A Faster, Better Way to Combine Images in Apple Final Cut Pro

This tutorial sprang from a question that Tiberio asked:

I have a frustrating dilemma that has prolonged the editing of a recent stylistic Zoom chat. There are times I make a crop, but then I want to trim from there to make a Zoom window. FCP X does not allow this – if trim is selected after the crop, the image shrinks and it requires resizing to fit into place. I guess nobody anticipated making these kinds of Zoom videos, but it would be great if there were an easier solution.

There is a much easier solution – and provides a great deal of flexibility. Let me show you.

To set the stage, here is where we are going. (This type of image is a called a “composite.”)
The good news about this technique is that it can be created easily in Final Cut and supports:

• Any background image
• An unlimited number of foreground images
• Any size
• Any shape
• Any position
• Change any image in any shape
• Add drop shadows, or not, as you prefer

There are many advantages to this technique:

• An image can be scaled without changing the shape
• Images can be changed inside each shape without changing the shape itself
• A composited image can be moved, even animated, without changing the size or position of the containing shape
• Multiple images can be composited on screen at the same time

Very cool.

Here’s how we’ll create this effect:

1. Select the insert clip
2. Add and position the shape
3. Insert the clip into the shape
4. Convert the two clips into a compound clip
5. Add a background
6. Add a drop shadow

CREATE THE SHAPE

• Create a new project
• Add the insert clip; this is the clip that will appear inside the shape
• Add a shape above the insert clip in the timeline

• You can pick a shape from the Generators browser (Generators > Elements > Shapes). There are a dozen to choose from.

NOTE: You can also create a custom shape in Photoshop. The shape of the shape is not important. What IS important is that the shape have a transparent background. Generators include a transparent background by default.

• With the shape clip selected, uncheck Outline, then turn off the default drop shadow by setting Drop Shadow Opacity to 0. Don’t worry about the Fill Color, we need it checked but we won’t use it.

• Here’s the magic part: with the shape clip selected, go to the Video Inspector and set Blend Mode to Stencil Alpha.
• Drag the white circle to position the shape where you want it. If one or more edges of the inserted image is black, as illustrated in the screen shot above, move the shape more toward the center of the frame (Transform > Position), then do the same thing with the inserted image. Don’t worry about creating a final position for this image, we’ll do that next. In this step you simply want the image to fully fill the shape.

NOTE: If you are using a Photoshop image, position the shape using Video Inspector > Transform > Position.

• Here’s another cool part. Select the insert image (on the lower layer). You can now scale this as much as you want to precisely determine what appears in the shape. While the image changes, the shape won’t.

NOTE: You can also animate movement of the insert image so that, while the shape remains stationary, the image under it is moving, growing, shrinking… whatever you want.

ADD A BACKGROUND

Select both shape and insert clips in the timeline, then choose File > New > Compound Clip. This combines the two clips into a single unit in the timeline. Name this something that makes sense to you.

Add a background image into the Primary Storyline, then place the compound clip above it.

Select the compound clip, then use Video Inspector > Transform > Position to move the compound clip where you need it in the frame.

NOTE: You are moving the compound clip, NOT the images inside it.

NOTE: Double-click the compound clip to edit it. In this screen shot, I added a second clip and dissolved between them. This changes the shot inside the shape, without altering the shape. You can animate these insert clips as much as you want.

To return to the project, either click the “Go Back” arrow to the left of the compound clip name, or double-click the project name in the Browser.

ADD A DROP SHADOW

Select the compound clip in the timeline and apply Effects > Stylize > Drop Shadow. Drag the onscreen controls to change the location and perspective of the drop shadow.

In the Inspector, I also lowered Opacity to 50%.

Done.

NOTES

For some reason, the drop shadow changes position during the dissolve between insert shots. It shouldn’t. This is a bug. The only way to fix it is either not use a dissolve or not use drop shadows.

To add more images to the screen:

• Duplicate the compound clip in the Browser
• Stack the duplicates above each other in the timeline
• Change the image inside each compound clip
• Use Transform > Position to move the compound clip where you want it

Ta-DAH! You can use this same technique to create a grid of images, or floating space bubbles, or… whatever. I like this technique a lot.

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