Help with gradients

Hi fcpers.
Here's the deal, I have a primary storyline with about three compound clips (each has around 5/6 clips plus transitions). I will run credits over them and I want to put a gradient mask over the footage to help the text stand out and to cover for an unwanted person in the shots (far left of the screen to about one third in, black to transparent).
I can see no way to created a connected clip with a slug type function that I can use as a luma keyed with the mask tool. Perhaps I need to think in a different way? I can't even find the words Slug or Gradient in the FCPX help guides online! Any suggestions to get me moving with this issue?
I keep thinking it must be super easy:)
Thanks in advance
Lee

Cheap and cheerful, but doesn't require Motion or a plug in:

Select Generators and drop on the custom preset of Black
Now apply Crop and feather from Effects and tweak parameters to
suit. Change opacity for final density of effect.

You can also try the mask effect in place of Crop and feather
which gives you more control over the shape of your grad.

Thanks for taking the time to reply:) I appreciate it.
I did stretch the generator over the primary storyline and apply a feathered mask in the colour inspector. It was ok but far from the FCPS ease of workflow.
I think I might have to roll my sleeves up and crate a gradient mask in Motion, oh for an easy life;)
Thanks again

Just had a look at the 1920x1080 footage using the generator+mask on a broadcast monitor, it is very unpleasant:( The vignette is harsh. Looks like I'll have to brew up another solution.

Open to any other opinions folks:)

Cheers

Lee

How would you do this in FCP 7?

Hi BenB, in FCP7 it was the built-in gradient generator with a multiply composite mode.
This time I have gone to Photoshop and created a file with a 'black to transparent' gradient fill and all is now smooth and sweet:)

Cheers

Lee

Ah, right. Never tired that in X, yet. So, I'm sitting here trying it, there is no really good gradient generator in X. Odd. I modified the iMovie gradient generator, it works just fine now, but it takes more controls to handle it than the FCP 7 version did. The plus side is, it's way more controllable than the FCP 7 version was. Definitely shows it's from Motion. I have to play with it more to really refine it, it's way too crude right now. Will post the finished version this weekend.

Goodness! That would be grand. I was going to get my teeth into Motion5 next week and create something. Be great to see what you come up with:) Cheers!

Lee