Apple Final Cut Pro 5 - Manual (Page 307)

306 Part IV Logging, Capturing, and Importing
 Graphics and still images: BMP, FlashPix, GIF, JPEG/JFIF, MacPaint (PNTG), Photoshop
(layered), PICS, PICT, PNG, QuickTime Image File, SGI, TARGA (TGA), and TIFF.
For more information, see Volume III, Chapter 17, “Working With Still Images and
Photographs.”
 Numbered image sequences: Numbered image sequences allow you to store a movie’s
frames as individual graphics files. Compositing applications, such as Shake, and film
transfer equipment often use this format. Final Cut Pro does not convert image
sequences into a single clip, but instead creates individual clips for each graphics file
you import.
Importing Media Files
You can import single files, a folder, or a group of folders. If you import a group of folders
that contain folders inside one another, Final Cut Pro imports all files in each folder and
subfolder that are in formats it recognizes; incompatible file types are ignored.
Folders imported into your project appear as bins in the Browser. If you import a group
of folders, Final Cut Pro creates bins and organizes the files in the same hierarchy as on
your hard disk. However, unlike with clips and media files, there is no further
relationship between bins and folders after you import. Changing the name or location
of a bin in your project has no effect on the folders in the Finder, and vice versa.
How Is Importing Different From Capturing?
Importing is different from capturing in the following ways:
 Capturing: When you capture, you transfer and often convert footage from an
external video or audio device to your scratch disk.
 Importing: You import files when they are already stored on your scratch disk.
Importing media files creates clips in your project; these clips refer back to the
media files on disk.
Since capturing creates media files, you can always import captured media files into
your project at any time.