Using the Matte options...

[DVX100Shooter]

Ok I have imported an image into FCP that I want to crop certain sections out of the image. I chose to do a 8 point garbage matte. I double click the image to bring up my option tabs at the top and then I click on Filters. Now I get confused any time I have to put in coordinates or numbers in those boxes. It took me like 30 minutes to crop the image to my liking. Is there a faster way of doing this? When I typed a number in like -200, 512 etc. then clicked back over to Video, I would see a section of the image gone which is cool, but I have no idea what those numbers mean and how to speed up the process. I thought I would be able to sort of draw a line around what I didn't want to be visible and crop it out but it seems that putting numbers in those boxes for each of the 8 points is the only way that I know how to do it.

 

[jaredalv]

Re: Using the Matte options...

- Before even applying the matte, bring your clip into the timeline.
- from the timeline, double-click the clip you want to apply the matte to (or right-click and choose 'open in viewer''). Your clip should now be back in the viewer and if you'll put your timeline playhead over the clip, you'll also see it in the canvas window.
- now any changes you make to the clip in the viewer you will see take place in the canvas.
- drag-n-drop your matte onto the clip in the viewer window. and go to the filters tab.
- within the matte filter, you will see the plus signs (circle with a + in it) next to the boxes where you were entering the coordinates.
- click the plus sign for point 1. then in the canvas window, click your mouse where you want point 1 to be. You will see the result immediately in the canvas window.
- click the plus sign for point 2 and do the same, etc. etc.

You can then fine tune your matte using the coordinate boxes.

Hope this helps,
Chico