keithgvp

Q: Saving composited clip -  How?!

Just getting started with FCP-X and have run into a problem trying to simply save an effect I created (composite?) that uses several masks to eliminate text. 

 

OK, so I need to save this in order to duplicate it and have it repeat and maybe use elsewhere.  How to save it?  I tried Control/R but am unable to duplicate that short clip.  It's a windmill, and I want to have it turning for awhile, so I need to have several clips with the mask, and I also want to use it later on as that clip.  I can't get it.  Darn!!  (and help!!)

 

I could do this easily with former NLE - just clicked render and the file was there. 

Posted on Jul 31, 2016 8:59 PM

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Q: Saving composited clip -  How?!

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  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Jul 31, 2016 9:05 PM in response to keithgvp
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    Jul 31, 2016 9:05 PM in response to keithgvp

    Used to be able to edit the posts - where is that option?

     

    Anyway, since somebody's going to ask for a screenshot for the Saving composited clip post I just posted, here it is.  The clip is highlighted in yellow and the masks are above, but how can I save the effect as a rendered composite clip?  The Help menu is no help

    Screen Shot 2016-07-31 at 11.48.54 PM.png

  • by Karsten Schlüter,Solvedanswer

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Jul 31, 2016 10:19 PM in response to keithgvp
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    Jul 31, 2016 10:19 PM in response to keithgvp

    keithgvp wrote:

    .. trying to simply save an effect I created (composite?) that uses several masks to eliminate text. 

     

    OK, so I need to save this in order to duplicate it and have it repeat and maybe use elsewhere.  How to save it?  ...

    select everything and make it a compound (opt-G)

    It's then listed as a new clip in your Event under the name you gave it.

    You can use that compound-clip as any other clip...

  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Jul 31, 2016 10:26 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter
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    Jul 31, 2016 10:26 PM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Well, thanks!  That wasn't easily found in the Help menu, was it?  I'll try opt-G next time, but the workaround I stumbled on was to select the clip and go to Share (command E) but that was a multistep process and I had to import it...all the same, it did work.  The masking is complicated compared with my other NLE, but I guess I can warm up to it.  FCP-X is darned complicated...sort of the way people used to compare the simplicity of TextEdit with MS Word. Speaking of Mac programs, if you know Pages, they have (like Photoshop) shapes you can create and color and then drag and drop over whatever you want to cover.  I guess they're not masks, really.  In Final Cut, you go to Generators and choose shape, but so far I found it wasn't so simple to adjust it...lots of controls, etc.

  • by Karsten Schlüter,Helpful

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Aug 1, 2016 8:11 AM in response to keithgvp
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    Aug 1, 2016 8:11 AM in response to keithgvp

    keithgvp wrote:

    ...That wasn't easily found in the Help menu, was it?..

    trouble is you have to know how it's called, what you're searching for. LOL

    I very much recommend to learn FCPX from the ground, forget all habitual workflows you used in the past!

     

    keithgvp wrote:

    ...The masking is complicated compared with my other NLE, ...

     

    no...?? It even supports handdrawn masks, ...

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-08-01 um 07.42.20.png

     

    combing masks

    http://help.apple.com/finalcutpro/mac/10.2/?lang=en#/ver2531c0ab1

    adding, substracting ...

     

    keithgvp wrote:

    .... FCP-X is darned complicated......  In Final Cut, you go to Generators and choose shape, ..

    no?

    you goto Effects/Masks and have all kind of options ... easy as that.

     

    ... 'from the ground' ...

  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Aug 1, 2016 8:15 AM in response to keithgvp
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    Aug 1, 2016 8:15 AM in response to keithgvp

    Thanks Karsten, you're right, of course.  And it took me years (and lots of hair-pulling) to master my former program.  Trouble is, many, like myself think, oh, I need to get something done right away, and let's do it in this new FCP-X everyone's crazy about.  And then...!!

     

    But like iMovie, which I've learned to like, there's definitely a work flow and intuitiveness I'm very pleased with.  It's only when you try something like mattes and masks that you run up against new techniques to learn.   I thought it's a little like, if you can fly a Cessna, and then they put you in the cockpit of a 747!

  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Aug 1, 2016 10:03 AM in response to keithgvp
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    Aug 1, 2016 10:03 AM in response to keithgvp

    Sorry, not solved!  Opt-G does not save the effects - all I get is the clip without the effects.  I've tried this 4 times - same thing. 

     

    Am I not making myself clear?  All I need to do is to save the clip with the effects in it.  Gosh!! why can't FCP do this. or why isn't it explained clearly.  Opt-G?  Please help, and if not, someone else, thanks. 

     

    Otherwise I have to do command E and then re-import the file, and it's a bunch of extra steps.

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Aug 1, 2016 10:43 AM in response to keithgvp
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    Aug 1, 2016 10:43 AM in response to keithgvp

    keithgvp wrote:

     

    Sorry, not solved!  Opt-G does not save the effects - ... 

    ok, step-by-step:

     

    instead using a pic-processor, we 'shop' a pic in FCPX, here's how …….

     

    Step #1:

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-08-01 um 19.19.48.png

    (click to enlarge)

     

    pic/clip is in timeline

    Effects/Masks apply a Shape Mask

    under the clip, add a Solid, white generator

     

    Step #2:

     

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-08-01 um 19.20.01.png

    (click to enlarge)

     

    use the masks handles to adjust the mask for the cover-up

    in Inspector check 'Invert mask'  - tadahh, copyright infringement done!!

     

    Step #3:

     

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-08-01 um 19.23.20.png

    (click to enlarge)

     

    select clip and generator, hit opt-G, give compound nice name .....

     

    Step #4:

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-08-01 um 19.20.56.png

    (click to enlarge)

     

    In your Event Browser, you'll find your Compound ... use it as any other clip...

     

    Optional:

    Bildschirmfoto 2016-08-01 um 19.25.18.png

    (click to enlarge)

     

    in case, you need to adjust something, just double-click the CC - it opens in its own timeline ...

    Hint: any changes here will happen in all instances of this clip in any project with it!

     

    Discloser:

    Compounds Are Root of All Evil!

     

    (sorry, Keith, silly internal joke )

  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Aug 1, 2016 11:02 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
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    Aug 1, 2016 11:02 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Thanks again, you're a great teacher.  All the same, in step 4 when I do the Opt-G,  I still get the text (in your example, the copyright) but of course I want the text masked out.  In other words, the mask doesn't appear in the 'render'.  So I'm still:  

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Aug 1, 2016 11:07 AM in response to keithgvp
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    Aug 1, 2016 11:07 AM in response to keithgvp

    keithgvp wrote:

     

    Thanks again, you're a great teacher.  ...

    obviously not so - otherwise it would work.

    YOUR screenshots show a pile of generators, you plaster over your original....

     

    try my method of masks - don't miss to invert it.

    And, you can apply several masks .... or paint one.

     

    ... as you can see in MY screenshot, it works. Like charme. Here.

  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Aug 1, 2016 11:14 AM in response to keithgvp
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    Aug 1, 2016 11:14 AM in response to keithgvp

    Now I can't even find out how to change the text color.  Where in the Help is it even mentioned?  Am I supposed to stay with white text?  Even iMovie easily let me change the color.  OK, so I'm in the text editor, and where's the text color setting (please?)  Screen Shot 2016-08-01 at 2.13.37 PM.png

  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Aug 1, 2016 11:18 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter
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    Aug 1, 2016 11:18 AM in response to Karsten Schlüter

    Great, so I was going about the masks the wrong way.  I will try your method.  Again, today, trying to do a quick project, and as an analogy, I find myself at the controls of a much larger plane than I'm used to!

  • by keithgvp,

    keithgvp keithgvp Aug 1, 2016 11:31 AM in response to keithgvp
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    Aug 1, 2016 11:31 AM in response to keithgvp

    Color, yes, now I'm in heaven, and Tom shows how:  (who knew about Face?)

    Screen Shot 2016-08-01 at 2.30.13 PM.png

  • by Karsten Schlüter,

    Karsten Schlüter Karsten Schlüter Aug 1, 2016 11:35 AM in response to keithgvp
    Level 7 (32,668 points)
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    Aug 1, 2016 11:35 AM in response to keithgvp

    keithgvp wrote:

    …  Even iMovie easily let me change the color. …

    contrary to common opinion, FCPX is not iMovie.on-steroids ...

     

    And Tom allready showed you how easy to change font colors .....