6. Importing Digital Media
One of the most enchanting aspects of the DV revolution is the world of digital media elements that you can mix, match, and manipulate freely to spice up your video. Final Cut Express is exceptional in the wide latitude of digital file formats it accepts. You can import most types of QuickTime-compatible files into an FCE project, including video clips, still images, and sound files. Apple's QuickTime web site contains a complete list of supported file formats at www.apple.com/quicktime/products/qt/specification184. Here's a list of common FCE-supported QuickTime formats: Graphics: BMP, FlashPix, GIF, JPEG/JFIF, Photoshop (PSD), PICS, PICT, PNG, QuickTime Image File (QTIF), SGI, TARGA (TGA), and TIFF Video: AVI, QuickTime Movie Audio: AIFF, Audio CD Data (Macintosh), Sound, and Wave Other: Macromedia Flash (video only)
You can import an entire folder or an organization of multiple folders in a single operation. When you import a folder, Final Cut Express imports all files it recognizes in the folder, as well as all recognized files in any subfolders. Folders are imported with their internal hierarchies intact.
To import files or a folder:
1. | Copy or move the file (or folder) that you want to import into the desired media folder in your project (Figure 6.1 ).
Figure 6.1. Before you import a file, copy or move it to the correct asset folder in your project.
| 2. | In the Browser, select a destination for your incoming file by doing one of the following : - To import files or folders into the top level of a project, click the project's Browser tab.
- To import files into a bin within a project, double-click the bin to open it.
| 3. | Do one of the following: - Choose File > Import; then choose Files (or Folder) from the submenu, select the items, and click Open.
- In the Browser or any Browser bin window, Control-click and then choose Import File (or Import Folder) from the shortcut menu.
- Drag the desired files or folders directly from your Desktop (Figure 6.2 ) to a project tab or a bin within the Browser (Figure 6.3 ).
Figure 6.2. Drag the desired files or folders directly from your Desktop into Final Cut Express.
Figure 6.3. Drop the files or folder on a project tab or in a bin within the Browser.
- Drag the desired files or folders from your Desktop to an open sequence in the Timeline. This places a clip reference to the media in the Timeline but does not place a reference in the Browser.
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