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I have downloaded the trial version, but am having problems getting started. Before I purchase the software I would like to be sure that it will do what I need done.

I have an animated sign at my auto repair shop that I am currently using Jasc Animation Shop 3 to create the programs with. The sign will only accept .avi files. I think I figured out how to export in the proper file format, but I can't find where I can define the size of the video.

The sign is 96Wx48H pixels. While I can create banners etc in she sign software itself, I normally use CorelDraw 13 to create the panels, then export as .jpg and then import into animation shop. Once there I can apply different image transitions, fades, etc.

I am looking for a little more flexibility and better selection of image transitions. VS seems to offer this. The sign messages are never longer than 6-8 seconds, so I normally only use 2-3 images.

Sorry this is so wordy. My immediate problem is how to change the size of the image in VS, and then how to export it as an .avi file.

Thanks for any help.

Skip

Welcome to the forums,

Don't think of VS as any sort of image editing program, which resizing images would require. Think of the output file created by VS as one image, so one size...

Now you say your sign can accept "avi" files. That leaves it open to hundreds of different video file types or codecs. AVI is not a single file type, but a container format, which holds various file types such as DV, DivX, Xvid, and so on. Some of those limit the frame rates, and frame sizes. For example a DV type-1 will not allow for the small frame size you need.

So what you need to do is look at alternative codecs. I ran a quick test on a short (8-sec) clip, using the DivX 6.8 codec. I was able to select video only, input your 96 x 48px frame size, and even drop the frame rate down to 15fps. So I think you should be able to use VS for your purpose.

In VS when you're ready to create your video file, Share>Create Video File, select Custom from the menu option. Then in the dialog that opens you need to have Microsoft AVI file selected, next press Options. I would make sure nothing is selected on the first tab. You're not going to produce a video file to be burned to DVD, and your project properties are going to be way different, so Smart Render is not going to work correctly, and so on.

On the General Tab, is where you select the frame rate, data track, and more important the Frame Size. There is a radial button for User-Defined. If this is greyed-out go to the AVI tab and select from the Compression option something other than DV Type-1 or Type-2. If you do not have the DivX 6.8 codec installed on your machine, it will not be available in this menu. You can however go to http://www.divx.com and download it. Try some of the others and see if the User-Defined frame size option is activated.

I would change the Frame Type to Frame Based if it is not already selected. This has to do with DVD videos and TVs. Videos for PCs are all Frame Based or No Fields...

Hope that gets you going..

Ron, Thanks so much for the help.

I created just a two image file and was able to export as you directed, worked perfect! After I have created the file, it gives me a look at the output in the preview window. This is very blurry, but I assume it is because of the file size, 96x48. I opened it in Jasc and it looked correct.

As a test I used two title frames, and played around with font and colors etc. I liked the effect I was able to get.

I am confused about the different tracks though. The two frames I used were put in the "1T" track. I wanted to add a transition, but could not drag and drop between the two titles. Is there a way to do this? It appears to me with this program I would be able to get better looking output on my sign without having to create the text panels in CorelDraw.

Thanks again for the help, I just need to get a few more things worked out and then I will purchase the software.

Of course I have not put anything on the sign yet. The sign is in Zion, ILL, and I am in Conway AR. I run the sign from here, but I will wait until someone is there to tell me what it looks like before I leave it on there.

Good to hear it's working for you..

The transitions are for the video and overlay tracks only. With text titles, you need to select the Animation tab, the check the box Apply animation. You will need to have the text selected in the Preview window inorder to activate or apply any animation effect.

Now since there are 2 title tracks, you can overlap them, not on the same track though. Play with the animation to get the look you're after. Also if you use the Multiple titles you can have numerous titles on just one track. It appears as just one title on the track, but each can have it's own attributes (color, font, size) and animation. So with 2 title tracks, each using Multiple titles, you could come up with an almost infinite number of titles and animations...

Previewing in the Preview window is not going to be a true representation of what you're finished product is. It may be blurry, will not play smoothly and so on. VS puts everything together "on-the-fly", just to give you an idea on what the effect does, or what your layout is looking like so that you can tweak it...

Nautical99 wrote:The sign is in Zion, ILL, and I am in Conway AR. I run the sign from here, but I will wait until someone is there to tell me what it looks like before I leave it on there.

Wow, never knew this kind of remote sign programming happened - though mainly because I never thought about it. Does this mean someone could hack into the sign programming and put up their own version....?

For sure, if someone was determined they could hack the sign and run their own content. I don't know of it happening, but I am sure it has.

Skip

Ron,
Thanks again for your help. I am getting closer, don't fully understand the multiple title feature yet.

If I wanted to create a message with just two or three panels, (frames), would I be better off to just create two titles and run one after the other on the same track?

For instance, if I wanted to run a message that said "Oil Change" - $24.95" - "No Waiting" ......would I be better off to just create the panels in Corel, and export them as .jpg, and then drop them in the video track and apply transitions between them? Or just create 3 titles and run them concurrently. As I understand it, I can not use a transition between titles.

Skip

vidoman wrote: http://www.divx.com and download it.

I've done this: downloaded the DivXInstaller, run the installer and installed the Codec. In Program Files I see the map DivX with the Codec map. But in VS I can't see the Codec 6.8. VS shows only an older version 5.1.1. How do I get it in VS?
I work with VS 12.

My understanding of having 2 title tracks is to have 2 titles on the screen at the same time, but performing different animations. For what you want to do you could use 2 successive titles on the same track.

Dirk Jan wrote:

vidoman wrote: http://www.divx.com and download it.

I've done this: downloaded the DivXInstaller, run the installer and installed the Codec. In Program Files I see the map DivX with the Codec map. But in VS I can't see the Codec 6.8. VS shows only an older version 5.1.1. How do I get it in VS?
I work with VS 12.

Got the point!

Dirk Jan -- see the sticky at the top of this Board referring to DivX -- it's at http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?p=167279#167279

Thanks Ken