Highlight certain part of a clip

[Sillysoft]

Im new to videostudio so I dont know where to look. What Im trying to do is I have a video clip that I would like for it to start playing, then pause and while its paused it highlights a certain part of the clip so that the viewer knows where to look. It could be the whole screen dims except for the part that I want to stand out or just a circle around the part of the video clip I want to stand out. So it pauses for a couple of seconds, shows the viewer what to look at then resumes play. Can anyone point me in the right direction on this?

Thanks!
Silly

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

A couple of questions that may help us help you with this effect.

Are you just new to VS, or new to video editing in general too?
Do you have a graphics editing program like PhotoImpact, PS, PSP? To achieve this effect it will take an image application as well.

First the "pause", in VS has to be accomplished with using a still shot of the frame. VS can do this, by selecting the frame you want to use as the pause, and selecting Save as Still Image, this will be placed in the Image Library. Now you have the still image to use as the pause.

You can either drag the image from the Library to an overlay track, placing it beneath the frames of the video clip, where it originated, or cut the video clip at that frame, and place the image in the main video track where you made the cut. Adjust the duration for the number of seconds you want for the pause.

Now you ask ..How do I get the focusing effect, highlighting or dimming? You could try applying a Mask to the image, or using a Vignette effect. It may be difficult in VS to get these exactly where you want it, but worth a shot.

If not then you need an image editing application to apply a circle or mask to create your highlighted area, on your image clip.

I must ask, why the pause? Since you are creating a video, why not use a circle image, that has a black or red boarder, then a white fill. The circle image would be saved from your image program as a PNG file, then placing it one of the overlay tracks, and using the Chroma Key, the white fill would be transparent, resulting in the image circling what you want to draw the viewers attention to. The drawback is if this point of interest could not move much. VS does not have Motion Paths.

How about using the Hand decoration provided in VS, to point to your area of interest?

[Sillysoft]

Thanks for the response. Im fairly new to video editing in general. I have used it for basic stuff but not something like this. But I do understand what your saying. Yes I have PS, also I did what you said but my only question is after putting the image in the frame I want the "pause" to be how do I pause the video while the image is showing then resumes after its done showing the "paused" screen?

Thanks
Silly

[Ron P.]

The video does not actually pause. If your image is on an overlay track, and you have it set to fill the screen, the still image will be seen and not the video. Anything in an overlay track is placed on top of the previous or main video track. Think of it as in PS, layers. The main track is layer 1, Overlay Track #1 is on top of the Main track, so it is Layer 2, and so on.

You can also cut the main video and place the image between the cut. The video will play along, when it comes to the still image, of course there is no motion in a still image, so it will appear that the video has paused..

[Sillysoft]

Right, I understand that. But when the video hits the overlay image the video is still playing in the background while the still image is showing. So when it cuts back to the video its out of synch. I guess I will just have to break up the video where the still image happens. Unless you can think of anything easier?

Thanks!
Silly

[Ron P.]

Ok sorry been a long day...

Yes in VS you will have to cut the video, placing the image between the cuts. Then it will appear to pause, then pick up where it left off...

[Sillysoft]

Nothing to be sorry about, thanks for the help! I'd still be scratching my head right about now.

Silly

[Ken Veal]

Hi
you could consider saving as a still image the scene you want to high light, then go to decoration-object and select the red circle + drag it into the overlay track , then position + or resize it around the item to accentuate.
regards Ken