How to do Growl-like text alerts?

Torley wrote on 6/10/2008, 10:20 PM
Hello! I'm making video tutorials and I'd like to find out the easiest way to make text subtitles atop a transparent black background with rounded corners. Like this:

» http://www.macobserver.com/tip/2006/12/growl_unplugged.jpg
» http://daringfireball.net/misc/2008/02/fastscripts-message-window-thumb.png

I know Vegas can do drop-shadowed text with the Text Media tool, but it looks like I'm going to need some layering to do the background.

Also, is there any way I can have background layers automatically track the position of the text and wrap around it? I like doing this with the glow effect but I'd like to extend this to the aforementioned Growl-like background.

Thanks very much in advance for the help!

Comments

Torley wrote on 6/26/2008, 6:13 PM
Does anyone know? Just checking in again. Thanks.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 6/26/2008, 6:46 PM
you could use generated media to make the background & keyframes to change it's size & what not. will just take some playing with to get it right.
Jim H wrote on 6/26/2008, 7:51 PM
I would just create the semi transparent text box in the same program you created the colored box. You could then reduce the opacity of it in vegas.
busterkeaton wrote on 6/26/2008, 8:14 PM
You could use any photoshop like tool to make any image you want and then import the file into Vegas. You need to save the image to a file that supports an alpha layer. Vegas is optimized to work with .png image files.

When you bring the image into Vegas you may have to right click on it and change the setting to activate the alpha properties
Rory Cooper wrote on 6/27/2008, 1:43 AM
Out of habit I make my graphic editor same size as my Vegas project size and place my strap line or logo or body copy in the position and save entire image not just the graphic. the reason is if you do any affects in your plugin fx editors the visual will be correct . When I edit in Vegas I keep my graphic editor open any changes made to the png will immediately be reflected in vegas

Rory