I'm trying to mask text so that it appears to come out from "behind" an object in the video. The problem is that I need to adjust some of the control points of the mask, but I can't select any control points that are in the same area as the text box. When I try to click on these points, the text box is selected instead. What do I need to do to solve this?
In addition to Tom’s suggestion to put the mask on the image, there is perhaps another alternative (I haven’t tried it): make the title into a compound and apply the mask to the compound. Does that work?
There’s no screenshot. In the reply box click the camera button to add and image. Need to see the viewer and what’s selected in the timeline.
Ok, the guy who did the tutorial told me the solution! You have to switch between the "select" tool and the "position" tool. Select lets you move the mask; position lets you move the control points.
Here is one of the tutorials I've watched. Notice that he only has two layers on the time line -- the video layer, and the title layer. Somehow, he doesn't have any trouble selecting and moving the control points that fall within the title area.
It’s just being done very carefully, selecting each point as needed and moving them frame by frane. Had to be done this way, in the title, as the image doesn’t cover the leading edge of the title. In your case the ridge line covers the entire text from side to side.
rrd3 wrote:
… Somehow, he doesn't have any trouble selecting and moving the control points that fall within the title area.…
yep, can confirm:
in FCPX v.10.4 it is NOT possible to select ctrl-points within the Title-box:
… though the tut you linked to shows an older version of FCPX (10.3?), it could be an unwanted change in behavior.
btw: tried it with other Titles … nope: the moment the mouse reaches the Title-area no selecting of ctrl-points possible. Tried various key-combos - no.
… feedback-time? 😟
Fortunately you can still do the effect you want by putting the draw mask on the image.
Not quite sure what you’re trying to do when you say object in the video. Can’t you just move the text out of the way, or is the text you’re coming out from. Maybe the text can be used as a mask. Screenshot would help.
In this case the video is from a drone, flying over the top of a ridge. As the ridge moves downward in the frame and the valley comes into view, I want the text to also be revealed, as if it were hidden behind the ridge. The text has been keyframed to hold its position relative to the distant background. So I don't want to keep moving the text around when I'm keyframing/reshaping the mask. The mask is what hides the text and makes it look like it's "behind" the ridge.
BTW, all the tutorials I've seen on YouTube show people doing what I'm trying to do, as far as masking the text to reveal it. But they don't seem to have any trouble selecting and moving the control points on the mask, where it crosses over the text field.
Ok, here's a screenshot of the work in progress... The white outlined rectangle is the text field. A little piece of the text is visible in the masked area above the ridge. Because the shape of the ridge changes as the camera moves up, I have to change the shape of the mask. The problem is that I can only click on the control points that are NOT within the text field. When I try to click on control points within the text field, the text field is selected instead.
I know it must be possible to select and move control points that fall within the text field, because I see people doing it all the time tutorials. So I don't understand why I can't get it to work.
Should still be doable if the text layer is selected in the timeline, though I would have thought it would be a lot more tricky that way than tracking the line of the ridge itself on the ridge video.
I was skeptical, but I tried it and it does work. So does "my" method with a compound clip, which does NOT require changing between the selection and position tools. Since you seem to have many adjustments to make, this may end up saving you a lot of typing A and P, and a lot of errors.
I don’t see why it would be a problem other than it has to be done with some care. Screenshots are always helpful, the viewer and timeline.
Sorry, I was having trouble getting it to upload, but it's fixed now. Try reloading the page.
I'm having trouble selecting and moving mask control points.
