Modify a Final Cut Pro effect

Many of the presets in the Final Cut Pro X Effects Browser were created in Motion. You can modify them in Motion, then save them as custom effects in Final Cut Pro.

For a step-through example of modifying a preset Final Cut Effect, see Example: Modify a preset Final Cut Pro effect in Motion.

In Final Cut Pro, click the Effects Browser button in the toolbar.
The Effects Browser appears.
Locate the effect to edit.
To preview the effect, move the pointer over the effect’s thumbnail.
Control-click the effect, then do one of the following:
- If the effect is a Final Cut Pro preset, choose “Open a copy in Motion” from the shortcut menu.
  A copy of the project opens in Motion, and the duplicated file appears in the Final Cut Pro Effects Browser.
- If the effect is a template created in Motion, choose “Open in Motion” from the shortcut menu.
  The original project opens in Motion.
Modify the project in Motion, then do one of the following:
- Save a copy of a Final Cut Pro preset with the default name: Choose File > Save.
- Save a copy of a Final Cut Pro preset with a new name: Choose File > Save As, complete the save dialog information, then click Publish.
- Save the updated Motion-created template and overwrite the original version: Choose File > Save.
- Save the updated Motion-created template as a copy: Choose File > Save As, complete the save dialog information, then click Publish.
  Note: When a preset Final Cut Pro effect is applied to the Final Cut Pro Timeline and then modified in Motion, the saved changes do not affect instances of the default preset in the Final Cut Pro Timeline. However, if the version of a preset in the Final Cut Pro Timeline has already been modified in Motion, any subsequent changes made to the template in Motion affect instances of the effect in the Final Cut Pro Timeline.
The template is saved and appears in the Effects Browser in Final Cut Pro.