Tips: Get to grips with Final Cut Pro X

Apple's latest video editor is very different from the previous version.

Surf the new colour correction tools

Highlight a clip in the Timeline – choose Show Color Board from the menu beneath the wand. There are separate windows for adjustment of Color, Saturation and Exposure. Fine adjustment is achieved by using the arrow keys, and adjustments can be made in real-time as you play the clip. Furthermore, you can choose from a wide selection of presets, accessed via the gear icon at the bottom of the Color Adjustment window.

Time and again

Control-click a clip in the Timeline and choose Retime. On first glance it appears the speed controls in FCP X are quite limiting - the menu reads Slow 50%, 25%, and 10%. Furthermore, Fast is 2x, 4x, 8x and 20x. Don't be deceived – you can have any speed you want. Apply the Slow or Fast setting of your choice. Drag either end of the Retiming slider and the centre indicator will show precise speed changes as you drag.

Kill space invaders

With background rendering switched on eventually render files will fill up your hard drive. This is unnecessary as you really only want to keep those files which are required for the edit. In the Project Library highlight a project and choose the File menu – scroll to Delete Project Render Files. You can choose to delete Unused Render Files Only or All Render Files.

Source is http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/tutorials/index.cfm?FeatureID=3305492