Final Cut Pro X and Masks

Turns out you can publish any parameter in motion without a rig...

Here's 4 and 8 point masks each with precision adjustments that work as well as dragging the handles! Same install instructions as before:

http://www.thomasbaron.ca/Masks.zip

Note that you can also set keyframes in the inspector, and the handles will update... but not the actual corners of the mask. I'm almost certain this is a bug, as it's very similar to how the mask doesn't update when you press undo. Maybe we'll have a fix in a few weeks!

Thanks! Is there an option to feather it? If there isnt can you make one?

tjbaron i love the 8 point mask. If you get the time can you 1) add a feather option 2) make it so there is a handle in the middle of the mask that can move the entire mask and 3) add the ability to key frame.

It amazes me how many "pros" are so quick to think FCP X is either crippled or "amateur" because they can't instantly figure things out.

By making a compound clip you can easily move the corners of the mask. You can also feather and round the edges far beyond the sliders limitations by clicking and dragging on the number itself (notice the small arrows above and below), giving a really soft vignette mask which can be tailored to any image.

Maybe actually LEARNING the software before trashing it would be an idea.

Keep it up "pros" the "kid making a movie of your friends' skateboarding wipeouts for later youtube upload" shall inherit the edit suites!

I think the word PRO needs to be redefined to NOT WILLING TO LEARN.

I think this is a bug! I have 13 of the same Mac Pros and One Macbook Pro, and on two of those mac pros I can't adjust the mask, no matter what i do. However, all the others, including the The Macbook Pro I'm able to adjust it. They are all running 10.0.1 I was thinking of reinstalling the Final Cut on those two, but before i do that does anyone know if there are prefferences that can be deleted?

There seems to be a bug adjusting the mask with standard definition material. It works with HD media.

Tom Wolsky wrote:

There seems to be a bug adjusting the mask with standard definition material. It works with HD media.

Interesting. So maybe it can be fixed easily by opening a copy in Motion and adding the appropriate "snapshots" for SD resolutions. You'd need Motion of course. Or, Apple could just fix their own filters!! 😝

This comment is ridiculous.

Having to create a compoung clip is NOT a regular behavior in FCPX. Theis IS a bug, and I can tell you it's still there in 10.0.3. Also, not being able to add more points definitely makes this feature amateur. We should be able to add points on the go and have an option to curve them with a bezier tool like we would curve paths in Photoshop.

Green screens are definitely a PITA to do in FCPX, unless they have perfect and uniform lighting everywhere ...

For bezier curves and drawing masks you need an effects application like Motion or After Effects.

This is one of many instances where the integration between FCP X and Motion 5 shines. There are probably many things that people argue are missing in FCP X (or "severely crippled"...). It would be perhaps tragic if not for the almost limitless expandability afforded by this combination with Motion.

And, most importantly, one does NOT need to buy Motion or endure the significant learning curve to reap the benefits. There is already a large and growing number of effects available, some free, some paid. I have had an 8-point mask effect for FCP X in my mac for months, even though I would not be able to create one in Motion. It was available online, free of charge (much like the one tjbaron was kind enough to make available).

I've installed the 7 pt. Mask but Cannot see the Mask Points. Am I missing something? Do I need Motion 5 to see the points?

I am using the Free Trial FCPX, is this an issue?

Thanks!

boo joo wrote:

I've installed the 7 pt. Mask but Cannot see the Mask Points. Am I missing something? Do I need Motion 5 to see the points?

I am using the Free Trial FCPX, is this an issue?

Thanks!

No, you do not need Motion; and using the free trial should not be an issue, either.

Are you sure you have selected the effect in the Inspector? Notice the lighter grey bar in the picture, indicating that it is selected:

I figured it out, I accidently turned on the transform to show the edges of the image so I could drag it around in the view instead of manually typing in x, y. When you click this, the mask points are not shown.

I also found an 8 pt mask that seems to work fine too.

http://www.rippletraining.com/using-the-8-point-garbage-matte-in-final-cut-pro-x .html

Thanks again!

One of the first effects a lot of us did when Motion 5 first came out were masks using OSCs (on-screen controls). It was new and cool.

That was Motion 5.0.0. When Motion 5.0.2 came out -- a whole lotta those effects BROKE. The bug isn't in FCPX --- ***I promise*** --- the bug was in Motion (and actually kind of still is... but it's very arguable if it is a bug and not just a kind of "gotcha" -- easily taken care of.)

Not everybody experiences the bug in FCPX. Part of the reason why that particular effect is still available.

Anyway, I redid the 7 pt Mask, but changed the name:

http://sight-creations.com/free_stuff/BSpline_Mask_7pt.zip

I also have a 10-point Mask:

http://sight-creations.com/free_stuff/10_Point_Mask.zip

[Both of these masks work in SD... just checked]

Others have masks too (Alex 4D has an 8 point and I'm sure there are many others).

It helps out if you find an effect that doesn't work if you would go back and leave a comment on the video page on youtube. I've fixed several of the early Motion templates that use OSCs. I'll fix them if they're reported broken.