Picts vs Tiffs for FCP 5?

I'm doing a project where I'm using graphic overlays that super over my video. Based on a suggestion from one of the FCP threads, I followed the directions from a site <http://fcpbook.com/Photoshop1.html> that suggested using PICTs. I am very familiar with using PICT files as I've used them with our Avid Media Composer. Then again, I was under the impression Tiff files may be a more successful option with FCP.
So I moved forward with making the PICT files (with alpha channels) as the site instructed and when I imported them into FCP, I began to get crashes. Since the system was rock solid before I started importing and using PICT files, I can only surmise this was the culprit. So the question is: is it true FCP prefers working with Tiffs over PICTs? Especially when they are alpha channel (32 bits/pixel)?
Thanks so much!
PowerMac G5 (Machine Model 7,3 CPU Type: 2.2) FCP 5 Mac OS X (10.4.8) XServe RAID (714 capacity, 600 gigs avail), 1 Gig RAM

Are the files by any chance CMYK? If so, that's the problem. Resave in photoshop as RGB.
Also, there's no point in keeping the dpi (within photoshop) as anything besides 72dpi. there are also limitations in the pixel dimensions allowed. I think the maximum is 4,000 x 4,000 but I'm not sure.
If you're working in photoshop, you may be better off using psd (photoshop files). They will maintain their transparency. Although each psd will import as a layered sequence rather an individual clip, it's easy enough to simply drag all the layers to the browser to create individual clips. The only trick with this is to render (or rasterize) any effects in photoshop before saving.

Similar Messages

DVD Footage for FCP Edit - how to tell if NTSC or PAL?!

Hi all, apologies if this seems like a stupid request but I have a job at the moment calling for me to extract footage from a DVD, edit in FCP, add a few bits from Motion etc., but I can't work out if the DVD is NTSC or PAL!
I intend to extract the video (no issues with copyright) via DVDxDVPro but am unsure if the DVD has been encoded in NTSC or PAL. The footage it contains is from both the States (NTSC) and South Africa (PAL) so how do I tell? I don't want to go through a standards conversion if I can help it.
I am keen to try to retain as much quality as possible (client can't provide tape) so also any thougts on the best output from DVDxDVPRo for FCP editing?
Thanks all,
Best wishes
Michael

Hi Thomas, that's it!
Thanks for this - it clearly shows the TV standard and the resolution plus 4:3 etc., so everything I needed for confirmation.
Glad I cheked because it was in Pal - thought the conversion in DVDxDVPro looked a bit ropey.
This realy baffled me - seemed so simple but couldn't find a way to tell the standard. Learn something everyday...
I am using DVCPro for export from DVDxDVPro - anyone thoughts on a better option?
Thanks again for the answer - and so quick on a Sunday too!
Kind regards
Michael

HT4480 I have redemption codes for FCP from my university - how many machines can I install on?

I have redemption codes for FCP from my university - how many machines can I install on?

Do you have these codes because this will be your app? Or is this a "loan" from the school to install on your machine? Do you use your own Apple ID to redeem the code and install the app?
If it is your app, then you may install it on as many Macs as you own or have in your control.

Please help me configure a new 8core for FCP

PLEASE HELP A PC GUY MOVE OVER...
I need to configure a new 8-core for FCP mainly. I need to keep the expense reasonable so dont want to spend extra $$$ if i dont have to.
I edit files from many different camera's these days. Mostly weddings & demos.
I want to go with an 8 core either Two 2.26GHz, OR 2.66GHz? Is the 2.2 fast enough with FCP?
How much ram do i need?
Do I need to stripe 2 sata drives together for the video?
Which video card?
Can you recommend any other software/hardware that will help me?
Here is a link to apples spec page:
http://www.apple.com/macpro/specs.html
THANKS

sarecco wrote:
PLEASE HELP A PC GUY MOVE OVER...
Welcome to the family. if you are not familiar with the Macintosh operating system, get yourself a book.
sarecco wrote:
I want to go with an 8 core either Two 2.26GHz, OR 2.66GHz? Is the 2.2 fast enough with FCP?
Either will work fine.
sarecco wrote:
How much ram do i need?
As much as you want but 8G will be adequate. More might not help significantly.
sarecco wrote:
Do I need to stripe 2 sata drives together for the video?
Depends on the video you're trying to use or if you want to do 9 camera multiclips. Maybe.
sarecco wrote:
Which video card?
The stock 4870 is the gold standard for Motion; the current rev of FCP does not care much about the GPU but we are hoping future revs will use the card directly.
sarecco wrote:
Can you recommend any other software/hardware that will help me?
Umm, withotu knowing what you need to do, of course not.
sarecco wrote:
THANKS
No sweat, ignore those other guys. We see this post about once a week around here so you can easily research it on the forum. Strongly urge you to locate your local Macintosh user group.
bogiesan

Is there a good motion tracking plug-in for FCP-X?

The question is in the headline: Is there a good motion tracking plug-in for FCP-X?
You know, like when I want to blur out, say, a license plate number on a moving car.
I know of no plug-ins for FCP-X that will do this. Surely there's one out there.
And since you can't just export a sequence to Motion (like you could in FCP 7), how would one achieve this in FCP-X?

R&B wrote:
… And since you can't just export a sequence to Motion …
instead of selecting a clip or sequence in FCPX, you set the in/out points in the Export/Send it to Compressor dialog.
the exported mov can be tracked in Motion5 …-
aaaand finally re-imported into FCPX.
… not exactly as convenient as in the old FC/p , but the tracker in M5 offers, imho as a hobbyist, superb results.-

How to build a plug-in for FCP

I want to build an export plug-in for FCP. It is a little similar to Automatic duck export plug-in. I want to export sequence in my own format.
The version of Final Cut Pro is 6.0.
I downloaded FxPlug SDK, but it is only about video effect, not what i want.
And I didn’t find any other documents about how to build an export plug-in for FCP.
Who has some related documents or can support me on this?
I will pay for the help if i can afford it.

I don't own Automatic Duck so I don't know how that particular application goes about doing this, but the only way I can think of doing it is through a QuickTime Export Component.
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/QuickTime/Rm/ImportExport/DataExchange/ A-Intro/chapter1_section1.html

How do I create a drop shadow for fcp x

Does anyone know how to create a drop shadow for use in FCP X. I've tried put can't seem to get this process completed. Yes I'm new to Motion!

Simon Ubsdell has created one in Motion for FCP X.
Download his to see how he did it.
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/344/2584

How do I set-up my memory amount for max speed for FCP and Motion

Hey all, I have a Dual 2.3 G5 with (8 Gigs) Ram. I'm working with a new client. I want to set up my memory or whatever else to provide MAXIMUM processing power for FCP and MOTION. Does anyone have any recommended settings. I've maxed-our RAM. My card is (ATI Radeon 9600-128MB of VRAM)
Is there a setting in FCP that allows more processing power to be applied to that application ?
Appreciate any replies

Most of FCP's speed in performing functions is directly related to processor speed. The only way to increase performance would be to use a Mac with faster processors. Performance is also related to data throughput, so if you're working with high data rate video formats, a fast RAID and/or SATA (or eSATA) media storage solution would help.
The exception to FCP performance is when rendering/processing FX Plugs; they are dependent on the power of the graphics card.
Motion is mostly dependent on the power of the graphics card.
There is no way that I'm aware of that you can speed up RAM. Having the extra RAM will just mean that you can successfully work with more applications open at the same time.
-DH

IMac vs Powermac for FCP

I am debating between an iMac and PowerMac for FCP editing. I am primarily a shooter but would like to offer editing to clients as well. Don't anticipate anything to graphics or effects intensive. For fairly simple editing does the PowerMac have a huge ($1500) advantage over the top of the line iMac?

iMac:
DV, HDV, DVCPRO HD (possibly) and maybe AVCHD only. Those are the ONLY formats you can edit. I say possibly with DVCPRO HD because the ONLY drives you can use on an iMac are firewire drives. Those are fine for DVCPRO HD (Firewire 800 required), but only for working with P2 DVCPRO HD...nothing from tape. You only have one firewire bus, so capturing using that bus for the camera, AND for the drive is sketchy. Will work most of the time, but not all of the time. Forget Uncompressed SD or HD...not gonna work. The ONLY thing you can upgrade is the RAM...that's it. So Motion will work fine, but not optimally with the graphics card already in place.
Mac Pro: great expandibility
YOu can install different graphics cards, install capture cards for working with uncompressed HD and SD...and can install eSATA cards for working with faster drives. It comes with 4 internal drive slots, three empty, so that you can install fast drives internally that will work with uncompressed SD and DVCPRO HD and ProRes (ProRes on the iMac will be iffy).
Mac Pro is a professional machine, and iMac is a consumer machine. If you work with DV and HDV only, and only need firewire drives, it should be fine. But that's about all you can do with it.
Shane

Gimp Newbie Needs Basic Instructions in Formatting Stills for FCP

Sorry if this is redundant or too basic for the forum, but I'm new to Gimp (and honestly, photo editing in general) and need some basics. Tutorials, links, etc appreciated.
My question... In Photoshop, I can select a pixel aspect ratio that gives me the option of DV, widescreen, anamorphic, and others. Is there a similar feature in Gimp? If not, is there a process that you are using to prepare high resolution still photos for importing into FCP?
G5 Mac OS X (10.4.2)

*** is Gimp?
Anyway, I don't prepare hi-res, medium-res or even low-res photos for FCP. I import them and drop 'em on the Timeline (FCP will automatically scale them to Sequence and correct pixel aspect). Once I have them in FCP I can see how they look on an external TV monitor. After viewing them there, if they need any PS adjustments, I right-click on it in the Timeline and choose "Open in Editor" (Photoshop is set as my default still image editor in FCP preferences).
If adjustments are needed, it's typically rotation, contrast*, color balance*, fixing areas of the image that might cause morie patterns on a TV, etc. When I'm done in PS, I save the changes and close the image and jump back over to FCP where the changes were automatically updated to the image on the Timeline.
-DH
* = can also be done right in FCP with the 3-Way Color Corrector

Macbook Pro Specs for FCP

I am a pro photographer interested in working with video. I have 2 questions:
1. Best way/forum to learn FCP?
2. Ideal specs on Macbook Pro for FCP?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

The specs are clearly listed in the FCP marketing pages. They are conservative and you will need external drives.
There is no best way to learn an application as deep and complex as a video editor. You explore the net, buy some books, decide what your level of competence needs to be in order to bill your clients.
There is a direct comparison to your chosen profession. How did you learn to be a professional photographer? There's more to taking pictures than having decent equipment and known how to launch Photoshop. I started shooting when I was 11 years old in 1965 and I needed 15 years to become adept with the physics of light and the chemistry of film. Digital shooters, generally, have no clue about how their tools work. How does one teach them?
bogiesan

Quicktime version best for FCP 3

Which version of quicktime is best for FCP 3?

Well, QT 5 was the one that was out when FCP 3 was popular. But I think you can use QT 6.5 with it as well. Since that is the only one still available at the Apple site, that is the one to try to use.
And really you should be either on Mac OS 10.1 or 10.2...
Shane

Manual for FCP 7 ?

Hi.
I really miss not having a nice 1000+ page manual to go with FCP 7. Some how the "Help" option doesn't cut it.
I see a few books marketed as manuals for FCP 7. Can anybody recommend one?
(If I look at my old manual. It's full of notes I wrote in the margins - notes about what I've done, references to other pages of the book. And it's sides bulge with yellow stickies doing the same. I miss all these and wish I could do the same for FCP 7. "Help" just isn't the same.)
John

Thanks for the directions to the on-line pdf version of the whole manual. I downloaded it then hit print preview. It says it's 2026 pages.
Anybody tried printing it????
I guess we're all in agreement. Apple should make it available in print form somehow. Reminds me of the story of the first digital watches. Wanting to be cool and hi-tech, I suppose, these watches were issued with a numerical read out. People soon objected so they had to abandon this and go back to a clock-face. Seeing the time expressed in numbers alone just didn't tell enough. A clock face with hands tells you the time but it puts that time in relation to the whole day. Same with these on-line "help" pages. They are devoid of context. The brain needs something more.

Which Mac for FCP budget-minded

I'm really excited to join your group...being a current user of "other" brands of PC and editors and want to switch to FCP.
Heading to the Apple store today so I can start using FCP. Which Mac is recommended for FCP to edit small features, shorts, music vids, et al.
Choices =
iMAC 24 fully config'd (great screen, but not really portable)
Macbook Pro 17 (portable but smaller screen)...and if so, the 100gb 7200 disk or is the 160gb 5400 disk ok for a boot drive.
Can't afford a Mac Pro.

If, despite all advice to the contrary, you still go for the MacBook Pro then I'd recommend the base 17” MacBook Pro (MBP) configuration, with 160GB 5400 RPM hard disc option, and an additional 1 GB RAM (to make 3 GB total).
Why the 17” model?
Because when editing you need as much screen space as possible. Yes, it is bigger and heavier than the 15”, but I think that it’s larger and higher resolution display is worth that sacrifice.
Why the bigger but slower 160GB 5400 RPM hard disc option?
Laptop drives already have a much smaller capacity than their desktop cousins and those little drives, inevitably, fill up quickly with all your stuff!
And of course, you're planning to get an external media drive too, right? If you don’t have one then your internal disc will be eaten up by clip media in no time (especially if you opted for the smaller faster internal disc).
Why 3 GB RAM?
Well OK, thats an expensive option, but seriously, if you can afford it the money is well spent.
I'd also strongly recommend the extended AppleCare Protection Plan.

Free plug ins for fcp

so a few have suggested a couple free plug ins for the garbage point masks, and i do apreciate it, this question is in regards to free plugins in general.. how safe are they and the sites there found on? what are the chances ill ruin my new mac by putting them on my system, sorry to ask so much but im just trying to learn as i go,
thanks in advance
Brucey Bizzit

Many of the posters here author them -- some without cost and some sold.
Are the sites safe? From what?
Never heard of a plug in for FCP ruining a computer. If they don't work or cause issues, just trash them
Google: "free Final Cut Pro plug ins"
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=freefinal+cut+proplugins&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Picts vs Tiffs for FCP 5?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for