aspect ratio mask?

wwjd wrote on 10/1/2012, 1:00 PM
Tried search but wasn't sure of the terminology to search for....

I've dropped pictures and titles onto video in Vegas, but I think I read you can drop in a pic to act as the aspect ratio cropping also? Is there a built in template for that? Or where can I get one.

Using a drop in is less work for me and the CPU than doing the CROP on each little video part ...I think.

I'm thinking 2.35:1 and 2.40:1 style

Comments

vtxrocketeer wrote on 10/1/2012, 1:23 PM
Use two tracks of generated media above all other tracks, or at least above those to which you wish to apply the "crop." Both tracks will be a solid color -- black. Use the crop of the Pan/Crop tool to generate a top "bar" of black; perform the same operation on the bottom bar. Stretch both tracks to length of your project. The result is two bars of black, top and bottom, with the transparent middle section being your video (or whatever) in the aspect ratio you want. Done.

This is just one of a few ways. You could drop in a picture, too, as a mask. (Just draw it in Photoshop, save with alpha channel, drop above your video track, and you're done.) But I gave you a Vegas-only way.
musicvid10 wrote on 10/1/2012, 1:42 PM
You can change the image aspect to match either the frame or source, using switches in Event Pan/Crop or Event context menu (right-click).
john_dennis wrote on 10/1/2012, 1:55 PM
I created a mask for a similar project in this thread.
The link is still active and can be downloaded.
Gary James wrote on 10/1/2012, 1:56 PM
When you drag a graphic image into the Vegas Timeline, Vegas automatically scales the image so it's largest dimension fits within the project window size. This could result in letter-boxing bars at the Top & Bottom, or Sides of the image. If you want to eliminate these do the following:

If you look at your video Event in the Vegas Timeline, in the lower right corner there are two little icons. Hover you mouse over the one that says "Event Pan/Crop ..." then click the icon. A window appears that shows your video image. Right click on the image and select "Match Output Aspect". This scales up the image so it fills both the horizontal & vertical axis. From there you can click and drag the image to center the desired portion in the preview window. Changing the Position group Width & Height settings can change the image A/R. You can then close the Pan/Crop window.

If you want to copy this change to all of your images, from the Vegas Timeline right-click the Event you just adjusted, and select Copy. Then select all of your other Event in the Timeline, right-click and select Paste Event Attributes.
wwjd wrote on 10/1/2012, 2:09 PM
great info!
thanks John Dennis, the download is still active and I will give it a shot. I think that is exactly what I am after.
wwjd wrote on 12/4/2012, 12:46 PM
I guess I should ask which method is the LEAST CPU intesive on a project:
cropping or image masking over the whole thing?
musicvid10 wrote on 12/4/2012, 2:39 PM
Makes little difference.
Each requires on-the-fly rendering in order to preview.
Each requires bit-by-bit encoding in order to render.
vtxrocketeer wrote on 12/4/2012, 6:08 PM
wwjd, in the method that I outlined above, the mask tracks can be in a top group. IIRC, I did my rough editing whilst toggling the group on and off to get a sense of how a final edit would look. I honestly didn't think for a second that the gen media tracks would have put a dent in my render times, especially in view of CPU-hungry FX that existed.
wwjd wrote on 12/4/2012, 7:25 PM
k, thanks guys. I'll be stacking crap up and dont have a fast machine, so I want me preview to still be SOMEWHAT watchable to feel the flow. :)