ordering tracks when using multiple overlays

[phnxrsngbr]

Hi everyone,

I'm using Videostudio 12 pro, and am using all 6 overlay tracks for chroma keyed effects. What I'm trying to do is order the tracks so I can control which tracks lays on top of the other. This can be done in Paint Shop Pro or any other publishing software, like Publisher, but I can't find anything that allows me to do this in Video Studio. I've found that most of the overlay tracks lay on top of the previous track and it's causing difficulty in ordering the people in my clip. Is there a way to control this? Example, I'd like overlay track 5 to go on top of overlay 4 but it won't work.

Thanks for your help!

[Black Lab]

In short, no, the order cannot be changed. You can't change what clips are on what track?

[GuyL]

Drag the clips from one overlay track to the other. You can also drap mutliple items at a time by selecting the ones you wish before you drag them.

[BrianCee]

?? The tracks are in order :-

Tracks are numbered downwards starting with the track immediately under the preview window and timecode bar.

Track 1 is the prime track
Track 2 always overlays the track 1
Track 3 always overlays tracks 1 and 2
Track 4 always overlays tracks 1, 2, & 3
Track 5 always overlays tracks 1, 2, 3, & 4
Track 5 always overlays tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

Etc. etc. etc.

not sure what is happening if yours keep changing

[phnxrsngbr]

Thanks for your help everyone! I've been moving the clips from one overlay track to another in an attempt to "move" certain clips to the front, so they show on top of other clips that are on other overlay tracks. Some of the tracks are layered "below" or "behind" other tracks, I've discovered. I thought that every other track would layer under/over/under/over but I believe I was wrong. Anyway, as there doesn't appear to be a control that allows you to "move backwards" or "move to front" on the overlays I'm just moving the people around so they don't block each other out. Even using the chroma key effect doesn't change the order, back to front, that the clips can lay in, and doesn't keep one overlay from blocking out another by being on top of it.

Thanks very much!

[BrianCee]

I still think your confused about the order of the tracks - The tracks in the timeline are upside down - the lower down the tracks you go the higher the objects become in the final video. In your mind turn the the whole timeline upside down. There is no under/over/under only over/over/over/over - there is no need to have "bring forwards/send backwards type controls - you just choose what overlays what by changing tracks.

[phnxrsngbr]

Thanks Brian! Before I saw your reply I laid photos on all the tracks and wrote down which overlayed the other. I came up with the same order you gave in your reply, and I've moved all clips accordingly. Thanks very much for your help! )