Color drama when inserting images.

[Lembo]

Hi all, im pretty new to fcp and still learning how to use it.
The current problem im having is, im trying to put a logo with a black back ground over a clip and color key it so the clip comes thru the logo.
So the final look i want to have is a complete black background with the clip coming thru the logo.
Everytime i go to put the image over the clip the black turns to a grey color and i dont know how to change it back to black.
Is someone able to tell me what im doing wrong?
Or is there a easier way to do this?
Thanks so much, Chris.

 

[Lembo]

So yeah if you look at the picture i want a blackground and i want the lights coming thru the 'TB' logo.
Thanks heaps, chris.

 

[VGurcu]

First, I think what you want is a transparent background on the logo rather than black.
Correct way of doing this is to export your logo with a transparent background from photoshop. It is easy and this article explains it:

http://www.uwec.edu/help/PhotoshopCS2/transpimgs.htm

If you dont have photoshop or have no idea how to do it, you can do it in FCP too:
-To key out the green background on the logo use the chromo key filter.
{Effects-->Video Filters--->Key-->Chromo Keyer}
Tip:Click on the eyedropper on the filter and pick up the bckgrnd color on your logo. Holding shift while clicking adds to the selection, experiment.

After you got rid of the bckgrnd, next step is to make your logo transparent so you can see the backgrond lights. Correct way of doing it is to change the composite mode of the clip:
Select the clip, {Modify-->Composite Mode--->Subtract} Experiment with different options(like multiply, screen etc to see what works best. Also right below Composite mode THERE IS ALPHA MODE to switch the effect around, again experiment.
-As an alternative to abovementioned step, you can simply play with the opacity of the clip instead. It will make your logo somewhat transparent, perhaps may work better than the composite effects in your case.

 

[Lembo]

Thanks so much!