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208Final Cut Pro User Guide
Add chapter markers in Final Cut Pro
Chapter markers are a standard feature in DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and podcasts. You can
add chapter markers to your project so that when you share your finished movie, viewers
can use the markers to quickly jump to those points in the movie. Apps and devices that
recognize Final Cut Pro chapter markers during playback include iPod, iPhone, iPad,
Apple TV, QuickTime Player, DVD Player, and most standard DVD and Blu-ray players.
Chapter markers make it easy for viewers to skip ahead to the section they want. They
also allow Compressor, Apple’s professional transcoding app, and other DVD and Blu-ray
authoring apps to create a navigable chapter list or menu, such as a chapter index menu.
But even in simple projects without menus (such as podcasts), chapter markers let viewers
and listeners quickly skip through sections of a program using the Previous and Next
buttons on their playback app or device.
A chapter marker thumbnail is a still image that represents a particular chapter. In
Final Cut Pro, you can choose a specific video frame from the clip or storyline you’re
marking as the chapter marker thumbnail image. In supported playback apps or devices,
the chapter marker thumbnail images represent their corresponding chapters.
Create a chapter marker
1. In Final Cut Pro, add a marker to a clip in the timeline where you want the chapter to
begin.
By default, Final Cut Pro creates a blue standard marker.
2. To change the marker to a chapter marker, double-click it and, when the marker
controls appear, click the Chapter Marker button.
The marker changes to an orange chapter marker.