50 Fast Final Cut Express Techniques (Paperback)

~ (Author) "This chapter leads you through the basics of preparing your video clips for editing in final Cut Express..." (more)
Key Phrases: matte window, base video track, nested clip, Render All, Add Edit, Trim Edit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

• Presents 50 fast, easy, and powerful effects that creative professionals and amateurs alike can achieve almost instantly with Apple's hot new Final Cut Express video editing software
• Proven step-by-step format, lavishly illustrated with "before" and "after" scenes from professional clips
• Includes masking techniques, creative use of colors and special effects, professional titling and rolling credit techniques, size deceptions, film-grain simulations, and much more
• Features in-depth discussions of features and techniques that help readers make the necessary adjustments for their own videos
• Reasonably priced Final Cut Express software is sophisticated enough for the professional, yet basic enough for the editing beginner or hobbyist
• CD-ROM is packed with all video clips from the book and valuable utilities

From the Back Cover

"If you are looking to maximize Final Cut Express, you won’t find

a better guide than Tim Meehan."
—Dan Jahn, President, The Raven Group

Whether creating dynamite digital videos is your profession or just your obsession, Final Cut Express can enhance your projects. In this richly illustrated volume, computer graphics pro Tim Meehan shows you step by step how to use 50 terrific techniques to add that extra dimension of style and pizzazz. You’ll learn them quickly, apply them easily, and discover you’re amazed–and delighted–by the results you can achieve.

Your guide to amazing results with Final Cut Express

• Save time and gain focus with storyboards and shot lists
• Capture viewers’ attention with creative use of colors, special effects, and size deceptions
• Enhance your video pictures with film-grain simulations, contrast correction, and soft-focus effects
• Add polish with rolling credits and professional titling techniques
• Improve communication with time and speed effects, superimposition, and text tricks
• Create "wow" with whimsical people and animals, matte windows in objects, doorways to the unknown, and more

CD-ROM includes demonstrations of the techniques explained in the book, full resolution video clips from Artbeats, and more

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (August 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764540912
• ISBN-13: 978-0764540912
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #511,648 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncommonly creative!, October 8, 2003

By	Aimee Levine (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

I just love the techniques in Tim Meehan's book. Even though I've used FCP for about a year, I learned more than a few things from these pages. (Fire-breathing dogs, anyone?) And, I've got to say that the author's creativity (some wacky techniques in here) really added to the enjoyment of learning. I just hope the publisher will create a new edition for FCP4.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 50 Fast Final Cut Express Techniques, February 23, 2008

By	J. English "Graphics" (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was an offer by Amazon for an additional $25.00, to accompany the new Final Cut Express 4. The book is outdated by 5 years and the CD that goes with the book is so outdated that Final Cut will not open the files. Very disappointing and a waste of $25.00.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for learning quick tricks, February 11, 2008

By	Don Hansen - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was great for showing how to do some really cool stuff with FCE. It will not teach you final cut express, but is not meant too. The book just dives in and gives you 50 tips fast like it says.

If you want to add some cheap special effects and learn how to do them by example then get this book.