Hello, I'm trying to change my background from black to white on a clip in Final Cut Pro 10.0.2. I would like to know how to add a slug... or just change the background color. Any thoughts?
Final Cut Pro X
Select the Custom generator from the Generator Browser and drag it into the timeline.
By default it is black so in the Inspector under the Generator heading change it to any colour you want.
I think there are two questions here.
First, how do you add a slug? You use Insert Gap (Opt-W) to create space in the magnetic timeline. If you use the position tool (P) to place something at a specific spot in the timeline, FCP X adds the required gap automatically.
You cannot change the background color of the gap. If you need a white background, open the Media Browser (Command-5) and go to the Generators tab. Use the solid white generator.
Thanks, but once I've created the white custom generator, how do I add it to my clip to change the background? If I use the position tool, it will just cover the clip. I really appreciate any advice!
There are several ways. First, be sure you are using the select tool (A).
One option is to click and drag the generator to the edit point on your timeline. Hold until the outline of the generator appears on the timeline and inserts itself between the surrounding clips. Release.
You can also click between clips to select the edit point, then double-click the generator you want to use. THEN you set the generator settings, using the Info window.
Now that I re-read your post, are you trying to make the white generator the background for another clip? Do you already have another greenscreen clip where you've keyed out the background?
If that's the case, then you'll need to take your keyed clip and drag it out of the primary storyline and above the generator so that it becomes attached as a connected clip.
It originally had a transparant background, but it changed to black when I added it to Final Cut. I don't know how to make it a greenscreen clip. I learned a lot about Final Cut Pro 10.0, but when i upgraded to 10.0.2, everything is different.
There's been very little change between FCP X 10.0.0 and 10.0.2.
You'll need to be more clear about the video file formats you're using, where they're coming from, and what you're doing to them. Not all video formats support transparency, so you've likely created a file somewhere and exported for use in FCP X in a format that cannot be transparent.
Where did the original file with the transparent background come from? What format was it in?
It seems like there's been a lot of change. Including the fact that .2 doesn't import Motion clips. So, originally the clip was sent to me with the title Intro-Apple Pro Res 422.mov and opened in Quicktime. The file came from a colleague.
ProRes 422 doesn't support alpha channels. There is no transparent background in that clip. You'll need to ask your colleague to output it in ProRes 444, I think.
Roundtrip to Motion or directly importing a Motion project has never been supported in FCP X. It's lame but that's not a .2 change.
The "official" way to get your motion project to FCP X right now would be to create it as an FCP X generator in Motion and publish it. I'm not sure how you share those published Motion templates as I haven't really gotten into Motion 5 much. This should preserve the transparency.
I hope they add better Motion integration with the old "Send to Motion" feature soon.
Tom, just a note of thanks for your help on this question! The biggest problem I had was holding the mouse button down on the generator thumbnail long enough to get it to drop into the Storyline (of all things).
Glad it helped, Dan.
How do I add a white background or slug to a movie clip?
