Tracking text in FCP

Hi,

I'm trying to keyframe text with tracking (and not even a very extreme spread), to emulate the text puling apart and no matter what I do, when I render it, it comes out jaggedy.

I've used multiple fonts and multiple tracking amounts (from 1-5, 1-10, 1-20 etc.) and it doesn't seem to make a difference. I've tried motion blurs, changing the color of the text, and still no difference. I've even tried it in 4.5 and 5.0. And on multiple computers (all G5's).

Any advice? Am I better off doing this in AE or Motion?

Steve

Motion or Livetype is much much easier

Not everyone can run Motion, unfortunately. I found the LiveType and Title 3D, which come with FCP tracks text nicely.

Of course, you'll have to render the text and view it on a video production monitor.

If you are not, then you don't know what you are really getting.

Kevin Monahan
Author, "Motion Graphics and Effects in FCP"
Take My Masters Seminar in LA!

> I'm trying to keyframe text with tracking (and not even a very extreme
> spread), to emulate the text puling apart and no matter what I do, when I
> render it, it comes out jaggedy.

Not being a big Motion or LiveType fan myself, I've used this technique on my FCP-generated titles lots of times and never had this issue. Chances are you're watching your results on the Canvas window, which always shows effects in the timeline as being crappy, even when rendered. Use an external monitor to watch your timeline, always, if you want to see what it'll really look like on a movie file or on tape.

Why don't you use Title 3D? Way better controls there....

Best,
Kevin Monahan
Author, "Motion Graphics and Effects in FCP"
Take my LA Seminar!