Final Cut Pro 12: Blade tool removes title text

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Level 1

17 points

Final Cut Pro 12: Blade tool removes title text

Since updating to Final Cut Pro 12.0 yesterday, the blade tool is malfunctioning. If I use the blade tool to cut a title in the timeline, intending to add more text to it from the cut point on, text that was in the title previously disappears in the new portion beyond the cut point.

I am creating a video that behaves like a PowerPoint presentation, with bullet points and other text appearing as the narrator says the words. Each line of text is to remain visible as new lines are added. The easiest way to do this is to place a title that spans the entire timeline, create cut points where additional text is to be added to what was already there. It has always worked properly, until I upgraded to version 12 yesterday.

I have noticed that if I press Ctrl+Z to undo the cut, then cut again, it works...nothing is lost. But I have to do the cut, undo it, and redo it practically every time. Double-clicking the title in the timeline with the blade tool (instead of single-clicking) seems to also prevent the removal of text that was present ahead of the cut point.

I've tried a complete shut-down/restart to the computer, but that didn't help. I've made a Screen recording.

iMac Retina 5K 27" 2020 3.6 GHz Intel 10-Core i9 128GB 2667 MHz DDR4 Mac OS Sequoia 15.7.3 Final Cut Pro 12.0

Posted on Feb 18, 2026 6:53 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

fox_m

Level 6

13,348 points

Feb 18, 2026 9:07 PM in response to Springtide

It looks like you're using the Custom title. There are literally many different parameters in the Title that can affect the appearance of the "progress" of the presentation of the text and every time you blade the Title, those "timing" parameters ... restart.

Have you tried using just the Basic Title for this?

(BTW, you can simply select the Custom titles already in your storyline and double click the Basic Title in the Title inspector and it will change all the instances that were selected but won't change their individual texts you have already established.)

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Answer 2

Feb 19, 2026 1:29 AM in response to Springtide

You already got two great answers. I think that Fox's explains why you are seeing what you are seeing; and Michel's solution is a good one.

I will just add an experience, which may or may not apply in your case. I was displaying some text over a black background. I used the blade tool, but instead of adding text at each blade cut, I put it all right from the start. Text that was not to appear was made black, and other text was in color (like white or yellow). I used the "Manifesto Static" title.

The advantage is that the text can be written all in one place, and editing will not cause any changes or misalignments. Also, this is a "paragraph" text title, and it evens has its own little editor. It is a free title available through FxFactory.

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Answer 3

BenB

Level 6

13,294 points

Feb 20, 2026 4:09 AM in response to Michel Boissonneault

I'm trying to duplicate as much as I can, what you're doing, and I'm not having any issues at all. It all works just fine for me. I cut titles in my timelines all the time, anyway, and never found any bug in 12 at all like this.

Delete prefs and renders, report to Apple, that's about all you can do.

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Answer 4

Feb 18, 2026 7:51 PM in response to Springtide

Hi (bonjour),

To get a far better control for text in title in a such project, I would use Keynote or PowerPoint to construct my presentation without animation and export each slide with added text in jpeg format, one slide for every new text line. Then I would import those diapos in Final Cut Pro and add each one in a timeline, synched to my narration.

Michel

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Answer 5

terryb

Level 4

3,448 points

Feb 20, 2026 11:19 AM in response to Springtide

@Springtide - as BenB suggests, report this to Apple via via Final Cut Pro->Provide Final Cut Pro Feedback... or https://www.apple.com/feedback/finalcutpro.html

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Answer 6

Feb 19, 2026 10:32 AM in response to Springtide

Hi(bonjour),

Did you try to drag the new title from browser to the one in timeline? It works for me.

Michel

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Answer 7

Springtide Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 19, 2026 9:58 AM in response to fox_m

These are all good suggestions, and I thank you for them. Yes, I am using the Custom title. The thing is, I was using it before the upgrade to v12 and I never encountered this issue. That's my point...the upgrade changed the behaviour of the blade tool that results in an unwanted outcome. So, these suggestions may be good workarounds, but they do not address the problem. For now, I will undo and redo the blade cuts...that seems to work...but in my mind, that only proves my point that this is a v12 bug. Furthermore, this behaviour is inconsistent. Text will disappear when cutting with the blade tool most of the time, but not all the time.

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Answer 8

Springtide Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 18, 2026 8:40 PM in response to Michel Boissonneault

Thank you for chiming in, Michel. My intent was to report a bug in the new version of FCPX. This is a behavioural change that began immediately after installing the latest update. Clearly, the blade tool is not meant to behave this way, and it did not in the previous version. I am not about to change my workflow process because of it, but thanks

for the suggestion.

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Answer 9

Springtide Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 19, 2026 10:23 AM in response to fox_m

I just tried selecting a title in the timeline and double-clicking Basic Title, as you suggested. It removed all the text formatting (font, size, colour, alignment) and placed it centred in the canvas. The line of text spanned well beyond the left and right margins. So, unless I missed a step, that's not going to work.

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