Want to get a bit more creative with plugins in Final Cut Pro X and Motion? ISF for Motion allows the user to write and load their own GLSL shaders into generators, effects, and transitions for Motion and Final Cut Pro X.
By now, we are sure that readers are very familiar with building plugins for FCPX using Motion. There are of course other methods for building effects such as wrapping up a Quartz or Vuo composition or hand-coding using FxPlug.
ISF for Motion is slightly different, it allows the user to get as complicated as they wish building plugins using GLSL shaders. OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) is a high-level shading language based on the C programming language. A shader runs on the GPU and tells it how to render or change each pixel. (GLSL is platform agnostic, whereas the newer, faster Metal API runs only on Apple hardware)
The app which is available on the Mac App Store comes with 200 pre-built effects to get you going. An in-app purchase remove a rendering watermark, which all means you can geek-out for free trying them out.
The supplied shaders and plugins are a good start, but it can get complex very quickly as the app allows the user to write their own shaders.
Hand coding a shader might be beyond a few users, but it certainly opens up many interesting possibilities. The are even third-party websites that host shaders that can be used with ISF for Motion.
All three websites allow to preview and modify the shaders in the browser. Do not click if you want to do anything else today!!!
We particularly like some of the water effects as these are really hard make photorealistic in graphics programs.
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!
