Light rays are even more intuitive than most FXs because your tweaks are so visible. I think if you just play around with it for a while you'll fiind your way. Remember to drag the centre handle (on the little screen in the dialogue box) around, and also, keyframe it at different locations to see the thing move. I have once faked the headlights of a car approaching in the dark, suddenly blinding me and then turn away and disappear to one side. I had to use two tracks, one for each headlight, but it worked well. It is a tremendous tool. Or toy.
Tor

Anytime you use any of the more elborate FX filters that has one or more control points you drag around it takes practice to be able to make tiny moves. One reason why I use a trackball as opposed to a mouse. To me using a mouse for graphic work is like trying to untie a knot with mittens on. Lots of luck. :-)

It is hard to tell from your description what you are looking for. I posted a special effects FX video at www.vegasusers.com at the following location (you can also search for Chanimal and find it):

http://www.vegasusers.com/vidshare/textdisp?chanimal-special_effects_fx_32hz_300_cbr

This specific page also has a description of a titling effect that may be similar to the one you're looking for.

If one of the effects within this piece is what you are looking for, then point out which one and several of us can probably explain how to create it.

Nice examples. I enjoy seeing what other people do to inspire me, thanks. What 3d titling program did you use for most of those titles?

Hey, just to elaborate more on what I said..The effect Im looking for is for plain white 2d text, just something you can slap down on the video track in vegas in 2 seconds..but the way I've seen it done once I liked, and I can't duplicate the effect. When I try applying lightrays, I *have* played around with the keyframes, the movement is exactly how i want it, it even goes to the music in this video i'm making, but the rays are too sharp and definately contrast the text. I can see the ends of the text easily and i'd rather have it look like the text is "smudging" into these rays, blending into them, but I can't get it right. I've tried the blur filter with different settings but haven't been able to get the right look so it must be something else :(

Make sure your blend slider bar (with in the light ray effect) is all the way to the left at 0.0. If I do that with white text the letters have no delineation between the edge of the text and the rays. You may have it backwards because 0 blend is counterintuitive. I would think that you would want full blend, but when I put blend all the way to the right, the white text gets a black trim to it.

Thanks cheroxy, I'll play around with it a bit. Thanks for all of the replies. I have another about Vegas if you guys don't mind. I can't figure out how to do a transparent overlay on another video track, I've tried using an extended dissolve transition but it will always eventually shift into the next clip instead of overlapping it. I am trying to get it to overlap a clip and stay at the same transparency the whole time instead of gradually fading into the clip and losing the effect i want. Is there a transparency option for a video track. Thx!

Greg, you'll have to put the two clips on separate tracks. Adjust the transparency of the upper video by pulling down it's opacity (float the mouse pointer over the top edge of the clip, when it turns into a pointing finger, drag down and a blue line will appear. The farther you drag the line down the more transparent it will be. You can adjust the transparency of the entire track by moving the level slider in the track header. You can also add a Track Composite envelope so that you can add nodes along the blue line and alter the transparency from point to point along the timeline.

Wow thanks a lot, you guys are great. However I feel like an idiot now :D lol, Didn't figure it was something so easy :P Thanks a LOT.

All the 3D work was done with Asymetrix Web3D. It is also available as Asymetrix FX (it has different samples). Asymetrix quit making this (and changed their name), but you can find copies for about $10 on e-bay (still shrinkwrapped). It origionally sold for about $79 and was WAY ahead of its time (price/output). It is a VERY easy application to use (not like 3DMax, RayDream Studios or Caligari stuff--I have all three and use this instead)--you don't have to be a designer to use it. It produces true ray traced images with effects like glass, chrome, marble, etc. It was not made for XP, but it works just fine (a few of the Wizards don't work exactly as expected, but everything else works fine). Search for it on this site and you'll find a reseller that purchased the rights to it in Florida (although E-bay is cheaper).

thanks for the reply. I'm trying to find a 3d titler that fits my quality desire and my student budget.

A lot of people like Ulead's Cool 3d which is $40 until the end of this month at Ulead's site.

I also have Cool3d and Cool3D Production Studio. The output is like flat paper or dull plastic, often with rough edges, not realistic (pretend shadows) . Not even remotely close to the same league in quality as Web3d/FX. Web3d/FX (same engine in either) is as easy or easier to use, but produces stunning ray traced rendered images ("real" chromes, marbles, glass (with any color edges, backs), wood (cherry to pine), granite, rust--all pre-configured, or you can easily edit to create other looks (including fog, mapping bitmap logos, etc.). It produces images easily on par with 3D Max and other high-end (but difficult to use) ray tracing rendering packages, has easy to set lights, can render on top of other images, although I usually use a green (or unused color) background and key out the color. It is also very quick.

In addition, Ulead testing is historically terrible, producing very buggy, unstable code. I bought several versions and used them for awhile, but never re-installed them once I replaced my C drive--prefering to use Web3D/FX.

Take a look at Chris Green's Studio Logo on the Sundance Media site.
http://www.sundancemediagroup.com/help/kb/kb_files.asp?page=16&sort=4&cat=0&sw=0&author=0
I think he uses lens flare but this might be similar to the effect you're looking for. Here's his sample: http://www.chrisgreen.org/vegas/CGStudiosLogo.wmv
Link to the veg file is on Sundance page.