Apple Updates Final Cut Pro X, Motion, Compressor

Heads up, video editors and motion graphics pros. Apple on Monday issued updates for its Final Cut Pro X, Motion, and Compressor apps, adding a number of new features and enhancements to "accelerate video editing, packaging, and delivery."

Final Cut Pro 10.2 introduces features like 3D titles, improved masking for color grading and effects, and native support for more camera formats. Motion 5.2 offers additional options for 3D titles, letting you create custom materials and environments and publish them to Final Cut Pro X. Compressor 4.2 is designed to help you easily package a movie for sale on the iTunes Store.

"From Hollywood blockbuster directors to first time movie makers, Final Cut Pro X is changing the way we edit movies today," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said in a statement. "The updated Final Cut Pro X, Motion and Compressor make it even easier to edit, title, and package everything from short videos to feature-length films."

With Final Cut Pro 10.2, you can create 3D titles with "drag-and-drop ease," Apple said. It comes with some simple templates to help you get started, as well as cinematic templates with backgrounds and animations. The software lets you customize your titles with different text styles, lighting, and edges, as well as convert 2D titles to 3D and see the changes in real time.

The software also now supports Panasonic AVC-Ultra and Sony XAVC-S video formats, and should make working with RED RAW files faster thanks to GPU-accelerated transcoding, playback, and rendering.

Meanwhile, Motion 5.2 offers additional options for 3D titles. The software lets you create titles with multiple lights and cameras as well as multilayered scenes that "cast ultra-realistic shadows and reflections on other objects," Apple said. The company added that "hundreds" of new 3D templates are coming soon from developers like Ripple Training, motionVFX, and FxFactory. The Motion update also brings 12 new generator effects, improved keyframing, and enhanced controls for mask and shape creation.

Finally, when you're ready to start distributing your movie in the iTunes store, Compressor 4.2 should make it easy. Simply choose the movie, trailer, and closed captions, and Compressor will create an iTunes Store package that you can submit for sale.

Final Cut Pro 10.2, Motion 5.2, and Compressor 4.2 are available today in the Mac App Store for $299.99, $49.99, and $49.99, respectively. Existing customers can get these new features as a few update.