Q: Opacity

Orcatek wrote on 6/12/2004, 2:40 PM
I'm trying to do the following.

1. Fade video up to 50% opacity over a few seconds.
2. Run at 50% for 10 seconds
3. Ramp up to 100% over the next few seconds.
4. Run at 100% for 10 seconds.

Steps one and two I've been able to do.
The increase a later point to 100 is where I get stuck.
I tried to use the opacity like an envelope and add a point, but it wouldn't work.

Could be I need to use a different effect. Basically I have a logo behind some text. At 50% you can read the text over it. At the end I want to bring it up to 100% as I move the logo thru the text using 3D track motion (Pass thru effect doesn't really work unless it is at 100%).

Should I just go with a brightness envelope instead - doesn't look quiet the same, but seems like it would work? Or is there a way to change Opacity over time?

Thanks in advance.



Comments

winrockpost wrote on 6/12/2004, 4:06 PM
insert video envelope, track composite, add points for whatever values you need
BillyBoy wrote on 6/12/2004, 4:12 PM
Once you drop the envelope on the track add control points where you want a change by double clicking on the line. For an opacity envelope you can go from 0-100%.

If you having trouble keeping at a constant opacity level, remember you need extra control points.

Example:

Say you want to start at 50% opacity at the 10 second mark. Add control point one. Assuming you want to STAY at 50% for 10 seconds you would add the second control point at 20 seconds. Now to go higher AFTER the 10 seconds has passed add a third control point right next to the second at its opacity level. Add a fourth 10 seconds further down the timeline at the 100% mark

Your curve would start near the bottom of the track slop up then be a staright line for 10 second then continue sloping higher for the last 10. Easier to do than explain. <wink>
Orcatek wrote on 6/12/2004, 5:27 PM
How do you add the control points to Opacity? I can't get it to work.

Maybe its how I do the opacity. I grab the opacity line at the top edge of the clip and drag it down. When I try to add points it nothing happens. I can add points to velocity and other envelopes just fine.

BillyBoy wrote on 6/12/2004, 7:01 PM
Sorry, I should have been more clear. As Vegas evolves it gets a little more complex to use. In version 5 the opacity can be dragged down from the top and changed that way, but to set points you first have to click on track composit (insert/video envelopes/track composit level).

Now the line should change from white to blue and you should now be able to add control points.

jazzvalve wrote on 6/12/2004, 9:04 PM
all vegas 2-3-4-5 have dragged opacity and composting envelope. its not new to 5. also right click to insert envelope point if its a compositing line.
Orcatek wrote on 6/13/2004, 6:26 AM
Line blue or line bold I can't get it to work.

At this point I believe that you cannot add control points to opacity. If someone can actually do it let me know - I would love to see the veg file. I appreciate everyones thoughts - but I can't make them work. Since opacity never is really called an envelope I suspect it really isn't.

I switched to a composite level envelope at the track level. That does allow control points and does create the effect I was tryiing to produce. I guess it just goes to show, sometimes you just need to attack a problem from a different direction.
farss wrote on 6/13/2004, 6:37 AM
Probably just confusing terminology, track opacity and composite level are much the same thing depending on how you set the composite mode. The default mode is alpha so the envelope is affecting transparency / opacity.
Spot|DSE wrote on 6/13/2004, 9:09 AM
Orcatek,
You CAN'T insert nodes on an individual event. You CAN insert nodes on a compositing envelope inserted to a track.
Individual events can have a single opacity level over time without the ability to keyframe the changes. Tracks with an Opacity Envelope can be shifted in opacity over time using keyframes, (known as envelope points at this level)
Jazzvalve is correct, Compositing Envelopes and event opacity have always been available since the first issue of Vegas 2.0.
Hope this clarifies it a little for you?
Orcatek wrote on 6/13/2004, 9:22 AM
I think so. From what I see - I pull down the opacity line and it looks like it could be an envelope line, but it really isn't.

Compositing envelope applys to the track and not an event. Not a problem as I can add tracks. Keyframes/nodes work as expected.

Opacity also applies to a track, but does not behave like an envelope as you cannot adjust it via keyframes or nodes. It just looks like an envelope as you can adjust fade in, overall level and fade out rates, but that's it.

I'm attending the VASST course wed, so I will probably ask the expert then to clear this up if I am not seeing this right



Spot|DSE wrote on 6/13/2004, 10:10 AM
See you in Phoenix!
jetdv wrote on 6/13/2004, 1:22 PM
In Vegas 5, here's an alternative that will work at the clip level. Just do a fade-in for the first "few" seconds, add a transition envelope. Then you can have it ramp up to 50%, hold at 50% for 10 seconds, and then complete the ramp up to 100%.