rediscovering FCP's user manuals!

P

powerdog

Veteran
After a lot of looking through the color correction chapters of my FCP books, and thinking about buying another book or DVD about it, I took another look at my FCP manuals. I gotta say, they are models of clarity. Volume 3 has a long chapter on color correction, and an appendix on calibrating with color bars. It even mentions the value of using a chip chart like the Macbeth! (The only limitation: the illustrations are in b&W, but color versions are installed on your Mac with the program.)

It's worth taking a good look at the manuals before you decide you need more. Apple has always been among the best for documentation, and I think FCP is no exception.
 
Re: rediscovering FCP's user manuals!

yes, of course the are useful, there are more than 1500pages on FCP so I hope there are some useful chapters! ;D
 
Re: rediscovering FCP's user manuals!

Many manuals are confusing or incomplete, but Apple does a great job. They probably put a lot of money into documentation.
 
Re: rediscovering FCP's user manuals!

Apple does write a pretty good manual. People always ask me where I learned how to use Final Cut so well and I always say the manual. I really apprecaite their documentation even more since I started watching my friends get reduced to frustration with the After Effects manual. Watching thier growing frustration is very simailr to the intro to 2001. It has been 7 months that they have had it and still AE sits unused.
 
Re: rediscovering FCP's user manuals!

The Apple Final Cut Pro 4 book has that entire section and the whole book for that matter in color so you can REALLY understand how to color correct. That is by far my favorite book on Final Cut Pro. I also have another all in color book that is just about Motion Graphics and effects. Theres a pretty good section on color correcting in that book too.
 
Re: rediscovering FCP's user manuals!

I think its good practice to go thru the books every 6 months or so. Its great review, and a good way to reaffirm that you are doing everything right still. I've had many instances where I didn't understand the book, but went back several months later, after more experience, and "the light bulb went on." Alot of the software these days, like FCP, DVD Studio 3, Motion, PhotoShop, etc, seem to be lifetime learning experiences. A little review never hurts.
 
Re: rediscovering FCP's user manuals!

PPT, I totally agree. It's fun to go back when you know the basics and pick up the more advanced stuff.
 
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