Peggy Lynn

Q: Can't select background in FCPX for Motion title

I created a title in Motion 5 and published all the parameters for properties and shape for a 50% opacity rounded rectangle background. I can select the text in FCPX but I can not select the rounded rectangle background. I did a generator of the same thing and could not select the background using that in FCPX either. How do I go about making both the text and background selectable in FCPX?

Motion title to FCPX white text on 50black.png

I'm slow to grasp video concepts, am brand new to using FCPX and have only used Motion for a couple of months for limited purposes so it is very likely I am missing something quite obvious.

Mac mini, 2.7 GHz i7, SSD, 750GB HD

Posted on Jul 7, 2016 4:31 PM

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Q: Can't select background in FCPX for Motion title

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  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Jul 7, 2016 11:32 PM in response to Peggy Lynn
    Level 7 (32,656 points)
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    Jul 7, 2016 11:32 PM in response to Peggy Lynn

    you want to 'select' the rectangle? To apply adjustments, such as color, roundness?

     

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-07-08 um 08.18.54.png

     

     

    Or, do you want to move your custom title?

     

    If so, I would...:

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-07-08 um 08.19.26.png

     

    .. put text and rectangle into a group and would publish the groups X/Y postions..

    So, when you change coordinates in FCPX, both, the bubble and the text move.

     

    What I FINALLY would do: Apply a nice OnScreenControl and no x/y numbers:

     

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-07-08 um 08.30.08.png

    .. to drag the title with the mouse ..

  • by Peggy Lynn,

    Peggy Lynn Peggy Lynn Jul 8, 2016 7:37 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 4 (2,478 points)
    Video
    Jul 8, 2016 7:37 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Kirsten, thank you very much for your help. However, neither approach worked for me to make the rounded rectangle background selectable with the mouse. I can adjust the parameters I published in the FCPX inspector and can select/move the text but I can not select the rounded rectangle background with the mouse to move it or adjust the length to the length of the text.

     

    I'm probably missing something obvious but, despite watching many title tutorial videos and your help, I can't figure out what it might be.

  • by Karsten Schlüter,Helpful

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Jul 9, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Peggy Lynn
    Level 7 (32,656 points)
    Video
    Jul 9, 2016 3:21 PM in response to Peggy Lynn

    Peggy Lynn wrote:

    ... but I can not select the rounded rectangle background with the mouse to move it ....

     

    like that?

    sr ui.mov.gif

     

    no, that's not possible!

     

    uhm, well obviously it is - but asks from some trickery:

     

    grafical elements such as rectangles have no OnScreenControl in FCPX. You can publish its position parameters (x/y... numbers), but no 'grab'n move'.

     

    One option is, I mentioned before, creating an OSC group - which gives those funny dots you can grab and move around.

     

    In your case, I would take a diff approach:

    Titles ARE on-screen-controllable. So, add  link behaviours to the X/Y-positions of the rectangle, andl ink it to the title position - that way, when  you grab'n move the title in FCPX, the rect will follow.

     

     

    Peggy Lynn wrote:

    ... can not select the rounded rectangle…  with the mouse to ... adjust the length to the length of the text....

    that, again, asks for some trickery again:

    you can create an OSC which defines the size manually.

    Or..

    you can create a 'box' which automatically fits to length of text ..

     

    ... what do you prefer:

    a lengthy advice how to built it your own? Or, I build you, quick'n dirty, a plugin, you can use/modify?

     

  • by Karsten Schlüter,Solvedanswer

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Jul 9, 2016 1:46 AM in response to Peggy Lynn
    Level 7 (32,656 points)
    Video
    Jul 9, 2016 1:46 AM in response to Peggy Lynn

    ... making plug-ins is more fun than cleaning my kitchen this morning ... 

     

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-07-09 um 10.35.46.jpg

     

    this is your plugin in action:

    the tiny circle/OSC allows to stretch the box, in the Inspector the usual suspects of controls (color, outline, opacity, etc) and when you click the text and move the mouse, the box will follow.

     

    DL from my googledrive >>click<<

     

    un-zip and drag folder into ~Movies/Motion Templates/Titles ...

    free to use, free to modify for your needs ...

     

    Enjoy Movie Making!

  • by Peggy Lynn,

    Peggy Lynn Peggy Lynn Jul 9, 2016 3:22 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter
    Level 4 (2,478 points)
    Video
    Jul 9, 2016 3:22 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Angels should have self-cleaning kitchens. I can't begin to thank you enough for the plug-in you were so kind to do for me.

     

    I could understand the tutorials I found for the link behavior but the ones for OnScreenControl very quickly left me lost in the woods. I can't even imagine how many hours it would have taken me to figure how to accomplish what I needed to do on my own. I've saved a copy of your original plug-in to look at when trying to understand the OnScreenControl tutorials.

     

    I was able to easily change the text to what I normally use and resize the rectangle to fit the height of the text. I also was able to add a quick fade in and out and, surprisingly, nothing I dod broke your wonderful plug-in.

     

    Again, thank you for all your help. I greatly appreciate it.

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Jul 10, 2016 1:16 AM in response to Peggy Lynn
    Level 7 (32,656 points)
    Video
    Jul 10, 2016 1:16 AM in response to Peggy Lynn

    Peggy Lynn wrote:

    Angels should have self-cleaning kitchens. I can't begin to thank you enough for the plug-in you were so kind to do for me.

    hum, my other hobby is cooking, so rule#11:  Who Makes The Mess, Cleans The Mess..

    And, thanks for the flowers..

    No angles, just being thankful myself - I learned FCPX and M5 mainly thru the worldwide community - for free. So, sharing my knowhow to others is just my way to say Thank you for teaching me.

     

    If you like my stuff, most can be found here

    https://fcpxfree.com/collections/karsten-schlutler

     

    or at my 'homebase' www.fcp.co

     

    Peggy Lynn wrote:

    ... but the ones for OnScreenControl very quickly left me lost in the woods. …

     

    Yep, creating OSCs has a few hurdles to go. MotionMasterMind fox_mahoney once did one, diggin' down to the ground of Motions own mathematics and geometry ... I'm lost too. I prefer recipes (not only for cooking), "do this, do that, done"...

     

    Considered to make my own tut on that ... fox' is a more text-based explainer, and many YT-avail videos often miss the secret points and hurdles ...

     

    Peggy Lynn wrote:

    ...

    I was able to easily change the text to what I normally use and resize the rectangle to fit the height of the text. I also was able to add a quick fade in and out and, surprisingly, nothing I dod broke your wonderful plug-in...

     

    ... that's why (most of my) plugins are internally English: You can 'open' them and study, copy, adopt, change settings to you rneeds.

     

    For sure, such a simple title-plugin could offer hundreds of options, vertical sizing, position of text in bubble, diff. bubble design presets, animations, 3D....

     

    I prefer the simple solutions, no crowded Inspector with hundreds of sliders....

     

    Glad to be helpful, feel free to ask for more suggestions, have fun movie making!