How can I change the Project thumbnail in FCP11 from displaying "Adjustment" instead of a video clip? I have an Adjustment layer extending over the length of the video and FCP has selected that as the Project thumbnail in the Browser.
Mac Studio, macOS 15.7
The thumbnail is typically taken from the frame directly in the **middle** of the project. If your project is an hour long (exactly), the thumbnail image will be taken from the frame at 30:00:00.
You can place an image, a title, a generator or a small clip over your adjustment layer at the time you calculate is near the middle of the project and "span" over a few seconds (it will be easier to find). When you get ready to work on or export/share the project, simply select the item you used as the thumbnail and type the V key to disable its visibility.
Once you place your clip/object, (single) click onto another project or icon in the Event Browser. The "thumbnail" should update.
The thumbnail is typically taken from the frame directly in the **middle** of the project. If your project is an hour long (exactly), the thumbnail image will be taken from the frame at 30:00:00.
You can place an image, a title, a generator or a small clip over your adjustment layer at the time you calculate is near the middle of the project and "span" over a few seconds (it will be easier to find). When you get ready to work on or export/share the project, simply select the item you used as the thumbnail and type the V key to disable its visibility.
Once you place your clip/object, (single) click onto another project or icon in the Event Browser. The "thumbnail" should update.
As fox suggested, I think it would be quicker to disable the adjustment layer with the V key. I tried replacing the "large.png" and "small.png" images in the adjustment layer folder with images of my choice, but it didn't work. I thought the project thumbnails referenced these .png images. Does fox know why I can't change them?
The large and small pngs are only displayed in their respective effects browsers, and the "content" rendered (for a title/"adjustment layer" or generator) in the storyline is what will show in the thumbnail for the project.
You can display your project (with adjustment layers applied) with your preferred thumbnail. Keep in mind that the same thumbnail will appear in all other projects with an adjustment layer applied. *The adjustment layer must be applied to the entire timeline. If the adjustment layer is too short, the project thumbnail will not change.
Project test 1 does not have any adjustment layers applied
Project test 2 has an adjustment layer applied
Thanks for your suggestion. I hid the Adjustment layers typing V, then positioned a desired clip above the midpoint timeline as a connected clip and the thumbnail changed as desired. When I reveal the adjustment layers, and hide the clip, the thumbnail has traces of the adjustment layer at each edge. Sometimes it goes back to Adjustment when I hide the connected clip. I'll keep fiddling.
Or do it outside of FCP.
But seriously, this should have been a feature built-in from day one.
Do you have Motion?
Okay!
Create a New Effect Project — generic HD.
Turn off the Group containing the Effect Source.
Share/export > Save Current Frame
In the export dialog, select Settings then Export: PNG Image and Color Channels: Color & Alpha.
Name it thumbnail.png.
Turn the Group containing the Effect Source back on.
Go into the Finder and find your export — drag it back into the project and drop it on the Group. It should end up inside the group directly over the Effect Source.
Select thumbnail.png in the Layers list and select the Image tab and for Type: select Drop Zone.
Publish: Pan, Scale, Fill Opaque and Fill Color. [The drop zone is automatically published.]
Save the project as "Project Thumbnail". Provide a category that will make it easy to find.
In Final Cut: add an Adjustment layer at the middle of your project and apply Project Thumbnail effect to the Adjustment Layer. Pick a Frame from your Storyline (there's about a 90% chance the dropzone will be a still image.) You can use a selection from a clip in the Event Browser, but it will "play" if it is a video clip — you might need to reposition the adjustment layer slightly.
Click in the Event Browser — not on the current project — wait a few seconds until the thumbnail updates.
Applying the effect to an adjustment layer makes it "portable". If your project changes length, just reposition it at the new center. You can type "V" to toggle its visiblity if you need to export your project.
Tip: Select the Adjustment layer and right click on its title > select Rename clip and call it project thumbnail — it will make it easier to find with the Timeline index Search.
You can use the Pan and Scale feature to enlarge a section for clarification or you can Scale smaller, use the Fill Opaque and Fill Color "feature" to create a color outline for the thumbnail.
HTH — I may get back later with the WHY I chose this method.
Changing Project thumbnail in Final Cut Pro
