Cropping one side?

ScorpioProd wrote on 7/23/2007, 11:17 AM
Is there a trick to cropping just one side of an image?

For instance, I have this high resolution still that I did a pan and zoom on, using the pan/crop controls. The image wasn't perfectly centered when it was shot, so the final position ended up with a bit of black border on the left, and no black border on the right.

OK, no problem, I just want to crop the right side so I get the same amount of black border on both sides. Problem is, I couldn't find a way to do that. In guessing at the controls, man I miss the days of a full manual with NLEs, I used CTRL+left mouse button to grab a side, and that cropped BOTH sides simultaneously. But I couldn't find a way to just crop from ONE side. Is there a way?

What I ended up doing was using the cookie cutter to "crop" the right side, but I'm thinking there may be a proper cropping way to do it, no?

Thanks.

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/23/2007, 11:19 AM
Keep the maintain aspect ratio on when cropping, right-mouse-button click on the image in the cropping window and choose "match output aspect". These two steps will make sure that the cropped image matches the output frame exactly so that there won't be any black borders. Crop to the size you want, then move the whole cropping rectangle around to choose the area of the image you want. It might also be helpful to turn off the "size around the center" option.
Grazie wrote on 7/23/2007, 1:00 PM
MASK-ing? No?
ScorpioProd wrote on 7/23/2007, 4:06 PM
OK, I guess it might be just different uses of "cropping" versus "masking". I see what you mean on the cropping, but in my case, the still image I was working with needed to be a bit off center, and part of it was near the edge of the display space, so to keep it in the safe zone, I had to have a black border on the left edge. So I was just looking to "crop" the right edge. But it turns out "cropping" is based on the image, not the display space, and it wouldn't let me crop just one side, so it wouldn't work for what I needed.

So I ended up using the cookie cutter to cut away the right edge where I wanted a border. I looked at the Masking effect, but for that I think I'd have to alter track properties, which isn't what I wanted for just this one image on a track with a lot of other stuff.

So I guess the thing to remember is that cropping works on your actual image or clip, while masking works on your output display space? Is that a good way to look at it?

Thanks.
Chienworks wrote on 7/23/2007, 4:48 PM
Kinda, yes, and then there's also Track Motion which is sort of like moving the picture around within the picture frame.

Generally any of these methods can accomplish all the tasks that the others can do. It's just that some of them make some tasks a little easier.
ScorpioProd wrote on 7/23/2007, 7:03 PM
That's right... I'd forgotten about Track Motion... Yup, I could've combined that with it... Well, still learning. :)

Thanks.
Grazie wrote on 7/24/2007, 12:11 AM
Masking effect, but for that I think I'd have to alter track properties, which isn't what I wanted for just this one image on a track with a lot of other stuff.

Ah! I should have said the Bezier Masking Tool. This ONLY works at Event Level. You find it within the Pan/Crop Tool Menu.

Yes, Cookie Cutter is a "way". But you will ultimately find it both too regular and inflexible for this type of task. As you say, you are learning, so PLEASE try the Bezier Masking Option - this is within the Pan/Crop Tool. It is 1000% more flexible than Cookie Cutter, and, IMO, more creative than Cookie Cutter or Pan/Crop Panning in combination with Track Motion.

If you wish to crop a section of a Still/Video then try out Bezier Masking. Try it once, you wont look back.

Grazie

24Peter wrote on 7/24/2007, 9:11 AM
Grazie - is there any way to move a Bezier mask once I create it? Let's say I need to move the selection area as is to the left or right. There doesn't seem to be any way to grab a mask to reposition it...

EDIT: I see I can grab points or sides of the mask outline but can't move the entire masked area itself.
Grazie wrote on 7/24/2007, 9:22 AM
Well, you can. You can also make numerous Masks AND make them move according to keyframes!

You on SKYPE, I'll show yah!!

Grazie

24Peter wrote on 7/24/2007, 9:38 AM
Maybe it's just me, but when I went back and created a new mask, if you hover over an anchor point so the entire mask outline turns yellow and hold down "ctrl", when you click on that point you can grab and reposition the entire mask without changing shape. A minute ago that didn't work!
Grazie wrote on 7/24/2007, 9:38 AM
After setting up a MASK and still within Event Pan/Crop:

1- Select Normal Edit Tool

2 - Roll cursor over a NODE and RIGHT click and select Select > Path

3 - Roll cursor over a NODE and watch for ALL the nodes to light up!

4 - LEFT click Grab 'n Drag!

Grazie

24Peter wrote on 7/24/2007, 6:03 PM
Got it. Thanks.