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What Exactly are Adjustment Layers?
An Adjustment Layer is anempty clip/layer on the timeline of your video. You can trim and extend theselayers just like you would with any other clip. The best part about AdjustmentLayers is that you can work with multiple clips, titles, and graphics at once –and the effects you choose to apply will be visible on everything below theAdjustment Layer.
Adjustment Layers werefirst introduced by Adobe years ago in Photoshop. It was then incorporated intoPremiere around the Creative Cloud release. Many people opt for AdjustmentLayers during video editing, as they quicken the editing process, making it alot easier and effortless.
Speed Up Your Workflow
Creating your AdjustmentLayers in Final Cut Pro X will improve your workflow, helping you save a lot oftime and effort. It will significantly assist you when working with compoundclips, giving you the ability to keyframe color grading and effects in waysthat you wouldn’t be able to otherwise.
Once you master AdjustmentLayers, there’s nothing like it. So if you are up for the task, we’ve listeddown some simple ways in which you can learn how to use Adjustment Layers inFinal Cut Pro X right away. Read to find out more:
How Can You Use an Adjustment Layer?
Create Moveable Markers
FCPX does not offer you theoption of moveable markers. It only allows you to nudge them in a frame at atime, but you cannot drag them around. With an Adjustment Layer, you can dojust that, making it super easy to work with.
Introduce Color Adjustment
Color correction becomes a simple task with Adjustment Layers. You can correct color and add effects to multiple clips all at once. All you have to do is add your grades and effects to the Adjustment Layer. If you want to cover multiple clips at once, extend the layer. If you don’t have the features to be applicable on all clips, disable the layers. It is as easy and as quick as that.
Compatibility With All Effects
The Adjustment Layers workwith all effects, and the color board works on titles, too. For example, if youwant to have a specific look for a certain period, add a clean title to the toptrack for that time and introduce its effect. This technique is perfect forkeeping their timelines in order and not ending up with complicated compoundclip messes.
Edit Several Clips at Once
By using Adjustment Layers,your workflow will be seamless and less time-consuming. You can opt for editingmultiple clips at once, too, rather than working on them individually. Anyclips underneath the layer will be manipulated by whatever effect you apply.These factors quicken up the speed of rendering dramatically.
Free FCPX Adjustment Layer Title Plugin
Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) isone of the most popular video editing software, preferred by top videographersworldwide. It completely revolutionizes the post-production process, withexcellent editing options. Using the features Final Cut Pro X offers, you cantranscode your full-resolution media and seamlessly share these video librarieswith editors anywhere in the world.
One of the most commonlyasked questions is how to use the Adjustment Layers when it comes to thissoftware. This question is pretty justified, as Final Cut Pro X does not havean in-built Adjustment Layer function. While the software does not offer youthe option, it does not mean that you cannot create your own.
Can You Design an Adjustment Layer Yourself?
Final Cut Pro does not come with a built-in Adjustment Layer. While there are several sites where you can purchase the plugin that adds this effect, if you have Motion 5 handy, creating an Adjustment layer would barely require any time.
Once you have created an Adjustment Layer, you won’t need to create it over again. It will be available for use in all of your future FCPX projects. Let’s have a look into how you can create an Adjustment Layer.
Creating an Adjustment Layer in Motion 5
Step 1: Open Motion and create a Project. While not critical, make sure you set the Motion presets to match your typical video project for both format and effect duration. You also can alter the duration in the Final Cut Pro X when you apply the effect. Check the dimensions of the composition, and adjust to meet your requirements. It is advisable to set it to the highest resolution and frame rate you plan on using.
Then, click the Final Cut Title option – this is an important step because it allows the effect we are creating in Motion to work in Final Cut Pro X.
Step 2: Move to the Layers window (it is hidden, open it using the shortcut F5) and look out for the Text Layer. Please select it and delete the Text Layer using the backspace key. This is the only change you need to make here. Then, select the Project Layer, and in the Inspector, select the Properties tab.
Step 3: Head to the Motion Blur Section. Here, you have to set the Samples and Shutter Angle amounts. Now, what are Samples, and how do you need to adjust them? Sample number tells Motion how many frames to look at when creating motion blur. If you choose a higher number here, you will get a more detailed outcome. However, do keep in mind that a higher sample number also means a longer rendering time. The recommended sample number is 8 – at this rate, you would get just the clarity you expect while saving a lot of time on the rendering.
Let’s move to the Shutter Angle. The Shutter Angle sets the amount of motion blur, making it critical criteria to be looked at. You can opt to set this angle at 180 degrees, as it delivers a natural-looking motion blur. For more motion blur, you can simply opt for a higher angle.
Step 4: Next, go to the Canvas Window’s top and open the Render dropdown menu. Ensure you have selected the Motion Blur option. Once you have chosen this option, move the Playhead to the end of your timeline.
Step 5: Now, you have to add a marker. For this, press Shift+M. Further, press Shift+Command M to edit the marker. From the Type dropdown menu, select the Project Loop End option.
Step 6: Select the Command option. You can also opt for Control + S instead. Name the project as an Adjustment Layer. You can also add a new category to make it easier to find. Click on Publish, and you are good to go – your Adjustment Layer will appear beside your titles in the folder you saved earlier.
Your Motion Blur adjustment layer is now ready for use in Final Cut Pro. You will find it in your Titles and Generators browser, in the category you chose when publishing your effect. To apply this adjustment layer to your project, connect the layer above your clips in the timeline. Since this given effect is an adjustment layer, it will affect all the layers under it – making your job a lot easier and faster.
Summing Up
When it comes to the post-production stage, your ultimate aim is to edit videos in the best way possible without putting in a lot of time and effort. You want to quicken your workflow without compromising on the resulting video quality, and the option of an adjustment layer helps you achieve just that. Instead of wasting your time editing single clips, create an adjustment layer.
You can not only edit multiple clips at once but also ensure that the editing is uniform throughout. A perfect solution for videographers looking for excellent videos while shortening the editing time, the adjustment layer is a feature here to stay!