Crossfade with Titler

[Markmen]

I'm using FX crossfade VA to V1. My title is correct but the fade does not work as I had imagined. V1 should simply superimpose over VA but VA begins to turn dark as V1 begins to fade in. I have the CrossFade directly over V1 for a few seconds duration.

I've also tried using the same Crossfade from VA to VB, but with similar results, except the main video turns lighter as the fade continuies. So, I don't believe that's the problem. But I've been wrong before. I do assume Crossfade is what I want to simply fade the titles into the movie and fade them back out, without any change to the main video.

I've tried to understand the concept of keyframes and the cockeyed interface one finds when clicking on the FX interface. Why would someone design such a mess? It's just too strange for my tastes, or my intellect, I'm not sure which, but at this moment am considering jumping out my 26th story office window, or going postal. Not sure which.

All I want to do is superimpose text titles in one quick motion with no fancy footwork. Obviously I'm doing something wrong, am not that bright and am willing to blame anyone but myself, but this isn't an easy program to figure out compared to others I've used, such as Pinnacle Studio (which is horribly buggy). I'd pay for an excellent, easy to understand tutorial.

Would some expert shed some welcome light on how to stop VA from turning darker as it fades to V1? Do I need to modify the Transition Degree in CrossFade FX or change something in the Title Clip settings?

[Devil]

You cannot use transitions between Va and V1, only between Va and Vb. It's not quite clear in my mind what you are trying to do, but there are workarounds, involving overlays that will probably do the trick. Look in the manual and help files for overlays and you will probably find what you need. You may also care to think about MSP8 which allows transitions and overlays on all tracks, besides being more verstaile and easier-to-use.

[Markmen]

Devil,

Thanks for the thought. I'll consider upgrading, but I just upgraded late last year to help solve this "problem", but find there was no improvement, not wating to yet again upgrade to version 9 or even 10.

You say you don't quite get what I want to do. I simply want to fade into a title on the screen for a few seconds over the video, and fade out of it. That's it. Again, the problem is that the video also changes, darker or ligher. I want only the title to fade in and out.

[heinz-oz]

Put your title in the Vb track.

[tv_news_guy]

I assume we are talking mspro 7 here. If so.. or for that manner, everything up to but not including ver 8..... put your title on vb.. right click on the title.. select overlay options... use the control tool to create a keyframe 10 frames into the title... then go to the end of the title... and use the control to back up ten frames and create another keyframe. At this point you will have a keyframe right at the start of the title... one keyframe 10 frames in... one ten frames before the end... and one right at the end. Once you get there. Click on the start keyframe.. while on it.. slide the transparency slider to 100%. Then go the last keyframe and click on it.. while there...again slide the transparency slider to 100%. Now you have a title that will fade in in ten frames.. and fade out at the end in ten frames....

I hope that helps.

Bill tv_news_guy
non-linear editing is half art/half brain damage

[heinz-oz]

I assume we are talking mspro 7 here. If so.. or for that manner, everything up to but not including ver 8..... put your title on vb.. right click on the title.. select overlay options... use the control tool to create a keyframe 10 frames into the title... then go to the end of the title... and use the control to back up ten frames and create another keyframe. At this point you will have a keyframe right at the start of the title... one keyframe 10 frames in... one ten frames before the end... and one right at the end. Once you get there. Click on the start keyframe.. while on it.. slide the transparency slider to 100%. Then go the last keyframe and click on it.. while there...again slide the transparency slider to 100%. Now you have a title that will fade in in ten frames.. and fade out at the end in ten frames....

I hope that helps.

Bill tv_news_guy
non-linear editing is half art/half brain damage

That approach should also work with your title in V1 ... V99

[Markmen]

I upgraded yesterday to MediaStudio Pro v8. Most of the problems went away. But I had no idea one had to load Overlay Options. That does make a different. I installed v8 and uninstalled v7 and don't ever remember seeing Overlay Options. If it's there in v7, I sure missed it.

Thanks for the help. I believe the extra $200 was worth it for the upgrade.

[heinz-oz]

I would not have gone to the extreme of removing MSP 7. Unless you don't use Video Paint nor CGI infinity. These programs were part of MSP 7 but were left out with MSP 8. You can still use these with MSP 8 as long as MSP 7 is still installed.

The overlay options are found by right clicking on the clip in the time line. MSP 8 surely has similar features.

[Markmen]

heinz-oz

I don't need the paint program as I use Photoshop CS. Don't know what CGI infinity might be but sound like it could take forever to learn it.

So, thanks for the guiding hand.

[tv_news_guy]

Actually CG Infinity is pretty damn easy to use.. and its great if you are planning to do a lot of repetitive graphics keying etc. If you create a "look" in CG Infinity you can save it as a project file (great for lower thirds and keys) and then simply keep replacing the names or whatever you need for the next instance the graphic will appear on the screen.
If you want to go nuts... add 3d studio to the mix. It has a longer learning curve.. but in effect is really a simple way to create 3d logos etc for dropping in as avi files into your timeline. If you start with a flat picture (ie: a jpeg or bitmap of a corporate logo.. you can create the shape of the logo in 3d studio, add the colors in as texture to the shape and voila.. you have taken a company or organization that thinks in 2d and given them the look of the big boys. Now using positioning and orientation you can make those logos flip, spin.. whatever as they appear and disappear from your video.
It takes a bit to render the overlay 3d files... but the outcome will knock your socks off.

Have fun

Bill tv_news_guy

Non-linear editing is half art/half brain damage