5 Steps to Create a Dark Ending Screen in Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a popular video editing software that allows users to create stunning videos. One of the most important aspects of any video is the ending screen, which can leave a lasting impression on viewers. By default, the ending screen in Final Cut Pro is white, but you can easily change it to black using a few simple steps.

To make the ending screen dark in Final Cut Pro, first select the clip that you want to change. Then, click on the “Inspector” tab and select the “Video” section. Under the “Background Color” section, click on the color picker and select black. You can also adjust the opacity of the black background if desired. Finally, click on the “Apply” button to save your changes.

In addition to changing the color of the ending screen, you can also add a custom image or logo. To do this, click on the “Add Overlay” button in the “Inspector” tab and select the image or logo that you want to add. You can then adjust the position, size, and opacity of the overlay as desired. Once you are satisfied with the results, click on the “Apply” button to save your changes.

Darken Your Screen with a Solid Color

To darken your screen with a solid color, follow these steps:

In the Final Cut Pro timeline, create a new video track above all other video tracks. This will be your “darken” track.
Select the “Generator” tab in the Effects Browser and drag and drop the “Solid Color” generator onto the darken track. The generator will create a solid color clip that spans the entire duration of the sequence.
In the Effects Inspector, you can customize the color and opacity of the solid color. To darken the screen, set the Opacity value to something less than 100%. The higher the opacity, the darker the screen will be.

Here are some additional tips for darkening your screen with a solid color:

You can use any color you want to darken your screen, but black is the most common choice.
The opacity of the solid color will determine how dark your screen will be. Experiment with different opacity values to find the right look.
You can use the solid color to create a fade-in or fade-out effect. To do this, simply animate the opacity of the solid color over time.

Apply a Black or Grey Filter

To apply a black or grey filter to your ending screen in Final Cut Pro, follow these steps:

1. Create a new adjustment layer

In the Final Cut Pro timeline, click the “Add Adjustment Layer” button in the toolbar. Select “Color Correction” from the menu and choose “Black and White.” This will create a new adjustment layer that you can use to color correct your ending screen.

2. Adjust the filter settings

Click on the “Color Correction” adjustment layer in the timeline. In the Inspector window, adjust the following settings:

Exposure: Decrease the exposure to darken the image.
Contrast: Increase the contrast to enhance the shadows and highlights.
Saturation: Adjust the saturation to desaturate the image or add a tint of color.

Use the sliders to adjust the values until you are satisfied with the appearance of your ending screen. You can also experiment with the other settings in the “Color Correction” panel to achieve different effects.

3. Apply the filter to the ending screen

Drag and drop the “Color Correction” adjustment layer onto the ending screen clip in the timeline. The filter will be applied to the ending screen, making it darker and more visually appealing.

You can use this technique to create a wide range of effects on your ending screens. Experiment with different filter settings to find the look that best suits your project.

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips for applying a black or grey filter to your ending screen in Final Cut Pro:

Use a gradual filter: Instead of applying a solid black or grey filter, you can use a gradual filter that fades in or out over time. This can create a more subtle and cinematic effect.
Add a vignette: A vignette is a dark vignette around the edges of the image. You can use a vignette to draw attention to the center of your ending screen and create a more focused look.
Experiment with different colors: Black and grey are not the only options for darkening your ending screen. You can also experiment with other colors, such as blue or green, to create a unique and distinctive look.

Adjust the Transparency of a Layer

To fine-tune the visibility of the video you want to use as an ending screen, you can adjust its transparency. This allows you to achieve various effects, such as blending the ending screen into the video or making it more subtly visible.

To adjust the transparency, follow these steps:

In the timeline, select the video layer representing the ending screen.
In the Inspector panel (located on the right side of the Final Cut Pro interface), navigate to the “Video” tab.
Under “Composite,” locate the “Opacity” slider.
Drag the slider to the left to decrease the transparency, making the ending screen more visible.
Drag the slider to the right to increase the transparency, making the ending screen less visible.
Adjust the opacity until you achieve the desired level of visibility for your ending screen.
Preivew the changes in the viewer window to ensure the opacity settings are as intended.

Apply a Custom LUT

If you’re looking for a more dramatic effect, you can apply a custom LUT to your ending screen. A LUT (Lookup Table) is a file that contains a set of color adjustments that can be applied to your footage. You can download custom LUTs online or create your own. To apply a custom LUT to your ending screen:

In the Final Cut Pro timeline, select the clip you want to apply the LUT to.
Click on the “Effects” tab in the top menu bar.
In the “Effects” browser, search for “LUT”.
Drag and drop the “LUT” effect onto the selected clip.
In the “LUT” effect inspector, click on the “Browse” button next to the “Input LUT” field.
Navigate to the location of the custom LUT file on your computer and select it.
Click on the “Apply” button.
The custom LUT will now be applied to the selected clip.

Here are some tips for choosing and applying a custom LUT:

Choose a LUT that matches the mood of your video. If you want a dark and dramatic ending screen, choose a LUT that has a high contrast and low saturation. If you want a more bright and cheerful ending screen, choose a LUT that has a low contrast and high saturation.
Start with a subtle LUT. You can always add more intensity later. If you start with a too intense LUT, it can be difficult to make it look natural.
Experiment with different LUTs. There are many different LUTs available online, so don’t be afraid to try out a few until you find one that you like.

LUT Type	Description
Creative LUTs	LUTs that are designed to give your footage a unique or stylized look.
Film Emulation LUTs	LUTs that are designed to emulate the look of classic film stocks.
Color Correction LUTs	LUTs that are designed to correct the color balance and exposure of your footage.

Set the Final Cut Pro Color Profile

To make the ending screen dark in Final Cut Pro, you can adjust the color profile. Here’s how:

1. Open Final Cut Pro.

2. Go to the “File” menu and select “New Project”.

3. In the “New Project” window, select the “Custom” tab.

4. In the “Color Profiles” drop-down menu, select the “Rec. 709” profile.

5. Click the “Create” button.

6. Import the video you want to use for your ending screen into Final Cut Pro.

7. Drag the video to the timeline.

8. Select the video clip in the timeline.

9. Go to the “Effects” tab in the inspector window.

10. In the “Video Effects” section, scroll down and find the “Color Correction” effect. Drag and drop the Color Correction effect onto the video clip.

11. In the “Color Correction” effect window, click on the “Wheels” tab.

12. Drag the “Shadows” slider to the left to darken the shadows in the video.

13. Drag the “Highlights” slider to the right to lighten the highlights in the video.

14. Drag the “Contrast” slider to the left to decrease the contrast in the video.

15. Continue adjusting the sliders until you’re satisfied with the look of the video.

16. Click the “Apply” button to save the changes.

Color Correction Wheel	Function
Shadows	Adjusts the darkness of the shadows in the video.
Highlights	Adjusts the brightness of the highlights in the video.
Contrast	Adjusts the difference between the lightest and darkest parts of the video.
Saturation	Adjusts the intensity of the colors in the video.
Temperature	Adjusts the warmth or coolness of the colors in the video.
Tint	Adjusts the green or red tint in the video.

How to Make Ending Screen Dark in Final Cut Pro

Creating a dark ending screen in Final Cut Pro is a simple and effective way to give your videos a professional and polished look. Here’s how to do it:

Create a black video clip. Drag and drop a black video clip onto the timeline. You can create a black video clip by selecting File > New > Video, setting the resolution and frame rate, and then clicking on the "Background" tab and selecting "Black."
Place the black video clip at the end of the timeline. Move the black video clip to the end of the timeline, so that it appears after the last clip in your video.
Adjust the duration of the black video clip. You can adjust the duration of the black video clip to match the desired length of your ending screen.
Add a fade-in or fade-out effect to the black video clip. This will help to create a smooth transition between the end of your video and the black screen.
Export your video. Once you have finished making your ending screen, you can export your video in the desired format.