Shimming, Gleaming Text in Vegas, no plug-ins

Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/18/2006, 11:58 PM
I received a message from one of my fellow members on this board regarding the "reflective gleam" I use in text logos. The effect is incredibly simple to produce, but it is also very effective in use. I thought I would share the how-to with all members of this board. I'll also leave a copy available at Madison Library.

The "reflective gleam" effect I use is where the text on screen seems to gently illuminate across the text, moving in a particular direction (typically left to right). With only two filters included with Sony Vegas, you can give your text, images, or any other objects of your choice shimmering appearance.

Starting with an empty project, I insert three video tracks. On the bottom track, Insert Generated Media, Sony Text. You should now see Sample Text written on your screen, just leave it.

Copy your Sample Text layer and paste it onto the track right above it (the middle track). You will receive Paste Options, select Create a new copy of the source media.

Go back to your original Sample Text, right click and select Edit Generated Media... In the Video Event FX window that appears go to the tab labeled Properties and adjust the Text Color to R:225 G:210 B:210 A:255. This will give the text a slightly deeper light tone.

Go to your second Sample Text layer (on the middle track), right click and select Edit Generated Media.... In the Video Event FX window that appears go to the tab labeled "Effects" and activate Draw Outline and adjust the Feather to 0.400 and Width to 0.300. This will give the text a blurry glow.

Go to your top track (the empty track) and Insert Generated Media, Sony Color Gradient. In the Video Event FX window that appears, click the crosshairs in the middle of the Control Points and then click the + sign beneath. You now have three points, 1, 2, and 3. Change the left one (1) to Aspect Ratio Angle: 0.0, Distance: -0.250, and R:255 G:255 B:255 A:0. Change the middle one (3) to Aspect Ratio Angle: 0.0, Distance: 0, and R:255 G:255 B:255 A:100. Change the right one (2) to Angle: 0.0, Distance: 0.250, and R:255 G:255 B:255 A:0. You will now see a soft white stripe down the middle of the screen.

Go the Pan & Crop properties of the soft white stripe (gradient) and add a position point in the middle and at the end. Now, on the very left position change the X Center to 820.0, and on the right position change the X Center to -100.0 - leave the center position alone. If you play the movie the white stripe will travel left to right.

Finally, make the middle (glowing text) track a child of the top (soft white stripe) track. Change the compositing mode of the top (soft white stripe) track to Multiply (Mask). Your text should now have the glimmer effect. Play the movie to see the animation.

Download the VEG file of this completed tutorial.

Comments

TeeJay wrote on 9/19/2006, 3:57 AM
Thanks Jonathan! Very nice indeed.

Cheers,

T
cheroxy wrote on 9/19/2006, 8:36 AM
Thanks Jonathan!!!
Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/19/2006, 9:17 AM
You're welcome, both of you. We should find other tutorials to write out that don't require any third-party plug-ins.

Personally, I would love to figure out how to do the Star Wars opening scroll using ONLY Sony Vegas. It's got to be possible!

Any other suggestions?
TheHappyFriar wrote on 9/19/2006, 9:44 AM
the download is a v7 veggie, isn't it? :( still a real simple (yet impressiv) effect to do though!

i did a really cool text a while back: http://vasst.com/resource.aspx?id=6509c063-d02f-49fe-b4bd-eadba13dd820

(is it just me or does vast not let you look in catagories anymore?)

I also think someone did the starwars style text too a while ago (v3 or 4).

Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/19/2006, 9:46 AM
Yea, they did, but they used DebugMode's PluginPac, and that might have been me. I'm working on the Vegas-only version right now.

EDIT: So far, I've gotten the 3D part down and written out the formulas for calculating the angles, simple enough. However, when I render portions of my project the text looks terrible. It's very fuzzy on Good and Best modes- strangely, I get the best clarity on Preview. Anybody want to work with me on this?
Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/19/2006, 10:39 AM
bStro, make a VEG of what you just said and I'll add it to the original post with credits of course going to you, and then I could also add it to Madison Library, if that's okay with you? Giving Vegas users more options is a good thing the way I see it.
Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/20/2006, 2:58 AM
bStro, I don't mean to be cocky, but that isn't even remotely what the effect looks like. I made one last night - tell me what you think @ 1st 2 Minutes of Star Wars, Done All in Vegas (and only Vegas)
bStro wrote on 9/20/2006, 6:54 AM
It was meant to be a starting point, Jonathan, not a finished product. I put it together in about two minutes because you asked for it.

I promise to refrain from trying to help you from now on.

Rob
Jonathan Neal wrote on 9/20/2006, 6:55 AM
Aww no Rob, no!!!!

I'm sorry. However, I don't think it's the correct starting point because it's not going about it the right way given the parameters of Vegas. I thank you for your assistance though. Don't refrain. No refraining!