How will they be done? What codec will be used?

If there is a discussion about visual FX or graphic animation of some kind, there’s a chance that everyone is assuming you will be doing it. That’s fine, except that if it isn’t, someone has to say who will be doing it. And then, how do you coordinate with that person to be sure their work will be compatible with your editing specs?

You should take the lead in establishing how the graphic design and animation effects workflow will proceed. Most designers don’t know much about codecs for editing systems or legal color/luminance gamut for TV. You should “shake hands” on a format that will allow the designer to work in the proper resolution and aspect ratio, and a format that they can render out to so that you will receive it in its best quality possible.

The process of digitizing video footage, exporting it to a graphics program like AfterEffects, rendering out a movie, and then importing it back into FCP can cause subtle changes in the video footage depending on your presets. Keeping track of the proper settings is complicated but necessary.

There will be more details on how to export/import for graphics work later in this guide.