This is in Vegas? Just drop them on the timeline and Vegas will scale accordingly. Run the "match aspect ratio" script for a 100% fit.

Mike

Thanks guys.



In the slideshow, how can you make the background remain as "white?" As you all know, black is the default color where nothing is present.

Create a new video track below your photos. Put a solid color (Vegas generated media) below the picture and make it any color you like.

Rather than black, may I suggest that you consider using the eyedropper function to sample the edge of your photo, and then make the background color the same as the edge of your photo. Another thing you can do is to use a gradient or, better yet, some sort of textured background. Again, use the eyedropper to sample colors from your photo and use those colors for your gradient or texture. You can also keyframe the background so that it changes colors, moves ("moving cloud" effect), etc.

There are many other techniques for blending with the background, if your goal is to keep the entire original (rectangular) picture, yet make it fit into the more-or-less square video frame). These include cookie cutters, masks, and borders, using feathered edges.

I haven't done any of that stuff before except to use a different solid color is there a book or something that would be kind of a step by step thing of different ways to use vegas -kinda a newbie starter of
some of the different technices

laura

>>...is there a book...

What version of Vegas are you using?

I am useing Vegas 6.0

laura-k

>>...newbie starter of some of the different technices...

There is a book called "Naked Vegas." It is for Vegas 5, but *all* is relevant to 6. You may not yet need the features added to Vegas 6 from 5.

While it did not receive that much adulation in this forum, it is extremely good at the basics. I bought it just for the information on Bezier masking. I read the whole thing. While I already knew most of it, I could clearly see it is a very good primer on Vegas. Perhaps because it was so basic is why it was not highly regarded as per previous posts.

It is, however, a good basic, 1, 2, 3 instruction set on Vegas. That sounds like what you are looking for.

I bought mine at Barnes & Noble. I am sure you could find it locally rather than having to order it on-line. At least that way, you could go there and look it over and see if it's what you want.

(When you are ready for the advanced stuff, no question, Spot's (DSE, VAAST) material is absolutely the best.)

Just a suggestion. I think it may be what you want.

Thank-you so much ,my life has been just crazy lately so i haven't
been reading forums and internet stuff as much but i thaught
i can bring a book with me or even just chill in my favorite chair at night and get my mind off other stuff-
any other suggestions always apreciated -
laura

any other suggestions always apreciated

Laura, download and print all of jetdv's (Edward Troxel) newsletters. They're in pdf format. Some of them go back to Vegas 4 but are still applicable.

Mike

Kent, I think the main reason the book hasn't done well is that Doug really isn't a Vegas user. It's pretty clear, as the book has lots of workflow errors. It does have some tidbits. His new book on Vegas 6 is a little better, but not much, IMO. The main benefit in all honesty, (to why I feel my books are a tad better) is that hanging out here in these fora, I get to see what people are asking about with Vegas, and what sorts of really clever things a wide variety of people come up with. Doug Sahlin (Edu), or known as the "other" DSE doesn't hang in the communities, so he doesn't really catch on to what folks wanna know.
he's a very good writer, his book on Encore is MUCH better than mine, I think.

As far as photo slide shows, just had a personal experience with a neighbor whose father passed away Thursday. They need a photo montage of the man for the funeral. The mortuary offers the service, they require 48-72 hours to deliver, and charge nearly 1k for this service. their work is very good, I've seen it.
In StillMotion, I did the photo montage in less than 30 mins with all titles, etc, not including render, all matched to the music the children selected. This also included recording the music from old Tex Ritter recordings. Scripts can totally make this process fast, easy, and creative.

>>It does have some tidbits.

Yes. Precisely. At the time, that is just what I needed. I still read it all though... I figure I can always learn something.

>>(to why I feel my books are a tad better)

No question. Your books, as well as your DVDs, are the best, period.

>>...hanging out here in these fora, I get to see what people are
>>asking about with Vegas

That is a facet I hadn't thought of. You are definitely in tune with "what's going on." :)

>>his book on Encore is MUCH better than mine, I think.

I haven't seen his book, but I doubt it. :)

What is "StillMotion?"

StillMotion