At the risk of being chastised for not searching the forum, can you both possibly post a link to these small clips? And, what version of PSP - I have 7.01, I believe, not the latest version 8. I'm interested to see some samples of this..

thanks,
David

PSP version 8 allows you to batch process a set of files and has some nice paint effects built in -- this is what we used for the effect. I can't post the clip I mentioned because it's from a music video [my friend and I are actors] and I don't own the footage.

Thanks guys - I've been with PSP since Version 5, and was waiting to be nudged into buying "8" - just did it. Looks nice - a few new tool placements to learn, but some nice features - I like background removal.

Hey Jason and/or Jon ...
"I can't post the clip I mentioned.."

Would be interested in the exact steps you took, first export from Vegas and then the batch processing in PSP.

Thanks very much. Always something new to learn. I love this forum ...
Tom

It's pretty easy.

1) Export your clip as frames using Vegas scripting.

2) Open one of your frames in PSP8 and tweak it the way you want, noting the steps you actually use to get the effect. Then start with a new frame, start the Macro recording, and repeat the steps to get the effect on the frame. Save the Macro. Don't save changes to your original frames -- clear them.

3) From the PSP File menu select Batch | Process. You'll get a big dialog. Click on your LAST frame, then shift-click on your FIRST frame. Select your script (macro), set mode to New Type (so you can process the frames differently if you don't like the result), output type (I use TGA), and the folder for your reprocessed images.

4) Back in Vegas, open the new frames as an image sequence. The easiest way (I've found) to blend with original footage is to place on a new track above or below the original and work with the opacity controls.

On neat use of this effect is on a segment, blend with orignal footage (so blend goes from original to painted), then apply a velocity envelope to slow video during transition down to a still oil painting (for example).

JonnyMac:

I was doing all that last night. It all works, and everythings's great...however, it looks to me like PSP8 won't Macro/Script record a "mouse OK" click on the Virtual Painter dialog. I had to tab and use the enter key to confirm the plug-in change.

Did you find this too? (Can't record the mouse-click OK, have to tab and hit enter.)

Thanks.

I found that while running a script that uses Virtual Painter on a single file brings up the Virtual Painter dialog, but when running in Batch Process (Silent) it works correctly (the click on OK was recorded). I was able to process a bunch of frames using the pastel paint demo -- liked it enough that I'm going to buy the VP plug-in.

BTW ... I've uploaded a short clip that shows the technique to the www.vegasusers.com

I just tried it using Photoshop and its rather strange "Actions" macro system. Apart from having to include the open and save commands as part of the macro, the process is essentially the same and works really well.

Going to have to remember this one...

So now that others are clued into the new fad lets post some effect suggestions.

You can do some "poorman" keyframing. What I mean by that is with each effect there are options, sliders, etc that allow you to tweak the effect up or down. I processed a 30 second segement using 5 different scripts that ramped up the effect (weave) over the entire clip. Back in VV layered them to smooth out the transitions. Looked cool.

Another tip. Under the Effects menu there is an "Effects Browser" fuction. If you open a pic and select this option it will display thumbnails of the various effects with various settings. Select the one you want and script away.

Check out... Colored Edges, Hot Wax Coating, Posterize, Texture and Weave (some of the built in effects).

BorisRed it ain't but it is cool.
-Jason S.

Something else that produces really cool effects is using ParticleIllusion 3.0. You have to convert the clip your using to a avi file then load it into ParticleIllusion add the particle effect render it and then edit it back into Vegas. I recently used a star effect that came in after a couple kissed. It looked a lot cooler than the sun effect I was trying to get. It amazes me what this software does and how easy it is to use. This software will get you lots of WOWs!

jsteehl:

How do you keep form being prompted/warned on each image save about the image being merged into a single image.

Going from PNG to PNG.

It, the warning dialog, mentions about save options, but I have all warnings OFF, yet I keep receiving this warning.

It did not do this the other night, but now it is.

I need to hit enter for each saved image...

Any idea what may have changed?

Thanks bunches!

Miserman:

I take it you have not had the behavior I described above?

Thanks!

jsteehl,

Thanks for the kind words. It was a nice way to start my day.

For anyone who is wondering whether or not it is that easy to do, I downloaded the demo for Paint Shop Pro 8 and had my first processed image sequence playing in Vegas within five minutes.

I had never used the program before but their Help file were great help for learning the steps for creatibg a macro and batch processing.

If you want to play with it a lot before considering buying it, the demo is fully functional for sixty days. I hadn't even noticed the Virtual Painter. It adds a lot of other artistic effects. (And, it's demo works within the Paint Shop Pro demo.)

Now, if I could only justify buying it to my wife....

M L Iserman

Hmm... no, I haven't seen this. Admittedly, I am no expert. I have only downloaded and played with the demo briefly.

Sorry I can't help.

M L Iserman

What a great thread. ... thanks Matt and all ...

We suddenly have an enormous extra number of "instant" effects to apply in Vegas, using the Render Image Sequence script, import frames into PSP8 and add an effect applied using Batch conversion and a PSP script.

Apart from any you build yourself, there are already some awesome scripts waiting to be downloaded. Here's 3 links:

http://pixelnook.home.comcast.net/
http://www.digitalartresources.com/Scripting/psp8scripts.htm
http://www.psplinks.com/content/Scripts_Downloads.html

have fun

Peter

p.s. Does Photoshop do scripting too?

PeterWright > "Does Photoshop do scripting too?"

Yes. I've not played with it, but I know it's there.

Gary

Have you received "the script could not be loaded" error message in PSP8? Is there something really obvious and dumb that I'm doing to get this error? My script is really simple... just applying one of the filters from Virtual Painter - any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you

Never mind... upgrading from 8.00 to 8.10 solved whatever the heck the problem was... this is way too cool and the best part is my boss thinks I spent a lot of time on it :)

From where did you download the script to export frames fomr Vegas? Thanks!

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/download/step2.asp?DID=447

It's on the Updates page for Vegas 4.0d

Anyone with PhotoImpact from Ulead tried this yet? If you have, please post directions!