Free stock footage: how to import in fcpx OR motion?

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Level 1

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Free stock footage: how to import in fcpx OR motion?

The site videocopilot offers some stockvideo or effects like smoke, particle footage and so on. The stuff and tutorials are for AE...

BUT is it also usable in Motion 5 of FCPX and if so... How can I import it so that it plays in my finder window in fcpx and I can use it?
ex of free stuff: http://www.videocopilot.net/blog/2011/12/new-tutorial-and-free-stock-footage/

PS. Any good other sites with free effects stuff would be very welcome.

I don't use those things often, but as I am working on a firefightervideo, it comes in handy! 🙂

Thanx!

Final Cut Pro X, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Jan 5, 2012 3:32 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 5, 2012 4:11 AM in response to Peter_De_Bie

The free stuff you linked to above are little quicktime movies of, e.g., smoke, with a BLACK background.

They don't have an alpha channel, so can't for instance if you want to use them simulate a puff of smoke in FCP X, you have to use a keying effect. I have tried, and it works, but it is limited. Connect the smoke clip on top of the clip to which you want to add the smoke. Add the luma key effect to the smoke clip to eliminate the black background and let your footage be seen below the smoke.

Not bad for free, but the most general solution for this is in the form of Motion generators - then you can control all the parameters in FCP X.

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Answer 2

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,819 points

Jan 5, 2012 4:18 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Rather than keying it, try using the Screen blend mode.

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Answer 3

Jan 5, 2012 4:32 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Tom, thanks for suggesting the screen blend mode. Much cleaner and the end result is better than keying.

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Answer 4

Peter_De_Bie Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 5, 2012 10:34 AM in response to Peter_De_Bie

Thank you guys!

I'll give it a try. The tutorials for AE are amazing. The effects for intro's and fx spectacular. Somebody suggested to disect the tutorials and copy them to motion.

Little gems like http://vimeo.com/3306247 look so great, I would like to replicate. Just for excercise and fun! But in Motion, cause AE is a bit expensive to buy just for fun.

But is it possible? Has somebody experience with that and how did you learn?

Greetings

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