PIP Border Softness

autopilot wrote on 2/3/2006, 12:52 AM
I was just practicing with the PIP and thought it would look a bit nicer if the border, of the small picture, was softened.

Is there any way to do this?

I'm new here, but not new to editing. I've used Nero 6 & 7, Cyberlink Director, Pinnacle 8, 9, 10, & Liquid 6, plus a liitle bit of Premiere. I help with editing on a radio show and what caught my eye was the interface of SMS because I use Cool Edit Pro, and they look somewhat the same. I read some reviews ( because I'm fed up with Pinnacle ), and got SMS. So far I LOVE it.

Comments

rustier wrote on 2/3/2006, 5:51 AM
you can do that by using a generated media "mask" (such as the oval or the rectangle - you will have to modify their default colors) and use the control points to soften the edges - then make that the "parent" to your pictures in the composite mode. Do a search (the search link next to "Forums") with keyword "composite" (for starters) and you will find a bunch of stuff on it. Its not hard at all after you have done it once. "Track motion" may also be something to search - depending on how many pictures or how involved your project is.

You will find a significant number of people in this forum who were "fed up" with that other program and switched. SVMS is great because it is user friendly for the beginner and yet very powerful for those who wish to dive into it. It is virtually bug free and you don't have to "purchase" a function every time you turn around. I really like it and I am saving up to purchase the "full" version - along with a few other gadgets. Have fun!
autopilot wrote on 2/6/2006, 2:35 AM
Hi. Searched & practiced, but still no success. I can change the border of the main video, but not the small " in-picture" video border. Do I go to track motion? Video FX? I can put on the glow & shadow, but I'm trying to soften the actual border ( or make it look like I did ), and have it be, or follow, the moving PIP.
dibbkd wrote on 2/6/2006, 3:26 AM
It sounds almost like you're wanting to do the effect made popular by the HP commercial where the guy takes a pic of himself then puts the pic on the desk, and so on?

I have done that effect with VMS 6, but it wasn't easy getting the picture fram border to follow the small PIP, I did it all frame-by-frame using pan/crop to follow.

If there's an easier way, I'd love to know.
IanG wrote on 2/6/2006, 5:52 AM
Have you tried the "Feather" control? That softens the edges.

Ian G.
rustier wrote on 2/6/2006, 6:09 AM
to soften the pip you need to soften the "mask" that enables you to see the picture using the composite mode:

Try a rectangular (or elliptical) color gradient (for starters) on video level 1, set composite mode to multiply, put the picture (or video)below (level2) with composite mode source alpha and make sure the arrow is pointing up (making the generated media mask the "mama" (it will say make composite parent). Now get back to your color gradient and look at the properties. Make the number 2 control point closer to the center than 1, and its color white (as a mask), make the other control points colors "clear" and play with the distance between points to sharpen or blur the edges. Your video or slides can be on level 3 or 4. If you have trouble getting the picture centered (in your PIP) check the properties - source - and set the stretch to fill to NO and if you must set the aspect to NO as well. This will give you pretty much free reign on zooming and panning. If you want an actual frame around the pip you can add new control points in the generated media properties and adjust the color to you liking.

If you are going to have a pip video in a moving track (like the HP commercial) on another video layer - prepare yourself for some serious keyframe labor on both the mask and secondary (pip) video. You can enable grid lines in the panning options to help you with alignment.

good luck
Tim L wrote on 2/6/2006, 5:08 PM
Autopilot:
There is a "Border" Video FX function that can do this for you.

You can apply it to the whole P-I-P track by clicking the "Track FX" icon in the track header at the left side of the screen. The icon looks like a little vertical rectangle with two little circles (nodes) hanging off of it, one on each side. It is just to the left of the Mute icon (blue circle with a slash through it).

Click on the Track FX icon, and a window should pop up offering you a list of effects. Double-click on "Sony Border", then select OK. This opens up the Video Track FX window, with the Border effect settings.

In the "Type" box, which I think defaults to "Solid", select "Blurred". Now use the Size slider to control how much feathering you want.

Of course, this same effect can be applied to just an individual video event, rather than to a whole track, by activating the FX icon on the event itself.

Also, you can select a Beveled border, or a solid border.

Tim L

edit: This approach is easy, but only gives you a rectangular shape in the same aspect as the original. Rustier's ideas sound much more powerful as far as flexibility and options for the shape of your PIP image.

edit #2: also look into the Cookie Cutter effect (in place of the Border effect). You can chose from more shapes -- circles, ovals, etc. -- and feather the edge if you want.
autopilot wrote on 2/6/2006, 10:08 PM
Thank you for your help. I'll keep experimenting.
shmulb wrote on 2/7/2006, 4:45 AM
If you are trying to do the HP ad, here is a link to a tutorial showing how to do it in Vegas. You should be able to use most of the steps in Studio.
http://www.digitalvideoediting.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33143-0