Transparency of white gradients: Nesting Motion in FCP

Hi there. If I nest a motion project into FCP that has white gradient transparency and super it onto video, it introduces black into the tranparency. When importing the PSD file that was animated in Motion directly into FCP as a super, the white transparency gradient works perfect. But that defeats the joy of animating elements in Motion for FCP.
I have tried changing the Motion Project background to white transparent (vs default black), but that makes no difference.
Anyone out there knows the solution?

New Discussions ReponsesThe new system for discussions asks that after you mark your question as Answered, you take the time to mark any posts that have aided you with the tag and the post that provided your answer with the tag. This not only gives points to the posters, but points anyone searching for answers to similar problems to the proper posts.
If we use the forums properly they will work well...
Patrick

Similar Messages

Trying to change solid white to transparent in a black to white gradient in one layer of a psd file

Hi everyone
I have a multilayered psd file. All layers should remain opaque except the black to white gradient layer where I need the white to be transparent. So that when I oplace the final psd on top of a block of solid colour in Indesign the gradient shows the background colour through where the black fades off.
Any ideas?
thanks
Mark

Thanks for your reply. I am attaching a lowres psd file where I need to save it with top layer opaque and 'shadow' layer transparent. So that when I place it over solid colour in Indesign the gradient allows the background colour to show through where the balck is fading out.
cheers
Mark

Motion to FCP Workflow

I realize this is a quesion for both Motion and FCP, but I need a second opinion, just to be sure:
(1) If I want to use the satin template transition between scenes, how do I do this with a large project in FCP5? Do I do the project in FCP5 and then import all the scenes into Motion, or do I export just the satin transition and put it in place in the FCP5? It's a sophisticated transition that isn't just a simple cut. I'm confused.
(2) In FCP5, my project is 24P Anamorphic, in motion there isn't a 24P Anamorphic setting for the project. How do I set this up for a seemless import/export. IF that's in fact what I'm going to end up doing.
I appreciate your help.

Oh boy, I was up late last night trying to figure this out. I had a little luck, but really no big breakthroughs. I would put the Satin Sheet video on Track 4 (top), the wipe on 3 (with a matte blending setting of alpha-or the other one), the leaving video was on 2, and the coming video was on 1. Still no luck. I was only able to get partial matte through the wipe. The white part was only allowing partial transparency. And the black or transparent part of the wipe was completely blocking out the rest.
I was able to do the whole thing in Motion, but there was no anamorphic setting and the leaving and coming clips where only the length of the transition. I know that that is changable, but it seems to be counter-productive.
I am really confused and exhausted.

Creating a white gradient over a photo

I need to create a white gradient text box over a background photo. Please take a look at this sample:
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=13EWsrgyHCHak3Aqfn6SvNPkyvbNd
This was created with the blend tool, but I don't like the hard dropoffs at the edges of the white. I want to create a gradient white going top to bottom, but with an opacity dropoff (with soft edge) so top and bottom are 0 percent as shown.
The problem is, I can't figure out how to apply different opacities to different parts of the gradient. I'd like to make the center 100 percent, and grade out to zero top and bottom. Any way to do this? Or is there another tool I should be using?
Thanks,
Eugene

It's a dodle.
Let me introduce you to the wonderfull world of opacity masks.
Click on the layer (the white box in this case) that you want to fade at the edges, make sure the transparancy window is open (if not: Window>Transparancy) and left click the little arrow in the top right hand corner and click "Make opacity mask".
Now left click once in the little black box that's just appeared in the Transparancy window.
Now draw a box exactly over the white box (you can over the side edges with no problems in this instance, but it's best to do best practices).
Now with this new box selected create a gradient that goes from 100% black to white (in the middle) to 100% black again. You need to make sure it's pure black, I don't work in CMYK normally, but I know that if I am working in RGB I need to make sure I am using black and white RGB values and not CMYK (that could be "fixed" in CS4).
Make sure the gradient rotation is going the right way and your pretty much done.
You can alter the colour saturation levels to tweak the transparancy level.
Once your done click the left box in the Transparancy window.
Now your done, the Opacity Mask will remain attatched to your artwork until you de-tatch it.
Hope that helps and is actually what your asking for.
Regards
Paul

Plugging camera in G5 via firewire showing up in Motion or FCP

I have a camera that I would like to plug into Motion or Final Cut Pro via the Firewire plug in my G5. Is it possible to have this live feed show up in Motion or FCP? I would also like to know if I could put a Green background in back of a subject as it's being fed into Motion or FCp to use a Green Screen?
Thanks in advance

Motion won't capture for you - FCP will. Neither is a live keyer... Although the talented Peter Wiggins has a plugin that will bring live iSight into the timeline, so I suppose you could use that to key with - I haven't tried it yet... See this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=3954467#3954467
for a link.
Patrick

Black to white gradient?

I am following a tutorial and need to select a fill for a shape and choose the Black to White Gradient swatch from Gradient Panel
1. I do not seem to have the black to white gradient. I only see the fade to black gradient swatch. Is this the same thing, if not how do I get the black to white gradient swatch?
Thanks.

This is the problem the default is Black to White this is what you are missing. You may have accidentally selected one of the other preset gradients and the default is then lost and you have to recreate it or reset the preferences and then save it before making a new one or create a new document which will also reset it. But to do it with the document you now have you have to recreate it. Watch the videos
http://www.wadezimmerman.com/videos/BWGradient.mov
http://www.wadezimmerman.com/videos/BWGradient2.mov

Hello I have Adobe CS4 Illustrator, I do large format prints on a Roland SC-540 printer. I my gradients I get bad results. If I have a yellow to white gradient I get blue bands through out the gradient. Is there a setting in the program to change or is it

Hello I have Adobe CS4 Illustrator, I do large format prints on a Roland SC-540 printer. I my gradients I get bad results. If I have a yellow to white gradient I get blue bands through out the gradient. Is there a setting in the program to change or is it my rip software?

What color management settings? Color mode? This sounds like you are simply not using the proper profile.
Mylenium

Motion to FCP round trip color shift

I've been searching all over the web and have found many posts in various forums about the gamma shift that occurs when Motion projects are imported into FCP and then exported out as an MOV (ProRes or H.264), but have yet to find a suitable solution. All of Apple's documentation seems to indicate that using Motion with FCP should be as easy as importing a Motion project to the timeline. Does anyone know how to prevent the gamma shift that ultimately makes Motion elements in the exported MOV appear washed out?
I know that I can enable FCS color matching in QuickTime to adjust the appearance of the MOV, but I'm sending this file to clients that don't use Final Cut and won't have this option; especially those on PC.

Same problem. No grade or LUT. Mac Pro Quad, BM Intensity Pro, JVC DT-V20L1UA.
My test involved NTSC color bars. I exported 10 sec bars out of FCP to a QT, reimported them and cut them back into my sequence. At that point, the imported bars were identical to the fcp bars I'd started with.
After I'd SENT sequence to Color, the bars changed, mostly in lighter in contrast & brightness plus a little hue shift.
After the scene was rendered in Color and round-tripped to FCP, the new "look" came back to fcp
Could it be in the conversion of FCP YUV to Color RGB
Nate Hubbard

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?

Unable to make Transparency work in Gradient Effect (Gradient Tool works fine though)

Hey guys.
Really weird issue here.
Example: (This is not what I use it for, but this is the easiest way to explain the problem) I'm not looking for other solutions on how to do this, I'm just using this set of steps as an example.
I put a picture of trees as the background.
New layer on top, set paint bucket to black and splash the whole document
Go into Blending Effects for the new layer and then add a half transparent-half solid gradient. (Black to clear, for example)
In my photoshop, it shows up as all black still.
Any ideas on why this doesn't work? I can't seem to find the answer anywhere because most searches end up showing up with different problems other people are having.
Would really appreciate the help!
Computer: i7-930, GTX 580, Windows 7 64-bit, Photoshop CS6 Student
So out of curiosity, I just tried using the COLOR blending effects, and then setting the opacity to 0%. And it STILL shows as a black page.
Is there a reason why my opacity slider for blending effects doesn't do anything but change the effect? (In my older CS4, if I set any color/effects in blending effects, that color/effect would take over the entire layer.)
Is this just new to CS6? (Is there a way to revert this "method" back to the old style?)
Workaround so far.
Seems to work if I drop the layer's Fill % to zero.
I prefer the old method in CS4

I would try resetting your preference file first: http://www.lightroomforums.net/showthread.php?14226-Resetting-(or-Trashing-)-the-Lightroom -Preferences-file
Also, install the latest version 4.4.1 would probably be a good idea.

Orange Screen in Motion or FCP

Why do i get orange screens or objects in Motion or FCP
Couldn't find anything in the manual under the word "orange"
does anyone know how to solve this ???

thanx for reply, read the article about rendering prob but this is something different
Also i already am updated to 3.0.1 and having orange screens.
Earlier i thought i had the orange screens because footage was too long in frames or too big in pixels
but today in this one shot as soon as i turn on the Key Primatte i get the orange screen.
What's weird is that Primatte worked all morning on other shots and ive already done primatte keys on this exact same footage before. In a pretty tight spots as to how i will get this shot done if motion refuses to cooperate ?
Message was edited by: sebpetit

QT: Poor video quality for gradients when Motion JPEG A/B codec used.

Hello,
I have a problem using the Quicktime (7.6) and the Motion JPEG A/B codec.
My workflow is as follows:
1. Create animation with Quartz Composer. This animation should use gradients from dark red to white.
2. Export the animation as Quicktime film (MOV), set full HD (1920x1080), duration e.g. 2 minutes.
3. Open exported MOV with Quicktime(Pro)
4. Export again to Quicktime film, now choose Motion JPEG A for codec, set quality to best.
5. Check the exported film. The gradient is not smooth, I see bright and dark lines. The quality of the gradient is poor.
I checked the other codecs. When I use "Animation" then the gradient is smooth and beauty.
Unfortunately I have to use Motion JPEG codec due to customer requirements.
Does anybody have an idea, how I can improve the quality? Maybe internal QT settings? Other external Motion JPEG codec ?
Thanks in advance
LeKarmar

Hello QuickTimeKirk,
Thank you for your reply.
I need Motion JPEG A/B or PhotoJPEG This is my "final distribution format" required by the customer.
I have problems not only with the red color. Even using grey, blue or yellow gradients produces bad output.
You're right. Animation codec produces what I will accept and want, but the files are huge sized and my customer doesn't accept this format.
Please note, that I already set the high quality playback setting in Quicktime.
Regards
LeKarmar
Message was edited by: LeKarmar

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

Importing transparent logo from photoshop into Motion 1.01..

I am trying to import a transparent logo into motion that I did in photoshop..
No matter how I save it in photoshop, when I import in motion it always comes up with white background and never just the logo.. I have tried clicking on the Alpha type in the inspector and then dragging it on to the stage but no luck!!
Not sure if there is even a way to do it? I have the logo and have it as a png, psd and .targa but cant get it so its just the logo..?
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks so much in advance..
G5 Dual 2.5Ghz, 2.5GB Ram, Mac OS X (10.4.6) Logic Pro 7.1.1, Motion 1.0.1

I figured it out!
Just had to research in the help menu more!!

Ease-in ease-out weirdness in motion tab FCP

I've been doing a lot of animating stills in FCP by keyframing SCALE and CENTRE in the MOTION TAB of the VIEWER. I discovered the EASE-IN and EASE-OUT options by control-clicking the end key frames, but when I play back the animated clip, it does these weird lateral curve motions despite my only animating the still in a straight line. How do you ease-in a still and ease-out without this weird motion action occurring? Anyone sorted that? Do I have to use *After Effects* or Motion, or can it be done well in FCP ?

Try moving the image with Anchor Point instead. Some time ago, Tom Wolsky posted the following reply to a thread that is long-gone:
+Let's say you're zooming into a picture. You're starting say a scale of 20% centered on the screen and you going to scale up to 100%, and as you zoom in (scale) you want to move to the upper right corner of the image. Scaling takes place around the anchor point. The anchor point is normally the center of the image. As you move toward the upper right you're actually scaling around a point that's moving farther and farther away from where you're going. This causes overshoot, especially if the scale and center values are eased. (Scaling is not exponential anyway so this exacerbates the problem.) If you animate the anchor point to move opposite the center point, the scaling will continue to happen around the anchor point, which is now moving with you toward where you're going. It'll give you a bit better motion, but you still have to give yourself a little wiggle room.+
+Let me give you some numbers. I'm starting with an image that's 3600x2670. At it's start the image is centered and scaled to 24%. I can't go all the way to 20% because I'll get overshoot on the start when I put on easing because scale is logarithmic, while center is arithmetic. At the end of the motion the image is scaled to 100. It's center is now -1335, 932. (Again because of overshoot I can't go much closer to the edge.) Easing is set for center and scale, and as I'm sure you've seen you get the image sliding off the screen even with leaving the slack that I did. Now add the anchor point animation. Set the start keyframe at 0,0 the same as the center point. Set the end keyframe to 1335, -932, the opposite of the center keyframe and you'll get a motion that stays in the screen. If you could set easing for the anchor point it would be even smoother, but that's not practical in the FCP interface. You get a little snaking effect at the end. All in all pretty inadequate for good motion control.+
+I tried it Motion as well. The first problem is the application can't handle the image at full resolution. It could do the movement with scale animation and a motion path behavior. It was kind of adequate, but easing on the scaling was pretty poor and didn't achieve good results.+
+A major issue in both applications is the the scaling starts quickly and gets slower and slower. This is because of the lack of exponential scaling, and until this is addressed neither application will be more than barely adequate at best when it comes to large scale motion control. Basically neither of them are acceptable for professional work on large format, large scale images. I won't even go into how totally inadequate FCP is for easing stop and go motion.+

Transparency of white gradients: Nesting Motion in FCP

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for