How to Create Onscreen Text in Final Cut Pro

Although Motion is included with the Final Cut Pro suite for complicated onscreen text, simple text pieces are easily and quickly created in the Final Cut program itself. Although this internal system is easily used, there is a limited amount of font and style options available. Often, though, the trade of features for convenience is perfect for creating on the fly effects.

Instructions

1. Switch from the Project tab to the Effects tab in the Browser. Open Video Generators and then open Text, and select "Text" from the choices offered.

2. Choose the Controls tab under the Viewer. A list of settings will appear with a Text box on top; it will read "SAMPLE TEXT."

3. Replace "SAMPLE TEXT" with the desired text. Choose the desired font below the Text box and then the Size, Style, Alignment and Color.

4. Click the Video tab to preview the text.

5. Move the text to a specific onscreen location by again selecting the Controls tab. In the row marked "Origin," there is a button with a + sign. Click this and a red + will appear in the Canvas. This is the center of the text block that has been created, and it can be drug into the desired position to move the text.

6. Adjust the length of the text clip by pressing "Video" in the Viewer pane and double clicking the time in the upper left corner (it will be 10 seconds as a default setting). Enter the desired length of the clip.

7. Drag the text clip to the desired section of the Timeline, and place it over the scene requiring text (this usually means placing it in v2 and enabling v2). Save the project, render and save again.