Do you need to export a lot of stills from a Final Cut Pro X timeline for reference or publication to the web? A new free application called FCPXImageExporter that was born over the weekend will do the job automatically.
We have a very active Forum here on FCP.co and over the weekend it saw the birth and subsequent user feedback modified updates of a new application which will help Final Cut Pro X editors.
FCPXImageExporter will automatically save a still image from each marker placed on a project's timeline. With one of the most succinct demo videos ever, this handy little application looks incredibly simple to use. Just export FCPXML, drag that file on to the app with a destination and away you go.
Adam Teale from Orangutan Productions told us more:
It's pretty simple, you just drop your fcpxml file on the XML icon and a destination folder on the folder image, select the image format you like, hit export - and wait!
Adam adds: Any effects and generators that are applied will not appear, also the output size of the image at the moment is the original material's resolution. We don't see this as a problem as most editors will probably be using it for documentary style editing.
A big thank you to Adam at Orangutan for building the app and making it freely available online for any editor who needs to export a numerous stills from their projects. We have all been there at one time or another! It is also another great example of the expanding Final Cut Pro X ecosystem and how the database driven structure of FCPX allows the creation of some great tools.
We also have to thank our Forum members who helped contribute to the two updates over the weekend.
Ronny Courtens posted:
"If you compare this with exporting individual stills from within FCPX, this first version is already blazing fast. I like this little app very, very much!"
I am the Editor-in-Chief of FCP.co and have run the website since its inception ten years ago.
I have also worked as a broadcast and corporate editor for over 30 years, starting on one inch tape, working through many formats, right up to today's NLEs.
Under the name Idustrial Revolution, I have written and sold plugins for Final Cut Pro for 13 years.
I was made a Freeman of Lichfield through The Worshipful Company of Smiths (established 1601). Though I haven't yet tried to herd a flock of sheep through the city centre!
Current Editing
2020 has been busy, the beginning of the year was finishing off a new property series (cut on FCP) for Channel 4 called The Great House Giveaway. I also designed and built the majority of the graphics as Motion templates. It has been a great success and the shows grabbed more viewers in the 4pm weekday slot than any previous strand. It has been recommissioned by C4 for 60 episodes, including prime-time versions and five themed programmes. The shows have also been nominated for a 2021 BAFTA.
Although both were postponed to later in the year, I worked again on ITV's coverage of the Tour de France and La Vuelta. 2020 was my 25th year of editing the TdF and my 20th year as lead editor. The Tour was the first broadcast show to adopt FCPX working for multiple editors on shared storage.
BBC's Snooker has played a big part in my life, I've been editing tournament coverage since 1997. I'm proud to be part of a very creative team that has pioneered many new ideas and workflows that are now industry standard in sports' production. This is currently an Adobe Premiere edit.
Covid cancelled some of the regular corporate events that I edit such as trade shows & events. I was lucky however to edit, from home, on projects for Amazon Kindle, Amazon Black Friday, Mastercard and very proud to have helped local charitable trust Kendall & Wall secure lottery funding.
As for software, my weapon of choice is Final Cut Pro and Motion, but I also have a good knowledge and broadcast credits with Adobe Premiere Pro, MOGRT design and Photoshop.
Plugin Design & Development
I'm the creative force behind Idustrial Revolution, one of the oldest Final Cut Pro plugin developers. It hosts a range of commercial and free plugins on the site. One free plugin was downloaded over a thousand times within 24 hours of release.
I also take on custom work, whether it is adapting an existing plugin for a special use or designing new plugins for clients from scratch. Having a good knowledge of editing allows me to build-in flexibility and more importantly, usability.
FCP.co
Now in its 10th year and 4th redesign, running FCP.co has given me knowledge on how to run a large CMS- you are currently reading my bio from the database! Although it sounds corny, I am pretty well up on social media trends & techniques, especially in the video sector. The recent Covid restrictions has enabled live FCP.co shows online. This involves managing a Zoom Webinar through Restream.io to YouTube and Facebook.
The Future
I'm always open to new ideas and opportunities, so please get in touch at editor (at) fcp.co. I've judged film competitions, presented workflow techniques to international audiences and come up with ideas for TV shows and software programs!
