Titling/Character Generation for slideshow video

scottpetersen wrote on 4/2/2004, 6:52 AM
[note: I posted this in the Vegas-Scripting forum, and didn't receive any replies, so I'm posting a variation of this question in the Vegas-Video forum]

My company creates slide show videos from .jpgs that need to have non-moving text overlayed. The text comes from a comma separated data file, and corresponds with a particular .jpg file. Each .jpg and corresponding text is shown for 30 seconds and paired up with an audio clip. After editing, these 3 elements (text, jpg, audio) are then played back in real time to a Beta SP deck.

We currently use a 2-3 year old version of Avid Express, and I'm researching a Vegas-based solution. Today, for our titling pseudo-automation, we use a separate application on Mac (I don't know the name) to read in a text file, and generate a video layer that is exported, then imported into Avid. Everything is on a 30 second timeline, so that makes this somewhat easier to match up the 3 different elements.

I'm looking for an affordable, more elegant solution that is Vegas based. I can program in VB .NET, and also have Adobe Photoshop experts on hand if that could be part of a new solution. I've searched the forums, and cannot find anyone doing something similar. I understand that Vegas 4 has no native scripting ability to alter the text itself.

Are there any 3rd party plugins available that handle the above scenario?

Comments

randy-stewart wrote on 4/2/2004, 8:08 AM
Scott,
I'm an amature so consider the source but I am trying to understand your question. Vegas can add text and audio to a JPEG from within Vegas. You then just render the file (be it one JPEG or multiple) to make them one with the JPEG. Are you saying you need to automate the process of placing the text and audio with each JPEG from existing text and audio files not previously associated with the JPEG?
Randy
scottpetersen wrote on 4/2/2004, 8:53 AM
Here's an example to clarify. Say the jpg's are named 1.jpg, 2.jpg and 3.jpg. In my text file I have something like this:
keyfieldname, field1, field2, field3
"1","testa", "testb", "testc"
"2","testd", "teste", "testf"
"3","testg", "testh", "testi"

Starting with 1.jpg, I would want to have in Vegas show 1.jpg for 30 seconds on screen with a text overlay of "testa", "testb", and "testc" in certain predefined locations on screen. Then 2.jpg would show, and would have "testd", "teste", and "testf" in those same predefined locations.

One way I've heard to accomplish this is with photoshop scripting, but I'm wondering if there is a 3rd party plug in or some way to do this in Vegas.

I want to reiterate that I am not a current Vegas user, I'm trying to see if this is feasible in Vegas before I make my purchase. Thanks!
randy-stewart wrote on 4/2/2004, 9:07 AM
Scott,
The way I would do this manually is to make each text overlay (in each position on the JPEG, the titler allows you to save your unique text overlay with preset postions, attributes, etc.) as a preset and then just drag them up to the timeline above each JPEG in sequence. Vegas can add all of your JPEG files at once to the timeline (select all, numbered in sequence you want) in the exact length you decide (30 seconds), and then you can add the text overlay presets (with the right text and position) above each JPEG (I'm assuming 3 different overlays for each JPEG). You can place markers and have the text overlay snap to the marker for exact placement. There are scripts to place markers in your timeline at the sequence you define also. Not sure this is what you are going for. I'm sure others will chime in with better ideas.
Randy
scottpetersen wrote on 4/2/2004, 10:52 AM
Right, in your scenario, I would want to automatically manipulate the text overlay, so the editor that is assembling the video doesn't have to copy and paste the text field by field for each 30 second image.

Any other ideas of 3rd party plugins or ways to accomplish this?