5

5 Enter the width and height in the fields to the right of the PAR value, such as 720 x 480.
The new custom DAR is listed in the Display Aspect Ratio Snapshots list.
Tips for Creating Templates
To get the best results when creating custom templates, consider the following
suggestions:
• The first time you save a template that is a work in progress, deselect the Save Preview
Movie checkbox in the save dialog. Doing so prevents Motion from creating a movie
preview each time you save the draft template. (The preview movie appears in the
Motion Project Browser.) When you're ready to save the final version of the template,
select the Save Preview Movie checkbox to create the preview movie.
• When creating complex templates that involve multiple drop zones, use a Final Cut
Generator or Final Cut Title template.
• As with any project in Motion, too many effects (such as filters, text objects, and so on)
adversely impact performance in Final Cut Pro X.
• Create animation using behaviors rather than keyframes. Behaviors are easier to modify
when the template is applied in Final Cut Pro.
• Avoid publishing parameters animated with behaviors or keyframes. Published
parameters allow template customization in Final Cut Pro.
• Shapes are nice graphic elements to add to a template project (outside of the
placeholder), as they can be scaled without degradation. (Shapes added to a placeholder
become masks). However, too many shapes in a template will adversely impact
performance in Final Cut Pro.
• Ensure that “Create Layers At” in the Project pane of Motion Preferences (click
Command-Comma to open Preferences) is set to “Start of project.”
• In the Motion Timeline, ensure that all filter and behavior bars extend to the end of the
project.
• To avoid placeholder duration conflicts, use still images when building templates. Using
still images also prevents lengthy render times and preserves hard disk space.
• Before saving a template, decide whether you want to save or clear preview media,
based on the following considerations:
• Media not cleared is saved with the template, creating longer render times and
consuming hard disk space.
• Media saved with the template is available when the template is reopened in Motion
(via the “Open in Motion” command in the Final Cut Pro media browsers), allowing
you to pick up where you left off in the previous template-building session.
564 Chapter 11 Creating Templates for Final Cut Pro X