Publishing templates to FCP X - specific issue

Hi

I've come up against 2 specific issues and can't get to the bottom of them. I've had a look through the archives here and had a good google as well as poured over Apple's motion user manual.

i'm sure what I need to do is achievable it's just that I can't crack it! Hoping someone here can help.

i created a series of generators for a company to use in FCP X. There's an opening logo animation which looks nice and is nicely rigged up and works well in FCP X.

Two lines of text animate one after the other on the x axis with keyframes - come from left of frame to fixed position.
I want to be able to publish the first x position keyframe but lock the second one. The reason being that titles of different lengths require different starting x positions to ensure they're off screen - but crucially I don't want users to have option to adjust second keyframe as text needs to be justified with other elements in the frame.
Had a look at build in and build out markers but not sure if i'm barking up the wrong tree...also tried the 'lock' feature in keyframe timeline but also not getting desired results.

Second issue - sorry if I should be writing a second thread..... each computer that has these FCP X templates on is able to open and use them without problems. However when a project which contains one of these generators is shared between 2 computers (both of which have the templates set installed) the generators appear black. Even though that computer can reapply the same generator into that timeline and remake it - it can't seem to identify and display the generator (almost like a relink issue except without the red warning). Bit of an odd one as each user can access and use the same generators - just can't share a project that incorporates them and be able to see them...

Thank you in advance for you help!

Simon

Hello Simon and good day!

Have you tried to use behaviors instead of keyframes. Either a Move behavior or Throw could help you or maybe even a Animation Sequence. You could then just publish the parameter and where the text lands will always be the same. I try to avoid keyframes because if a user decides to make a moment at different area outside of where the keyframe is then they will add a new keyframe.

Also if you share a movie or the template it may make it easier to give you the best and exact solution.

How are you sharing these templates? From what I understand the templates have to be installed on the user’s computer. Usually I chronsync to keep different computers using a template.

I hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for your reply Deyson. When I published x position of the throw behaviour to FCP X it allows the user to change the final position - second keyframe - but not the first position - 2nd keyframe.
I will try the throw behaviour and see if that works.

Thanks again

Hello and good day. You should not have to use any keyframes with the behavior.

Here is an video I did for you using the Move behavior so you can see what I mean: quick.as/jrbtqjb8

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have an amazing day!

Thanks a lot Deyson - that's really kind of you to go to the trouble of doing that.

I understand how to apply behaviours and how to edit them. Once I published the x axis into the template (using a move behaviour) I wasn't able to adjust the starting point - just the final point.......
if you took your motion project into fcp x as a template i'm curious if you'd be able to adjust the starting point (say it starts just off frame but then you have a 12 word title that will come into frame before animation starts so you need to move starting point further back....)

I ended up keeping the keyframe template and just publishing it with the start keyframe a LONG way off to accommodate possible long titles. I guess it was a fairly simple fix but am still surprised that you can't lock ONLY one point (a keyframe or behaviour start or end point)

Thanks again Deyson

Not a problem.

The reason I explained behaviors is because I saw you mention keyframes adjust wanted to confirm that when you we use behaviors no keyframes should be necessary.

Here is another screen record of the template inside of FCPX: quick.as/5lBt5L0l

This is the behavior technique I use if I want an animation to come off screen at different variables inside of FCPX and land at a certain point on the screen.

Maybe it would be easier if you share a movie or share the actual motion project so I can see what your end goal is and make sure we are both on the same page. A screen record could also help as well. This can help save us both some time

If you want to send over your motion project you can do so at contact (at) deysonortiz.com.

Thank you and have a wonderful day!