zaro

Accessing Built-in Lower Thirds

Published in Final Cut Pro Titles 3 mins read

Lower thirds are graphic overlays used in video production to display information, often placed in the lower part of the screen. In Final Cut Pro, you typically don't "import" them as simple video files but rather access them as editable titles or templates that can be customized directly within the software.

Here's how to access and use lower thirds in Final Cut Pro:

Final Cut Pro comes with a variety of pre-installed lower third templates. You can find and add them to your project easily:

  1. Open the Titles and Generators sidebar: Click the Titles and Generators button located on the top left side of the Final Cut Pro window (it looks like an "A" within a box).
  2. Browse Categories: In the sidebar, you will see different categories. Look for categories like "Lower Thirds" or "Titles." You can browse through the available options.
  3. Preview: Hover your mouse over a title template to see a preview of its animation and appearance in the viewer.
  4. Add to Timeline: Once you've found a lower third you like, drag it directly onto your timeline, above the video clip where you want it to appear. You can adjust its position and duration on the timeline just like any other clip.

Customizing Your Lower Third

After adding a lower third to your timeline, you can customize its text, appearance, and other properties using the Inspector window.

  1. Select the Lower Third: Click on the lower third clip in your timeline to select it.
  2. Open the Inspector: If the Inspector is not already open, click the Inspector button on the top right of the window (it looks like three sliders).
  3. Use the Title Inspector: With the lower third selected, go to the Title Inspector (looks like a "T"). Here you can:
    • Change Text: Double-click the text in the viewer or click the text boxes in the Inspector to type your desired name, title, or information.
    • Adjust Text Properties: Modify text Size, font, alignment, spacing, and also change the color of the text.
    • Modify Graphic Elements: Depending on the specific template, the Title Inspector or the Published Parameters in the Video Inspector (looks like a film strip) allow you to change properties of graphic elements. This might include changing the appearance of elements like a box or circles that are part of the lower third design, as highlighted in the reference. These controls give you flexibility over the template's look.
  4. Use the Video Inspector: The Video Inspector allows you to modify the lower third's position, scale (overall size), opacity, and cropping.

By utilizing these inspectors, you can tailor the lower third to perfectly match your video's style and content.

Adding Third-Party Lower Third Templates

If the built-in options aren't sufficient, you can add third-party lower third templates, which are often sold online. These are typically Motion Templates (.motr, .moti, .motg files).

  1. Installation: Third-party templates usually come with installation instructions. Often, you need to place the template files into specific folders within your Motion Templates directory on your computer (e.g., ~/Movies/Motion Templates/Titles/).
  2. Access in FCP: Once correctly installed, the new templates will appear in the Titles and Generators sidebar in Final Cut Pro, usually under a new category created by the template designer or within the existing categories. You can then add and customize them just like the built-in ones.

By using the Titles browser and the Inspector, you can effectively integrate and customize lower thirds within your Final Cut Pro projects.