Apple Final Cut Pro 6 - Manual (Page 1417)

632 Part IV Real Time and Rendering
Still-Image Real-Time Playback
Still images and imported graphics can also play back in real time. The number of still
images that play back in real time depends on the size of the still cache set in the
Memory & Cache tab of the System Settings window.
The size of the still cache is limited by the total amount of unused physical RAM
installed in your computer. The larger the still cache, the more still images can be
played back in real time in the currently selected sequence. If another sequence is
opened, the contents of the still cache are automatically replaced with still images from
the new sequence.
Improving Real-Time Performance
If the processing demands of all applied effects exceed the capabilities of your system,
you have several options to improve real-time performance:
 Reduce the playback video quality and frame rate in the RT pop-up menu in the
Timeline or in the Playback Control tab of the System Settings window. For more
information, see “
Playback Video Quality ” and “ Playback Frame Rate ” on page 629.
 Play your sequence using the Unlimited RT mode instead of the Safe RT mode. For
more information, see “ Safe RT ” on page 625 and “ Unlimited RT ” on page 626.
 Choose the Play Base Layer Only option from the RT pop-up menu. For more
information, see “ Play Base Layer Only ” on page 627.
You can adjust the
Still Cache slider or enter
a value to change the
number of still images
that play back in real
time.