Soft edge key PIP

vicmilt wrote on 2/6/2008, 10:04 AM

Hi all -
sorry I've been away for a while -

I want to create a series of soft-edged Picture in Picture effects for the opening title page of my DVD.

So imagine a big scene (let's say a seashore) as the back plate.
Now I want to dissolve in smaller images over the seashore - so far no problemo.
How do I give those new smaller images really soft and even possibly irregular shapes.
I know it's a masking problem, but I've got no masking experience in Vegas.
Waddya think?

v
ps - thanx in advance

Comments

daryl wrote on 2/6/2008, 11:40 AM

Do you have Photoshop? You could either create a soft-edge or irregular shape soft-edge mask with it, very easy to do using black-and-white. Other than that, have you tried putting a border fx on the smaller images using the soft-edge template?

richard-courtney wrote on 2/6/2008, 11:48 AM

For rectangular images you can use track motion to resize the image and the Sony Border FX with Blurred type. Use the size slider for amount of edge softness.

Irregular shapes I'd use a paint program to make a mask. Black transparent
white where the picture/video shows. Use the blur function of the paint program or
the airbrush tool to smooth the edges.

In Vegas:
place picture/video top track 1
mask track2
background track 3

On track 2:
click "Make compositing child"
add the Mask Generator FX and choose Luminance.

On track 1: change composing mode to "Multiply (mask)"

You can adjust the Low In slider on track 2's Mask Generator so
soften the picture and edge as you like.

Hope this helps.

vicmilt wrote on 2/6/2008, 11:54 AM

Hi Daryl -

Well - while i was waiting I did some experiments with PS and soft edged mattes - but - duhhh - I used a green chroma-key matte (old habits die hard) - so I got great effects but with (duuhhh) green overtones in the edges.
So next thing, I'll redo my matted in B&W - no green cast there!

Now those soft edged border effects are EXACTLY what I need (THANKS) - but since the software is clearly capable of the FX, can't I manipulate the shape of the matte a little better??

Isn't there a way to create soft edge mattes or whatever directly in Vegas??

v

Former user wrote on 2/6/2008, 11:57 AM

"Isn't there a way to create soft edge mattes or whatever directly in Vegas??"

Yes. Pan Crop turn Mask ON.

You can draw as many points and feather the edge any way you like.

Dave T2

richard-courtney wrote on 2/6/2008, 12:01 PM

Cookie Cutter FX

Feather slider will soften edge and you can select some shapes. Circle/ Diamond /
etc.

richard-courtney wrote on 2/6/2008, 12:10 PM

DaveT2:
Son of a gun..... I retract my other suggestions!

vicmilt wrote on 2/6/2008, 12:14 PM

Got enough to shoot my way out of this bar...

WHOOPS...
one of those things where I was writing and so was Dave2 -

so where is the mask tool and "points" settings?

v

Former user wrote on 2/6/2008, 12:17 PM

Pan Crop seems pretty direct. Are you looking for a DRAW mode?

Dave T2

vicmilt wrote on 2/6/2008, 12:32 PM

This is EXACTLY wht I was asking for - Vegas Rules...

Thanks Dave -
you changed my life! (or at least my matting workflow!)

v

PS ADDITION: Forget the border tool except for the most basic of quickee effects - with a tiny bit more effort, it's the PanCrop tool using the Mask track and bezier drawing tools - Most Excellent!

jetdv wrote on 2/6/2008, 12:32 PM

The border FX will do it. Just add a border set to "Soft Edge". Just make sure you click the little triangle to the left of the word "Border" left of the FX timeline.

Former user wrote on 2/6/2008, 12:41 PM

Glad I could help. I think this feature showed up in Version 6, and it has been very useful for my projects.

Have fun.

Dave T2