Reckon Reveal

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Getting Started with Reckon Reveal

Overview

Reckon Reveal is a tool for Final Cut Pro that lets you reveal a background behind your content. It helps improve readability of titles or descriptions, create transitions, and add visual structure to your edits.

With control over animation timing, placement, and background styles, it integrates smoothly into any workflow.

The tool includes 90+ presets and supports all standard aspect ratios, making it easy to achieve consistent results across different projects.

How to Use Reckon Reveal

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Apply as a Title or Effect:

  • Title templates are found in the Titles Browser under "Reckon Reveal."
  • Effects are located in the Effects Browser and can be applied directly to specific clips.

Using Presets:

  • Drag a Reckon Reveal Title onto the timeline or apply the Effect to a clip.
  • Adjust the start and end points in the timeline.
  • Fine-tune animation settings in the Inspector, such as: animation speed and curve, cut / placement options and background effects
  • Use keyframing for dynamic, custom animations.

Creating Seamless Transitions

  • Apply Reckon Reveal at the end of one clip. Choose "Transition In" and adjust it to your preference.
  • Duplicate it and place the copy at the beginning of the next clip, changing its option to "Transition Out". Optionally, modify the text for a seamless transition.
  • The presets offer a variety of transition in and out options, allowing for smooth and customizable scene changes.

Background and Layering Options

  • Choose from solid colors, gradients, blurs, or drop zones to create custom backgrounds.
  • Stack multiple Reveal effects for more advanced compositions.

Compatibility

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

Parameters

Presets

Presets contain a snapshot of your effect configuration. 94 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 Browser

Effect

The following options are available:

  • Move (default) — Shrink (or enlarge) the size of the clip and move it toward the edges or corners to make room for the background.
  • Slice — Slice the video horizontally, vertically or diagonally and move both parts apart.
  • Door — Shrink (or enlarge) the size of the clip and move it like a door to make place for the background
  • Hole — Create a circular or elliptical hole which reveals the background. The clips around it gets distorted and flows around.

Type

The following options are available:

  • In between Clip (default) — Use within a cllip. With a begin- and end-transition the background gets revealed.
  • Transition In — Placed at the end of the first clip this is the first part of a transition betwen the first and second clip.

  • Transition Out — Placed at the begin of the second clip this completes the transition betwen the first and second clip.

    Ideally create the "transition in" effect first, the duplicate it and change the copy to "transition out".

Build In/Out

On by default.

Turn off if build-in and build-out animation is not required.

Animation Curve

The following options are available:

  • Linear
  • Quadratic In
  • Quadratic Out
  • Quadratic In-Out — default
  • Cubic In
  • Cubic Out
  • Cubic In-Out
  • Exponential In
  • Exponential Out
  • Exponential In-Out
  • Sinusoidal In
  • Sinusoidal Out
  • Sinusoidal In-Out

Build Duration

Build-in and build out duration in seconds.

Set to 1 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0.1 and 2 but you can type values between 0.1 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Effect Options

Effect-specific options to customize the appearance (Move, Slice, Door and Hole).

Move Options

Zoom

Set the zoom factor to adjust how much the video is scaled up or down.

Set to 0.8 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0.5 and 2 but you can type values between 0.1 and 5 by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Placement Option

Set where the video should be moved to.

The following options are available:

  • Top right
  • Top Center — default
  • Top left
  • Bottom right
  • Bottom center
  • Bottom left
  • Center left
  • Center right
  • Center center

Inset

Positive or negative inset (adjusts the distance of the video from the edge of the visible screen area)

Set to 1.5 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -20 and 10 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Corner Radius

Set to 10 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 50 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Slice Options

Angle

Set to 0° by default.

Slice x

Position of the slice along the x-axis.

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -40 and 40 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Slice y

Position of the slice along the y-axis.

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -40 and 40 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Gap x

Extent of the gap in which the background is being revealed (horizontally).

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 25 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Gap y

Extent of the gap in which the background is being revealed (vertically).

Set to 5 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 25 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Door Options

Door Opening

Extent to which the door should open.

Set to 0.22 by default. Only values between 0.01 and 1 are allowed.

Door Position

The following options are available:

  • Right — default
  • Left

Door Radius

Corner radius of the door opened.

Set to 40 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 60 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Door Inset X

Positive or negative inset horizontally (adjusts the distance of the video from the edge of the visible screen area)

Set to 0.8 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -20 and 20 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Door Inset Y

Positive or negative inset vertically (adjusts the distance of the video from the edge of the visible screen area)

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -20 and 20 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Door Scale

Set the scale factor to adjust how much the video is scaled up or down.

Set to 0.96 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 1.5 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Hole Options

Hole Center

Placement of the hole.

A point parameter centered in the frame by default.

Initial location in the frame

While it is possible to change the X and Y coordinates via the inspector, it is far easier to interact with point parameters directly on-screen:

Adjusting Point Parameters in Final Cut Pro
Adjusting Point Parameters in Motion
Adjusting Point Parameters in Premiere Pro
Layer Selection in After Effects

Hole Radius

Size of the hole (radius).

Set to 563 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0.01 and 1500 but you can type values between 0.01 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Hole Ellipsis

Adjust shape (circular to elliptical.

Set to 1 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 2 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Transition Options

Each of the four effects—Move, Slice, Door, and Hole—offers different transition options between two clips.

Move Transition Options

Transition Option

The following options are available:

  • Move out and in
  • Flip — default

Move Direction

The following options are available:

  • Left to Right
  • Right to Left — default

Flip Opposite Direction

Off by default.

Flip Vertically

Off by default.

Slice Transition Options

Movement

Options like "Left-Right" and "Right-Left" determine the movement of the two video slices after splitting. In "Left-Right," one slice moves left while the other moves right, and vice versa for "Right-Left." Test both options to see which one aligns with your intended result (i.e., which slice corresponds to slice 1 and which to slice 2).

The following options are available:

  • Fix
  • Left-Right — default
  • Right-Left
  • Up-Down
  • Down-Up

Adjust last/first position 1

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -2500 and 2500 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

When the "Move out and in" option is selected, in some cases, one or both video slices may move off-screen too quickly, creating a blank area before the effect ends, or too slowly, leaving part of the slice still visible at the end.

If this happens and is visually distracting, move the playhead to the end of the effect (Move Out) and adjust the two parameters so that the corresponding slice fully exits the visible frame. Parameters 1 and 2 correspond to Slice 1 and Slice 2—test which one affects the slice you want to adjust.

Adjust last/first position 2

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -2500 and 2500 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Door Transition Options

Fllip Door Opposite Direction

Off by default.

Flip Door Vertically

Off by default.

General Transition Options

Transition Duration

The transition duration is separate from the build-in and -out duration. Keep in mind, that you will have a transition-in at the end of the first clip and a transition-out at the beginning of the second clip. So if the whole transition should take 1 second, set each of the durations to 0.5 seconds.

Set to 0.5 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0.01 and 1 but you can type values between 0.01 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Title Options

Reckon Reveal includes a built-in title option. The title fades in and appears within the reveal section of the video, following the same animation curve as the overall effect.

Custom title templates can also be used. To do this, the built-in title must be turned off, and the custom title template placed above the revealed background. It should be timed to appear and disappear while the background remains visible.

Title

Toggle off, if no title is needed or you want to use your own title title template.

On by default.

Title Fade In

Gradullay fade-in and -out the title during the build-in and -out animationations.

On by default.

Styled Text

Lets you edit stylized text used by the effect. Set to the following by default:

Reveal

Click the Edit button to modify the text through a separate window.

Text Editing Window

This parameter supports inline images. You can drag or paste images into the text editor, or import an existing file that contains inline images.

Title Placement

A point parameter.

Initial location in the frame

While it is possible to change the X and Y coordinates via the inspector, it is far easier to interact with point parameters directly on-screen:

Adjusting Point Parameters in Final Cut Pro
Adjusting Point Parameters in Motion
Adjusting Point Parameters in Premiere Pro
Layer Selection in After Effects

Title Angle

Set to 0° by default.

Drop Shadow

Toggle and configure drop shadow effects for the borders of the reveal area and the title.

Drop Shadow

On by default.

Title Drop Shadow

On by default.

Angle

Set to 0° by default.

Offset X

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 1 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Offset Y

Set to -5 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -5 and -4 but you can type values between -∞ and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Shadow Color

Set to
black with 50% alpha by default.

Shadow Intensity

Set to 20% by default.

Shadow Radius

Set to 3 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 4 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Background Options

There are eight options for the revealed background.

Dark and light dots offer a customizable pattern, while the Drop Zone option permits any type of video clip to be inserted into the background.

Solid color, linear gradient, and radial gradient provide options for a colored background, and noise may be added.

The underlying video displays the clip in the background. Blend modes can be applied, and brightness, contrast, and saturation can be adjusted or the video blurred.

The transparent option may be used when Reckon Reveal is applied as an effect rather than as a title. This permits a "look through" to the video layers beneath the clip on which Reckon Reveal was applied.

Background Option

The following options are available:

  • Dots dark (default) — Background with dot patterns (adjustable), dark appearance
  • Dots light — Background with dot patterns (adjustable), light appearance
  • Drop Zone — Drop Zone to place any video content in the background
  • Solid Color
  • Linear Gradient
  • Radial Gradient
  • Underlying Video — The video is shown in the background with an adjustable overlay effect.
  • Transparent — Transparent background is mainly useful when Reckon Reveal is applied as a video effect to a clip. Enabling this option allows the underlying video content in the timeline to remain visible.

Dots Options

Count of Dots

Set to 150 by default. Only values between 10 and 1000 are allowed.

Radiusof Dots

Set to 60% by default.

Softnessof Dots

Set to 0.75 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 1 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Dark Dot Color

Set to
13% red, 13% green, 13% blue, 100% alpha in the SRGB color space by default.

Bright Dot Color

Set to
92% red, 92% green, 92% blue, 100% alpha in the SRGB color space by default.

Drop Zone

Drop Zone Image

Lets you provide additional media to the effect.

The user interface varies by host:

Drop Zones in Final Cut Pro
Drop Zones in Motion
Video Track Selection in Premiere Pro
Layer Selection in After Effects

Solid Color Options

Background Solid Color

Set to
13% red, 13% green, 13% blue, 100% alpha in the SRGB color space by default.

Linear and Radial Gradient Options

Gradient Point 0

A point parameter.

Initial location in the frame

While it is possible to change the X and Y coordinates via the inspector, it is far easier to interact with point parameters directly on-screen:

Adjusting Point Parameters in Final Cut Pro
Adjusting Point Parameters in Motion
Adjusting Point Parameters in Premiere Pro
Layer Selection in After Effects

Gradient Point 1

A point parameter.

Initial location in the frame

While it is possible to change the X and Y coordinates via the inspector, it is far easier to interact with point parameters directly on-screen:

Adjusting Point Parameters in Final Cut Pro
Adjusting Point Parameters in Motion
Adjusting Point Parameters in Premiere Pro
Layer Selection in After Effects

Gradient Center

A point parameter centered in the frame by default.

Initial location in the frame

While it is possible to change the X and Y coordinates via the inspector, it is far easier to interact with point parameters directly on-screen:

Adjusting Point Parameters in Final Cut Pro
Adjusting Point Parameters in Motion
Adjusting Point Parameters in Premiere Pro
Layer Selection in After Effects

Gradient Radius 1

Set to 800 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 2000 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Gradient Radius 2

Set to 1500 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 2000 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Gradient Color 1

Set to
2% red, 18% green, 31% blue, 100% alpha in the SRGB color space by default.

Gradient Color 2

Set to
33% green, 57% blue, 100% alpha in the SRGB color space by default.

Noise

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 2.5 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Underlying Video Options

Blend Mode

Stylize the underlying video with blend mode.

Alpha

Set to 2.97% by default.

Saturation Underlying

Set to 1 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 2 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Brightness Underrlying

Set to 0 by default.

The slider is limited to values between -1 and 1 but you can type values between -1 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Contrast Underlying

Set to 1 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 2 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.

Radius Blur Underlying

Set to 10 by default.

The slider is limited to values between 0 and 20 but you can type values between 0 and +∞ by clicking on the current value in the inspector.