Cookie Cutter

Maverick wrote on 1/18/2006, 5:49 PM
Hi

I am having a problem with the Cookie Cutter in V5d (Build 194)

I wish to show the Event on track 2 through travk one as follows:

I have two key frames set both with oval-side, Cut away section, Feather 0.55, border 0, Repeat X 1, Repeat Y 1, Centre 0.5, 0.5

The first keyframe has size set to 0 and the second has size set to 0.20. This allows the event below to gradually show throw and look a little cludy - an effect I desire.

But my problem is I cannot get the size to open from 0 to .2 smoothly. It always seems to open a little pause then continue. This happens no matter whether I set to Linear, Fast, Slow, Smooth or Sharp. I have even prerendered to best and rendered to mpg2 with the same effect.

What am I doing wrong or is this a bug or is this how it is supposed to look?

Thanks for any help.

Comments

PeterWright wrote on 1/18/2006, 6:30 PM
Just tried the same - I think this is a bug associated with the feathering - it was smooth as silk with a hard edge, but feathering seemed to cause the early hesitation.
Maverick wrote on 1/18/2006, 7:00 PM
Ouch - I really need the feathering and a smooth 'transition'.

Maybe someone from Sony can comment on this, please.
jetdv wrote on 1/18/2006, 7:35 PM
This sounds like the same thing StormCrow was talking about a few months ago only he was making it smaller. Here it is:
http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=408648
Grazie wrote on 1/19/2006, 1:02 AM
I think I have an answer and a cure.

In the post Edward pointed you at, I mention the variables that "may" be involved.

I have now spent some time on experimenting and viewing the sliders as I scrub over the Timeline Events fx.

I set up exactly what you've got. I then carefully noted what I could see in Preview how the Feather and Size sliders perform. And yes what happens is exactly what you'd expect: Feather slider stays put and the Size slider moves from left to right. And yes, after doing a RAM preview I can see what appears to be that the effect is momentarily faltering. . wellll... I don't think it is faltering, I think the Size effect is just moving across the "face" of the static Feather effect. It is this momentary appearance of stasis that we are noting. Maybe what we are observing is the passage of the Size effect over an even area of feather which is fairly "even", this would equate to an appearance of stasis. And yes, I can envisage that that WOULD appear static. . but it aint! Altering the actual rate of progression: Linear; Smooth; Fast or Slow would do nothing for this. It would just drive you up the darn wall!

Now to unpacking this, with a question.: Why would you bother to set feather to the same size from the start of the event? Why not ALSO set Feather to zero, the same as Size? Hmm..?

Well I just did. And I get smmmooothhh adjustment throughout. And if you think about it, that WOULD make sense!

IMHO, the bottom line here is that we have 2 rates of change, potentially creating different and variable results.

1/- Rate of Change No.1 would be with Feather set at 0.55 throughout. That would be a rate of Change of 0=zero

2/- Rate of Change No.2 would be with a Feather set at a start value of 0 and climbing to 0.55. That would be a variable rate of Change, from 0 => 0.55.

I guess that was the calculus I as talking about on the other thread and I appear to have be exonerated, in as much as there ARE in fact 2 rates of change being applied and at some point the Feather/Size appears to be static. When - IMHO - the size is just moving over/through an area of which give the graphical appearance of stasis - er when it aint! Yeah?

Ok .. and for the sake of brevity, just set Feather to 0 and allow it to CLIMB to 0.55. See if that is what you want? Just tried this approach and it works.

Somebody else try this and tell me I aint loosing it?

Grazie


PeterWright wrote on 1/19/2006, 2:02 AM
Grazie - I think you may have hit the button!

If the feather setting was set as a proportion of the size value, which in effect you've achieved by starting it at zero, then it should grow in proportion, whereas having it as .55 at both ends causes what appears to be a pause, as it "waits" for the size to catch up ...

Well done old chap!!

As to whether or not you're losing it - well that's another question ;)
Grazie wrote on 1/19/2006, 2:07 AM
Hey! So I was correct!!!

I knew it . .I knew it!

This actually proves just HOW good this softeware is. Vegas does what it says on the "Can"!.

"As to whether or not you're losing it - well that's another question" . .. LOL!!!!

Grazie



er .. Peter? Have you actually tested this yet?
PeterWright wrote on 1/19/2006, 2:36 AM
>"er .. Peter? Have you actually tested this yet?

Yes Grazie - looks smooth here as the feathering grows with the size of the cut cookie!

Mind you - this was in the southern hemisphere - I had to do a headstand to see whether it was the same for you!

JJKizak wrote on 1/19/2006, 5:25 AM
I had the same problem. But I do not want a proportional feather, I want it to remain the same. So then it is a bug.

JJK
Maverick wrote on 1/19/2006, 7:52 AM
Thanks for that in-depth view of whats happening Grazie.

Making the change as you suggested certainly solves the problem - I just wish it was the one thing I had checked before posting about this.

For JJKizak; with this change in place I can't see any discernable difference between the two 'transitions' except the new one does not stutter.

Is it a bug? - I think Grazie is right in that it appears to be a simple quirk because it is working in two 'directions' at once.

ANyway, marvelous work - great team here!

Cheers

Mav
Grazie wrote on 1/19/2006, 8:24 AM
JJK, in my mind it aint a Bug - it IS a what we can expect when a variable is reaching a fixed variable.

Grazie

JJKizak wrote on 1/19/2006, 8:31 AM
Forgive my transgressions as I was in the old "Sonic Foundry" mode of thinking. Slap Slap. I'm OK now.

JJK
Grazie wrote on 1/19/2006, 9:00 AM
JJK? I don't understand? This is not unusual for me! LOL!

G
Maverick wrote on 1/19/2006, 11:31 AM
I have checked that here, too and also get a stutter but it isn't as noticable as when the feather was initially set to .55.

Something else I noticed is that the oval shape has some anomaly.

I am editing a 16:9 widescreen recorded in native Widescreen on my Sony HE30 and captured as Widescreen. When I tried the (Normal) Oval shape it appeared as an Oval side shape and only looked like a normal oval (this is without any feathering or border) when I used the Repeat X set to 2 or more.

Any ideas why this may be as I really do want just one oval cut shape and, preferably not on its side?

Mav
vitalforce wrote on 1/21/2006, 10:24 AM
Slightly OT but, dern--I wish Cookie Cutter had more adjustable features. Like a quickie version of a bezier mask.
Maverick wrote on 1/22/2006, 1:58 PM
I have not figured out why this happens - maybe it's something to do with workinmg in Widescreen mode?

I haven't had time to check what happens in 4:3 - can anyone else make on comments on this?

Mav
FuTz wrote on 1/22/2006, 3:21 PM
I guess it would need to have a "morphing" programmed inside the plugin for it to function the way you want.
Use of bezier mask is probalby the only solution, or at least the more simple one right now (?)