FCP Ken Burns effect acceleration
 

I'm working on on a project in FCP, and I'm trying to figure out how to do a Ken Burns effect, but not in the simple way. Usually, I'd set a scale keyframe at the beginning and end, and maybe change the position. But I was wondering if I could get it to accelerate somehow, that is to say, have the picture zoom in slowly, speed up, and then slow down until it gets to the end point. It's kinda hard for me to describe in words, but iMovie's Ken Burns effect does exactly what I'm describing. Can anybody help me out here?

In the viewer window where you put your keyframes, right-click (ctrl-click) the starting scale keyframe and select "smooth", then do the same for the ending scale keyframe. You can use the resulting handles to adjust to taste, but be sure to keep them level otherwise you'll be changing the scale.

You can't do this with the position keyframes, but it should get you the desired effect.

Thanks so much for your help! It looks great.

Actually, you can. Make sure the CANVAS is showing "Image+Wireframe" and right click on the green position keyframe points in the centre of the image (in the CANVAS) and you'll get a pop-up menu with "Ease In/Ease Out".

However, FCP usually makes a pig's ear of the positional smoothing it applies. But it is possible. You can then try and adjust the bezier curves that appear, but ..... good luck!!!

Good tip, Martin. I see what you mean about the smoothing, but this is nice when I want to quickly experiment before going to After Effects.