How can I change the preview poster frame in final cut pro x

I did a few more tests, and this is what I found:

a) FCP Send to Compressor, select Poster Frame in Compressor: Does NOT work.

b) FCP Share (eg master file), then open the exported file in Compressor, select Poster Frame and recompress: DOES work.

As Tom said, you can't change the poster frame in FCP, but you should be able to do it in Compressor.

You can use the Send to Compressor command, then in Compressor you just choose the desired export settings, and select the poster frame:

move the playhead to the desired location and choose "Set Poster Frame":

I don't know if this works all the time, but try adding a Chapter marker to your project storyline *before* you export it and put the frame marker on the frame you want to use as the poster frame.

I've only tried this a couple of times, but the exports display the exact same frame in the Finder icon. regardless of the playhead position I left when I started the export (which is the frame that shows in the export dialog).

(I'd be interested to know if you get the same results).

Yeah - further testing was a bust. I must have accidentally picked the same frame as FCP when exporting the movie. I thought it was worth a shot but... accidents happen.

You can make a copy of the frame you want to use, Get Info on the mov file and paste the frame image in the icon at the top left corner. The easiest way to do that is to open the mov in QT Player, move the play position to the frame you want, Copy, then paste the image into the icon space in Get Info. That works, but it kills the ability to play the video file in the finder window (the play button is not longer offered on mouseover) and the image is blurry when scaled up.

Izzyvideo demonstrates this here:

https://www.izzyvideo.com/poster-frame-problem/

but this is what I ended up with:

which is unusable (for me.) [I'm still using Mojave, so that might have something to do with it.]

I tried setting the poster frame with QT7 pro, but the Finder didn't accept it. It still shows the one created by FCP.

fox_m wrote:

I've only tried this a couple of times, but the exports display the exact same frame in the Finder icon. regardless of the playhead position I left when I started the export (which is the frame that shows in the export dialog).

(I'd be interested to know if you get the same results).

I thought you were onto something with this idea.

Unfortunately I got the FCP (whatever it decided) same thumbnail each test I tried. 😟​👎​

I used the Master File export.

Al

I know a few of us have been asking for more control over Poster Frames from several years back.

I have definitely made feature requests.

What I have noticed is if a new clip is placed at the head of the Timeline the Poster frame changes.

This leads me to believe that a control option is doable by the Apple boffins.

Al

The poster frame can’t be changed in FCP.