Timecode

Create timecode overlays in any font and color.

Compatibility

Timecode is compatible with Final Cut Pro, Motion, Premiere Pro and After Effects.

Parameters

Presets

Presets contain a snapshot of your effect configuration. 7 built-in presets are available.

When you save parameter configuration to a file on disk, this file can later be loaded to recreate the same effect configuration. Presets generated in one video application can be used by the same plug-in running in a different video application.

Working with the Presets Menu

Timecode

Center

Location of the timecode within the frame.

Frame Rate

Frame rate used to calculate the timecode for the current frame. Select the Match Project option to have the timecode match the current timeline settings.

When working in timelines that use NTSC frame rates, make sure that the Drop Frame parameter is enabled when appropriate. This parameter is only needed in Final Cut Pro and Motion. There is no need to manually choose drop vs non-drop timecodes in Adobe video apps.

Select the Custom option if the desired frame rate does not appear among the available choices. A separate Custom Frame Rate slider lets you pick a specific frame rate.

Project

Lets you tell the effect whether your project is using drop-frame timecodes.

  • Non-drop Frame — Select this option if your timeline uses regular timecodes.
  • Drop Frame (NTSC Only) (default) — Select this option if your timeline uses NTSC drop-frame timecodes.
This parameter is only available in Final Cut Pro and Motion, since those video applications do not provide this information to the effect. In Premiere Pro and After Effects the effect can obtain the current timecode format directly from the application.

Drop Frame

Enable when you wish to generate timecodes in one of the NTSC frame rates and have them follow the drop-frame standard.

Omit Last Component

Off by default.

Font Name

Font used to draw the timecode.

Font Size

Size of the timecode, relative to the frame.

Kerning

Adjusts distance between each character.

Text Color

Set to
white by default.

Outline Width

When non-zero, this parameter draws an outline of the given width around each character.

Outline Only

When enabled, characters are drawn without a fill color. Only the outline remains visible in the output.

Outline Color

Set to
100% green, 100% alpha in the SRGB color space by default.

Offset

An optional offset, to have your timecodes start earlier or later than the clip. Defaults to 00:00:00;00.

Background

Background

Turn this parameter on to draw a hackground behind the timecode. Its appearance is determined by additional parameters below, such as Background Color, Rounded Corners and Softness.

Border

Turn this parameter on to draw a border around the timecode box. Its appearance is determined by the Border Color and Border Width parameters below.

Drop Shadow

Drop Shadow

Enable this parameter to add a drop shadow behind the timecode.

Various drop shadow styles

Various drop shadow styles

The Shadow Color, Shadow Radius, Shadow Offset X/Y parameters let you specify the appearance and location of the shadow, relative to the elements that cast the shadow. These parameters are not available when Drop Shadow is off.