ABSORB LIVETYPE INTO FCP AND MOTION

STRIPPED DOWN LIVETYPE INTO FCP ITSELF

LiveType for static and crawl titles is an abomination. You are twice removed from the actual screen when you should be composing, kerning and leading your lines inside the screen, over the image, able to preview the interaction directly. You should be able to do this basic post routine quickly, noneof this round trip crap.

Only Boris Calligraphy comes close to a title tool, and even that is *removed* from the action, the Canvas image. Tools should be accessible in the Canvas, like Avid Title Tool, which for my money remains the champ in basic title design for video. In JiveType, you have no control over tabs, the interface is slow on older PowerPC's. You cannot see it over video, and when you bring a video background as part of a round trip, you actually risk trashing your media file-- in several tries using ChiveType I end up with white clips which once held the background video. Haven't a clue why.

Fold DeadType INTO Final Cut Pro as a Title Tool directly over video, part of the CANVAS. If it's not needed, keep it out of the way. A simple popup command overlays the title composition window when needed, for precise lower thirds, main titles, end title crawls. Add simple shapes for rules, bars, support 360-degree gradients and allow limited layering.

Enable easy formatting line by line if required, including font TAB ALIGNMENT, size, color, kerning (including the setting of kerning pairs) scaling of height and width, drop shadow, change duration by stretching the title clip in the FCP timeline, and the problem is solved.

For special effects titles over extreme snowboarding videos with lettering molded by disembodied hands in clay, move the rest of HiveType into MOTION and be done with it. SHEESH.

- Loren
Today's FCP 4 / 5 keytip:
Set a multi-parameter Motion FX Keyframe with Control K !

The FCP KeyGuide?: your power placemat.
Now available at KeyGuide Central.
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