News video, vertical rectangle?

TracyL wrote on 1/19/2010, 10:27 AM

Hi there!
I cannot figure out how to use 2 clips with a virtual background to make a news-like scene. Here's how I would like it to look: The one clip which has a character talking to the camera like a news caster, then it goes to that character 'boxed' on the left side of the screen with the field newscaster 'boxed' on the right. This technique is on news shows everywhere but I just can't figure out how to do it for myself. I've tried using cookie cutter but the only 'rectangle' plugin goes horizontaly, not verticaly, as I need. Is there a way to get the vertical rectangle without using Repeat which does not make a clean box with no marks between?

This is an idea of what I want: http://educate-yourself.org/cn/Giliane%20and%20field%20reporter%20wide%20strawberry%20festival%20B.jpg

Thank you!
Tracy

Comments

Byron K wrote on 1/19/2010, 11:06 AM

I think what you want to do in this case is use masking rather than cookie cutter.

What you'll need is to have your background image with white or transparent frames where the reporters are to be.

Track 1 Composite Mode: Multiply (Mask) image w/ the two blank frames.
Track 2 Composite mode: Source Alpha (reporter 1)
Track 3 Composite mode: Source Alpha (reporter 2)

Adjust tracks 2 & 3 to fill the spaces in the frames using pan crop. In this case you don't need to maintain aspect ratio if you're zooming in on the reporters heads.

This is similar to something that I was trying to figure out a while back and OMG helped me figure it out, checkout this thread:

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=12&MessageID=631030

richard-amirault wrote on 1/19/2010, 7:27 PM

I think you can do it easily without masking. Just zoom out (make your frame bigger than your image) .. and .. move the image to one side.

You can do a "live" zoom .. or make a cut and do it "instantly" on the post cut track.

OhMyGosh wrote on 1/20/2010, 9:55 AM

Thank you Byron for the 'tip of the hat' :)
Tracy, there are almost an unlimited number of way to do the same thing, and Byron and Brighterside gave you two. I am not totally sure of the effect you are looking for, but this is what I would do if I understand you correctly. I threw this together, and yes I know it's 'cheesey.' I also think it's illegal as I got the photos from flickr :O They said something about some sort of common license, but not really sure what that means. Still think I might go to jail, so I will remove it when you are done!! Otherwise you might see me on channel 666 :) I posted on a friends website that he doesn't use, but not really sure about all the right settings and things to make it the best quality, so I just did the best I could. Let us know if this helps. Cin

TracyL wrote on 1/20/2010, 8:16 PM

Thank you all!

Unfortunately, short of creating my own background image, I see there's really no way to do exactly what I wanted. If I can just go back to my original question, is there a plugin that I can use with a vertical rectangle? I've used Cookie Cutter before and it works perfectly for what I want, as it would for this desired project.

Thank you!!
Tracy

OhMyGosh wrote on 1/20/2010, 8:46 PM

I must be missing something????? The cookie cutter works both verticaly and horizontaly. Do you know how to use it? If not we can explain. Cin

TracyL wrote on 1/21/2010, 11:44 AM

The rectangle shape in cookie cutter can only be made horizontally larger when the size is increased, the size of vertical height cannot be changed. I would like to make a rectangle with longer height than width, that's what I want. I do know that the tool works both ways but the rectangle tool cannot be increased in height.

Do you know if there is any way to do it? I try 'repeat y' but it makes black lines through the vertical. If it's unclear what I mean, please open Vegas and try it. Thank you!!

Tim L wrote on 1/21/2010, 2:26 PM

Use Pan/Crop on the event itself to crop it to the shape you want. Don't worry about positioning it left or right on the screen just yet -- just crop it to whatever rectangular shape you want. You will have to disable the feature that maintains aspect ratio -- one of the icons at the left column in the pan/crop window -- so that you can adjust the rectangle width and height independently.

Once you have the videos cropped the way you want them, use track motion to position them the way you want them. Track motion is an icon in the track header of each track.

Sorry I can't give exact details but I'm not at a computer with Vegas installed.

Tim L

TracyL wrote on 1/21/2010, 6:05 PM

Thank you SO much, Tim, that is exactly what I needed to know! I appreciate all the help from everyone too!

Tracy