Ability to create a matte?

qsnow1 wrote on 2/8/2006, 1:56 PM
Does VMS have the ability to allow me to create a matte or mask and then apply an effect to just that area? I have messed with the cookie cutter a bit, but it is severely limited in being able to cut out a specific section (ir if would just allow x and y resizing of the shapes it would help). I have some non-geometric shapes that I would like to overlay special effects to and the best I've been able to figure out is to try and string numerous cookie-cutters together - but the result really isn't very pretty.

EDIT: For clarification.... VMS6.0a platinum

Comments

rustier wrote on 2/9/2006, 6:45 AM
read the {pip border softness} post. it gives a basic example on composite. keep in mind that the tutorial link is refering to vegas (the full version). I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Vegas (the full) allows you to mask or matte with a simple click of a button, whereas "studio - platinum" users like you and me must go thru the extra steps of creating a mask for the overlay in the media generator. The trick is to create a "solid" object with "transparent" background in a format that SVMS will recognize for your composite parent. I have photo impact pro and just now played with it a little. I am able to draw an object, extract it onto a transparent background and import it as a "png" file - there may be other file formats that work - I just haven't found them yet. Anyway if you import this picture you can use it as a shaped mask - so your only limitation is what you draw. You already have your shapes, but if you didn't I would suggest taking a snap shot of the scene where you wish to overlay the shape, import it into your photo program, and use the photo as a guide for for creating the shape you need to extract onto the transparent background, delete the "guide" after you are done drawing your shape, extract, bada bing bada boom. Hopefully the drawing program you have has this ability.

the only other way I can think of at the moment that may do what you want in our "limited edition" would be to use a green screen - placing your shapes in front of the screen and filming (or photographing?). There are others more qualified than I to address that possiblity.
qsnow1 wrote on 2/10/2006, 1:38 PM
Some of this makes sense :) . I've been able to take a snapshot frame from within svms, move that into my paint program, select the object and paint it completely black, select inverse, delete the background to transparent, and save the resulting image. I am assuming this is my mask.

From this point, do I place the image on another video track and then apply an effect to it?
rustier wrote on 2/11/2006, 6:16 PM
save the image as a png file. this is the only format I have found so far that keeps the attributes you need - i.e the transparent background. drag the pic into the number one slot. you dont need to apply anything to it as it is the effect- you might want to stretch it out however long you want it. set the composite mode to mulitply. put you "pip" picture or video in slot number 2, composite mode alpha, click the little arrow so it points up. put your primary video on slot number 3 or 4 - I tend to put it in 4 and have text running in slot 3 - but it really doesn't matter - however you like. Just make sure your primary video is composite mode source alpha and the little arrow is pointing down.

just a note - the picture (mypicture.png) I made looked white with the gray checkerboard background(transparent). its gonna need to be white - or some other color if you want to tint your pip, but black wont let anything show thru - okay? in your generated media you can control the color - but in a custom import pic - I'm pretty sure you need to control the color in the program you made the drawing.

have fun with it
Spot|DSE wrote on 2/11/2006, 9:33 PM
This might help...
Masking/Mattes in Vegas Movie Studio