Getting a "Split Screen" Overlay to Transition Rig

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:57 pm

In VS10+, when inserting a "Split Screen" video effect, how do you get the before and after transitions to make the split screen look right?

Here's what I mean. First you insert the "left video file" onto the video track, then you insert the "right video file" onto the overlay track, then you adjust the position of the right video file in the preview window so it is 50-50 with the left video file that is on the video track. Problem is when the video track's "Crossfade" transitions kick in, only the left half of the split screen goes thru the transition, while at the same time the right half video (because it's on the overlay track) just suddenly appears (obviously I have set both tracks to start at the same timecode).

So I thought, OK, select the "fade-in" and "fade-out" buttons on the Overlay Mode's Attribute tab, to fade-in and fade-out the right half video, so as to somewhat "simulate" a crossfade transition to coincide with the left half video's real crossfade transitions. This seemed to look more smooth and presentable; however, during the transition, you can now see the "overlap" footage of the left video file where the right video file is overlapping the left video file.

Is there a good method for making a "Split Screen" video effect work and look seamless at the transition points between other video clips? Is there a better transition to use instead of the crossfade? Both of my left and right clips are the same duration in length and they both begin at the same timecode.

Any suggestions would be very helpful.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:56 am

Two tutorials which may help:

Split Screen Effect
Moving Path Tutorial

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 2:09 am

Thanks, Steve!!

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:42 am

Steve,

After trying the steps in the split screen tutorial you suggested, it gives me the same split screen effect as the steps I took using the advice from Charlie Hills' book "Getting Results with VideoStudio 9". However, even with the tutorial you recommended, I still can't get the split screen clip to transition right with surrounding video clips. The left video clip (which is on the video track) receives the neighboring transition effect, while the right video in the overlay does not receive any transitions. So while the left video is transitioning in, the right video appears suddenly on the screen. Looks out of sync and not very profesional. How can I get both halves of the video clips in the split screen to transition in at the same time, without seeing any of the overlap footage from the left video clip?

Oh, the tutorial seems to mainly address the right video clip of the split screen effect that will reside in the overlay track. Nothing was mentioned about how to create the left video clip and how to integrate them both together.

Thanks.

Post by **Ron P.** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:56 am

The only way that I can see to do this, is still using an intermediate render, so your overlay track can have a transition. Then it would be a task to sync both tracks, so that the transitions occur at the same time...

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:06 pm

Ron has beaten me to the answer!

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:44 pm

Hi

How long are your video clips

The Fade-in and Fade-out in the overlay track defaults to about a third of the length of the clip, ie Fade in—Pause Duration—Fade out in equal parts.

If you have a clip say 60 seconds then the fade-in will be 20 seconds.
(If you have a 60 minute clip then the fade-in will be 20 minutes, thats a long time.)

Your Video clip in the timeline has X-Fade but defaults to a shorter time say 4 seconds.
Therefore the main video will be in full view 16 seconds before the overlay view is fully visable.

You can adjust this fade duration / pause duration using the Blue line and trim bars below the preview screen.

This may be a bit tricky to select a short time when using long clips.

Trevor

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:53 pm

Thanks, Ron. That's exactly what I was beginning to discover. However, that brings up two questions:

1) In your statement,

using an intermediate render, so your overlay track can have a transition.

, what clip do you transition from? I mean, the left video clip (say, clip #2) in the video track will transition in from the video clip in front of it (clip #1). What will the right video clip (clip #3) in the overlay track transition in from when the intermediate render is created. Do you have to use the last second or two from video clip #1 to transition into the right video clip (clip #3) when doing the intermediate render? That's the only way the transition of both split video clips will look right. The same would apply to the transitions to the video clip (clip #4) after the split screen effect. I will experiment with that procedure today and see if it works.

2) Has anyone recently created a vertical split screen clip that was placed in between two surrounding video clips? How did the transitions "in" and "out" look? How did you blend it in to make the transitions of both split screen clips look right? I can't believe that I am the first person to question how this works?

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:09 pm

Thanks Trevor,

I tried adjusting the fade-in/fade-out trim handles and pause duration already. This does seem to work a little bit better than having the right video clip just suddenly appear. However, the problem with the fade-in is that now you see the overlapping image of the left video clip behind the right overlaying video clip, albeit, for as long as your fade-in duration lasts. In addition to that, you also see a wide vertical black bar to the right of the left video clip, due to having moved the clip over to the left when creating the left video clips' "left position".

My left and right video clips for the split screen effect are both 13 seconds long, starting and ending at the same time. I am using a 1 second crossfade transition for the left video clip (on the video track). For the right video clip, I adjusted the trim handles on the overlay screen for a very short fade-in time with a long pause duration (blue bar) in trying to simulate a 1 second fade-in time to match the left video's 1 second crossfade. But you still see the overlapped image and vertical black bar of the left video clip behind the right video clip, even for that brief 1 second transition. Maybe that's as good as it gets, or maybe my idea in my last response to further progress upon Ron's idea, might be the best solution.

Maybe, if someone has some free time to kill, they could experiment right along with me and find a good solution that works right. (Hint, hint)

Thanks for your help.......

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:01 pm

Ok Bruce
I had a go, i havent seen the book you are working from, so this may not be the exact effect you are trying to acheive.

(E-mail the VSP file that you are using for the split scene effect)

This is what I did:-

I made two 13 sec clips

The left clip I placed in the main video track.
I cut this clip at 3 seconds. (this being the point I want to change to ‘split screen’
The second half at 10 seconds, I used Attributes-distort clip
Fit to screen keeping aspect ratio.
Used arrow keys to nudge frame to left. Filling half screen.
Used 2 sec X-Fade between. 3 and 10

Placed right clip in overlay track starting at the beginning of the main X-fade transition
Used Fit to screen and keep Aspect Ratio
Dragged clip right into position filling the remainder of screen
Used Fade in for 2 seconds.(using blue bar to adjust)

I reduced the fades to 1 second looked the same but a little faster

No black borders

The effect looks good to me, starts with a full frame and changes to a split screen over 1 second. A little fast for my liking I prefer a slower transition.

Looks ok

Trevor

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:04 pm

I've never tried sharing a VSP file before so it will be interesting to see if this works!

I used only sample clips installed with VS10+, not very fancy just an attempt to show how to make two clips do a "Kiefer Sutherland 24" effect.
Didnt have much time to get it all perfect as I am busy trying to edit my recent holiday video & pictures, but see if this works:

http://www.steve-jones.pwp.blueyonder.c ... s10pip.VSP

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:03 pm

Hi Steve

I was able to open and view thw whole Vsp.

As the files were VS samples there was no problems.

If the files did not exist on my pc i would be able to relink, provided my files were longer than the ones used. That would give me some idea to whats going on.

Trevor

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:14 pm

Thank you Trevor. this may help with some of my future tutorials now that I know I can supply a VSP file.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:47 pm

Steve

I have moved vsp files when working with my step-daughter.
The project we are working on has many titles, 30 or so.

She designs the title on her laptop then e-mails me the Vsp
I drag the titles to the library, then back to the master project.

The only thing I need is the same fonts on my pc.

At the moment she is in Brazil.
It seems to work, she designs, I put it together.

Trevor

blplhp · Post by **blplhp** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:26 pm

OK, Trevor.

That works!!

I see no black wide bar and I see no overlap from the left clip behind the right clip at the fade-in point. However, the right clip fades in off of the left clip for a brief second or so.

How can you make both the left clip (clip #2, which is on the video track) and the right clip (clip #3, which is on the overlay track) fade in from the same preceding clip (clip #1, which is on the video track in front of left clip #2)?

I would like both half screens to show up simultaneously and fade in from the same preceding clip, with no wide black bars showing thru behind the right clip and no overlap images between the left clip and the right clip.

Can you work up some more magic on this one like you just did on your previous solution?

Thanks, Trevor.

I will experiment with it tonight after I get home from work.