Effect question? I really have no idea, and that is why i need your help.

[arhartman]

Okay, we've all seen it done before, but I just don't know what to call it.

This is what happens: at the end of a cut or something its like a white flash. Sometimes it goes out of focus and this is like a giant flash of white light, and I suppose it is used as a fade out. But it is usually really quick.

1) Do you know what I am talking about?

2) Do you know what it is called?

3) On FCP how do I do it?

cheers.

 

[cyclone]

It's called "flash frame" and was originally a film artifact caused by the turning off of the camera and, as the camera speed wound down at the end of a scene, the individual film frames would be exposed for longer and longer periods of time as the shutter slowed down to a stop. I'm sure it can be simulated in Final Cut...but it will take someone with more knowledge than me to tell you how.

 

[arhartman]

awesome. flash frame. noted.
any takers on how to make it happen?

 

[bbalser]

Since my first name is also "Austin", I'll chime in here...
I use three ways to do this transition effect, and I do this a lot:

1- Use the transition "Dip To Color" (in the Dissolves bin of your Transitions). Apply it to the timeline edit point, double click to open it in the Viewer, set the color to white. I'd also change the duration to something around 15-7 seconds, experiment with a duration that works for you (right click the transition in the timeline, select duration).

2- I keep a folder on my media drive called "Color Plates". I have a bunch of JPEG files there. Each is just an NTSC sized single layered PhotoShop created graphic of a solid color. Each is a specific color I've used before. Black and white are the two I use the most. They come in handy on occations like this. I take my "White Plate" file and import it. From the Browser double click it to open it in the Viewer. In the Viewer, in the upper left hand area is time code showing the Duration of the "clip" (upper right hand area time code is where your playhead is in the Timeline or Viewer windows). Change it to something like 15-8 frames duration (highlight the timecode, type in .8, hit enter, you have a duration of 8 frames, periods can replace colons, FCP knows what you mean). Drop it into the video track above your edit point. Then you can zoom into the timeline (apple key plus = key) close enough to work with it. Key frame any ramps up and down in Opacity you need, change the duration by draging handles or typing in durations numerically, etc. You can also use the free "G Blur Dissolve" (www.nattress.com) to add that dimention to the effect.

As additional info to this trick, you can put gradient wipes on the ends of the White Plate (or whatever color) and have it be a more complex clips, gradient wipe in covering the first clip, then out revieling the second clip. You get what I call the "wipe-on-wipe-off" transition, as opposed to a straight cross fade. This technique can be applied to any video or grahic file in a variety of ways to create really nice complex effects that will leave other editors going, "What the...?" For example, I know a wedding videographer who uses stills from other parts of the video, or photos supplied, to do this type of complex transition during the closing highlights section. It very elegently combines a photomontage and a highlights Sequence into one nicely combined section of video. Imagination is the key.

3- Too Much Too Soon makes a very cool Flash Frame transition, too. It acts more like a photo flash. And it's free (along with some other cool plug-ins) at http://www.mattias.nu/plugins

All three of these will give slightly different results. I use them all, depending on the footage I'm working with, to get the effect that matches my footage and story line. Hope this helps!

As much as I've resisted on this forum, I have to break down and plug my monthly FCP column (Cut Lines) in Event DV (free subscriptions, eventdv.net)...

 

[arhartman]

wow. this will take some practice but I will do my best. Give it the 'ol college try and hopefully I will find what I am looking for. Thank you very much austin.

and cheers.

 

[bbalser]

What I outlined is much easier to do than it reads!
And very fast!

 

[abzeleney]

What about keyframing an addictive dissolve and adding a white fill that is also key framed?? Still an editing rook, but it doesn't look all that bad when i've tried. You just have to add in some blur.