Flickering text at DVinfo.net

Eivind Vaa · October 4th, 2003, 06:31 PM

I've encounterd a problem when working with scrolling text in final cut pro. The end credits scrolling down flickers at the bottom of the letters, and it looks quite ugly. The font is Arial Black, size 22, scrolling downwards on a background image on the right hand side of the screen. Has anyone encountered something similar? How do I stop it from flickering?

Stylianos Moschapidakis · October 4th, 2003, 11:02 PM

Why don't you try some other font? I often use Gadget and have found it to be the least "flickering."

Ken Tanaka · October 4th, 2003, 11:41 PM

Where are you observing the flickering? On your computer screen? On a television monitor?

What version of Final Cut Pro are you using?

How are you generating the text?

Eivind Vaa · October 7th, 2003, 05:44 AM

I'm using the "scrolling text" -option, in Final Cut Pro 3. The flicker is easiest detected on the monitor, not so much on the computer-screen (although I believe its there, just harder to notice).

Corey MacGregor · October 7th, 2003, 11:43 AM

i use after effects for my text but this should work the same in fcp. i make the text layer's opacity 95%, then apply a gaussian blur and set the blur amount to 0.3 this takes the edge off of the text. i've never had a flicker problem using this method.

Denis Murphy · October 8th, 2003, 05:21 PM

Have you tried this solution for flickering text?

Apologies if you have.

Stephen Schleicher · October 9th, 2003, 12:54 PM

Do yourself a favor and stop using the Apple supplied text engine. It sucks, everyone knows it sucks including Apple. That is why they included the Boris titler. What is more the boris stuff has a scrolling text feature and if you still get flicker from that, you can always turn on de-interlace.

Glenn Chan · October 9th, 2003, 04:05 PM

I agree with Stephen, FCP's built-in text generators really suck. If you are stuck with FCP2 and lower, check out the "great titles with the DV codec" found at http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...age_index.html.

Eivind Vaa · October 17th, 2003, 09:26 AM

Yup, the text-generator sucks allright. We just upgraded to FCP4, and I noticed a new text-tool that came in with the package. Haven't tried it yet, but looks promising. And then there's the soundtrack-tool. I wonder if it's just a fancy gimmick, or maybe it'll prove useful.

October 4th, 2003, 06:31 PM	#1
Eivind Vaa Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 35	Flickering text I've encounterd a problem when working with scrolling text in final cut pro. The end credits scrolling down flickers at the bottom of the letters, and it looks quite ugly. The font is Arial Black, size 22, scrolling downwards on a background image on the right hand side of the screen. Has anyone encountered something similar? How do I stop it from flickering? __________________ Eivind Vaa

October 4th, 2003, 11:02 PM	#2
Stylianos Moschapidakis Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Cambridge, MA/Crete, Greece Posts: 189	Why don't you try some other font? I often use Gadget and have found it to be the least "flickering." __________________ Stelios G.M.

October 4th, 2003, 11:41 PM	#3
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Where are you observing the flickering? On your computer screen? On a television monitor? What version of Final Cut Pro are you using? How are you generating the text? __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

October 7th, 2003, 05:44 AM	#4
Eivind Vaa Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 35	I'm using the "scrolling text" -option, in Final Cut Pro 3. The flicker is easiest detected on the monitor, not so much on the computer-screen (although I believe its there, just harder to notice). __________________ Eivind Vaa

October 8th, 2003, 05:21 PM	#6
Denis Murphy Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 47	drop it down one pixel line Have you tried this solution for flickering text? Apologies if you have.

October 7th, 2003, 11:43 AM	#5
Corey MacGregor Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Vancouver Posts: 74	i use after effects for my text but this should work the same in fcp. i make the text layer's opacity 95%, then apply a gaussian blur and set the blur amount to 0.3 this takes the edge off of the text. i've never had a flicker problem using this method.

October 9th, 2003, 12:54 PM	#7
Stephen Schleicher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hays, KS Posts: 188	Do yourself a favor and stop using the Apple supplied text engine. It sucks, everyone knows it sucks including Apple. That is why they included the Boris titler. What is more the boris stuff has a scrolling text feature and if you still get flicker from that, you can always turn on de-interlace. __________________ Stephen Schleicher www.stephenschleicher.com

October 9th, 2003, 04:05 PM	#8
Glenn Chan Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 4,750	I agree with Stephen, FCP's built-in text generators really suck. If you are stuck with FCP2 and lower, check out the "great titles with the DV codec" found at http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage...age_index.html.

October 17th, 2003, 09:26 AM	#9
Eivind Vaa Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Norway Posts: 35	Yup, the text-generator sucks allright. We just upgraded to FCP4, and I noticed a new text-tool that came in with the package. Haven't tried it yet, but looks promising. And then there's the soundtrack-tool. I wonder if it's just a fancy gimmick, or maybe it'll prove useful. __________________ Eivind Vaa