Frustrated with crossfade effect..is this possible?

[Paulie]

Here is what I'm tryign to do...

Lets say I have TWO video clips in the timeline. Each clip is 2 seconds each. The total time of the video is obviously 4 seconds.

I apply a crossfade effect between the 2 clips, and the total time drops to whatever the duration of the crossfade effect was. I understand that, because it auto-overlaps the videos to get the effect, but how can I actually preserve the end of the first video, and the start of the second video, making the transition between the two clips - like adding 30 seconds to the end of clip 1, and add 30 seconds to the beginning of clip 2, so the actual crossfade effect actually happens during the non-important part of the video?

I try to do this manually with the crossfade effect already applied, I can add 30 sec to the end of the first clip, but when I add 30 sec to the beginning of the next clip, the clip gets shorter, not longer to make it a total of 4 seconds. It only gets longer if I do it without the crossfade effect applied, and then I can apply it after I added the 30 seconds.

Is there an easier way to do this?

I'm baffled...

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

- Paulie

[blplhp]

Hi Paulie,

One way to accomplish what you want is to go to the last frame of your first 2 second video clip and click on the Save as Still Image icon button in the Control Panel. This will place a thumbnail file of this frame in the Library above. Drag this new image clip and place it after video clip #1. This image clip becomes clip #2 in your timeline. Now go to the first frame of video clip #2 (which is now your third clip in the timeline) and click on the Save as Still Image icon button again in the Control Panel. This will place a thumbnail file of this frame in the Library above. Drag this new image clip and place it before video clip #2 (which is also right after the first image clip you just dragged down). This image clip becomes clip #3 in your timeline. Now delete all of the transitions from the timeline. Adjust the duration of both image clips to 1 second each. Now drag a crossfade transition and place it between the two image clips. This should be your only transition. You will then get a message pop-up box that will say "The duration of the inserted effect clip is too long. It will be trimmed to fit." Click OK. You should now have a 2 sec. video clip followed by a 1 sec. image clip followed by a 1 sec. crossfade transition followed by a 1 sec. image clip followed by a 2 sec. video clip. The reason for no transition between the video clip and the related image clip is so they play seamlessly together like they were both part of the same video clip.

[joosuna]

Hi Paulie... You can also use the slow motion option. Near the end of the first clip, use you sissors and do a cut, but do not remove any thing. Then click on slow motion to that ending portion of the first clip. You can do the same to the second video clip, except do it at the begining of the second video clip. Don't forget to mute the sound for the clips you created to go to slow motion..or it will sound strange in slow motion. Now you can insert your transition to what ever length you want based on how long you extended the slow motion clips.
regards
Joe

[Paulie]

Thanks for the help fellas.

Both those suggestions are very helpful. But if I use the still functionot slow motion function, it won't appear to be seamless during the transition part of the video right? I'd liek there not to be a break in the action so to speak.

I'll play around with it, but is there another way to accomplish the effect with a seamless transition during the actual crossfade effect?

I played with it manually, but it's a lengtly workaround if I ever want to further adjust the effect.

Thanks again for the help fellas. I'm loving this program!



- Paulie

[sjj1805]

Here's another trick that can sometimes be used - it depends upon the content of the clip.

Currently you have:
Clip A transition Clip B

Repeat clip A and if required clip B so that they appear thus:

Clip A clip A Transition clip B Clip B
Now use the reverse video option on the ones highlighted in red.

If you have lets say a moving car going left to right across the screen it wouldn't work for obvious reasons!