About the Apple Pro Training Series

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About the Apple Pro Training Series

Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 5 is part of the official training series for Apple Pro applications developed by experts in the field. The lessons are designed to let you learn at your own pace. If you're new to Final Cut Pro, you'll learn the fundamental concepts and features you'll need to master the program. If you've been using Final Cut Pro for a while, you'll find that this book covers most of the new features found in Final Cut Pro 5.

Although each lesson provides step-by-step instructions for creating specific projects, there's room for exploration and experimentation. However, try to follow the book from start to finish, or at least complete the first seven chapters before jumping around. Each lesson concludes with a review section summarizing what you've covered.

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Apple Pro Certification Program

The Apple Pro Training and Certification Programs are designed to keep you at the forefront of Apple's digital media technology while giving you a competitive edge in today's ever-changing job market. Whether you're an editor, graphic designer, sound designer, special effects artist, or teacher, these training tools are meant to help you expand your skills.

Upon completing the course material in this book, you can become an Apple Pro by taking the certification exam at an Apple Authorized Training Center. Certification is offered in Final Cut Pro 5, DVD Studio Pro 4, Shake 4, and Logic Pro 7. Certification as an Apple Pro gives you official recognition of your knowledge of Apple's professional applications while allowing you to market yourself to employers and clients as a skilled, pro-level user of Apple products.

To find an Authorized Training Center near you, go to www.apple.com/software/pro/training.

For those who prefer to learn in an instructor-led setting, Apple also offers training courses at Apple Authorized Training Centers worldwide. These courses, which use the Apple Pro Training Series books as their curriculum, are taught by Apple Certified Trainers and balance concepts and lectures with hands-on labs and exercises. Apple Authorized Training Centers for Pro products have been carefully selected and have met Apple's highest standards in all areas, including facilities, instructors, course delivery, and infrastructure. The goal of the program is to offer Apple customers, from beginners to the most seasoned professionals, the highest quality training experience.

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Resources

Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 5 is not intended as a comprehensive reference manual, nor does it replace the documentation that comes with the application. For comprehensive information about program features, refer to these resources:

The Reference Guide. Accessed through the Final Cut Pro Help menu, the Reference Guide contains a complete description of all features.
Apple's Web site: www.apple.com

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Lesson 1. Working with the Interface

Lesson Files	Lesson 1 Project
Media	A Thousand Roads > Intro folder
Time	This lesson takes approximately 50 minutes to complete.
Goals	Launch Final Cut Pro
	Open and close a project
	Navigate FCP using menus , keyboard shortcuts, and the mouse
	Understand the Final Cut Pro workflow
	Work with projects in the Browser
	Work with the Timeline and Canvas
	Play a sequence
	Magnify the Timeline
	Quit and hide Final Cut Pro

The Final Cut Pro 5 interface is flexible and dynamic. It offers not only a place to edit your masterpiece but a place to view your source material and to organize your project elements as well.

In this lesson, you will work with the Final Cut Pro interface, learn about the workflow of a project, organize project elements, work with the transport controls in the interface, and zoom and adjust the Timeline. You will also learn about Final Cut Pro menus and shortcuts, as well as added features available using a two-button mouse.