Final Cut Pro is a serious tool for serious (usually professional) editors. If you're like most users, you already know the software's interface, are well-versed in editing basics, and are interested in just one thing: going as deep as possible with the software's tools and features. In this comprehensive guide, award winning experts from post-production house DigitalFilm Tree deliver hard-to-find training in real-world color correction and effects techniques using Final Cut Pro 5 . With the help of these experts, you'll learn invaluable advanced effects techniques, including motion and filter effects, keying and compositing, creating animated titles and how to apply effects to nested sequences. In the extensive color correction section of the book, hands-on tutorials will guide you through scene-to-scene color matching, and correcting for broadcast specifications. Finally, you'll learn to harness LiveType's capabilities (and media library) to create professional and compelling opening titles. Each chapter in this self-paced, Apple-authorized guide represents a self-contained lesson, with a project to complete, a review section, and bonus exercises to reinforce what you've learned. The accompanying DVD includes lesson files and all the materials you'll need to complete the book's projects.

Alexis Van Hurkman is a writer, director, visual effects artist, and colorist. He was also the lead writer of the Final Cut Pro User Manual for versions 2,3, and 4, and of the Shake User Manual for versions 3.5 and 4. As a postproduction artist, Alexis has contributed effects for and color corrected a wide variety of commercial and independent projects, including a collaboration with Harrel Fletcher and Elizabeth Meyer on The Forbidden Zone. Most recently he completed the feature Four Weeks, Four Hours (www.alexisvanhurkman.com)

DigitalFilm Tree is a research and development-based post production facility, specializing in cutting edge digital workflows and consulting services. Located in Hollywood, California, DigitalFilm Tree’s credits include Miramax’s “Cold Mountain”, Fox-Searchlight’s “Napoloen Dynamite” and NBC’s hit show “Scrubs” . For this book DigitalFilm Tree engaged some of its top color correction and effects experts for contributions and feedback (www.digitalfilmtree.com)