Just downloaded FCPX, and I have two tracks in my storyline - a background clip and a foreground PNG image. 'm trying to apply a mask to the foreground PNG image. I double-click on the Mask effect, and I see the Mask handlers, but I'm unable to move them in any way. What's strange is when I try this withe the foreground object being a video clip, I can move the Mask handlers. Am I doing something wrong?
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.7)
I had problems dragging them too -- but even more troublesome is there weren't any numerical values to precisely specify locations for the 4 points. At least none that I could see.
Plus, we've lost the 8 point garbage mask too. The only mask available in FCP is a 4 point mask that doesn't have precise controls.
Requiring us to buy and learn Motion 5 for such simple and standard editing tool is beyond my understanding. I'm not even sure how to easily create a configurable 8 point mask in Motion and use it in FCP.
I had problems dragging them too -- but even more troublesome is there weren't any numerical values to precisely specify locations for the 4 points. At least none that I could see.
Plus, we've lost the 8 point garbage mask too. The only mask available in FCP is a 4 point mask that doesn't have precise controls.
Requiring us to buy and learn Motion 5 for such simple and standard editing tool is beyond my understanding. I'm not even sure how to easily create a configurable 8 point mask in Motion and use it in FCP.
I am having the exact same issue as mocook. I recently downloaded Final Cut Pro X, and now I have a video that I want to use the mask effect on, and the handle at the four corners are impossible to move. They will change when I hover over them, but will not move. I have never used FCP beofre, but decided to try something new with FCPX, and I was loving it, until I ran into this horrible problem. Am I just making a rookie mistake?
Doesn't anyone care that masks are severely crippled in FCPX?
Once upon a time you could try an 8-point in FCP and if that didn't work for you, send the clip to Motion, build a mask of infinite Bezier handles or B-splines and send it back. No more!
hafken wrote:
Doesn't anyone care that masks are severely crippled in FCPX?
Most pros like myself will.
But if you are a kid making a movie of your friends' skateboarding wipeouts for later youtube upload (seemingly Apple's new target audience for this "pro" app), no.
Apple has made it clear they're not interested in such things.
I'm having the same issue. I'm guessing it's a bug... does anyone know how to work around it?
As for there not being an 8-point mask etc... I imagine Apple will extend the new mask tool to have a user selectable number of points... I personally found it frustrating that I couldn't have a 5 or 6 point mask...
I suspect this is kinda the same problem FCP always had with alpha channels and masks. In previous versions if you did a key then applied a mask you lost your key. But if you applied your mask then put a key in it worked.
In X the same thing happens if you apply a key then a mask you cannot move the mask handles, but if you reverse it the mask handles will move.
As far as the 8 point mask well there is a bit of work on that. If you open your mask in Motion you can adjust and save as many points as you wish. Its not easy, thats for sure, especially if you are not real familiar with motion. But basically those little things you move are tracked to mask points. in motion you create a new bezier mask duplicate all those layers and and trackers targeted to the bezier points. Like I said not being real familiar with Motion makes it difficult but looks like it can be done.
Alright, turns out I couldn't move the points just for the one video clip... who knows why...
Anyway, as far as the 8 point mask goes, I rigged one up using the new motion integration. Which by the way I really like! Suddenly it gives the flexibility to make a 5, 6 point mask as well... and so much more...
Anyway, if you download and unzip the following and place the "Motion Templates" folder in your "Movies" folder and relaunch Final Cut you should have the 8 point mask I made:
Also worth mentioning... A couple people mentioned there's no precise way to define values for the masks in final cut. Using motion it is possible to map the point to sliders where you can type in precise values. I'm yet to find a way to allow both the sliders and handles to move the mask... it seems like it's either one or the other... (unless you don't mind the slider values to be relative to your imprecisely placed marker....)
At this point I'm thinking that if something really precise is needed it should probably be done in Motion though... that would give way more flexibility... like tracking actual points in the video etc.
The more I dig the more I like the flexibility and power of Final Cut Pro X. It's missing a few things, but what it adds should easily make me able to work faster in it than I did in FCP7.
hafken wrote:
Doesn't anyone care that masks are severely crippled in FCPX?
FCPX is not a compositing software. It is an NLE.
Motion is Apple's compositing software.
One who isn't using a compositing software might argue that such feature should be inside an NLE.
One who IS using a compositing would argue, ff they bring in advanced masking then they need to bring in advanced tracking too.
Along with MANY other compositing features as well.
FCP7 when it comes to compositing is like a baby, all NLEs are. Use a compositing software for stuff like that.
Would be nice if a software flew by that was an NLE & Compositor in one. But this is NOT the case with FCP.
If you want to have more power over masks, then perhaps a 3rd pty. plug-in, i.e. Boris would come in handy.
I am not sure what they offer and when availability for FCPx is there as I use After Effects for such.
IHTH
Studio Engineer wrote:
FCPX is not a compositing software. It is an NLE.
Motion is Apple's compositing software.
One who isn't using a compositing software might argue that such feature should be inside an NLE.
I'm sorry, but show me any NLE meant for pros or even prosumers that doesn't have at least basic compositing/masking capabilities where you can specify 4 points in space with numerical precision, not to mention a standard 8 point garbage matte.
Plus, your argument about using Motion doesn't work at the moment because there is no round tripping from FCPX to Motion 5 back to FCPX. They took the "Send to Motion" functionality out.
tjbaron wrote:
Anyway, if you download and unzip the following and place the "Motion Templates" folder in your "Movies" folder and relaunch Final Cut you should have the 8 point mask I made:
tjbaron, thanks for putting this together! I will give it a try and let you know how it works out!
I was having the same issue when applying masks to an image on a secondary storyline -- I couldn't adjust the handles to shape the mask.
By playing around a bit, I found that changing the clip to be masked into a compound clip, the operation would allow the mask handles to be moved and reshaped.
tjbaron,
NICE. I have been trying to figure that out, but wasnt to familiar with the way it was put together. I also have been looking to see if there is a way you can publish the points positions so they can be keyframed. Have you looked into that. Awesome work on the mask!
steve z,
I think you would need to tie the positions to sliders, which you can keyframe. I've tried this however and run into a couple issues...
1) From what I can figure out, you can't map it so the points can be moved from the handles and sliders... you have to pick one.
2) When I map the points to sliders and move the sliders the points move... but when I set keyframes the sliders move, but the actual points do not.... Does anyone elses mask not properly readjust when you press undo? I think this might be related to that bug. Or I'm just doing something wrong...
Final Cut Pro X and Masks
