HOWTO | CONFIGURE FINAL CUT’S VIDEO-SHARING FEATU RES

1

Add metadata

Select a project in the Browser and click Share at the top of the Inspector to set metadata that describes the video’s content. Click the triangle next to Attributes to choose additional data that assists with your film’s placement and presentation in iTunes and on iOS devices.

2

Add a destination

Open your project and click the rightmost button in the centre toolbar to see places you can publish it. A little set-up work is required to send to YouTube and other online destinations. Start by choosing Add Destination… at the bottom of the list. This will open Final Cut’s preferences.

3

Sign in to YouTube

A list of destinations is shown. If YouTube isn’t among them, click Add Destination on the left, then drag YouTube from the right into the list. Select it and click Sign In at the top right of the window, then provide your YouTube account settings so that Final Cut can publish there.

4

Make some choices

Choose a category for your uploads, the frame size at which they’re uploaded, and whether quality or speed matters most. You can create two destinations for the same account but with different settings. Double-click a destination to rename it if you want.

5

Missing options

Even if you opt for faster encoding to get your work online sooner, consider making videos private initially, if you’re trying to earn money from them. This allows you to sign in to YouTube to configure fine details that aren’t available from Final Cut, before making the video public.

6

DVD and Blu-ray

Video that’s written to disc can be made to play automatically, and you can provide a background image for a disc’s menu. A USB writer becomes selectable under Output Device after connecting it. Otherwise build to the hard drive and move the results to another computer to make a disc.

7

Chapter markers

To allow viewers to quickly jump to different scenes, chapter markers need to be added to your project’s timeline. Press å+M to add a marker at the playhead or pointer’s position. Select the third icon at the top of the pop-over to turn it into a chapter, then add a name and press OK.

8 Promo shots The frame under the playhead – or under the pointer if you’re skimming the timeline – can be exported as an image file to use as a promo shot for your film. Speed this up by assigning a keyboard shortcut for Save Current Frame… in System Preferences’ Keyboard pane.