Create a generator template in Motion

Use the Final Cut Generator template to create a custom generator that can be applied to clips in the Final Cut Pro timeline. A generator template is similar to a standard Motion project. However, when saved, it’s exported to the Generators browser in Final Cut Pro.

Like any content added to a Final Cut Pro project, a generator template can be composited over a clip in the Final Cut Pro timeline, or added to the main timeline. The duration of the generator in Final Cut Pro is determined by its duration when created and saved in Motion.

For information on working with 360° templates, see Creating 360° templates for Final Cut Pro in Motion.

Create a new generator template

In Motion, choose File > New from Project Browser (or press Option-Command-N).
In the Project Browser, click Final Cut Generator, then choose a project size from the Preset pop-up menu.
Important: Be sure to create the template at the highest resolution you will use in your Final Cut Pro project. If you’re creating 4K-specific templates, you can enable a setting that allows the Final Cut Pro media browsers to display only templates designed for use in 4K projects. See Set template resolution in Motion.
Click Open (or press Return).
A new, untitled project opens. The project contains no placeholders.
Build the project as you would any other Motion project, using shapes, text, behaviors, camera animation, and so on.
Note: You can also add drop zones to create additional effects, such as a picture-in-picture effect. Drop zones allow Final Cut Pro users to place media into designated regions of the applied effect. See Intro to drop zones in Motion and Placeholders vs. drop zones in Motion.
To allow Final Cut Pro users to modify specific parameters, choose Publish from the Animation pop-up menu of each parameter you want to make accessible.
Publishing a parameter makes its user interface control (the slider, checkbox, or dial) available in the Final Cut Pro inspector when the custom effect is applied to a clip. Published parameters can be adjusted and keyframed in Final Cut Pro. See Adding controls to templates in Motion.
Note: If the template’s Color Processing is set to Wide Gamut HDR, you can select “Override FCP Color Space” (in the Project Properties Inspector) to ensure that the generator retains the same appearance when applied to the Final Cut Pro timeline, regardless of the Final Cut Pro library’s color processing setting. See Use wide-gamut HDR color processing in Motion.
Choose File > Save, then do the following:
1. In the save dialog, enter a name for the template.
  If you don’t specify a name, the template appears in the Final Cut Pro Generators browser as “New Template.”
2. Choose a category from the Category pop-up menu.
  You can also create a custom category. Categories represent how the effects are organized in the Motion Project Browser and in the Final Cut Pro Generators browser. Custom categories also appear in the browsers.
3. If needed, choose a theme from the Theme pop-up menu.
  You can also create themes. Themes appear in the Motion Project Browser and in the Final Cut Pro browsers. A theme is a metadata tag that assists in categorizing different templates as being part of a single family. For example, you may have different template types that are related to the same project, such as a transition, an effect, and a group of titles.
4. To retain unused media in the project (media or audio in the Media list that’s not used in the template but which you may want to include in the template later), select “Include unused media.”
  For information on where template-related files are saved, see Where are templates saved in Motion?
5. If you want a preview movie to appear in the Motion Project Browser, select Save Preview Movie.
Click Publish.
The template is saved and exported to the Final Cut Pro Generators browser.

Apply the generator in Final Cut Pro

Click the Titles and Generators button in the top-left corner of the Final Cut Pro window.
Click Generators, then locate the generator to add.
Do one of the following:
- Drag the generator into the timeline, above the clip you want to composite it over.
  The generator can span multiple clips in the timeline.
- Drag the generator to an empty section of the main timeline.
  When you release the mouse button, the generator is added as a standalone clip (that is not composited over another clip). Drag the generator’s In and Out points in the timeline to change the duration.

For information on working with generators in Final Cut Pro, see the Final Cut Pro User Guide.

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Helpful?

Motion User Guide

Create a generator template in Motion

Create a new generator template

Apply the generator in Final Cut Pro