I'm trying to add the letterbox effect to the photos I've added to timeline in FCP. I know I can add the effect to the video, but was wondering if I could add the effect to just the photo. Otherwise, I'm looking for the easiest way to add a letterbox to the photos since I need it to cover the video in the background.
Thanks in advance!!
You can apply letterbox to a still, but letterbox doesn't cover anything. Letterbox is a crop function that reveals what's underneath it. You can either build the stills with areas of black top and bottom, which is easiest done in a graphics application, or you can add a generator between the video and the photo to cover the video.
Picture doesn't fill screen correctly. Letterbox allows me to cover up the top and bottom of photo so you don't see the video behind the image. Trying to avoid breaking the footage up, detaching audio and hiding that position of video from view. It would add a lot of extra time to putting the final project together.
… or use one of the many free plugins avail, such <cough> as this one
http://www.fcp.co/fcp-forum/film-looks-effects/25886-letterboxed-adds-colorful-b ars-top-bottom
😉
You don't "need" letterboxing to "cover the video in the background". Why not simply change the Spatial Conform of the image from "Fit" to "Fill"?
Exactly what I was looking for. Another effect wasn't importing correctly into FCP. Cheers!!
Add letterbox to photos in FCP X
