Blog Archives

Presented by Larry Jordan, this four-part webinar series covers the basics of editing with Apple Final Cut Pro X. In this short video tutorial, Larry shows how to create a variety of video speed changes – from hold frames to speed ramps – using Final Cut Pro X.

Here’s a hidden keyboard shortcut for Apple Final Cut Pro X that allows moving Primary Storyline clips without moving any clips connected to them. (Contributed by Don Smith.)

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan presents how to apply, modify, render and trim transitions in Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create and use Roles for timeline display and audio mixing in Final Cut Pro X.

Unlike “normal” still images, working with a layered Photoshop (PSD) file in Apple Final Cut Pro X provides a variety of options that can be useful in a video edit. Here’s what you need to know.

The Ken Burns effect makes creating moves on still images fun and easy. When used properly it can quickly bring a still image to life. Here’s how to use it in your next Apple Final Cut Pro X project.

In an ideal world, all your green-screen source files are perfectly lit. This illustrated tutorial deals with reality – green-screen source files that are badly light, poorly saturated and with gear lying all around the frame. Sheesh!

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create a clean green-screen (chroma) key from really bad source footage in Adobe Premiere Pro. This also shows how to use masks.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to add, modify, mask and delete visual effects in Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates how to create clips that play back at variable speeds in Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan showcases an easy way to improve the quality of your audio using the Track mixer, key audio effects, and the Loudness Radar in Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates a variety of ways to find, apply and modify audio and video transitions in Premiere Pro.

Video walls for performances are very popular. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create them, using Final Cut Pro X and the Griddy plugin from FXFactory.

An illustrated tutorial to two new Premiere features: Effect filtering and keyboard shortcuts for marker colors.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates how to display and color grade ProRes RAW media in Apple Final Cut Pro X. (This also includes a bonus technique on using the Balance Color effect for HDR media.)

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a highly-compressed HEVC movie with transparency (alpha channels) using either the macOS or Apple Compressor.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a scrolling credit list using Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop and Apple Final Cut Pro X (or Adobe Premiere).

An illustrated, detailed tutorial on how to create an effect in Apple Motion to be used as a template inside Final Cut Pro X.

Color correction and color grading are part art, part science and part applied technology. In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan demonstrates how to adjust grayscale values and use the video scopes to improve the look of your images.

Color correction and color grading are part art, part science and part applied technology. In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to use the video scopes in Adobe Premiere Pro to evaluate skin tones.

Color correction and color grading are part art, part science and part applied technology. In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to create two color effects using masks in Premiere Pro.

A step-by-step tutorial, from Carleton Cole, on how to create scrolling text in Final Cut Pro X.

The anchor point is that spot around which an image rotates or scales. Moving it to a corner or an edge often makes a zoom or rotation more interesting. Here’s how.

This is a REALLY fast way to get rid of color casts in video clips using Adobe Premiere Pro.

Match Color does more than simply match colors between clips. Once you understand what it is REALLY doing, you can use it to create some fascinating effects.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows two different ways to remove color casts from skin tones and improve color accuracy in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to use the Hue and Saturation Curves in Final Cut Pro X to replace and adjust a single color in a clip.

There are many effects you can copy and paste. Speed ramps are not among them. Learn more here.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how format 3D text, then add a cast shadow in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Here’s a preference setting and a detailed blog on how to improve color display in Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how use a Morph cut with green-screen footage to fix jump cuts in Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to add and modify gradients to elements in Apple Motion.

An illustrated tutorial on how to import, adjust and export captions in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a grid in Motion that can be used in Final Cut, with adjustable line widths and color. These are very useful for performance videos.

This technique works as well or better than any other color correction technique I’ve seen in Photoshop in removing color casts. Best of all, it’s easy! (And, this also works inside Adobe Premiere Pro CC!)

An on-going challenge that traditional filmmakers face is integrating vertical video into a horizontal timeline. While there is no “perfect” way to do this, here are two easy options to consider.

A simple example showing how to create a seamless animated video loop using Apple Motion.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create custom effects along with custom folders to store them in for Apple Final Cut Pro X.

A step-by-step illustrated tutorial on how to fly through text to discover the video beneath it using Motion 5.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create cast shadows using green-screen footage in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

Final Cut can create cast shadows, especially with green screen footage. Here’s how to create them, along with tricks to make backgrounds look more believable.

Apple Final Cut Pro X has a tilt-shift focus effect built-into it – but you won’t find it under that name. Here’s what it is and how it works.

Whether you work with Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro X, Adobe Photoshop or other image editing programs, you can create unusual, captivating effects using gradients and blend modes. Best of all, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to use them.

A revised explanation of how and when to automatically scale clips inside Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

Pro Color Monitor is an innovative way to enable editors to monitor and modify images with color problems without requiring a degree in video engineering, though it can use some work to make it easier to understand its display.

Adjustment layers make applying effects to multiple clips fast, easy and quickly adjustable. Here’s how to create an adjustment layer for Final Cut Pro X using Motion.

An illustrated tutorial on how to use “pinning” to control the placement of text in Adobe Premiere when using Auto-Reframe.

A very cool way to animate text bullets in a single clip – with added bonus of adding emojis to any text element – in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Blurs and mosaics are no longer effective in masking the identity of an on-screen speaker. Here’s what you need to know.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create, apply and delete effects presets in Apple Final Cut Pro X.