PRODICATOR LESSON – PROFESSIONAL LINE INDICATOR FOR FINAL CUT PRO X – PIXEL FILM STUDIOS

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Learn how to point out interesting facts in your next presentation with PRODICATOR™ from Pixel Film Studios™. This Final Cut Pro X plugin offers over 70 elements such as gradients, backdrops, media frames, text animation control, a bracket and pendulum, magnifier, and more.

WELCOME TO A PRODICATOR LESSON
Welcome to a ProDicator lesson from Pixel Film Studios. ProDicator allows Final Cut Pro X users to point out interesting facts and details about their subject with moving lines and text.

From architecture designs to technique demonstrations, ProDicator can make informational videos both fun and easy to create in Final Cut Pro X.

For this example, we will show you to create a basic technique demonstration.

STEP 1 – PREPARING THE TIMELINE
Let’s begin by selecting a clip or image in the FCPX media library and dragging it to the timeline. In this example, we are going to use a video clip of a man kicking a soccer ball.

Once, you have your footage in the timeline, go to the FCPX titles library to locate the Pro Dicator presets. Scan through the presets and select the one that best matches the look you want. Then, drag the adjustment layer above your clip on the Final Cut Pro X timeline and make it the same length as the footage.

For this example, we will use a straight-line indicator.

STEP 2 – SETTING UP THE PRODICATOR
Now, it’s time to start setting up our Pro Dicator line and text.

First, select the line indicator in the timeline. Then use the on-screen control puck in the viewer window to position its start point.

For this example, we will use the indicator to point out the player’s line of sight. So, we will drag the start point just in front of his face.

Now, go to the FCPX Inspector and use the “end point” parameter to adjust the length and direction of the line. We will place our end point in front of the ball.

Next, use the line color and width parameters to customize the look of the line.

Finally, double click the text placeholder to replace the text with your own description.

Then, select the “Text” tab the FCPX Inspector, to access the color, font, and size controls.

STEP 3 – ANIMATING THE PRODICATOR
Once everything is set up, it’s time to animate our Pro Dicator layers so that they reveal themselves. For this example, let’s make the straight-line indicator grow in once the footage stops moving.

For this example, let’s make a freeze frame so that our Pro Dicator has time to reveal itself.

Select the clip in the timeline.
Then, place the playhead where you want the freeze frame to begin.

Now, click on the retime pop-up menu and select “Hold.”
Drag the end of the red retime handle change the length of the freeze frame.

Start by dragging the edge of the straight-line indicator layer so it begins at the freeze frame. Then move the playhead at the front of the layer and select it in the timeline.

Now, go to the “Reveal Line” parameter in the FCPX Inspector. Change it to 0 and set a key frame.

Then, move the playhead down the timeline 1 second, and change the “Reveal Line” to 100. Since we have already applied a key frame to this parameter, it will auto key frame any changes we make to it.

Next we will want to make the text to fade in after the line has fully revealed itself. Change the text “Fade In” slider to 0 and place a keyframe on the parameter.

Then move the playhead down the timeline 1 more second and change the parameter to 100.

Now that we have successfully set up 1 Pro Dicator, let’s repeat these steps to add two more.

FINAL TOUCHES
Now it’s time for some Final Touches.

Right now our indicator lines are sitting flat on our screen. Let’s use the camera controls to add depth and make them apart of the scene.

Select the Pro Dicator line layer in the timeline. Then scroll to the bottom of the Inspector window until you see the “Camera Controls.”

Use the vertical and horizontal rotation parameters to point the line towards the screen.

Finally, for a scene with shallow focus, you can turn up the depth of field parameter to match the clip.

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