Large Text Crawl

Jim H wrote on 4/14/2006, 8:04 PM
What's the best way to do a large text crawl? I have a paragraph I want to cut and paste into vegas so it will slowly crawl across the screen at a rate you can read it.

I can't get it in a simple text media as it leaves the screen and gets cut off. If I make the text too small it will look like crap when I zoom in on it.

Seems there should be a crawl feature?

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 4/14/2006, 8:06 PM
Up or down? A few ways you can do this, one is to create your large text event, and use Pan/Crop to scroll it up/down, or side to side.
Another way is to create the text event, and use the positioning of the text tool to create the crawl.
There is a credit roll feature too, but that won't allow you to copy/paste a block of text.
Another thing you can do is set your text properties to 1440 x 960 prior to pasting text. You may need to resize the font after doing so, but shouldn't.
Jim H wrote on 4/14/2006, 8:15 PM
I wanted to use a large font so that three or four words fill the screen on a crawl across (right to left) the screen. To do this with the paragraph I have would make one long line of text that will never fit in a generated media text event without making the font microscopic. Then I'm sure I wouldn't even be able to zoom in on it enough to make it the size it needs to be. Even on a 1440 wide event.

Back in the good old Amiga days I had a simple titler that could take a book and crawl it across the screen all day long. Vegas doesn't even have a "crawl" in its help index. Seems like a rather basic titling feature to me. Are there any plug in?

My only idea is to break it up into many events and line them up on the timeline. Then the problem will be getting the timing right on each one...considering the fact that each line of text in each event will be slightly different in length, this might be tough.
gordyboy wrote on 4/15/2006, 2:33 AM
I had the same problem not realising Vegas can do this.

Try this earlier discussion

Cheers

gb
Spot|DSE wrote on 4/15/2006, 8:58 PM
you mean like a tickertape? That's easy....
Just make your generated media the size you want it, and use the positioning. This is a regular task. I wish the title tool had a larger preview window, but it works. just be sure your horizonal position doesn't change.

[edit] there is a very old tickertape veg found here that might help?
Jim H wrote on 4/16/2006, 9:25 AM
T H A T ' S I T ! !

I knew there had to be a way to do it. The key to DSE's last reply was that the movement of the text is done within the media generator's "Placement" tab (I aways wondered what this was for - duh, after 4 years). It's a simple process of pasting in the paragraph all on one line, going to the placement tab, set first keyframe to "Left Center" using the pull down "text placement" dialog, then set the last key frame to "Right Center." No worries about vertical mismatch just a perfect scroll. Adjust overall media "Length" before you set your last keyframe.

This old dog just learned him a new trick. In the process I found an old friend in Bluff Titler which I used to use on the Amiga.

I have not bought Bluff yet though because I'm still wondering about the transparancy issue. The demo won't let you save (even with the stupid "demo" word) so you can't actually determine if the overlay with alpha will look right in Vegas. I'm really thinking I could use Bluff for a partical generator instead of buying Particle Illusions. Seems to me you get a titler and partical system in one for just $50? Any comments on this?
Do semi transparent smoke and fire effects really blend well with Vegas video?
Spot|DSE wrote on 4/16/2006, 2:29 PM
Using the premult/dirty setting for alpha channel, the Bluff-generated particles drop very nicely into the Vegas timeline, and are usually very clean.

Glad you figured out the text crawl!
Jim H wrote on 4/16/2006, 4:17 PM
Thanks DSE, so I figured out and can "export" and movie in the Bluff demo. So I exported an AVI with alpha transparance channel and brought it into Vegas. Now how do I get the black background on the title to disappear? I tried all of the composit modes but it's treating the clip just like any normal video with a black background. I tried toying with the channel mixer effect but that won't work either. I'm sure I'm missing something simple? BTW I did not see any option in Bluff to pick that premult/dirty setting...so maybe I'm lost.
farss wrote on 4/16/2006, 4:19 PM
You need to RClick the media in Vegas to tell Vegas that there's an alpha channel.
Bob.
Jim H wrote on 4/16/2006, 5:40 PM
Now I've learned two valuable lessons today. I better quit learning now or my head might explode.

Thanks to all.
Chienworks wrote on 4/16/2006, 6:09 PM
Ahhhh. "Scanners". Now there was an interesting movie.
Grazie wrote on 4/17/2006, 12:07 AM


Yup, Jim, and this from 2 years back . .

http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=244092

. .I also found a mention from nearly 4 years ago!!

Jim, just stick in in "Placement" into a "thread" search . .loads of stuff. Try using ± on the X:Y Coords. You get directional arrows indicating just WHERE the text is coming from - even if it isn't showing in the PLACEMENT window pane!

Grazie