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416Final Cut Pro User Guide
Use onscreen controls
Intro to onscreen controls in Final Cut Pro
Many effects, transitions, and other items use onscreen controls, superimposed over the
video in the viewer, to make it easier to adjust a variety of parameters. In many cases,
these onscreen controls duplicate controls in the inspectors, although in some cases the
controls are unique and provide the only way to adjust a particular parameter.
The controls can be as simple as defining the center of a fisheye effect or as complex as
defining the diameter, width, and position of a vignette effect.
This section focuses on the types of onscreen controls found in clip effects and transitions.
Onscreen controls are also available in other areas of Final Cut Pro, including the following:
• Built-in effects: Onscreen controls are used extensively for all built-in effects. See Intro
to built-in effects in Final Cut Pro.
• Chroma keying: You use specialized onscreen controls when configuring a chroma
keyer. See
Use chroma keys in Final Cut Pro.
• Color corrections: Color corrections can contain onscreen controls used for creating
color masks and shape masks. See
Intro to color correction effects in Final Cut Pro.
Show onscreen controls in Final Cut Pro
The onscreen controls for transitions appear when a transition is selected. The onscreen
controls for clip effects appear when an effect is selected, or when the playhead is
positioned over a clip or title in the timeline that has a video effect applied. You can also
show or hide the onscreen controls.
Note: Onscreen controls are always hidden when you play clips in the timeline.
Show or hide a transition’s onscreen controls
In Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:
• Show the transition’s onscreen controls: Select the transition in the timeline.
• Hide the transition’s onscreen controls: Deselect the transition in the timeline.
Show or hide a clip effect’s onscreen controls
In Final Cut Pro, do one of the following:
• Show the effect’s onscreen controls: Position the playhead over a clip with the effect, or
select the clip with the effect in the timeline, then select the effect in either the Video
Animation editor or the Video inspector.
• Hide the effect’s onscreen controls: Deselect the clip with the effect in the timeline, or
deselect the effect in the Video Animation editor or Video inspector.
Note: If a clip contains multiple effects that use onscreen controls, only the topmost
effect’s onscreen controls appear when the playhead is positioned over the clip.