Text column in FCP?

[HueyNRolf]

I have the old FCP (v6) I think.

I need to add a vertical column of text to the right side of frame in Japanese characters. I'm pretty certain that the basic text tools in FCP can't do this. I'm guessing that I'll need to make the columns in photoshop (or similar) and layer them over.

Can anyone thing of a workflow?

[cgbier]

You can do it in Motion with some paths, rotations, etc., but it is way easier to do in PS.

[HueyNRolf]

You can do it in Motion with some paths, rotations, etc., but it is way easier to do in PS.

Thanks CG, I'd rather not use Motion. In fact, I'd rather not have to do this at all. The guy asked me to and it is the way it should be done.

I've explained that FCP doesn't have such a text tool and it'll probably need to be done in PS (by someone else). I'm just posting here in case there's another way I don't know about.

[cgbier]

PS is easy as pie. You type your text on a transparent b/g using vertical flow, save it out as png or tif, then import that thing into FCP. Shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes.

[HueyNRolf]

PS is easy as pie. You type your text on a transparent b/g using vertical flow, save it out as png or tif, then import that thing into FCP. Shouldn't take longer than 5 minutes.

That's 5 minutes per title x a few hundred. I told him that he'd need to get someone who knows PS to do it and I'll position them in.

Does PS do outline text?

[cgbier]

You mean a stroke? Yes, it does.

[HueyNRolf]

You mean a stroke? Yes, it does.

I mean like the outline text in FCP, it adds a little outline blur to the characters so that they stand out against various backgrounds. Is that stroke?

[Almohada]

I mean like the outline text in FCP, it adds a little outline blur to the characters so that they stand out against various backgrounds. Is that stroke?

Yes, outline text is the same as text + stroke added in Photoshop.

I love the outline text preset in FCP, perfect for subtitles. I use that preset then change up the size and position then I make THAT one a custom preset (basically drag it to the browser)

[cgbier]

A stroke not a blur. It is simply a solid around a text. You can choose color and width.
You mean drop shadow? That is also in PS.

[HueyNRolf]

A stroke not a blur. It is simply a solid around a text. You can choose color and width.

That's what I meant. It's useful to know it's AKA stroke. I'll pass this on. Thank you.

[Janke]

I've done a lot of that. Alpha channel + drop shadow in PS, even for 2K cinema use.

BTW, if you need a column, why don't you just type every Japanese character + a linefeed (return key), and justify to the right, then move to the position you want?

Do it in one title, then copy that to all other scenes, and just change the text (incl. linefeeds)...

PS: "stroke" is an outline around the entire character, "dropshadow" is just below and to the right.

[Almohada]

BTW, if you need a column, why don't you just type every Japanese character + a linefeed (return key), and justify to the right, then move to the position you want?

That's a better solution than Photoshop. You can even adjust the tracking etc. in Final Cut so they're spaced properly and no need to name, save and import 100 psd files... what a pain!

[HueyNRolf]

BTW, if you need a column, why don't you just type every Japanese character + a linefeed (return key), and justify to the right, then move to the position you want?

Do it in one title, then copy that to all other scenes, and just change the text (incl. linefeeds)...

Thanks Janke. That seems to be the best workflow. If the column is too long, I could create a second one and position it adjacent.

[HueyNRolf]

That's a better solution than Photoshop. You can even adjust the tracking etc. in Final Cut so they're spaced properly and no need to name, save and import 100 psd files... what a pain!

Indeed, this way you maintain control. Good point. Thanks for your contribution.

[Almohada]

Also, unlike Janke's copy and paste suggestion, I think it's better to get the text how you want it then drag that text clip to the browser. Now it's basically a template/ preset so whenever you need it, just drag and drop onto the timeline. Now you can free up your clipboard and it's there for later use when you open the project again, etc.

[HueyNRolf]

We went with Janke's solution and it worked out just fine. It was really nice to have control over things like the vertical spacing between the characters. The PS way would've been a nightmare.

So here's how it worked out:

http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?4...059#post447059

Thanks Janke, I'll give you a mention in the credits. Please let me know how that should read?

[Janke]

We went with Janke's solution and it worked out just fine.

The famous KISS principle!

(Opposite to what they say in German: Warum einfach machen, wenn es auch kompliziert gemacht worden gewissen und gewunschen kann - or something remotely similar to that... my German is very rusty! )

Thanks Janke, I'll give you a mention in the credits. Please let me know how that should read?

No need to, but if you absolutely wish to do so, simply put it in the "Thanks to" section; my full name is Jan-Eric Nyström (next-to-last letter is an o with a two-dot umlaut)...