4 incredible Title Animation Effects you can Create in Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro has some incredible title elements available within the program and thousands of third-party plugins to boost your capabilities. However, it’s always a good idea for editors to understand how to create animations from scratch. In this step-by-step guide, we will take you through 4 fantastic title effects you can make in Final Cut Pro.

• Learn to create 4 incredible title animation effects from scratch in Final Cut Pro.
• Improve your understanding of animation techniques in FCP with the Basic Title element.
• Discover Blend Modes, Masking, and Cropping effects to animate title elements of your own.

Part 1: Epic Cinematic Scale-up

The cinematic scale title effect is often used in movies and TV to create a sense of space or grandness. Similar effects are often used for sci-fi and dramatic films to introduce the actors or main title.

1. Place your footage in the Timeline and go to the Title panel.
2. Search for Custom, and drag the title to your Timeline above your footage.
3. In the Text Inspector, adjust the font, message, and color of your design.
4. Adjust the Tracking amount to the widest you want your title to appear.
5. Open the Custom Text Inspector tab and change the In Unit Size to Line.
6. With your Playhead at the start of the Timeline, decrease the In Tracking setting until your text appears as narrow as you want it to be.
7. Increase the In Duration to 60, and trim the title to where the animation ends.
8. Right-click on the title and choose New Compound Clip.
9. Select the new Compound Clip in the Timeline and place your Playhead on the first frame.
10. In the Clip Inspector, create a Keyframe for Scale and reduce the size of your title layer to around 90%.
11. Move to the end of the clip and increase the Scale of the title to around 110%.
12. With the Compound Clip selected, click the Timer icon at the bottom of the Media Viewer and choose Slow > 50%.
13. Finally, hit Command + T on your Keyboard to add fades to the ends of the title animation. Adjust the transitions until you’re happy with the look.

Part 2: Picture in Text

The picture-in-text effect allows you to play your video clip through the text as if your characters are windows through a solid color. Picture-in-text effects are fantastic for opening titles or typography slides and are sure to impress your viewers.

1. Place your clip in the Timeline, and drag a Basic Title above it.
2. In the Inspector, adjust the message, Font, Color, and Weight. For this effect, chunkier, bolder titles are best.
3. When you’re happy with the look, go to the Clip Inspector and find the Blend Mode options.
4. From the list, choose Stencil Alpha.

Part 3: Text Reveal

The text reveal effect allows your title to come into view from behind an element in your shot, such as a passing car. While the title isn’t integrated into your shots in a realistic 3D style, the text reveals animation can help emphasize the message’s relationship to your visual.

1. Place your video in the Timeline and add a Basic Title layer above it.
2. Adjust the Scale, Position, and Font until you’re happy with the placement of your text in the image.
3. Trim the ends of the Title layer so you have only as much as you need for your composition.
4. In the Effects panel, search for Draw Mask and add it to your Title Layer.
5. In the Media Viewer, click on the screen to create Mask Points until your Title is completely surrounded. 
6. Go to the Clip Inspector and click the Invert Mask checkbox in the Draw Mask settings.
7. Next, find the Control Points drop-down menu and Toggle down to see all the Points you’ve created in your Mask.
8. Place your Playhead where you want the animation to start, and create a Keyframe for Control Points.
9. Move forward a few Frames, and in the Media Viewer, adjust the Mask to match the edge of the object revealing your title.
10. Keep moving through your clip, adjusting the Mask points each time you want to reveal more of your Title.

Part 4: Sliding block reveal

The sliding block reveal effect is most often used in promotional videos and business presentations. The clean and minimal look is super easy to match to your brand and looks fantastic on top of any video, photo, or Background.

1. Add a Basic Background Generator and a Title Layer to the Timeline.
2. In the Clip Inspector, adjust the message and Title properties until you’re happy with the text style.
3. Select the Background and use the Crop tools in the Inspector to shape the background box.
4. When you’re happy with your final look, hold Alt and drag the background box upwards to create a second layer.
5. Select the bottom of the background boxes, and in the Inspector, change the color to match your text.
6. Place your Playhead at the start of the first Background layer and create a Keyframe for Left Crop. 
7. Move forward around 8 Frames and create a second Keyframe.
8. Return to the first Keyframe using the arrows and reduce the Left Crop so you can no longer see the box.
9. Go back to the second Keyframe and select the second Background box.
10. Hit V to make it visible and create a Keyframe for Right Crop.
11. Move forward 8 Frames and create a second Keyframe for Right Crop.
12. Return to the first Right Crop Keyframe and adjust the setting so you can no longer see the box.
13. Finally, play through the animation and pause where you can no longer see your title – trim the start of the text layer to this point.

Part 5: Top 3 Motion Array Title Templates for Final Cut Pro

Creating title effects from scratch in Final Cut Pro can take a little time, and sometimes it’s faster to use a ready-made template. Thankfully, Motion Array has tons of top-quality FCP title templates ready to download and customize in your projects.

Alpha Text

Alpha Text includes 5 incredible template elements for creating Picture-in-Text Effects. The Alpha Text collection is ideal for creating stunning video text elements with in-and-out animations such as epic scale-up and wipes.

Motion Graphics Pack

The Motion Graphics Pack includes a massive 30 Titles, 30 Social Media Elements, and 130 Shape Transitions. If you don’t have time to create your own titles from scratch but want something more that FCP has to offer, this collection will drastically boost your editing capabilities.

Creative Titles

No matter how good you are in Final Cut Pro, there are some animation effects you can only create if you move across to Apple Motion. If you don’t want to learn Motion, check out the Creative Titles pack – 12 liquid motion-style animations filled with bright colors and swirling flourishes.

Final Cut Pro has plenty of options for title animations, but understanding how to create your own can give you more control over your final compositions and more techniques to add to your editing skills. If you are looking for more title effects to try, check out this awesome screen pump tutorial.