Adobe After Effectshttp://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/main.html

Standalone or bundled , Adobe After Effects 5.5 tryout available.

Getting tricky with FCP and you will soon discover its limitations... So if you're after special compositing tricks you may need some dedicated software package more suitable for motion graphics. Which is where Abobe After Effects comes in.

After Effects is available in two versions. The Standard version provides core compositing, animation, and effects tools. The Production Bundle contains all of these tools plus 16-bit color support, vector paint capabilities, network rendering, and additional powerful keying, motion control, visual effects, 3D channel, and audio tools.

Big old application with many happy users & plug-in developers..

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Want After Effects?

If you use Boris FX, Graffiti or Red within Final Cut Pro then you are also able to access a range of Adobe After Effects Plug-ins:

• Cult Effects Vol. 1
• Final Effects Complete with Soft FX
• Neosapien
• AEFlame
• Tinderbox 1
• Tinderbox 2
• Tinderbox 3
• Trapcode Shine
• Kaleidafex Matte Pack
• Knoll Lens Flare Pro
• Ultimatte 2.2

Check http://www.borisfx.com for an up to date list of compatible AE plug-ins.

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Automatic Duck http://www.automaticduck.com

No working demos available

Automatic Duck Pro Import FCP

Final Cut Pro 4.1 plug-in that imports OMF compositions (e.g Avid timelines) into FCP 4.1.

Automatic Duck Pro Export

Final Cut Pro 4.1 plug-in which creates an OMF file that can be imported into Avid systems like Symphony or Media Composer or After Effects using Automatic Duck Pro Import.

Automatic Duck Pro Import AE/RED

Import Avid or Final Cut Pro timelines directly into Adobe After Effects or Boris RED 3GL The duck can bring your entire FCP timeline into these apps, maintaining clip positions, rotations, dissolves and keyframed animations.

Automatic Sequence Export PRO

An Final Cut Pro 3.0 plug-in which creates an OMF file that can be imported into Avid systems like Symphony or Media Composer or After Effects using Automatic Duck Pro.

Automatic Media Copy

Will copy the media related associated with an Avid of FCP OMF Composition to a specified destination.

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Please, Please, Please

We can only hope, pray and send e-mail in the hope that the fine Adobe After Effects plug-ins listed below will mate with Final Cut Pro:

• I want my Bad TV from The Foundry's Tinderbox collections
  http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/

Want to add something to this wishlist? Send me an e-mail.

News OpenFX Visual Effects Plug-in Support Grows.
Press Release - Feb. 10, 2004 - The Foundry is pleased to announce OpenFX (OFX), a collaborative effort by visual effects developers to devise an Open Plug-in solution for leading software applications; setting the new standard for industry plug-in development and support.

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Avid http://www.avid.com/

Ah, sweet Avid! The Grand Old NLE that now has to battle it out with that cocky FCP kid.

Avid Free DV http://www.avid.com/freeDV/index.asp

“...Avid Free DV is feature-streamlined, standalone software which includes basic video and audio editing capabilities, up to two streams of real-time effects and support for both Windows XP and Macintosh OS X platforms.

Once you’ve had a chance to familiarize yourself with the Avid Free DV software, we invite you to step up to the robust production and networking features found in our professional line of products such as Avid Xpress DV software and Avid Xpress Pro software...”

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Avid Xpress DV v3.5

“...Real-time architecture, 100 customizable real-time effects, professional-level color correction with waveform and vectorscope analysis, and multiple simultaneous real-time streams - all in software. You can preview a title, apply a dissolve, perform color correction, and animate a picture-in-picture effect simultaneously - all without rendering. (My bolding) And only Avid Xpress DV v3.5 allows you to customize every parameter of every real-time effect and see it all right away...”

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Adobe Premiere http://www.adobe.com

Final Cut's long time cross-platform competitor. Boo! Hiss! Premiere has built-in DV support and tight integration with other Adobe tools, the ability to export video to DVD and other leading formats, extensive software real-time previewing features including real-time titles, transitions, and effects.

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Commotion Pro http://www.pinnaclesys.com

An earlier version of Commotion came bundled with FCP2.

“...Commotion Pro is Pinnacle Systems’ desktop application for paint, rotoscoping, compositing, motion tracking, and effects. Commotion Pro now provides Final Cut Pro users with the ability to export a sequence including edit points from Final Cut Pro to Commotion Pro in just one step...”

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Shake http://www.apple.com/shake/

Shake was purchased by Apple in February 2002 and many FCP users are expecting some of its compositing abilities to appear in the next incarnation of Final Cut.

“...Shake brings a powerful new dimension to Apple’s pro film and video lineup: compositing and visual effects. And, just as Final Cut Pro has changed the way the industry edits, Shake has changed high-end post production forever by introducing an affordable software solution for film and video professionals...”

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