To complete this exercise you must have Final Cut Pro 10.2.1 or higher.

I also recommend that you purchase a copy of Apple Motion.

In the lower right corner of the viewer area, click on the T icon to display the title browser

window.

Click on the 3D category.

From here you will see various pre-built 3D animations for your title.

Hover the mouse cursor over a preset to get a preview of each animation.

After you find a preset you like, double click on it to place the title preset into a project.

Next, click on the title within the timeline area to select it.

Use the keyboard shortcut Command 4 to bring forward the inspector window.

At the top of the window, make sure the text tab is selected.

From here you can easily change the name of the text object.

In this example, I'll give title a name, Jamaica.

At the top of the window, choose a preset style to help you get started.

In this example, I'll choose this glossy green preset.

Here, you will also have basic controls for the font type, size, and alignment.

I'll go ahead and increase the text size.

Okay, if you scroll down through the inspector window, you will also see additional parameters

for adjusting your 3D Text.

You will see a category called Material.

Click on the pull down menu and choose multiple materials.

You will now see that you can assign different materials to the face, edges and sides of

your text.

In this example, I'll change the front edge to this yellow plastic material.

Scroll down within the inspector window and you will see additional parameters for adding

a glow, and a drop shadow.

In this example, I'll add a drop shadow to the text object.

With the title selected in the timeline area, click on the title within the Viewer window.

You should see three circles that represent three different axis points.

The circle on the left activates a green ring that allows you to rotate your title on its

Y axis.

The circle on top activates a red ring that rotates on the X axis.

The circle on the right activates a blue ring that rotates on the Z axis.

And these three arrows correspond to the position of the text on the Y, X, and Z plane.

Okay, so some quick pointers to adjusting 3D text.

Depending on your text object these rotation control points are sometimes difficult to

see.

If you hold down the command key on your keyboard you will clearly see each axis ring without

having to click on the circles.

Or, if you continue holding down the command key and drag anywhere outside an axis ring,

you can control all three axis points at the same time.

As you make adjustments, you will see the 3D position coordinates in the upper left

corner of the viewer window.

Important: if you manipulate your title object in 3D using the axis rings, it may be to reset

the title back to its default position.

That's because there are no inspector controls for resetting the position and rotation of

the X, Y, and Z parameters.

Which brings me to my next point.

Apple makes a software product called Apple Motion.

Apple Motion is an absolute necessity for serious Final Cut Pro X users, and it can

be purchased from the App Store.

With Apple Motion, you can edit or create Final Cut Pro X title templates.

This will allow you to have full control over the X, Y and Z parameters directly within

Final Cut Pro X.

To do this, right click on an existing title template and choose Open a copy in Motion.

Or, you can launch Apple Motion outside of Final Cut Pro X, and create a new Title from

scratch.

After Apple Motion opens, navigate to the browser window in the upper left corner and

click on the inspector tab.

Then click on the properties tab.

Press the 'Q' key on the keyboard to activate the 3D transform tool.

Notice how the axis rings of the text object now correspond to parameters within the inspector

window.

It's these parameters that were missing from the title template within Final Cut Pro X.

Navigate to the position parameter pull down menu and select publish.

Do the same for the Rotation parameters.

Navigate to the file menu and choose Save-As.

Give your new template a name and press the return key to publish it.

Now, when you return back to Final Cut Pro X, you will now see your new template within

the 3D category of the title browser window.

Double click on the new template that you saved from Apple Motion.

In doing so, if you are parked over your old title, the new template will replace it.

It will keep the original name, but you will have to re-apply the style adjustments.

However, from this point forward you can now use this new template with the published parameters

from Apple Motion.

So to demonstrate select the title within the Viewer window.

Then navigate to the Title tab within the inspector window.

You will now see the position and rotation parameters that were published from Apple

Motion.

So now if you move your title object, you will have access to the physical parameters

within the Inspector window.

This means that you can now create 3D animations with the added ability to create keyframes

on the x, y, and z axis without having to go back into Apple Motion.

You also now have the ability to reset parameters directly from the inspector window.

To add keyframes, right click on the title segment within the timeline area.

Choose show video animation from the contextual menu.

Navigate back to the viewer area and make a 3D rotation adjustment on the Y axis to

the title.

Move over to the inspector window and click keyframe button for the Y rotation parameter.

A keyframe will appear within the video animation area for the title object.

Move the playhead indicator forward a few frames and set the Y rotation parameter back

to 0.

This will add another keyframe within the animation area for the title object.

Okay, that's it! Check it out.

For other great tips like this, or to enroll in a Final Cut Pro X training course, visit

GeniusDV.com