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Customizing templates: adding media to Final Cut Pro templates

If you've downloaded a Generator template for Final Cut Pro, this guide will walk you through how to add your own media, edit text, adjust clip lengths, and troubleshoot Drop Zone issues.

  1. Open Final Cut Pro and go to the Generators section (in the sidebar under the Titles and Generators browser).
  2. If you don’t see your template, make sure it was installed correctly. Need some help? Follow these steps for troubleshooting.
  3. Click and drag the generator template into your timeline to begin editing it.

How to add your own media (Populate the Template)

  1. Click on the generator clip in your timeline to reveal editable options.
  2. At the top-right of the screen, click the Inspector icon (if it's not already visible).
  3. Then switch to the Generator Inspector tab.
  4. In the Generator Inspector, scroll until you see media slots labeled like Media 1, Media 2, etc. These are Image Wells, drop zones where you can insert your own footage.
  5. Click the Image Well for Media 1.

  1. Browse your media library and select the desired clip or still image.
  2. You’ll see a preview in the viewer, but it won’t apply until you confirm.
  3. Click Apply Clip to insert it into the template.
  4. If your media appears zoomed in or off-center, use the Scale, Position X, and Position Y sliders beneath the media slot to adjust it.
  5. For finer control, click the number and use your arrow keys to nudge values up or down.
  6. Go through each Media field and insert your clips as needed. Each slot corresponds to the order in which they appear in the template.

How to edit the text

  1. In the Generator Inspector, you’ll see editable text fields labeled Text 1, Text 2, etc.
  2. Click inside a text box to change the placeholder text.
  3. Changes will appear instantly in the Viewer.
  4. To remove text completely, delete the text from the field to leave it blank.
  5. Highlight the text and use the formatting controls in the Inspector to change font, size, or position, just like with media controls.

How to adjust clip lengths

If your source clip is shorter than the duration of the generator, it will freeze on the last frame to fill the remaining time. To fix this:

  1. Add the clip to the timeline separately and make adjustments:
    • Slow it down
    • Reverse part of it
    • Duplicate and mirror it for looping
  2. Highlight the modified clip in the timeline.
  3. Right-click and select New Compound Clip.
  4. Name it (e.g., Clip for Media 1) and save it.
  5. Delete the compound clip from your timeline (it remains in the library).
  6. Go back to the generator, click the appropriate Image Well, and select your new compound clip.

How to cut the generator (Optional)

If you want to cut the generator to insert media or effects in between:

  1. Right-click the generator in the timeline and choose New Compound Clip.
  2. This allows you to make cuts without stretching or distorting the animation.
  3. Now you can split and rearrange the generator like normal footage.

Troubleshooting Drop Zone Issues

Problem 1: The clip freezes on the last frame
Solution: The clip is too short for the generator duration.
Create a compound clip with the clip duplicated inside, or use reverse/slow motion to extend it.

Problem 2: The wrong part of the video is showing
Solution: When selecting a source clip for a drop zone, the playhead position in the browser determines the starting point.
Scrub over the clip until the red playhead line appears over your desired starting frame.
Select the clip at that moment—that’s where the generator will begin playing the drop zone content.

Still need help? Head back to the Help Center.