonic Author

Level 2

165 points

Dec 19, 2024 2:56 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Aha! The Title Background was there but not enabled! Thanks, that bit works. However the original problem is still there, I just see the default AL thumbnail in the timeline when compounded.

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Answer 12

BenB

Level 6

12,697 points

Dec 19, 2024 9:37 AM in response to FilRmonic

Not the behavior I get. No clue what the differences are.

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