how to use PNG with alpha channel or SVG or other vector image as mask

John-Asbacher wrote on 11/30/2019, 3:48 PM

How can I use a PNG with an alpha channel or an SVG or some other vector image as a mask for a clip in the video timeline?
If this isn't possible, how does one go about converting the vector image or PNG alpha channel to a mask that is compatible with Vegas?
I have found how to use masks for parent / child tracks. I'm looking for masks that are tied to individual clips.
I'm surprised that I can't find "use image" as the mask in the "Event Pan/Crop" Window.

Comments

Musicvid wrote on 11/30/2019, 4:18 PM

PNG / alpha is easy. Set compositing to source alpha or premultiplied.

Vegas will not rasterize vector formats, but will accept PSD with alpha.

There are excellent tutorials for pan / crop here and on the internet. There is a steeper learning curve.

FayFen wrote on 11/30/2019, 11:33 PM

I'm not with vegas but with VMS and still can't understand why an image can't be loaded as a mask.

Look what can be done in other NLE for ages, each clip can have own mask and shadow. I think the best place to have that is in cookie cuter.

john_dennis wrote on 12/1/2019, 3:14 AM

"How can I use a PNG with an alpha channel ... as a mask for a clip in the video timeline?

John-Asbacher wrote on 12/3/2019, 6:52 AM

Well, I did write a detailed reply. I hit comment, and I got a 404, great, lost the whole thing.
OK, I'm not looking for Track effects.
I'm looking to attach an image mask using alpha channel to a CLIP, not a track.
Can this be done?
I have hundreds of clips, all with different masking needs and the clips are mostly on the same track with ABABAB dissolves and transitions.


thank-you.

Musicvid wrote on 12/3/2019, 10:37 AM

To quote an old bromide on these forums, tracks are cheap. Compositing is not applied at the event level, unfortunately.

It sounds kind of thorny to implement, but it might make a good feature request if framed accordingly.

john_dennis wrote on 12/3/2019, 2:31 PM

"I'm looking to attach an image mask using alpha channel to a CLIP, not a track.
Can this be done?"

Use Nesting

Open the clip in a new Vegas project.

Apply any effects you wish to the clip in the new Vegas project.

Save the new Vegas project with the name of the clip. i.e. My newly created project.veg

Add the My newly created project.veg to the main Vegas project timeline instead of the original clip.

It's magic!

P.S. I used nesting before I knew what an alpha channel was. I'm still uncertain whether I really understand it.

John-Asbacher wrote on 12/3/2019, 5:38 PM

Thanks Musicvid and john_dennis. Creating 200+ nested projects is going to be a nightmare (especially since I can't edit those masks in relation to each other as they dissolve in and out) and or 200+ "tracks" is just as silly.
Feature request, yes. I will write in with that feature request.

 

altarvic wrote on 12/4/2019, 1:26 AM

You can't do it in VEGAS gracefully. BUT, there is a dirty hack )

1. Use Gradient Wipe Transition with your mask image (grayscale).

2. Set Direction parameter to Reverse

3. Set the transition duration to the clip's duration.

4. Insert transition envelope with a constant value across the entire clip (experiment with the value for the best result)

Musicvid wrote on 12/4/2019, 7:43 AM

There are many times I have had to be just plain 'silly' in order to get the job done. As my first band leader said, if you've got a good ending, no one remembers the rest.

A stepped (bilinear) workflow goes really fast once you get the hang of it, because it's easy to find stuff.