Assigning titles and pictures to thumbnails

MovieExpert wrote on 1/31/2008, 9:27 AM

As one gets to know the details of DVD Architect it becomes a necessity to discover shorter ways of doing different tasks. First question: When thumbnails are created they inherit the name given to the video file. In my case that file name is not presentable to the audience. Thus it is necesary to put a proper title to every thumbnail. This can be done by hitting F2. However the text is too small and difficult to read and edit. Is there a simpler way of doing this? Secondly, in the project overview window it is easier to rename chapters. Is there a possibility to copy these names directly to the corrosponding thumbnails? Finally, to assign a picture to the thumbnail it is necessary to display the video file in the timeline while right clicking the corrosponding chapter in the project overview window, because at that moment the workarea is displaying the video preview of the chapter. Is there a quicker and easier way of assigning pictures to thumbnails? Help from forum members is welcome. Thanks.

Comments

Melachrino wrote on 3/1/2008, 6:59 PM

May I add a related question to this thread.
In order to make the text of the buttons names larger and more readable I have attempted to use 2 lines instead of just one for each. However, I cannot find the keyboard sequence to start another line. In other programs one usually uses Ctrl Enter to start another line of related text .

Also, I cannot find where to set the button name text in larger font size. It seems to run in automatic, not desirable in this case.

Perhaps an answer to this will help both of us.

Chienworks wrote on 3/1/2008, 7:26 PM

You can control where the line break occurs by adjusting the width of the text box. Make sure you don't hit Enter at the end of the name. This will add another blank line and cause the text to become even smaller!

Since the text sizing is automatic, you can make the text bigger by dragging the size of the text box out larger. There is also a font size setting in the tool bar right at the bottom of the preview window.

The way i usually choose the frame for the thumbnail image is to find the frame i want in Vegas, highlight the timecode displayed on Vegas' screen, then paste that into DVDA.

Melachrino wrote on 3/5/2008, 8:57 AM

Thanks Chienworks, I found the way to edit the buttons text in the direction you pointed. Basically, choose a letter size, instead of automatic, and force the editor to start another line. It takes a couple of tries to fit the size for optimum text wraparound but it is well worth it for legibility and esthetics.

My next challenge with buttons is to change the appearance of the Menu buttons when selected. I do not particularly like the fuzzy yellow overlay which is the default which detracts a lot from the thumbnail. I would prefer just the frame alone to either change color, or change intensity or something else but leave the inside transparent . Since I am new to this program, I cannot seem to find the proper place to change said atribute.

PeterWright wrote on 3/5/2008, 7:16 PM

The "fuzzy yellow overlay" is the highlight. Select the button, or all buttons and go to the highlight tab, upper right and there is a drop down with several alternatives.

You can also change the colour in Color Sets.

Melachrino wrote on 3/6/2008, 2:45 PM

Thanks PeterWright for the pointer. It did work as indicated and I now know how to make the button highlight color more pleasant and viewable. In addition, I can now differentiate between a selected button and an activated button.

The next improvement would be to highlight only the button text and leave the thumbnail transparent. I surmise that that property is somewhere in the button mask. But, since i am yet to get the feel of the program, I do not see any options for the button mask which are greyed out. So, where can I find the correct place to edit that feature. Maybe it is not the button mask, afterall...

bStro wrote on 3/6/2008, 3:00 PM

The next improvement would be to highlight only the button text and leave the thumbnail transparent

Change the highlight Style setting to "text mask overlay."

You'll probably need to adjust the color set used for highlighting to get a good look, as coloring text is a bit more more delicate than coloring a rectangle (due to the shape of the letters and anti-aliasing).

Rob

Melachrino wrote on 3/6/2008, 3:13 PM

Thanks Rob, that was quick. Indeed that worked and I belatedly found the instructions in the Manual.
What has thrown me off, besides unfamiliarity with this program, is that the workspace does not show the real effect of what is being edited. Rather, one has to use the DVD Preview and then one sees what is going on. But, once this is understood, one just lives with it and moves forward...

bStro wrote on 3/6/2008, 5:06 PM

What has thrown me off, besides unfamiliarity with this program, is that the workspace does not show the real effect of what is being edited.

View > Workspace Overlays > Show Button Masks

;-)

Rob

autopilot wrote on 3/7/2008, 2:26 PM

There's one on YouTube that may help -

dfred wrote on 3/7/2008, 5:45 PM

The YouTube video is great. There is one thing I can't figure out from the clip, though.

The narrator shows us how to do image masks and color sets. As he demonstrates, his menu button changes color as he uses the sliders in the color set area.

I tried this and mine do not change until after I have selected the color and go to "preview." Can anyone explain what I might be doing wrong? I'm using Vegas Movie Studio 6.0 and DVDA 3.0.

Thanks

bStro wrote on 3/7/2008, 9:43 PM

I tried this and mine do not change until after I have selected the color and go to "preview."

Did you go to View > Workspace Overlays > Show Button Masks as I said above (and as the narrator says in that video)?

Rob

Melachrino wrote on 3/8/2008, 9:35 AM

Thanks all. Great reference to the YouTube tutorial which shows in action what you were describing in order to manage the Menu buttons properties. Will continue the discovery process with this program.

dfred wrote on 3/8/2008, 9:35 AM

Yep, got it. Thought I had already done this but, apparently not. Thanks!