![Updated FCPX Tutorial Trimming and Cropping Images Like a Pro](https://thmb.techidaily.com/73ab3c04255810df2615a2a01c8a14174dd9b221f2d60ec5b3831dd32989cbba.jpg)
Updated FCPX Tutorial Trimming and Cropping Images Like a Pro
![](/images/site-logo.png)
FCPX Tutorial: Trimming and Cropping Images Like a Pro
Final Cut Pro X: How to Crop an Image
![author avatar](https://images.wondershare.com/filmora/article-images/benjamin-arango-author.jpg)Benjamin Arango
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Cropping an image means to remove a portion of the image, either to hide something you don’t want the audience to see or emphasize different elements within the image. Just as Photoshop allows us to crop still images, Final Cut Pro X allows us to crop moving video clips, as you’ll learn in this article.
This is a basic tutorial about Apple Final Cut Pro X, professional video editing software. However, if video editing is new to you, consider Wondershare Filmora for Mac . This is a powerful but easy-to-use tool for users just starting out. Download the free trial version below.
Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )
How to Crop an Image in Final Cut Pro X
However, before I show how this is done, I need to explain one really important fact about video: all video uses what’s called “fixed resolution.” Fixed resolution means that high-definition video is always displayed at one of two sizes:
You May Also Like: How to Crop GIF Images >>
- 1920 x 1080 pixels
- 1920 x 1080 pixels
Unlike still images which can be thousands of pixels on a side, video clips are locked into one of these two sizes. This means that if you crop a video clip, to remove something you don’t like, the remaining pixels are often enlarged to fill the frame. Crop too much and your video clip will look blurry, blocky, and edges will look stair-stepped.
I’ll show you two ways to crop a video clip in this article, one that maintains a high image quality but reduces the size of the frame (called “trimming”) and the other that fills the frame with the image but reduces image quality (called “cropping”). You get to pick which one works the best for you.
TRIMMING
Trimming is the process of removing portions of a video clip without changing the size of the clip. This retains the highest amount of image quality.
For instance, here an image - courtesy of Pond5 (<www.pond5.com>). Let’s say that we want to emphasize the barn and not the sky.
The easiest way to do this is to click the icon in the lower left corner of the Viewer and choose “Crop.”
This displays the cropping tools in the Viewer.
Click the Trim button to turn on Trim mode. (This article discusses Trim and Crop. I’ll cover the Ken Burns effect in a future article.)
Grab one of the blue dots and drag to hide portions of the frame. I generally grab a corner, but any blue dot will do.
NOTE: Press and hold the Option key while dragging to drag opposite edges or corners. Press and hold the Shift key to constrain the trim to the same aspect ratio as the frame.
Drag other corners or edges to further trim the image.
When you have trimmed the image the way you want, click the “Done” button in the top right corner to exit trimming mode.
If no other clip is below the trimmed clip, the background will be black.
But, it actually isn’t black, it’s transparent. If you put another clip below it, you’ll see the lower clip underneath the trimmed image.
Trimming allows us to hide portions of a video clip, without changing the image quality of the clip that remains. However, trimming always creates transparent sections within an image.
CROPPING
Cropping allows us to select just a portion of a video clip, without creating any transparent sections, BUT, it degrades image quality.
There are several ways we can choose to crop an image:
- Click the Crop icon, as we illustrated above
- Right-mouse click (or Control-click) inside the Viewer and choose
- Type Shift+C
* In the Inspector > Video tab > Crop (this option provides the most precision, but is the least intuitive to use)
If you selected any option except the Inspector, click the Crop button in the Viewer.
Now, drag a blue button in one of the corners. Because cropping, unlike trimming, fills the frame with the portion of the image we select, we can only move corners and the image is always sized to match the aspect ratio of our sequence.
Final Cut displays numbers at the top of the Viewer indicating how much the image has been cropped.
Reposition the frame by grabbing inside the rectangle and dragging.
When you are happy with the results, click the Done button in the top right corner.
Notice that the selected portion of the image now fills the frame. Even though there is a clip below our cropped clip, we don’t see it.
And, if you look closely, you’ll see that the cropped image is softer (blurrier) than the original and edges are more likely to be stair-stepped.
RESET
To reset a cropped image back to its default settings, open the Inspector and click the small curved arrow to the right of the word “Crop.”
SUMMARY
Trimming is used to hide portions of an image and superimpose it over another image.
Cropping is used to reframe an image, say from a medium shot to a close-up, but runs the risk of overly softening an image. The general rule is that cropping a little is OK, but don’t crop too much.
I use both these techniques frequently in my own editing.
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
Also read:
- [New] In 2024, Battle for Yggdrasil Ragnarok Begins
- [New] In 2024, From Songs to Symphony Building a Cohesive YouTube Playlist on Web/App
- [New] Optimal Camera Balance for Drone Use
- [Updated] 2024 Approved Transforming View Counts with Strategic Video Tagging Techniques
- [Updated] Channel Your Content Earning Through Evaluative Endeavors Online
- [Updated] In 2024, Convert Slideshow Elements to Visual Medium
- [Updated] In 2024, Elevate Your Video Calling Game with Skype & OBS
- Android & iPhone's Leading Tools for Enhanced FB Likes for 2024
- Captivating Chronicles YouTube Stories to Follow
- Decoding YouTube's Thumbnail Impact on Traffic for 2024
- Dough Spectrum Black Review: A Revolutionary Gaming Odyssey on a Premium-Crafted, 27-Inch OLED Screen!
- Easy steps to recover deleted photos from Samsung .
- Essential Tips to Avoid OBS Framing Errors for 2024
- Full Solutions to Fix Error Code 920 In Google Play on Infinix Smart 7 HD | Dr.fone
- How PGSharp Save You from Ban While Spoofing Pokemon Go On Realme 11X 5G? | Dr.fone
- How to Fix My Realme V30T Location Is Wrong | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Instagram Spotlight Tactics A 3-Step Guide
- Mastering Driver Updates for the HP ENVY 20 PC Notebook
- Mastering YouTube Earnings A Monetization Checklist for 2024
- Motorola Edge+ (2023) Messages Recovery - Recover Deleted Messages from Motorola Edge+ (2023)
- New 2024 Approved Elevate Your Edits Advanced L-Cuts and J-Cuts Techniques in FCPX
- New 2024 Approved MacOS Video Editing Made Easy Introducing Ezvid Slideshow Software
- New 2024 Approved Online Vertical Video Editing Made Easy Top Picks
- New 2024 Approved The Ultimate AVS Video Editor Review Pros, Cons, and Verdict
- New Add Wow to Your Videos Best Animated Text Apps for Phone for 2024
- New Cutting Through the Noise Final Cut Pro vs LumaFusion Comparison for 2024
- New FCPX Captioning Made Easy A Quick Start Guide
- New In 2024, Best Animation Software for Education A 2023 Review
- New In 2024, Free and Easy The 5 Best Online Tone Makers
- New In 2024, Preserve Your Memories How to Burn Videos to DVDs on Windows and Mac
- New Online WebM Video Reducers Fast and Efficient for 2024
- New Step Into a New Dimension Best Practices for Converting Videos to VR
- New The Best of the Best Top iPhone Video Editing Apps Revealed for 2024
- New The Great DVR Debate TiVo vs Comcast - Which One Reigns Supreme?
- New Transform Your Footage Mastering the Ken Burns Effect in Final Cut Pro with Ease for 2024
- New Unleash Your Creativity Best Free Online Glitch Effect Tools for 2024
- Noise Reduction Mastery Tips and Tricks for Final Cut Pro X Users
- Reasons for Oppo Reno 11 5G Stuck on Boot Screen and Ways To Fix Them | Dr.fone
- Selecting Superior Mats for Enhanced Desk Ergonomics
- Switching Windows' Default PDF Viewer
- Taking Flight with Blade: An Expert Look at the BLH4100 120S Ready To Fly RC Helicopter for Outdoors
- The Ultimate List 10 Best Free and Paid 2D Animation Software for 2024
- Unlock Your Disabled iPhone 14 Pro Without iTunes in 5 Ways | Dr.fone
- Updated 2024 Approved Best Digital Trailer Design Studios
- Updated 2024 Approved Best Side-by-Side Video Editors for iOS and Android Phones
- Updated 2024 Approved GoPro Quik for Computer Top Picks and Alternatives
- Updated 2024 Approved Windows-Compatible Options to Replace Sony Vegas Pro
- Updated Beam Local Content to Chromecast Easy Setup for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS Users
- Updated Design Your Own Fake Face with These Free Online Tools for 2024
- Updated Free MOV Video Orientation Changers Top Rated for 2024
- Updated In 2024, Edit Video Metadata Like a Pro Top 8 Mac Software
- Updated In 2024, Elevate Your Storytelling How to Edit Canon Videos with Professional Results
- Updated In 2024, Final Cut Pro on a Budget? Yes, with Our Education Bundle Offers
- Updated In 2024, The Best Free Online Video Editors A Comprehensive Guide
- Updated Mastering Video Editing on Mac Fast and Easy Ways to Cut Large Videos
- Updated Mastering Video Import and Export in Adobe Premiere Pro
- Updated The Ultimate Low-Budget Filmmaking Toolkit 7 Software You Need
- Updated Top 10 Audio Editing Tools for Pro-Level Sound Design
- Title: Updated FCPX Tutorial Trimming and Cropping Images Like a Pro
- Author: Emma
- Created at : 2024-08-15 01:32:31
- Updated at : 2024-08-16 01:32:31
- Link: https://video-ai-editor.techidaily.com/updated-fcpx-tutorial-trimming-and-cropping-images-like-a-pro/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.