Free Tutorials

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Top 20 Most Read Tutorials in 2020

Here are the twenty most-read tutorials (and links) from Larry Jordan’s website for 2020. These popular tutorials span millions of views and extend back in time to 2012.

Top Ten Tips for 2020 from “The Inside Tips”

Two “Top Ten” lists of tips and techniques from “The Inside Tips” for 2020. The first is by number of views, the second is by reader ratings. These cover Adobe and Apple software, along with codecs, media, visual effects and production.

Text Tricks in Final Cut Pro

Here are some text tricks that can help position and display text in eye-catching ways using Apple Final Cut Pro.

Should You Upgrade to macOS Big Sur?

“Should you upgrade?” is the wrong question. Here is a better answer on when to upgrade to Big Sur – along with links to help your transition go smoothly.

Move Audio Clips By Less Than a Frame in Apple Final Cut Pro [v]

Most of the time, you want audio to stay perfectly in sync with the video clip it is attached to. But, sometimes, to get the sync perfect, you need to shift the position of the audio. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows you how to move a synced audio clip less than a frame to improve sync using Apple Final Cut Pro.

Add Emojis to an Apple Final Cut Pro Video Project [v]

Emojis are little icons that have taken over the world. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to add and modify emojis in a video project using Apple Final Cut Pro.

The Difference Between Detach Audio and Break Apart Clip Items in Apple Final Cut Pro [v]

In Final Cut Pro, there are two audio commands that seem similar, but actually do two version different things: Detach Audio and Break Apart Clip Items. In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows you the difference between the two.

The Difference Between Trim and Crop in Apple Final Cut Pro [v]

Trimming and cropping are basic techniques in any video edit. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates the difference between trimming and cropping a video clip using Apple Final Cut Pro.

Apple Releases Minor FCP Updates and a Name Change

Apple released minor updates for Final Cut Pro and Compressor, along with stability improvements and a name change.

Find, Create or Delete Final Cut Pro X Backups

Here’s a quick illustrated tutorial on how to create, find, access or delete backups for Apple Final Cut Pro X libraries.

How to Fix Bad Final Cut Pro X Plug-ins

After updating to Final Cut Pro X 10.5, many of Luke’s titles and effects became unavailable. Here’s how he fixed the problem.

Animating Actors with Multiple Cameras in Apple Motion

Just as we use multiple cameras to provide different angles on the same scene in live production, we can use multiple cameras in Motion to simulate the same thing. Here’s an example, along with a finished movie.

Add & Adjust Lights in a Motion Project

Motion has a full range of lights and, more importantly, lighting presets that can add drama and visual interest to any scene – especially one that involves 3D objects. Here’s an illustrated tutorial on how to use them to increase the drama in your projects.

Multiple Views in a Motion Project Helps You Work Faster

There’s a small icon in the Motion interface that enables multiple views of a project. This is really helpful when working with cameras and lights. Plus, it is cool to look at.

The Order of Effects Makes a Difference in Final Cut Pro X [v]

Effects are the fun part of video editing because there are so many different options. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows why the order in which you place effects on a clip makes a difference in the results in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

How to Animate an Object Using Keyframes in Final Cut Pro X [v]

Effects are the fun part of video editing because there are so many different options. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to add and modify keyframes to animate an element in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

How to Create a Good-Looking Chroma-key in Final Cut Pro X [v]

Effects are the fun part of video editing because there are so many different options. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create a clean chroma-key using both good and bad footage… and a carefully placed mask in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Compare: Hold Frames vs. Freeze Frames in Final Cut Pro X [v]

Effects are the fun part of video editing because there are so many different options. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates the differences between a hold frame and a freeze frame – and how to create both in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Use Custom Overlays for Composition in Final Cut Pro

Custom overlays in Final Cut Pro X can help with figuring out the best way to frame a scene for multiple aspect ratios, or other compositional tasks. Here’s how to create and apply them.

Create a Cast Shadow in Motion

Here’s how to create a cast shadow of a Apple Motion element from scratch, which be animated and colorized separately from the object creating the shadow.