To transfer settings or attributes from one clip to another in Final Cut Pro, you use a combination of the standard copy command and the "Paste Attributes" feature. This allows you to replicate effects, transformations, color corrections, audio levels, and more without manually reapplying them to each clip.
Step-by-Step Guide
Here's how to copy attributes from a source clip and apply them to one or more target clips:
- Select the Source Clip: In your Final Cut Pro timeline, click on the clip that has the settings you want to copy.
- As seen in the reference: Select a clip in the Final Cut Pro timeline.
- Copy the Clip: Go to the menu bar and choose Edit > Copy, or use the keyboard shortcut Command + C.
- As seen in the reference: Choose edit and then Copy.
- Copying the clip also copies its associated attributes, as indicated in the reference ("these are all the attributes that... will be copied over").
- Select the Target Clip(s): Click on the clip or clips in the timeline where you want to apply the copied settings. You can select multiple clips by holding down the Shift key while clicking.
- Paste Attributes: Go back to the menu bar and choose Edit > Paste Attributes, or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Command + V.
- Choose Attributes to Paste: A "Paste Attributes" window will appear. This window lists all the attributes that were copied from the source clip (such as Transform, Crop, Distort, Opacity, Spatial Conform, Audio Volume, Pan, Effects, Color Corrections, etc.).
- Check the boxes next to the specific attributes you want to apply to the target clip(s).
- Uncheck any attributes you do not wish to transfer.
- Options like "Remove Attributes from Target Clips" (useful for resetting before pasting) or specific scaling options for spatial conform might be available depending on the attributes.
- Confirm: Click the Paste button.
The selected attributes will now be applied to your target clip(s).
What Settings Can Be Copied?
The "Paste Attributes" feature is incredibly versatile. The attributes you can copy and paste typically include:
- Video: Transform (position, scale, rotation), Crop, Distort, Opacity, Spatial Conform.
- Audio: Volume Levels, Pan settings.
- Effects: All applied video and audio effects.
- Color: Color corrections and grading.
- Retiming: Speed changes (though pasting speed changes needs careful handling depending on the target clip).
Using this method saves significant time when you need consistent looks or effects across multiple clips in your project.
