Need some adive on a titler with transparency

Julius_ wrote on 2/21/2009, 8:39 AM

Hi,

I just volunteered myself for a community project and they want to show some text on screen, I was thinking of making a nice transparent (glass looking) thin template and having the text on it, while being transparent to the background image....sort of like what you see on CNN when they read off the opions or emails...it sort of looks like the text is written on glass while you still see the background.

Any suggestions on how I can get this up and running easily? ( notice I didn't say quickly :) ...just something easy to do that.

Thanks

Comments

FuTz wrote on 2/21/2009, 8:58 AM

Probalby just have to move the level cursor to 50% on the title track... ?
I guess the effect you want is similar to watermarking ?

Julius_ wrote on 2/21/2009, 9:38 AM

It's more of a transparent glass gradient with a shadow,,,reducing the capacity on the track isn't quite what I'm looking for

richard-amirault wrote on 2/21/2009, 10:09 AM

I don't watch CNN so I don't know that reference .... but what don't you like about using MEDIA GENERATORS, TEXT, SOFT SHADOW ?

Julius_ wrote on 2/21/2009, 11:35 AM

It's not the same thing...here's a site I just found that should clarify a bit more on what I'm trying to do:

http://www.bittbox.com/illustrator/illustrator-tutorial-how-to-make-a-vector-glass-button/

I'd then put my text on this glass..I've been unsuccessful so far because I don't have illustrator

bStro wrote on 2/21/2009, 1:28 PM

Do you have Photoshop? Paint Shop Pro? The GIMP? Any of those would be able to create the same thing following the same general idea. You say you've been "unsuccessful" -- what have you been using in your attempt(s)?

If nothing else, you could experiment with the Color Gradient tool in Vegas. You can add more control points in order to get the color changes you need. But if you want the rounded rectangle shape, you'll need to mask off the edges somehow -- either Bezier masking or maybe a combination of cookie cutter FX.

Simplest, though, would probably be to either a) create the graphic in a imaging program or b) just download one off the internet and use track motion to resize it as needed. There is no shortage of "Web 2.0 glass buttons" out there. ;)

Rob

Julius_ wrote on 2/21/2009, 5:35 PM

I GOT IT!!!!

I used Photoshop 7 and created a glass button (thanks bSTro in pointing me to the right google keywords to use)..did some tweaking and got it to work just like cnn!!

Thanks guys..I'll come back later to post the steps

TheHappyFriar wrote on 2/21/2009, 10:16 PM

me being the "super freak" I am would of preferred a vegas only solution. Why? No clue.... So I made one up!

download veg:
http://www.sterlingshield.net/home/steve/vegassite/protypecollections/vp8_presets.html

video example:

Grazie wrote on 2/22/2009, 12:44 AM

(Happy? Can't see your video? - Grazie)

farss wrote on 2/22/2009, 2:09 AM

Doesn't work for me either, try the link to the Veg and scroll down the page.

Bob.

TheHappyFriar wrote on 2/22/2009, 12:47 PM

ends up because I edited the video BEFORE it went live it didn't have a thumbnail & wouldn't work. Go figure??? I fixed it now.

but you can get the veg file from the page link.

Julius_ wrote on 2/22/2009, 7:44 PM

Thanks..but I can't access the video and the file since I am using V7.

Julius_ wrote on 2/23/2009, 11:23 AM

Just got on V8 and was able to see what you have done...very neat!! and without using photoshop!

I like it! Thanks for that,,very slick!

TheHappyFriar wrote on 2/23/2009, 10:02 PM

it was w/o an image program, but I did it the exact same way. There's a few annoying things you'll notice:
*had to modify the corners of my mask to get it to look right when squished.
*ignore the missing file, that was a copy of the image from the tut linked to. Used to see how much it looked side by side w/o mine.
*you don't NEED the event in the parent track, I did it for easier reference for me (I grouped the three events & when I move that parent track event it moves the 3d motion keyframe's). This can be no event, or it can even be text to show ontop of the button.
*to have a background show through, the lower track needs a lower opacity vs the mid track.
*play with the track's transparency & blend options for different effects:
http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sample01.png[IMG=http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5840/sample01.th.png][/link]