When you Export as a Movie File (Ctrl-M) make sure under Compression Settings you select Uncompressed because using any of the codecs will only save 24bit which doesn’t include the alpha channel (which requires 32bit). For Alpha: select Straight. Then when you bring it into Vegas, you might have to right click on it and select the Properties... dialog and on the Media tab set Alpha channel: to Straight (unmatted). This should make the black background transparent.

~jr

Perhaps someone would be so kind as to map out basic steps I would follow to create a title using Boris.

I downloaded this limited version with the V5 package. Have played around with it some, but still have no clue as to how to make it work.

The manual appears to be an expose on what features aren't working. I don't see any quick start step by step at all.

I've added text and used the little clock thingies to twirl it around, but haven't discovered how to put anything on the timeline or set keys or any of that.

I'm looking for some minimal advice here, just to get started. Save the scolding or 'RTFM' for someone else.

If you're willing to help me get started, I'd be much obliged.

Thanks in advance.

Caruso

Yep, looking for minimal advice. After reading the manual. After spending hours trying to get it to work.

Finally decided to ask those who would know.

How do I get the AVI Transparent. NOT how to create a title, work features, basic steps, or 'just to get started'. I am started. I just can't finish it.

Thanks to those who replied with constructive ideas.

Caruso: Blow Me.

Andy

Caruso,

I agree that it is extremely frustrating to get start with Boris Graffiti LTD largely due to the fact that you can’t even follow the tutorial in the manual because there are missing features in the LTD version that render the very first, most basic tutorial useless. I find this unacceptable as a software developer and I would have made sure there were tutorials in the manual that worked with the version I was shipping.

Personal opinion: This leads me to believe that the Boris team is not running a quality operation and I would be reluctant to buy software from a company that deliberately frustrates the very users they are trying to attract!!! But that’s just me. I’m a software developer and I expect the level of quality from the software that I buy that I would ask my own team to provide. We refer to it as the Out-Of-The-Box experience. Let’s just say that Boris’ OOTB experience is to put it back in the box and forget about it. That’s not good.

It sounds like you figured out how to type in the text and press the Update button to get it into the preview window. If you don’t touch the timeline, everything you do is applied to the first keyframe. If you simply move the timeline marker down the timeline and then make a change to the text (like move it) then a new keyframe will be created. Press the play button and your text is now animated between the first keyframe, the keyframe you added and the last keyframe.

To export your title as an AVI file, first hide the background because you won’t want this in Vegas if it’s a title overlay. You do this buy clicking the eye icon on the header of the track named background in the timeline so that it shows a closed eye (cute). Then follow my instructions above for exporting to a movie with alpha channel uncompressed, and set the alpha to straight (unmatted) when you import into Vegas.

~jr

... holy... I'm really not sure I want to use Boris... I don't know how many posts like this one have been written here. There's obviously a sharp learning curve involved... I guess I'll still be using V5 titling or Photoshop + Pan/Crop tool to get movement of text.
I don't want to spend days and days just to learn how to scroll text.

Maybe I'm wrong; prove me I am if you tihink so please; I'd be glad to find a useful purpose to this app.

Well to be fair, its pretty easy to use for basic stuff once you get use to it. It’s the getting use to it that’s the hard part and, as I pointed out, the documentation is no help at all. For all those who were complaining that the Vegas titler was not enough, Sony has responded with a fairly robust titler in Boris Graffiti LTD. So yes the learning curve is steep, yes it could be less steep with good documentation, and yes, it is worth learning if you’re unhappy with the Vegas titler.

I just threw together a short Graffiti tutorial on my web site to get you started. I’ve only spent about a half hour on it so don’t expect much but it should give you a fighting chance. Let me know of anything is not clear and I’ll try and make it better.

~jr

THere are also two tutorial videos on the market for Boris which help with the learning curve quite a bit. Just watching someone able to manipulate the interface and produce effect was enough to get me going.

Johnny: I'll sure have a look at your tutorial. Thanks for "taking the lead" and providing us with the basics... : D

Johnny:
Thanks for the informative reply, and I will certainly have a look at your tutorial. I did print out the entire manual, but it looks as though my deskjet fed a couple of sheets at one time a couple of times during the print, so, now I've got this jumbled stack of pages - argh (I was attempting a double-sided print).

Also, I thought perhaps a key frame would be added as you describe - was apparently almost there earlier today - but still no joy yet. I will have a look at your tutorial - thanks again.

Wolf, I don't know what side of the bed you got out on today, but I didn't intend the slightest tone of sarcasm in my post - I think I even mentioned that I would appreciate no RTFM comments - I hate the term and usually rant at anyone who uses it.

I think I'm pretty proficient at using Vegas - been doing it a while now - I don't do all the fancy stuff that some of the pros here do - but I get real work done and I do get paid for it from clients who are pleased enough to come back.

You obviously are farther along with Boris than am I - so good for you. If you care to share something that might move me along, please do. That was the sole reason for my post - no other messages intended.

Caruso

JohnnyRoy,

Thanks for putting this tutorial together and sharing. I also was one of those that opened Graffiti, looked at it for several minutes, then closed it and never to return.

Boris really needs to put something together to help a user get started. With the product's inclusion with V5, I'm sure they would like to see some upgrade money to fully Graffiti from Vegas users. The only thing they're doing now is turning off potential customers to their products. I'm sure the product is great, but we need help getting started.

I just wrote to the guys at:

support@borisfx.com

"Just to inform you about some difficulties some of us have with Boris Graffitti...
You can have a look at this thread on the Vegas Forum; it's one among 2 or 3 others... :

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=286809&Replies=10&Page=0


LTD version comes with Vegas 5 and it seems it's a good app for titling BUT there seems to be a lack of support under form of practical, simple *tutorials*.

We all would like to use Boris more than often, but it seems it's a little steep "learning curve" and support on your side would *greatly* be appreciated.

Thanks for your time!

P Flernt"



... maybe if a few of you guys do the same...
It's obvious that actions like this one worked in the past with SonicFoundry support and DebugMode (Satish) in the past so let's try these guys ! ; )
After all, they just can "gain" by reactin' ; some of us might go with full versions of their apps...
I'll keep you posted about reply from their support dept...

Caruso:

OK, if no sarcasm intended, I apologise for my comment. Yes, I was extremely frustrated with Boris, doing everything I needed EXCEPT the transparent background. 4 hours of trying stuff does that to me.

Johnny Roy: Thanks for all the tips, I'll get the tute you wrote and hopefully that will help.

Others: Boris has a 'Start Wars' roll tute which I adapted for my text roll, which worked well except for the transparant background. You can find it here:

http://borisfx.com/timscorner/swtitle.php

Andy

FuTz, I’m a big believer in letting a manufacturer know how you feel about their product. I just sent an email to Boris support expressing my concerns. All they need is a short Getting Started manual to get LTD users productive with Boris and I’m sure lots of folks would take advantage of the upgrade.

~jr

Exactly: how can they react if they even don't know what's happening?
I don't think any company launches a product with "I'll get ya !" in mind.

Apology accepted, Wolf. No hard feelings here. I know the frustration. Worked on some large, time consuming projects today. No time to do anything with Boris.

I will get into it, though.

Caruso

"However I am getting a better look using the Boris Graffiti LTD that came with the Vegas 5 Upgrade."

Is it smoother? Can you elaborate on what makes it better?

Thanks,

Thomas

Thomaskey:

Unfortunately I'm at work, so I can't compare the two. It's just a question of aethetics I think, and how it looks. (A little less 2 dimensional?)

As I couldn't get the alpha channel happening at the time, (nor yet - due to lack of time) I ended up using the Vegas text roll, and it was not too bad in the end.

If I get time this week I'll update you.

Cheers,

Andy