Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (2024)

Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (1)

You place keyframes at specific points in a clip to change parameter values at those points.

For example, if you want a clip in your project to fade to black, you set two opacity keyframes at two different times: one with the value of 100 (fully visible) and a second with the value of 0 (fully transparent). FinalCutPro interpolates the values between 100 and 0, creating a smooth fade to black.

You can set keyframes in the timeline or in the Video inspector. To see keyframes in the timeline, you need to display the Video Animation editor for the clip.

Additional keyframing controls appear with the FinalCutPro built-in effects. See Work with built-in effects in FinalCutPro forMac.

To learn about keyframing audio clips, see Keyframe audio effects in FinalCutPro forMac.

Add keyframes

  1. In FinalCutPro, do one of the following:

    • Select a clip in the timeline, then choose Clip> Show Video Animation (or press Control-V).

    • Control-click a clip in the timeline and choose Show Video Animation.

    Each effect in the Video Animation editor has a separate area for adding keyframes.

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (2)

    Some effects have more than one parameter and allow you to add keyframes to individual parameters separately. They appear in the Video Animation editor with a down arrow next to the effect’s name or in the Video inspector as additional parameter controls.

  2. In either the Video Animation editor or the Effects section of the Video inspector, select the effect or effect parameter for which you want to add keyframes.

  3. Do one of the following:

    • See expanded parameters in the Video Animation editor: Click the down arrow next to the effect and choose an individual parameter from the pop-up menu, or choose All to add keyframes for all parameters.

    • See expanded parameters in the Video inspector: Position the pointer over the effect and click Show.

  4. Do one of the following for each effect:

    • In the Video Animation editor: Option-click (or press Option-K) at a point on the horizontal effect control where you want to add the keyframe.

      Keyframes for the parameter you chose appear as white diamonds; keyframes for other effect parameters appear gray.

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (3)

      When you choose to view all parameters in the Video Animation editor, keyframes appear as white diamonds for all parameters. Double diamonds indicate that you added a keyframe for more than one parameter at that point.

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (4)
    • In the Video inspector: Position the playhead in the timeline at the point where you want to add a keyframe, then click the Keyframe button (or press Option-K).

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (5)

      After you add a keyframe, the Keyframe button becomes solid, indicating that the playhead is currently on this keyframe.

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (6)

      When you move the playhead in the timeline, arrows appear next to the Keyframe button in the Video inspector to indicate which side of the playhead has keyframes. To go to the previous keyframe, click the left arrow. To go to the next keyframe, click the right arrow.

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (7)
  5. Add keyframes as needed.

    Tip: After you’ve added one keyframe, you can add another automatically by moving the playhead in the timeline and then adjusting the effect parameter value in the Video inspector.

Add keyframes automatically across a selected area

If an effect appears in the Video Animation editor with a disclosure button, you can use either the Select or Range Selection tool to add keyframes automatically across a selected area.

  1. In FinalCutPro, do one of the following:

    • Select a clip in the timeline, then choose Clip> Show Video Animation (or press Control-V).

    • Control-click a clip and choose Show Video Animation.

  2. Select an effect, then click the disclosure button to expand it in the Video Animation editor.

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (8)
  3. Click the Tools pop-up menu in the top-left corner of the timeline, then choose either SelectAdd video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (9) or Range SelectionAdd video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (10) (or press A for Select, or R for Range Selection).

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (11)
  4. Drag across the area in the Video Animation editor where you want to adjust the effect.

    Tip: To deselect the range, click anywhere in the timeline background.

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (12)
  5. Adjust the effect within the range by dragging the effect’s horizontal control up or down.

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (13)

    Keyframes are automatically created along the adjustment points within the range.

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (14)

Adjust keyframes in the Video Animation editor

You can move keyframes left or right in the Video Animation editor.

If an effect appears with a disclosure button in the Video Animation editor, you can expand the effect view and move keyframes up or down to change the parameter value, and you can also fade video effects in or out or change the shape of the effect curve between keyframes. See Adjust effect curves in FinalCutPro forMac.

  1. Select a keyframe in the FinalCutPro Video Animation editor.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Change a keyframe’s position in time: Drag a keyframe left or right.

      As you drag, the timecode value appears.

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (15)
    • Change a keyframe’s parameter value: Drag the keyframe up or down.

      If an effect appears with a disclosure button, click the button (or double-click the effect) to expand it.

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (16)
    • Add another keyframe: Option-click (or press Option-K) at a point on the effect control where you want to add the keyframe.

    • Add a keyframe and change the effect’s parameter value at the same time: Option-click while dragging the effect control up or down.

Adjust keyframes in the Video inspector

For many effects, you adjust the parameter value of individual keyframes using the Video inspector.

When you move the playhead in the timeline, arrows appear next to the Keyframe button in the Video inspector to indicate which side of the playhead has keyframes.

To go to the previous keyframe, click the left arrow. To go to the next keyframe, click the right arrow. Or, to use keyboard shortcuts, select the parameter in the Video Animation editor, then press Option-Semicolon (;) to go to the previous keyframe or Option-Apostrophe (’) to go to the next keyframe.

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  1. If the Video inspector isn’t already shown in FinalCutPro, do one of the following:

    • Choose Window> Show in Workspace> Inspector (or press Command-4).

    • Click the Inspector button on the right side of the toolbar.

      Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (18)
  2. Click the Video button at the top of the inspector.

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (19)
  3. Select a keyframe or position the playhead on a keyframe, then adjust the parameter value in the Video inspector.

  4. To change the value at the next keyframe, go to the next keyframe, then adjust the value in the Video inspector.

Delete keyframes

In FinalCutPro, do one of the following:

  • Select a keyframe in the Video Animation editor, then press Option-Shift-Delete.

  • Navigate to a keyframe in the Video inspector, then click the Keyframe button.

    Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (20)

View only one effect at a time in the Video Animation editor

You can collapse the Video Animation editor to view only one effect at a time. This can be useful if you have multiple effects applied to a clip and want to preserve screen space.

  1. In FinalCutPro, choose Clip> Solo Animation (or press Control-Shift-V).

  2. In the Video Animation editor, click the triangle next to the displayed effect’s name and choose an effect.

Note: When Solo Animation is turned on, you can’t delete effects from the Video Animation editor.

To turn off Solo Animation, choose Clip> Solo Animation (or press Control-Shift-V).

Hide video animation for a clip

In FinalCutPro, do one of the following:

  • Select the clip in the timeline, then choose Clip> Hide Video Animation (or press Control-V).

  • Click the close buttonAdd video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (21) in the top-left corner of the Video Animation editor.

  • Control-click the clip in the timeline and choose Hide Video Animation.

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Add video effect keyframes in Final Cut Pro for Mac (2024)

FAQs

How do you keyframe effects in Final Cut Pro? ›

In the Video inspector: Position the playhead in the timeline at the point where you want to add a keyframe, then click the Keyframe button (or press Option-K). After you add a keyframe, the Keyframe button becomes solid, indicating that the playhead is currently on this keyframe.

How do you add keyframes to effects? ›

Set or add keyframes
  1. Select the Stopwatch icon next to the property name to activate it. After Effects creates a keyframe at the current time for that property value.
  2. Choose Animation > Add [x] Keyframe, where [x] is the name of the property you are animating.
Mar 15, 2024

How do you keyframe in video editing? ›

Select the “Keyframe” tab above the timeline. In the “Keyframe Settings” window, select the dropdown for “Clip Attributes.” Change any parameters you would like such as opacity, rotation, anchor point, or position. A keyframe, small diamond on timeline, will automatically be added.

How do I enable keyframe animation? ›

To Add Keyframes

Open the Frame and Fit Editor, the Color and Effects Editor, or the Audio Editor. Tap the drop down to expand a Control Group or Effect. Tap the Animate button . This will turn on Keyframing and add an initial keyframe at the playhead position.

How do you show keyframes in effect controls? ›

View Keyframes

Click the triangle to the left of the effect name to expand the effect you want to view. Any existing keyframes will display in the Effect Controls timeline.

How to see keyframe in final cut? ›

You can set keyframes in the timeline or in the Video inspector. To see keyframes in the timeline, you need to display the Video Animation editor for the clip. Additional keyframing controls appear with the Final Cut Pro built-in effects.

How do you insert a keyframe? ›

To create a keyframe, select Insert > Timeline > Keyframe (F6), or right-click (Windows) or Control‑click (Macintosh) the frame where you want to place a keyframe, and select Insert Keyframe from the context menu.

What is the command to add keyframe? ›

If you want to create keyframes for the selected layers, you can use your keyboard keys such as Alt + Shift + P, S, R, or T as shortcuts. These key shortcuts are personalized for making a keyframe for each layer by bringing up changes such as position, scale, rotation, opacity separately.

How to add keyframes in After Effects Mac? ›

To quickly set a keyframe for a property you'll want to pair it up with the Option key if you're on a Mac, or the Alt + Shift keys on Windows. Example: alt + P will set a keyframe for position at the current time. You'll save a good deal of time not grabbing the mouse to hit the add keyframe button constantly.

When would you use keyframing in a video? ›

To create an action in a digital animation sequence, you first need to define the start and end points for that action. These markers are called keyframes, and they're used as anchor points for actions in all different types of animation programs, including Adobe After Effects, Animate, and Character Animator.

What is the diamond in CapCut? ›

Look for a diamond-shaped icon, which represents the keyframe feature, next to adjustment settings like scale, position, or rotation. Click on the “Add Keyframe” button (the diamond icon) at the point in the timeline where you want the effect or change to begin. You'll see a keyframe appear in the timeline.

What is the command for keyframe after effects? ›

Alt + Shift + P, S, R, T on Windows

To quickly set a keyframe for a property you'll want to pair it up with the Option key if you're on a Mac, or the Alt + Shift keys on Windows. Example: alt + P will set a keyframe for position at the current time.

References

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