Best 2D Graphics to Timeline workflow?

Hello, I'm currently in the latest version of Final Cut and mostly working in the HDV 1080i format. I'm trying to figure out what the most professional workflow to import graphics and images into my timeline is.
I have Photoshop and Fireworks CS3 as my graphics programs (i prefer Photoshop). At the moment I've imported a Layered .PSD file into FCP and it works fine after a render. After that I imported the same graphic flattened into a .png file which seemed to import a little more sharp (plus no render required). My Photoshop document settings are for HDV 1080p (seems to be no 1080i setting to match my source footage, i shoot on a Sony FX-1) After this i realized the amount of combinations and formats i could try so I came down to ask any of you what your preference is. I did do a search but the results were too basic.
Another relating question is... If i import a .PSD (for example) into the timeline. Then later, manipulate that image in Photoshop and re-save it. What's the best way to re-import that into the FCP timeline? I tried 'Relink Media', but it doesn't update to my new saved file, it simply remembers the old one which has already been saved over. I hope that's user error, but I've toyed with it a bit.
Thanks for reading and your time if you reply.

A single-layer image will always render faster. The need for less rendering may also explain the apparent difference in quality in your canvas.
One thing it is important to keep in mind about working with layered PSDs - particularly if you are updating them and relinking - is that FCP interprets the dimensions of each layer with specific values in the motion tab. Updating a photoshop file will not force FCP to re-interpret these motion tab settings, such that if you edit a word, add a drop shadow, or anything else that makes the layer bigger or smaller, it will get distorted to the previous dimensions when you relink in FCP. Also be aware if there are any pixels oustide the bounds of your canvas in Photoshop. A quick Select All-Crop is good to eliminate this.
If you have changed the dimension of a layer, and notice distortion in FCP upon reconnect, there are a couple ways to try to retain most of whtever you have done in your sequence. The first thing though is to re-import a new instance of the PSD. You can remove the original from the browser without affecting sequence instances. By opening the layers fo the new PSD into the viewer, you can use a replace edit to update the clips in the sequence to keep timing and dissolves. Opacity keyframes and filters can be preserved by copying and pasting attributes.
Hope this helps -
Max Average

Similar Messages

Which imac would work best for Graphic Design?

I am a Graphic Designer, currently using Creative Suite 2 (soon to be upgraded to CS3) and I need a new Mac for home. A Powermac takes up too much space, so I'm thinking about an imac with a 24" monitor and I have a few questions for the experts:)
Which imac would work best for graphics?
Is the monitor acurate for Pantone color matching?
Is the 24"monitor on the imac clear and bright?
Is Leopard a stable OS?
I also need an (inexpensive) color laser printer. Any suggestions?
Thanks a bunch!
Suzi (Machead since the beginning of Mac history)

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.
The 24" iMac uses a superior LCD panel to the 20" model and so is certainly better suited to your purposes. I don't know how badly having a piece of glass in front of the display would affect you as a designer though.
The display certainly is clear and bright. I use it on it's lowest brightness setting.
Leopard is stable but it's worth checking that drivers for any devices that you currently rely on are available. For example I have to go back to my 10.4.11 iMac G4 to use my scanner. Personally I can't get iCal to alarm in Leopard but that's a fairly minor gripe.
As this is the forum for much older iMacs I'd suggest re-posting in the Intel iMac forum and even Mac OS 10.5 Printing forums for better informed opinion:
<hr width="200">
G4 (aka Flat Panel): Intel:
Click image to go to correct forum.
cheers
mrtotes

Newbie-made animation in graphic symbol timeline by mistake! Can't get it out

Tha't s only one problem...
I am making a very simple stick figure animation which will be intended for tv, specifically HDTV 1080p
I have no idea how i did it but I did the animation and before I knew it it was not on scene 1, but on the graphic symbol timeline. I think it is because I made my character a symbol, and i guess everything followed. But when I put them on the stage from the library, only part of the animation shows up, the part with the character i made into a symbol...not only that, but if I copy and paste all the frames from the symbol timeline onto the main timeline, it is HUGE! it doesn't match the size or placement it was on in the other timeline...
Also, are there any specific requirements for editing with intent for hdtv? I read you can't use movie clips but as for size, etc? What do you have to set at the beginning and what will change when it is exported or converted for tv? I could use Final cut if it helps with the final stuff too.
HELP!

any advice at all? Its urgent

Hello! Could you tell me which configuration is the best for graphic works, like making large POSTERS or BANNERS (for instance 2800X500 cm)???

Hello! Could you tell me which configuration is the best for graphic works, like making large POSTERS or BANNERS (for instance 2800X500 cm)???

scorpiorey wrote:
I just create file and send it to printer-house.
Never done that size files (posters) before, so, didn't know it would be such problem.
Model Name:          MacBook Pro
Model Identifier:          MacBookPro8,1
Processor Name:          Intel Core i7
Processor Speed:          2.8 GHz
Number of Processors:          1
Total Number of Cores:          2
L2 Cache (per Core):          256 KB
L3 Cache:          4 MB
Memory:          4 GB
Boot ROM Version:          MBP81.0047.B24
SMC Version (system):          1.68f98
this is what i have. now i know that it's not enough
If that's what you're using and it actually works, albeit slowly, I'd suggest taking The hatter's advice and go with the 6 core Mac Pro with 24GB of RAM and the 5870 video card. The RAM could come from here: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Mac-Pro-Memory#1333-memory

What is the best compatible graphics software to create images in ibook author?

What is the best compatible graphics software to create images in ibook author?

What you choose may depend on your budget, skills, etc.
Preview comes with OS X.
GifConverter and Pixelmator are in the (Mac) App Store and work well.

Best Practice to transport MDM Workflows trough a 3-tier Landscape

Hello Experts,
I wanted to ask you for some Best practices to transport MDM Workflows from D-to Q/P?
Well besides the Archive/Unarchive method because we want to keep the Data of P in the repository
and do not want to import the whole.
Any ideas? Points are for sure!!
Best regards
Carsten

Hi Carsten,
Currently with the MDM 5.5 version the only transport mechanism that will allow you to export your Workflows from the development server to the Production or Quality is the Archieve/Unarchieve method.
but this methods archives the data as well along with the workflow.There is no such method to exort the workflow alone.
But with the onset of the MDM 7.1 there are new transport mechanism included and hopefully they address this issue.
A work around that i can think of at this moment:
- If you have your development server as your Master rep and the Production server as your slave
- Then you can call the workflow from the D to the P.If you do not have any data presntly in the dev.
- and then Normalize the Productions server to make it an individual master rep with its own data.
I am not sure how well this solution will help but just a suggestion....
Hope It Helped
Thanks & Regards
Simona Pinto

Quickest way to work with Alpha'd Graphics on Timeline

Hi All,
What do a simple Graphics Overylay for a video we are editing. Basically want to edit a split screen video and over lay a graphic to give it nice branding.
To achiveve this have two layers of video with a Graphic over the top with an Alpha Channel punched out to show video underneath. We are using a Pro-Res Timeline.   The video footage is shot on Canon 5D transferred to Pro Res 422. Timeline matches those settings.   The graphics overlay will created in after effects have animated into and outro of it.   But majority of time will be stilled.
As I see it this could be achieved by following methods
Exporting an Animation Codec video from AE which can have an Alpha Channel. Downside is size of files and render times.
Exporting an Animation Code video for animated intro and outro and then using TIFF/TGA for stilled bits .. Upside: Smaller file sizes however there is a colour flick in change from Video to Still? Is there away round this?
Any other ideas workflows that maximise editing time and reduces render times on the FCP timeline..
We want the best workflow to make finalising the video quickest - we are working onsite and time will be crucial, especially in render a the end and as we go along.
Cheers
Rob

Yes thats excellent thanks for the help..
Do I set the timeline settings the same as the Alpha footage or the DSLR footage - eg.   Pro-res 4444 or Pro Res 422?
Cheers
Rob

New multiple sequence/timeline workflow?

I was used to making different scenes of films as separate sequences and then have a master sequence where I brought them all together.
Now it seems like the best way to do this is with different projects that use the same events? Anyone have a suggestion to a better workflow to do this in X?
I poked around for about 30 mins and came up with that as the best solution...I'm not on my mac now to look more...hope I didn't miss something simple.

Appreciate your help as I feel like a fish out of water.
Serves you right, fishing and all!
[Hunt and I were typing at the same time!]
For my help, I require only a copy of the DVD - I am envious of the guy across the lake that uses what he calls a barrel roll to fly fish from his dock with very little space behind him. A very cool technique.
Or do I go about it in a smarter way that keeps the sequences apart from each other?
Yes, like this. You can only bring one in from Premire itself,then bring the rest in from Encore, Make a timeline for each sequence.
BTW, each sequence has 2 encore chapter markers I placed in PP4 (one at the beginning, the other in the middle of the sequence). Is this going to make it difficult to have 10 chapters?
You will have 20 chapters, but you are going to use playlists for the play all, so it won't matter. Clicking advance chapter on the remote will go to the middle chapter, then to the next timeline (or if in a single timeline action, to whatebver that tijmelines end action is, usually a menu).
My end product menu should have a :
1) Playall option once.
2) Play continuously option (none stop if uninterrupted)
2) Play individual sequences before returning to main menu.
For the play all, create a playlist (not a chapter playlist), and add each timeline, in the order you want them. The end action of the playlist is to go back to the menu (or whatever you want).
Create a separate playlist the same, but this time make its end action to go to itself (this will loop/play continuously until the remote picks a menu).
For playing each sequence, just link to the timeline for that sequence, and have the timeline end action be the main menu (or chapter submenu or whatever).
Also, how does one create a Main Menu page using a custom background?
Just use a template, then edit in photoshop and replace the background. (Other techniques also.)

Reg:Graphical view in workflow

Hi to all,
Now i am having IDES ECC 6.0 , I had put the TC SWDD i am getting workflow screen. But i couldnt find out the graphical view of that screen.But the graphical view and all i can get through ECC 5.0 version.
Kinldy do the helpful.
Thanks,
Sankar M

Hi Rob,
I am working in IDES ECC 6.0 , In that i gone to SWDD->EXTRAS->options->Modelling view -tree only is there. I couldnt change into Graphical network.That particular Modeling view button is in disable mode.What can i do for that?
Thanks,
Sankar M

Best way to get SharePoint workflow to trigger InDesign XML refresh and PDF export?

What is the best way to get a SharePoint workflow to trigger the refresh of an XML datasource within an InDesign document, and generate a PDF export? The datasource would be hosted by SharePoint.
Would InDesign Server be required?

My understanding of the license is that Adobe requires you to use InDesign Server for this sort of thing.
But the implementation is probably the same either way. Periodically poll, or find some way to trigger it.

Best way to configure Photoshop workflow settings when source photos are shot in AdobeRGB, edited using a wide gamut display, and output to sRGB?

Being able to quickly produce finished photos is of importance with the majority of my photography work. Therefore I shoot, process, and deliver JPEG files. For this time sensitive workflow there is no benefit to my clients by my shooting RAW. I do want to be able to accommodate any possible future uses of the photos, so I shoot using the Adobe RGB color space. The output for my clients are JPEG images for use on the Web, therefore sRGB. I currently used a wide gamut display (NEC PA302W) with a 24-bit graphics card. (I plan on upgrading to a 30-bit card sometime in the future.)
I've noticed that in Internet Explorer the reds in my finished photos are overly intense on my display. My photos look fine in other web browsers on my display. This situation has me concerned as I do not know exactly why it is happening since my photos have the sRBG color profile embedded and IE supports embedded color profiles. If anything, I would think the reds would be overly intense in other applications that do not support embedded color profiles.
Please let me know if my workflow can be improved, outside of shooting RAW and using a 30-bit display:
Shoot JPEG photos in Adobe RBG color space
Edit photos in Photoshop using wide gamut display, 24-bit
Color Settings: Monitor Color (Monitor RGB - PA302W, calibrated)
Save for Web, JPEG, Embed Color Profile, Convert to sRGB
While working in Photoshop the reds appear fine. When saving for the Web and previewing 'Monitor Color' the reds are intense, when previewing 'Internet Standard RGB (No Color Management)' the reds appear fine. The final saved images look fine with the exception of when displayed in IE, which supports embedded color profiles- Color Management.

You're rapidly making a mess out of this. Stop, sit back, and stop thinking there's a "problem" to "fix". There isn't - you just need to use software that is color managed. That disqualifies IE right off. Stop using it, throw it away. It's useless with wide gamut displays. Use Firefox, which has proper color management.
OK. Save For Web in sRGB, embed profile. So far so good. But:
Don't ! set your working space to Monitor Color!. That turns off display color management which is the very last thing you want with a wide gamut monitor. You could sort of get away with that with a standard gamut monitor, because it's not all that different from sRGB anyway. So you wouldn't notice the difference (but it's there). The fact that your Adobe RGB files look right in Photoshop is purely coincidental. Any other profile will look wrong.
With a wide gamut display you absolutely and unconditionally need a fully color managed pipeline. That means 1. an embedded document profile, 2. a valid display profile (Spectraview or other calibrator), and 3. an application that reads both profiles and does the conversion from one to the other as the image is sent to the display.
See, it's not just the document profile. That's half of it. The other half is the display profile. IE doesn't use the display profile, instead substituting sRGB. And that's very wrong with that monitor. Firefox is fully color managed if there is an embedded document profile. But it can be configured to color manage even if the image is untagged (and a lot of material on the web is untagged). It does this by assigning sRGB to the image.
To configure this - and you really need that with a wide gamut monitor - type "about:config" without the quotes in the address bar and hit reload. Scroll down to gfx.color_management.mode, and change it from 2 to 1. Relaunch. All web material will now appear correctly regardless.

JPEG, TIFF(8bit), TIFF(16bit) - what's the best for a FCP timeline?

I use Aperture to organize all my photos. When I export to use in my FCP timeline what is the best settings to use for photos? JPEG, TIFF, PSD, 8bit, 16bit,etc?
Thanks,
Brian

Also read this: http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutpro/usermanual/#chapter=26%26section=1 %26hash=apple_ref:doc:uid:TempBookID-ReplacedWhenAssociatingWithMessierRevision- 44032IMP-1008859
-DH

Best format to render timelineas

Hi,
I am relatively new to video, having worked in audio for some time.
I am wondering what everyone has found to be the best format to render your timeline to, before importing to Encore. I normally have two or three timelines, and expect it's best to export them all in high quality and present all the files to Encore for it to automatically compress them all onto your DVD.
Having tried the "Export to Encore" option, I found that in Encore, there was still quite a lot of disc space free, so it could have been in better quality, but when I tried to increase the quality it said the disc limit had been exceeded?
I have rendered as "Uncompressed Microsoft AVI file". This worked ok, but I had to set some clips to "Interlace consecutive frame" to get correct playback after render (Everything appeared OK with the picture before this). Also a problem I have found with the render is a "dip to black" produces a "bump" at the "out" point, whereas a cross-dissolve (to nothing) is fine. Is this something to do with black levels? It happens whether using a still image or footage.
The video footage is DVCAM widescreen - PAL format.
Hope some of you can help.
Daniel

I use a
DVD bitrate calculator. Others rely on Encore to figure it out for them. I prefer manual control.

Best Quality graphic to import?

I do all of my text and graphic work in Photoshop and I want to figure out the best way to import text and graphics with effects on them into FCP. I want the effects to show up. To retain the effects do I save them as png, tiff, photoshop? Which is the best quality?
I tried to bring in a layered photoshop file with all of my text work and it didn't bring in the effects(drop shadows, glows, etc.). A png brought in the effects, but I just want to make sure I am using the best way for great looking graphics without noise around the text.
Any suggestions would be great!
John

You can use a layered .psd file, but the layers involving text effects (drop shadows, glows, etc) must be rasterized.
What I like to do is create a new, empty layer below each text layer that I want to retain as a track in FCP, then do an Option-Command-E to with the two layers selected. This preserves the original text layer while Merging Down to the bottom, empty layer (giving you the rasterized text that FCP needs). After saving the file (to preserve my 'master'), I strip out the text effects (non-rasterized) layers in Photoshop, do a save as (for the stripped-down) prior to importing in FCP.
Though this is but one technique, and I'm no Photoshop master...

Best 4K graphic card?

Hi, i'm working right now on a Planetarium, sadly i wasnt able to register with my work account, but here we go..
We're making 4K movies, on 4096x4096p and i need to know wich is the best Graphic Card to work 4K and specially render properly in software like AE, Premiere, or 3D software like Blender or 3DMax, i know this is a question 'off-topic' but i need help with this! please.
Thanks in regard, ill be waiting for a response.

Look at the 780Ti card for Premiere. That wont do much in AE unless you use the Ray Tracer some. I suggest you look at Octane if you want GPU acceleration with Max. If you dont get a 3rd party software then the GPU wont help with rendering.
Eric
ADK

Best 2D Graphics to Timeline workflow?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for