REAL 3D?!

In the summer of 2011, Final Cut Pro X was unveiled and Motion 5 was also released to take its editing functionality to the next level. With Motion 5, users are able to design their own generators, titles, transitions, and effects to diversify their library of editing tools. Yet one of Apple’s greatest shortcomings in these two powerful softwares is the lack of true 3D. While Motion 5 is a compositing tool and was never meant to compete directly with more sophisticated 3D softwares such as After Effects and Cinema 4D, its limitations did not go unnoticed by its users or plugin development companies. As early as 2011, developers have simulated the effects of 3D using Motion’s built in filters, behaviors, and a likely a great deal of keyframes. Since then, innovation has only been rumored.

Today, Pixel Film Studios releases FCPX3DText, the first ever 3D Text Plugin for Final Cut Pro X. How they did it? I couldn’t tell you. Here’s the trailer.

FCPX3D TEXT – PROFESSIONAL 3 DIMENSIONAL TEXT FOR FCPX – PIXEL FILM STUDIOS from Pixel Film Studios

FEATURES

FCPX3DText has four primary presets and nearly all of the features you’d expect out of a fully functioning 3D text plugin. At the most basic level, color controls, extrude controls, and text arrangement controls. For the more advanced user, FPCX3DText boasts bevel settings, outline controls, camera controls, and three customizable lights to change the shades of the extrude interior and text face. I could delve into further depth, but instead of spending the next hour breaking down the nuances of this plugin, here’s a screenshot of all the published parameters.

And here’s something I created rather quickly,

After a couple hours of use, I have to say that the plugin is fantastic. The text renders quickly, the controls are intuitive, and most importantly, it’s ACTUAL 3D TEXT! Oh, and did I mention the plugin was working simultaneously in three different dimensions? Yep, it’s doing that.

LAST WORDS

All jokes aside, this development for Final Cut Pro X is absolutely ground-shattering. And beyond that, it’s indicative that plugin developers are moving in the direction of 3D Objects in the near future. I can’t wait for wave of awesome products to come. Stay tuned.

-FCPXpert

Slash uses several colorful and dynamic motion design motifs within three different drag and drop transitions.

In the Final Cut Pro X Transitions Browser, you’ll find the three different transition types. Each of these is infinitely variable using the controls provided.

Tangent FX | Slash from Tangent FX on Vimeo.

TRANSITION TYPES

There are three types of transitions in Slash: SlashWipe, CenterWipe and SlashDissolve.

SLASHWIPE

Colorful bars wipe along with a linear video wipe. Controls allow for adjustment of the angle, color, speed, blending mode and more.

CENTERWIPE

Center wipe is a very soft wipe that opens up from the center, pulling bars along with the wipe. Like the SlashWipe, there is control over angle, speed, blending and more.

SLASHDISSOLVE

Taking the focus away from the color, SlashDissolve uses the same types of bars from the other effects. However, the bars are used as a matte for a dissolve from A to B. There is a slight amount of a glow available with the Glow control, which defaults to 0. Lastly, there is also a Random Seed “Generate” button, which randomizes the arrangement of the slashes when pressed.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: This plugin is very easy and simple to use for any experience level.

The bad: The price may be a little steep for the amount of transitions that are included, however they all work very well.

Overall: Overall with simple controls that may give you new look each and every time, this transition plugin for fcpx is definitely worth the time.

-FCPXpert

While Apple’s Mac Pro won’t start shipping until February 2014, the free Final Cut Pro X update proves to be much less of a tease. So what’s new with Final Cut? Why the big hype over 4K video and does it matter? Should you update? This, and more, coming in February 2014.

Just kidding, of course.

WHAT’S NEW?

Better. Faster. Stronger. But aside from all that good stuff about hardcore processing power of Apples latest prodigal unit and Final Cut Pro X, the usage of both GPU’s for faster rendering, and that other stuff about being able to run sixteen 4k clips simultaneously, there are interface related things we as users care about.

BIGGEST THINGS

Perhaps the biggest change is the way FCPX now organizes media. Instead of having separate Events and Projects libraries, a new all encompassing Libraries pane has been implemented. This allows users to now categorize their media into events, and then projects within those events. While the new system grants your LIbrary basic folder like functionality, you may have to kinda sorta update all of your existing Events for them to work in Final Cut 10.1– undoubtedly some lack of foresight on Apple’s end.

4k video is one of the primary selling points of Apples new software.  Combined with the power of the new Mac Pro, video clips with ridiculously high pixel counts can now be edited, allowing for some of the highest quality home videos you will ever witness.  This places Apple’s Final Cut at the precipice of intuitive video editing softwares.  While industry technologies have not yet conformed to 4k, expect camera companies, television makers, and Blu-Ray’s successor to do so promptly.

Final Cut Pro 10.1 features Project Snapshots, which is essentially a “Save As” option for your FCPX projects. Whereas before in FCPX, the autosave function only allows one version of your project to be saved, now you can save various versions of your film.

FCPX now supports MTS, MT2S, and better supports REDCODE RAW files.

OTHER STUFF

- Ability to copy and paste multiple keyframes
- Ability to fade into individual audio channels
- Audio trimming improvement
- Improvements to clip trimming

SHOULD YOU UPDATE?

Absolutely. You won’t notice half of the new things that Apple did to make this software better, but the overall performance and compatibility of 10.1 makes rearranging your Libraries all worth it in the end. If you need some assistance with upgrading, here’s an informative video by Larry Jordan.

PROFESSIONAL GUN FIRE EFFECT FOR FCPX

Star in your very own action film with PROGUN™ from Pixel Film Studios™. With over 30 muzzle fire effect presets for Final Cut Pro X, be in total control over your muzzle fire effects in a few clicks of a mouse. Rotate your muzzle fire in 3D space, choose your color, and even control the muzzle flash on your subject all with in Final Cut Pro X.

ROTATE YOUR 3D MUZZLE FIRE

PROGUN™ has the ability to be angled left or right, and even up or down. Rotate your muzzle fire to the angle that best fits your footage. With PROGUN™ your also have the ability to combine your muzzle fire with more than one or stick with one muzzle effect. With each published parameter you can key frame your muzzle fire to move with your footage all with in Final Cut Pro X.

OVER 30 PRESETS

PROGUN™ offers over 30 customizable presets to give your next action flick an extra flare. Select from either single or multi muzzle fires, each one with it’s own individual style. Customize your hue, saturation, opacity, blur, fire amount, and more. Each categories offers fun and easy to use published parameters built for you all with in Final Cut Pro X.

ON-SCREEN CONTROLS

With PROGUN™ we give you on-screen controls to position and scale your gun fire along with on-screen controls for position, scale, and angle of your flash. Click and drag each point to the desired location. With in each category you have up to eight control points that give you the ability to control the flash back range that emits from your fire arm, all with a click of the mouse.

DESIGNED FOR FINAL CUT PRO X

PROGUN™ was professionally designed to work seamlessly inside of Final Cut Pro X. As a FCPX effect, the PROGUN™ presets can be dragged and dropped onto your footage and previewed in real time without rendering. With easy-to-use controls that can be found in the FCPX inspector, you can calibrate your settings in a few clicks of a mouse.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: Finally, a plugin that makes sense. Film a gun battle and add muzzle fire, need I say more?

The bad: They need to add shell case dropping and blood splatter. I think those two things would make great additions.

Overall: A chance to have realistic muzzle fire? yes please!

-FCPXpert

Ever wanted to give directions to your home or business in a fun and easy way, well now you can with PROMAP™.

With a few clicks of a mouse you can create a clean and great looking video that display your location and give your audience directions with out ever getting lost again. Create your map with PROMAP™ with just a few clicks of a mouse all with in Final Cut Pro X.

OVER 40 PRESETS

PROMAP offers over 40 customizable presets such as a spotlight/blur effect, icons and objects, tabs, text bubbles, custom map mode, look down mode, and sphere mode. Each categories offers fun and easy to use published parameters built for you in Final Cut Pro X with a click of a mouse.

CHOOSE YOUR STYLE

With PROMAP™ you have the choice of having your camera fly above your map with a look down mode, a global sphere mode, and even a custom mode where you are able to animate how ever you would like. Select from five objects that follow the end point, or drop in your own image. With PROMAP™ the possibilities are endless.

ON-SCREEN CONTROLS

With PROMAP™ you have the ability to control each point with on-screen controls. Click and drag each point to the desired location and then under the line control parameter soften the edges with it’s published slider. With in each category you have either the choice of two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight control points to best fit your map.

DESIGNED FOR FINAL CUT PRO X

PROMAP™ was professionally designed to work seamlessly inside of Final Cut Pro X. As a FCPX tool, the PROMAP™ presets can be dragged and dropped onto your footage and previewed in real time without rendering. With easy-to-use controls that can be found in the FCPX inspector, you can calibrate your settings in a few clicks of a mouse.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: PROMAP provides users with all the landmark icons, direction lines, and text boxes needed to create animated map directions.

The bad: PROMAP provides only the lines, icons and text. You will need to take screenshots of Google Maps to input into the plugin.

Overall: Great plugin for those who want to use a map in their video project

-FCPXpert

PROFESSIONAL FILM REEL EFFECTS IN FCPX.

Bring back that edgy or vintage film look with an old millimeter film reel leader effect by Pixel Film Studios. With PROSTROBE™ users have full customization with the option of choosing from text, number countdowns, drop zones, and objects to create the look they have always wanted. Users can turn back time and transform their media with PROSTROBE™ all with a click of a mouse with in Final Cut Pro X.

FILM LEADERS IN FCPX

PROSTROBE™ creates a look almost forgotten by many. Users now have full customization with the option of type, numbers, shapes, or even their own images with drop zones. Users simply layer these title effects on top of their footage and with a few custom adjustments the effect does the rest. With PROSTROBE™ footage will never look the same again all with in FCPX.

OVER 30 EFFECT PRESETS

With PROSTROBE™ the user can choose from either number countdowns, objects, text, or even their own image with drop zones. Users can adjust the film movement, motion blur, rotation, speed, scale randomness, position, random position, and more all with in Final Cut Pro X. With so many options and customizations users will be able to create that old film leader effect with a click of a mouse.

COLORIZE & MORE

With PROSTROBE™ users have the ability to change the blend mode and color of the object projected with each effect, by having this option the possibilities are truly endless. This gives the user the ability to have a different look every time if they choose to do so all with in Final Cut Pro X with a click of a mouse.

DESIGNED FOR FINAL CUT PRO X

PROSTROBE™ was professionally designed to work seamlessly inside of Final Cut Pro X. As a FCPX title, the PROSTROBE™ presets can be dragged and dropped onto your footage. With easy-to-use controls that can be found in the FCPX inspector, the user can calibrate their settings in just a few clicks of a mouse.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: Great for an 80′s type music video and subliminal messages.

The bad: Don’t really Have much bad things to say about this. It’s a simple to understand Plugin.
Overall: My favorite part about this plugin is that the words are customizable.

-FCPXpert

PROMESSAGE is an easy to use message simulation plugin that allows Final Cut Pro X users to create dialogue between two or more parties.

Easily adjust the sliders, checkboxes, and color wheels in FCPX to customize the speech bubbles, add a date/time, and much more. PROMESSAGE allows users to send pictures, messages, and even videos. Create endless conversation streams without a single keyframe.

SECTION CUSTOMIZABLE IN FCPX

Look toward the FCPX inspector windows for parameter controls that allow you to change the color, position, animation speed, and bubble style. Use the simple sliders to adust the height and width of the bubble. Add a border to PROMESSAGE and even make it 3D. Colorize the bubbles to signify the arrival of a new chat partner.

PICTURES, VIDEOS, & TEXT

PROMESSAGE allows users to send text messages, pictures, and videos with ease. Drag a title in the Final Cut Pro X timeline and utilize the easy to use drop zone to insert personal media. Double click the drop zone to activate on-screen controls that will allow the adjustment of both media size and position. PROMESSAGE will automatically send the message upon play.

CUSTOMIZABLE OVERLAY

Simulate the look of popular smart phone devices with PROMESSAGE’s customizable overlay. Control the battery life and reception with easy to use sliders, adjust the time, and control the text headers. Adjust the animation speed to match the project. Create a beautiful project without the headache of extreme editing.

DRAG & DROP EASE

Using PROMESSAGE is as easy as dragging and dropping. Stack the title layers atop one another in the Final Cut Pro X timeline to instantly start creating conversation. Feel free to adjust the height and width of PROMESSAGE, it is built perfectly accommodate user’s messaging needs. For a more dynamic look, utilize the camera controls in the background-camera key and adjust the angle of view.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: Allows users to make clean, cool text messaging conversations like the ones on House of Cards.

The bad: Has a bit of a learning curve, but once you watch the video tutorial on the Pixel Film Studios website, it’s easy enough to understand.

Overall: A great plugin, easy to use (once you get the hang of it). PROMESSAGE is a must have if you need texting dialogue in your next film project.

-FCPXpert

PROFESSIONAL LOW-FIDELITY EFFECTS

Re-create the popular Lo-Fi look of the 1980′s toy cameras with PRO-FI™ from Pixel Film Studios™. With the PRO-FI™ presets for Final Cut Pro X, you can add the vignettes, blurs, colors, and grain that gave these low-cost cameras their iconic look.

LOW-FIDELITY EFFECTS

The Lo-Fi look became popular in the 1980′s with the release of low-budget, meniscus lens cameras that left heavy vignettes, color distortions, and blurs on their photos.

With the 35 customizable presets that come with PRO-FI™, you can re-create the look of these Lo-Fi lens with your footage in Final Cut Pro X.

ADD A FRAME

After choosing the Lo-Fi photo grade you like, you can easily add a film frame to your footage. Then use the size, roundness, and softness parameters in the FCPX Inspector to customize the looks of your frame.

CONTROL THE LENS BLUR

Control the lens blur using the on-screen controls in the FCPX viewer. Simply grab control of one of the handles to adjust the position and size of your blur area. Then use the simple sliders found in the FCPX Inspector to adjust the strength and softness of the area.

DESIGNED FOR FINAL CUT PRO X

PRO-FI™ was professionally designed to work seamlessly inside of Final Cut Pro X. As a FCPX effect, PRO-FI™ plugins can be dragged and dropped onto your footage and previewed in real time without rendering. With easy-to-use controls that can be found in the FCPX inspector, you can calibrate your lo-fi look in a few clicks of a mouse.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: A low resolution video plug in, great Idea!

The bad: Turn your video into an old vintage style! The video looks good and the plugin works well. but has a bit of a learning curve.
Overall: A great plugin if your looking to create a vintage style I’d say that PROFI is a great option to have.

-FCPXpert

PROFESSIONAL VINTAGE PRINT EFFECTS

Users can now bring a vintage printing process, once forgotten by many, onto their footage. PROPRESS™ gives the user total control over color, shadows, glows, noise, value, blend modes, and more. With PROPRESS™ the user has the option to choose from either Bichromate-Print, Lith-Print, or paper texture presets all with in Final Cut Pro X. With PROPRESS™ media will never look the same again all with in Final Cut Pro X.

VINTAGE PRINTING IN FCPX

PROPRESS™ takes the user back to a time when photo processing was truly another skill in its own. PROPRESS™ offers over 60 fully customizable effect presets. With PROPRESS™ the user has the option to choose from either Bichromate-Print, Lith-Print, or paper texture presets all with in Final Cut Pro X. The user can sit back and watch as their shadows become dark and rich, and how each highlight is brightened. With PROPRESS™ the users footage will never be the same again.

OVER 60 EFFECT PRESETS

With PROPRESS™ the user is given over 60 fully customizable presets that will surely generate that vintage Lith-Print or Bichromate-Print with a few clicks of a mouse. The users has total control over multiple blend modes, hue adjustment, value, shadow radius, glow radius, noise, custom color sliders, and more. With PROPRESS™ the possibilities are truly endless all with in Final Cut Pro X.

CHOOSE YOUR PAPER

PROPRESS™ gives the user 10 paper textures to choose from. With each texture the user has the ability to adjust dark and light values, opacity, shadows, midtones, highlight, and blend modes. With these simple and easy to use presets the user can generate a new look every time, or create a combination and stack multiple paper textures onto their footage with a click of a mouse.

DESIGNED FOR FINAL CUT PRO X

PROPRESS™ was professionally designed to work seamlessly inside of Final Cut Pro X. As a FCPX effect, PROPRESS™ plugins can be dragged and dropped onto the user’s footage and previewed in real time without rendering. With easy-to-use controls that can be found in the FCPX inspector, users can easily calibrate their photographic look in a few clicks of a mouse.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: Great Paper Texture and Color grade effect.

The bad: As great as this is, there should be more options.

Overall: A great addition to your toolbox arsenal of effects. Great plugin, easy to use.

-FCPXpert

PROFESSIONAL SILENT FILM EFFECTS IN FCPX

Ever want to create a silent film but just didn’t have the tools to do so, well now you can with PROSILENT™. With PROSILENT™ users can apply dirt, dust, scratches, and more. Users can apply as many filters as they want and choose from blend modes to get that custom look. Users have the power to design conversation with text styles, borders, and line designs. Set the stage with PROSILENT™ and never look and new footage the same way again, all with in Final Cut Pro X.

SILENT FILMS IN FCPX

PROSILENT™ gives the users the ability to create that silent film look with ease. With PROSILENT™ creating a silent film has never been this fun. Users have full control over static, focus, dirt, jitter, and more. PROSILENT offers a selection of titles, effects, and even a transition. With PROSILENT™ users can make any sort of media feel like a old film all with in Final Cut Pro X with a click of a mouse.

OVER 40 EFFECT PRESETS

With over 40 titles and effects combined users will be able to apply any combination to get the best silent film look desired. With PROSILENT™ users can create custom color filters and adjust threshold, smoothness, highlight, and more. Users can apply dirt or dust and adjust items such as speed size, defocus and more. With PROSILENT™ the possibilities are truly endless all with in Final Cut Pro X.

ON-SCREEN CONTROLS

With PROSILENT™ on-screen controls are simple and easy to use. Users can control the location of their vignette, or control the location and angle of their text line designs. The frustration is gone with PROSILENT™ putting the users first in control with simple and easy to use on-screen controls all with in Final Cut Pro X.

DESIGNED FOR FINAL CUT PRO X

PROSILENT™ was professionally designed to work seamlessly inside of Final Cut Pro X. As a FCPX effect and title, the PROSILENT™ presets can be dragged and dropped onto your footage. With easy-to-use controls that can be found in the FCPX inspector, with a few adjustments the user can easily find that vintage look with just a few clicks of a mouse.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: A charming plugin that allows the user to create a 1920′s type film just by dragging the plugin over your footage.

The bad: A slight learning curve. Once you get the hang of it the plugin is easy to use.
Overall: a fun and easy way to get that 1920′s film look.

-FCPXpert

With PROPEN™ from Pixel Film Studios™, user can now show off their game plan, or simple enjoy this fun and easy-to-use tool.

PROPEN™ lets the user draw around their subject matter as it goes across the screen, and even magnify the center of interest. Have control over line width, line spacing, line roundness, magnification, blend modes, color, and more all with in Final Cut Pro X.

DRAW AND MAGNIFY IN FCPX

With PROPEN™ we give the user total control over each pen stroke. The user can now draw around their subject matter and then zoom in it if they so desire. Users can blur out the background or magnification, change the color and blend mode of their background or magnification, and more. With PROPEN™ you are given over 80 individually design presets that can be easy manipulated with a click of a mouse all with in Final Cut Pro X.

OVER 80 EFFECT PRESETS

With PROPEN™ users can choose from 2 point lines, 3 point lines, 8 point lines, arrows, magnified pen strokes, and 11 styles of magnifications that can be outlined with a pen stroke. Each preset gives the user variety giving the user flexibility to create a unique desired look every time. Adjust the pen stroke width, spacing, roundness, drop shadow controls, line color, magnification blend mode and color, zoom, blur, background controls, and more.

ON-SCREEN CONTROLS

With PROPEN™ on-screen controls fun, simple, and easy to use. Users have total control over position, scale, and rotation. The user can controls each point within the pen stroke with a click of a mouse. The frustration is gone with PROPEN™ putting the users first in control with simple and easy to use on-screen controls all with a few clicks of a mouse all with in Final Cut Pro X.

DESIGNED FOR FINAL CUT PRO X

PROPEN™ was professionally designed to work seamlessly inside of Final Cut Pro X. As a FCPX title, each PROPEN™ presets can be dragged and dropped onto their footage and be adjusted by on-screen controls. With easy-to-use controls that can be found in the FCPX inspector, with a few adjustments the user can easily find the best look with just a few clicks of a mouse.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: Final Cut Pro X has been needing a tool like this for too long. It’s easy to use, Just drag and drop the points, The keyframing takes some getting used to, but overall it’s a great plugin for drawing attention to your subject.

The bad: There is a slight learning curve, but once you get an understanding on how to use PROPEN you can realize the potential of what this tool can do. I would say that the good outweighs the bad.

Overall: Great plugin, A great way to animate lines and circles in a video project, I can see how there are many uses for PROPEN and thats just scratching the surface of its full potential. I strongly recommend it!

-FCPXpert

PROFESSIONAL EDITING TOOLS FOR FCPX

FCPX Toolbox Volume 2 provides Final Cut Pro X users with a new batch of essential effects and devices that all serious editors can use to finish and polish their projects. From patching tools to keyframeless camera movements, the FCPX toolbox can quickly and easily create looks that would otherwise not be possible in Final Cut Pro X.

PATCHING TOOL

Final Cut Pro X users can now airbrush and clean up unwanted textures, marks, or objects from their scene with the Patching Tool from Pixel Film Studios™.

Editors can simply apply the tool to their clip, move the patch over the imperfection, and then select a sample area from the image to replace it with.

REFLECTIVE SURFACE TOOL

FCPX users can use the Reflective Surface Tool to add a clean, elegant sheen to any image.

Editors can apply the effect to their image, adjust the reflection controls and then pan across the surface to see the light interact with their image.

3D SHADOW TOOL

Final Cut Pro X users can create realistic drop shadows like never before with the 3D Shadow Tool included in the FCPX Toolbox Volume 2.

Editors can add up to 4 light sources to their scene to make every shadow angle and pattern they would ever want. This effect is great for shape cutouts and logos.

3D CAMERA MOVEMENTS

With the 3D Camera Tools, users can dolly and twist into an area of their image without ever setting a single keyframe in Final Cut Pro X. This tool allows users to create a camera path by simply using the on-screen controls in the FCPX Viewer Window.

TEXT PATH TOOLS

Editors can use the Text Path Tool to wrap text around a circle, square, wave or custom 3 point shape in Final Cut Pro X.

With on-screen controls and easy-to-use-parameters, editors can quickly set up fluid bending text in a few clicks of a mouse.

REFLECTIVE TEXT

Users can create clean, polished titles with the reflective text tool in the FCPX Toolbox Volume 2.

With on-screen controls and customizable reflection parameters, editors can position their text in 3D space and watch as the shine reacts to the change in orientation.

TEXT SHADOWS

Users can create epic titles by adding long dramatic shadows to their text. With the Shadow Tool included in the FCPX Toolbox, editors can control both the text and light source in 3D space to create every type of shadow they could want.

FCPXLAND’S REVIEW

The good: Easy to use, drag and drop tools. Easy to understand! It’s obvious how a video editor Could benefit from this toolbox.

The bad: There needs to be more tools and more options. Great product! hope they expand with more ideas in the future

Overall: Great plugin, they hit the nail on the head with this tool box series. Creating tools that I never knew I always needed.

-FCPXpert