Roundtripping between Motion and FCP

I created an opening in motion, project settings are:
720x480
8bit
NTSC D1/DV Anamorphic PAR 1.20
Lower First
Frame Rate - 25
I started with a template [which explains the 25fps] and I have not been able to change that to 29.97.
My sequence settings in FCP are the same but wgen I bring the Motion project in its 4X3.
If I render the motion project I have the option of changing the Quicktime settings and it exports a 16X9 .mov.
There must be a switch I'm missing somewhere. Does anyone know how so solve this?

I doubt it was intended to work that way. It's a bug. A known bug. One that will hopefully be fixed in a future release. It's not the only bug out there, tho - so reporting it will add to the "fix it" voices...
Patrick
Oh, btw - just so you know how the forums are supposed to work, you should press the or buttons over the posts that warrant it...

Similar Messages

Best way to work between Motion and FCP

I use Motion on occasion but always seem to run into a problem when I export projects to .mov files and import into FCP as the same. The files always show up in FCP but if I return back to Motion to edit the Motion Project I get an alert that say that file is in use. Should I just import the whole .motn file into and FCP and render after or is there a better way? Any ideas would be helpful.

Hi Buck,
if you export your motion project as a mov file you create an independent file with properties selected prior export. That file becomes independent from all applications and will remain even if you delete the project it originated from. On the contrary, if you import a Motion Project into FCP it will always depend on and reference its native editor.
If you are using a previously exported mov file within both Motion (say you re-imported it, apply changes and try to save it with same name) and FCP at the same time then you may get the warning that the file is in use.
Any change you make in Motion to your .motn project should update within FCP timeline instantly.
Luca

Color discrepancy with imported PSD between Motion and FCP

I've got a Motion project with an imported PSD file as a background element (the PSD was created in Photoshop CS2 for Windows, running under Parallels).
The PSD file consists of two overlapping curved shapes, one blue, one green (part of our corporate look). The colors (RGB) match our official guidelines.
I imported the Motion project to FCP and placed it on the timeline, on V1. In FCP, I then used a color generator to create a small blue rectangle which would serve as a border for a slightly smaller thumbnail image that would get overlaid later on. The rectangle is on V2. I used the exact same RGB values for it as I did in Photoshop for the curved shape.
Trouble is, the blue color in the shape that got imported into FCP inside the Motion project doesn't match the generated color.
See this screenshot, in FCP:
http://elamaton.no-ip.com/~jarkko/colordiscrepancymotion.png
Three blues: leftmost, the color generator resized to a small rectangle; on the center, the shape that I created in Photoshop and imported into a Motion project, dropped into FCP; rightmost, an instance of Photoshop CS2 running in a virtual WinXP in Parallels Desktop. You'll notice that the blues of the generator and Photoshop match, but the middle shape that travelled the CS2->Motion->FCP route is a different shade.
Narrowing it down further, I decided to import the PSD file directly into FCP (just to see if it'd match - it needs to go through Motion for the final product). Here's a screengrab of Canvas this time:
http://elamaton.no-ip.com/~jarkko/colordiscrepancy_motion2.png
Again, from left to right: the generated rectangle, the directly imported PSD, the PSD in the imported Motion project. The first two match, but something in Motion or the Photoshop->Motion route screws up the colors of the blue-green shape (as well as the Työterveyslaitos logo on the top left, also a PSD, in the same Motion project). The blue shade is also incorrect in the Motion canvas, pre-import to FCP.
What's going on here, and how can I fix things?
The project settings are PAL DV in both FCP and Motion. No rendering has been done, I'm importing the .motn into FCP as-is.
Any help is greatly appreciated, deadlines loom...

First, double-check that your PSD is in RGB, but I suspect it it or it wouldn't even work in FCP. I suspect a gamma issue moving between the apps:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93794
You might try setting the colorspace in FCP to RGB or adding a gamma filter in Motion to adjust.
Mark

Font size problems between Motion and FCP

I created a custom Final Cut Pro title in Motion. I set the font size to 110 pixels. My custom title works great, with one exception. The 110 pixel font in my custom title doesn't match the size of 110 pixel fonts in other titles. I double checked the font specs between the two titles, and they are identical. But, the font in my custom title is much bigger (view screen shot). How do I fix this?

Hi Jim,
I found the problem. When I right click a text template in FCP and select "open in Motion", the template dimensions are 1920p X 1080p. My original custom templates were 1280p X 720p. So, I didn't realize I was toggling between different template sizes.
Thanks for you input though.

Exporting/Importing between Motion and FCP

Hi, I'm trying to export a piece of DV PAL Anamorphic video footage into Motion to adjust it and then export it back into FCP. But when I export it back to FCP I don't seem to be using the right settings as it becomes squeezed 4:3. It's still in anamorphic in Motion, my problem is just when it exports from Motion back to FCP.
Can you help me work out what I'm doing wrong please?

Final Cut forgets it's anamorphic after it's little outing to Motion. Simple right-click on the clip in the timeline, select item properties, and add a checkmark in the anamorphic line.

General workflow between FCS and FCP question....

Hey all.
I'm totally new to FCS, and while in a few hours I've figured out a lot about how it works, what is totally eluding me is how to establish an efficient work flow back and forth between FCS and FCP...it's really driving me crazy.
Yeah, I know, read the manual...but nothing I'm finding anywhere seems to be a really direct, straight-up description of how to get a FCP project up and running.
Specifically I am dealing with the whole "checking out" a project thing, creating proxies, etc., it just feels very awkward. The test project I'm working with has 1 (ONE!) clip (granted a 28GB HD clip)...but FCS is not allowing me to make a proxy into the cache, this is after I already took that clip into FCP, cut it, saved it, checked it back into FCS just to make sure I got the basics of flowing back and forth down.
I wish I could be more specific, but I really really really just want a basic explanation of how to use the FCS as, you know, a server.
Anyone who can point me in that direction is a GOD!
thanks,
Mark

Hi Mark,
Here are the specific sections of the manual that should give you the best explanation regarding the Check out/in workflow for FCP projects in Final Cut Server:
Check out:
http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutserver/usermanual/#chapter=7%26section =5
Editing:
http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutserver/usermanual/#chapter=7%26section =6
Check in:
http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutserver/usermanual/#chapter=7%26section =7
-Daniel

Combing Keynote, Motion and FCP. Best Strategy?

Ok Im trying to do a project where Im using Keynote content, Motion content and FCP content.
My final screen delivery will be on a flat screen plasma monitor with a native resolution of 852 x 480.
I am going to be playing this back as a looping Quicktime movie from a Mac to the plasma screen. The screen will be functioning essentially as a computer monitor.
The piece will only be about 3-4 minutes max run time.
The video I've shot is standard DV resolution: 720 x 480.
I am building the whole project at 852 x 480 so I dont have to scale up the video to fit the final screen size vertically.
I was intending to piece it all together in Motion.
(Exporting Quicktime renderings from Keynote and Final Cut at high resolution and placing them on the timeline in Motion...)
Now, with Motion and FCP's ability to transfer files back and forth, am I using the best strategy? Should the whole thing be assembled in FCP? Or is Motion just as good for assembly.
(I want to use Motion because I find it's interface way easier to push around than FCP and much less cryptic...)
Is there any slicker way to bring in Keynote material than to do the exporting to Quicktime thing?
Any advise I could get from all you motion gurus out there would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Well after actually starting in on the real construction of this project it has become very obvious it must be assembled in FCP.
Now that I have resolved myself to that fact, I have a few issues:
I've exported all my Keynote stuff in Animation Codec.
Is that better than H.264? (Seemed to be slightly sharper on type edges)
I tried setting up the sequence to have H.264 compression but it refused to accept any imports.
I changed it back to NTSC DV Codec and it accepted to imports no prob.
Must all FCP projects use DV codec?
You cant tell them to use a different compression system?
(This is one of those areas of FC that I find utterly mysterious.)
When I bring the Keynote clips into my FCP document, they look crunchy.
And they stumble on playback.
Is that just temporary in the editing environment.
The video plays back pretty clean...
Can I get all the files to play back cleanly in FC as Im working on them?
Will the compression used in my sequence be ignored upon export to the Final Quicktime?
And what's the deal with the frame rates on the Keynote files.
Even though I specified 29.97 on export, when I get info on the files theyre all over the place (20fps, 24fps...)
Is that a problem?

Working with Motion and FCP 6

I have some footage of a presenter reading the news and i need to know the best way to create a lower third caption in Motion and incorporating it into my movie in FCP.
So far i have created my lower third caption in Motion and then saved it as a template, when in FCP i then open the template and drag it into the timeline, but it was trial and error getting the lower third to position at the right place on the footage.
Is there a better way ? should i edit my footage then export to motion and creae the lower third over the footage ?
Help
Hillster

Do not worry, while you gain more experience in editing and motion graphics this non-issue will gradually disappear.
However, there are several things you can try within FCP, one is to toggle on Image+Wireframe (FCP main menu>view) and swiftly reposition your lower third as you wish in the canvas by dragging the image center.
g.

Workflow Qs: Using LT, Motion and FCP!

Hi, getting all jumbled up on workflow. I am inserting motion projects direct on the timeline, but I want livetype titling in this project as well - the titles are part of the motion animation. I don't see where i can save a livetype style I have set up there to just use in Motion, nor a sendto click. What do I have to do to make the composite? Thanks!
Bonus Question:
I also need to creat this effect:
http://www.livetypecentral.com/cgi-bin/livetypecentral.cgi/scan/MM=463acda593e91 b3da84375f256e196d2:10:15:10?mvsession_id=cxr46APv&mv_pc=31&mv_more_ip=1&mvnextpage=tutorials
Creating a Chalkboard Effect
How to create a Chalkboard effect with text that writes on the board and is then removed with an eraser! Click the image to watch this tutorial.
BUT, we can't afford 99$ nor do we have credit cards in Nepal to order. Can anyone tell me if this is possible to recreate by hand just using Motion and LiveType? Thanks,
Coocoo

coocooforcocoapuffs wrote:
I want livetype titling in this project as well - the titles are part of the motion animation. I don't see where i can save a livetype style I have set up there to just use in Motion, nor a sendto click. What do I have to do to make the composite? Thanks!
Import the LiveType project file as you would import it into FCP. However, my advice is to render the LT movie and bring the movie into the Motion project. You will save tons of processing and be able to edit your Motion project much faster. Try not to get hung up on precision with the LT stuff. In fact, I'd use proxies for the LT files with the simplest settings and minimum effects until you are much further along.
Most of LiveType's effects can be easily emulated within Motion.
coocooforcocoapuffs wrote:
Bonus Question:
I also need to creat this effect:
How to create a Chalkboard effect with text
BUT, we can't afford 99$ nor do we have credit cards in Nepal to order. Can anyone tell me if this is possible to recreate by hand just using Motion and LiveType? Thanks,
Coocoo
The economics of effects are usually grossly misunderstood by cheapskates. The effort you will expend in faking this effect will cost you far more than simply buying it. Credit cards are not the issue, you can make this purchase in many ways, use your imagination.
Find a bold typeface that you like. Apply any noise filter to a matte as a still image to create an alpha mask that will give some chalkboard texture to the text by removing some of the pixels. The same noise matte can be offset slightly and blended using ADD to give you some bright chalk highlights. You create the eraser effect using the paint function in Motion or buy using a grayscale and a procedural or gradient wipe. There is an eraser object in the Content of Motion. Animating the onscreen movement of the eraser and the eraser matte is challenging but a fun exercise in learning Motion's advanced functions. A chalkboard is a dangerously primitive anachronism. Be sure the metaphor is appropriate to your communication goal and not just some silly effect your creative manager insists on using.
bogiesan

Working in Motion and FCP

I have some footage of a presenter reading the news and i need to know the best way to create a lower third caption in Motion and incorporating it into my movie in FCP.
So far i have created my lower third caption in Motion and then saved it as a template, when in FCP i then open the template and drag it into the timeline, but it was trial and error getting the lower third to position at the right place on the footage.
Is there a better way ? should i edit my footage then export to motion and creae the lower third over the footage ?
Help
Hillster

I would suggest using one of the many pre-produced lower third templates in LiveType.
They are all in the standard lower third position and can be modified. Just save a the file and it's an .ipr file that yu import into FCP.
Open in editor if you need to change it. Save it with a different name where you have different talent.
Opps, I just realized I inadvertently answered a Motion post and not a FCP post. Certainly one of the Motion Gurus will have a better Motion solution, but this one is viable nonetheless
Message was edited by: D Gilmore

Colour difference between color and FCP

i have edited in FCP doing no colour correction at all then i have sent it to color using the
file send to color option
done my colour correction and sent it back using the
send to final cut pro option
no i am really happy with the colours in color using pri in, sec in, colorFX and pri out, rendered it all but when i send it back to FCP everything is redder well pinkish then what it looks like in color
am i doing something wrong at all
i have tried to adjust the amount of red in color then render and send back but it still looks the same.
im lost can anyone please help
adam

Yes, you are doing something incredibly wrong. This non-issue is rearing it's ugly head so much it's nauseating. What you are seeing is the display differences between Color and Final Cut Pro. Do a search on all the Color forums and you'll find a host of very similar threads to yours.
The solution is to use a real input/output device like an Aja Kona or Blackmagic Decklink card and send the video signal to a production monitor. Those of us using this infrastructure see none of this non-issue that other users who are relying upon their highly inaccurate computer displays are seeing.
You are at a disadvantage however as there is currently no accurate way to get external monitoring capabilities out of an iMac as it is woefully lacking in expansion capabilities.

Connection errors (lots and lots of them) between HDV and FCP 6

So this is a tragedy for me so far. I have a $3500 Cannon XH A1, and an equally expensive Macbook Pro. The problem is, I can't get a connection via firewire between the two. I've changed the presets a bunch of times to what I think the correct specs are, nothing has worked. But when I flip on the the right settings on my school's computers (which run FCP 5), it works fine.
I'm out of ideas. I've updated everything, I even tried this pointless apple tutorial telling me to delete QT receipts. Can anyone help me?

Well, it might take a bit of time to straighten out, but probably not a tragedy.
First, was your move to 10.5.1 a clean install? If you just installed over the old OS, problems can arise. Worst case scenario is you'll have to strip the drive, reinstall the OS and updates, then install FCS 2 and the updates.
But, some things to try first:
Shut everything, computer, camera, etc. off
Connect the camera to the mac via firewire, and remove any other firewire connections, even if the other connected equipment will be off (unless, of course, you'll be capturing to an external firewire drive).
Turn the camera on to VCR mode, load the tape. (I'm assuming you want to capture TO FCP, not print back to video.
Now turn on the Mac, fire up FCP. If any projects open with it, close them.
Now, choose an Easy Setup; probably HDV 1080i60, or another HDV preset.
Next, open a new empty project, and open the log and capture window.
Are you now able to control the camera from the keyboard? And, are you able to see your footage in the log and capture window? If so, proceed with the capture.
If this doesn't work, you may want to erase and reinstall everything on a clean drive.

Problems with effects being lost between motion and final cut?

Hi I have an older version of motion, I am editing a video for my course and I have made some motion graphics with some blurs and fades etc (just this kids of effect, nothing else), when they are imported into final cut they disapear all i have is static text or graphics that crawl across the screen...
Is this a bug?
If I let software update do its job would these problems go away.
Just so you know Final cut 5.1.4 and Motion 2.0.1
thanks in advance if anyone can help.
Matt

Great fix....I started a compression to NTSC and it should be done in 3 hours, I will then boot up FCP, chose a 1 minute clip...follow your directions to the T. and compare the results....I did have this solved when I used NTSC 4:3 before; however, when I chose the menu with the mpeg2 codec, I thought that it would be faster....

Text in Hebrew has gone really weird in Motion and FCP - please help!

Hi,
I have been working in a project for a long time, and produced hundreds of simple titles in Motion in Hebrew. The font I have used throughout is Arial Rounded MT Bold.
In the latest title I added one text object and made it Italic. Since then, all my Hebrew text in this title and now any previous title I open appears really weird (the vowles are disjoined from the consonants). I have turned off the Italics option on all the titles but it still does the same thing.
This occurs even in a brand new title, where I paste the Hebrew directly into a new text object.
I am desperate for someone to help me, as I have a tight deadline on this one. All previous titles I open appear the same, even though they were fine in the past. I have tried deleting the preference file.
I am using Motion 4 (FCS 3) on a iMac bought last year, quad core intel.
Please help!
Thanks

Thank you so much!
Arial did not work, but Arial Bold and Arial Hebrew did!
The font doesn't match what I was using before. I have no idea what it was using previously, but at least I can proceed from here. My previous projects have all been output to movie files so even if the motion files are now messed up, it's not the end of the world!
Thanks again

MacBook Pro late 2013 for Motion and FCP

Hi,
before buying the MacBook Pro 15-inch, I am turning the internet upside down trying to find out how well the model without the NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M would perform when doing Photoshop work and editing HD video in Final Cut Pro and Motion. Almost all tests I read tell me frame rates when playing games. But I wonder how well the MacBook Pro 15-inch is doing on the mentioned tasks if there is only the Intel Iris Pro Graphics ? It would be great to read experiences of people who bought the 15-inch base model. Thanks.

Hey Clo1,
This video meight give you an idea of what the iris pro can handle...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATKDuQOQw9k

Roundtripping between Motion and FCP

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