Lesson 13. Applying Filters

Lesson Files	Lesson 13 Project
Media	Motocross > Racing Footage and Team Story folders; Graphics folder
Time	This lesson takes approximately 75 minutes to complete.
Goals	Apply audio and video filters
	View and modify filters
	Apply filters for image correction
	Apply filters to multiple clips
	Use tools for viewing and adjusting filters
	Nest a group of clips
	Apply a matte to a clip or sequence
	Apply a key filter
	Animate filters using keyframes

In Final Cut Pro, effects that can be applied to a clip are divided into two groups: transitions and filters. Transitions, of course, are applied to the edit point between two clips; filters are applied to the content or body of a clip. Although there are numerous reasons why you might apply a filter to a clip, there are three primary uses for filters.

First, on a lighter note, filters can give your sequence a special look or style, jazz it up, or create some fun and exciting visuals. Some call this eye candy. On a more serious note, filters can correct something that's wrong with an image, such as its color or contrast, or it can blur a product label you didn't get permission to use in your show. And finally, you can use certain filters to key or mask portions of images to create a simple letterbox effect or a complex visual composite combining several images.

You can apply filters to audio clips as well, either to improve the sound or to create an audio effect.