Flash Animation Overlay Support

[OBlue]

Hi,
I am planning on buying VideoStudio 9 within the next week, but first I would like to ask a question or 2.
In the product description, Flash Animation Overlay Support is mentioned. Am I correct in assuming that if I create an animated GIF saved with transparency the animation will be shown on the video (Like on T.V. shows where they use animated characters talking to real people)?
Secondly, I am wondering if I can cut out parts of the movie (When I transfer video to my computer, there is a thin black and white "fuzzy" spot at the bottom of the screen). I would appreciate any info you could give me! Thanks!
Trevor

[Ron P.]

Hi OBlue, and welcome to the boards..

Yes VS9 supports Flash animation (SWF uncompressed), and GIF animations. With regard to the fuzzy spot, VS9 has a Crop filter that you can crop your video clips to whatever size you need...

I would recommend if you are planning on buying it, if you have not already, download the trial version. Also buy the Boxed version, if possible. If not at least buy the Backup CD...

Regards

Ron P.

[Ken Berry]

Regarding the fuzzy bit, all of us have experienced it when transferring in particular older analogue VHS tapes or videos to our computer. I also get a greenish tinge down the extreme right hand side of such videos. However, as both are only about 1% of the screen area and at the extreme edges of the frame, I simply ignore them as they are well outside what is called the 'safe area' and thus will not be seen when your final DVD is shown on a TV. You can always burn your project to a RW disc and try it out to see. If not, then as Vidoman has already said, you can always use the cropping filter in VS9 to be absolutely sure.

Regarding Flash, just be aware that some users have been reporting some problems with Flash. But no one seems to know why. It may have something to do with the version of Flash being used (v.8??), whereas older versions appear to be more stable. But I just don't know, and confess I don't tend to use it. When I have played around with the few included samples on my computer using VS9, however, it seems to work! But this is a long way of saying that Vidoman's advice is very sound on this point as well, and you should first try it out on the trial version.

[OBlue]

Thanks for the help. I definitely want to buy this program for my home videos. Hope to see you around the forum!
Trevor

[OBlue]

Another quick question (or three).

1: Is it possible to create DVD menus with motion in them? Like, when the menu is displayed, can a bird fly across the screen to make the menu appear?

2: When you use a uniformly colored backround to "Transfer yourself to the Sahara Desert in an instant!", can the backround be moving video?

3: How good is the quality of the animation and movie combined? Is there noticable tell-tale *fuzziness* around the animation?

Thanks again,
Trevor

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Trevor

1—
Yes you can use animated menu backgrounds as well as animated thumbnails.
The animation starts from the beginning of the video.

2—
You can use transitions to transfer between one video clip and the next. (If that’s what you mean)

3—
I find the quality very good, but it does depend on how good a quality your source files are of course.

VS 9 comes with Cool 3D V3.0, you can create your own animations, but I think the version is limited to making Avi’s not animated. Gifs-- Think you need V 3.5 at least. (but I may be wrong).

Download the trial version VS 9 and give it a go.

Trevor

[Ken Berry]

Trevor -- I think he is talking about Flash in all three of his questions, or at least 2 and 3, but I am pretty sure about 1 too. But I am sorry, if he is, since I don't have the answers...

[GeorgeW]

Another quick question (or three).
2: When you use a uniformly colored backround to "Transfer yourself to the Sahara Desert in an instant!", can the backround be moving video?

3: How good is the quality of the animation and movie combined? Is there noticable tell-tale *fuzziness* around the animation

#2 -- If you want to create that "overlay" (Blue or green screening etc...), then place that over your "moving video" -- output to a video file then use that in your production

#3 -- As mentioned, it depends on how well you captured the original footage. Was everything properly lit, no shadows, etc...

Regards,
George

[OBlue]

Let me see if I can clarify question #2...

I know that when I use a blue uniformly colored backround, and I am standing in front of it, VS9 will cut out the blue. VS9 will also replace the blue backround with a picture of my choice. But, instead of a picture, can I use video for the backround?

[OBlue]

And I was talking about flash only in questions 1 and 3.

[Ken Berry]

Ok -- I thought perhaps you were thinking of a Flash animation as the background video in 2... FWIW, and to resurrect Trevor's reference to Cool 3D, I regularly make animated opening and closing titles using Cool 3D Production Studio which I export as AVI. I then put them in the overlay track of VS9, with a video in the main track. I then apply a Chroma key effect to the overlay so that the animation's uniform (usually black) background is made transparent and the video can then be seen with the 'solid' bits of the title overlaying them. And of course you can also fade the overlay in and out at a rate of your own choosing... Not sure if this covers your point...