Is there an easy way for a background image?

[lisaviolet]

Yeah, I'm back again, time for me to start my yearly vaca DVD. Last year, I tried to get everyone to set their cameras to 16:9 ratio. One person borrowed a camera from me, I had it all set, but when I got the photos, she'd reset it to 4:3 ratio.

For last year's video, I used PSP to make a 16:9 background. For each of the 4:3 images from last year (and there were many) I put each one on that same 16:9 background. It was pretty time consuming. I don't have nearly as many to do this year, but I was wondering if there's an easy way to just do a background image layer for the video.

The video will be a mix of photos and videos, not all in the 16:9 ratio. Is there an easy way? A way to do it just once? (Last year I wanted to know if there was an easy way to change the background color on the transistions - standard is lime green - and there is not, each one has to be done individually; that would be okay, except every year there's a new Videostudio out and I have to start from scratch....life is so hard.... )

TIA.

[BrianCee]

No need at all to make special backgrounds - just set the project properties to 16:9 and put your photos and videos in one of the overlay tracks- you can set the default background colour to any thing you like does not have to be black (in preferences).

OR if you have a particular 16:9 background you want to use again set your project properties to 16:9 and put your special background in the top video track and set it's duration to the length of your project and again put your photos and videos in an overlay track.

[lisaviolet]

Thanks for the quick answer! That should cut my workload in half (compared to last year).

[lisaviolet]

Well, after having to fix my computer (the power supply died), now that I'm up and running again, I started the new video.

Putting the background image in the video track and then the images in the overlay track isn't going to work (if my purpose is to save time). The random transistions won't work there and I have to resize every photo in the track.

I can't seem to think of an easier way to do this. It would be great if I could choose a background image like I can a color.

[lata]

Hi Lisa

I am not sure exactly what you are trying to achieve as inserting Images and Colour clips have been tried and no options seem to be what you require.

Your last comment "It would be great if I could choose a background image like I can a color."
Well yes you can, but to fill the screen the image has to be a 16:9 ratio otherwise it will be distorted to fit.

I assume the images are being used as an intro to your movie.

Have you explored the Instant Projects options, these create an intro using quite good effects, you simply have to replace the place-holders with your images.

[lisaviolet]

Thanks, Trevor, here's what I'm doing.

Sorry about the "background image I can color", entirely not what I meant to say, but my fingers often have a mind of their own. I meant to have a background image of my own choosing... Completely changes my question, doesn't it? Once again, sorry, I do need to do a better job of proofreading my messages.

I've got photos from six different people of the same vacation that I want to make into a slideshow, along with some video clips. I'd asked about the televisions they all use and all have 16:9 screens. I asked everyone beforehand to please set their cameras to 16:9 ratio. One person borrowed one of my cameras, which I had set to 16:9. She changed it back to 4:3 . Another didn't understand the concept of ratios and didn't change the settings. Some of the cameras are older and the video taken with them is only 4:3. So, some of the photos/videos are 4:3, some are 16:9.

I don't want to distort the photos to have them fit the 16:9, but I don't want the plain colored background, either. For the video I made last year, for each photo that was 4:3, I used a background image and merged the layers. That image was now the 16:9 ratio I wanted. I was hoping to skip that step this year since it was really time intensive, hoping that there was someway of having a background image option for the 4:3 images. But it's looking like that's my only option at this point.

I'm probably the only one who even cares about it, honestly. But it's just one of those things that has to be just right. *laughing* I've attached two images of what I'm trying to accomplish with as little effort on my part as possible. I hope I don't sound as crazy as I'm feeling right now.

background for all 4:3 graphics and video

with a photo on the background

[Kingston]

Nesting one project in another could make it easy work.

Step 1. Create a 4:3 project, then add the 4:3 photos along with the transitions to track 1. You may need to change the Project Properties so that the "Perform non-square pixel rendering" option is not turned on. That way the photos will fit perfectly within the frame, assuming that your photos are 4:3. Save that project.

Step 2. Start a new 16:9 project, and put the background photo on track 1. Next add the VSP project that you created in step 1 -- the one with the photos and transitions -- to the library, just as if the .VSP were a single video or photo. Then drag the VSP project from the library to track 2. Extend the background on track 1 so it is the same length as the .VSP project on track 2. You may need to select the VSP clip on track 2 and right-click on the preview window so you can select "Original Size" followed by "Maintain Aspect Ratio."

[lisaviolet]

Nesting one project in another could make it easy work.

Step 1. Create a 4:3 project, then add the 4:3 photos along with the transitions to track 1. You may need to change the Project Properties so that the "Perform non-square pixel rendering" option is not turned on. That way the photos will fit perfectly within the frame, assuming that your photos are 4:3. Save that project.

Step 2. Start a new 16:9 project, and put the background photo on track 1. Next add the VSP project that you created in step 1 -- the one with the photos and transitions -- to the library, just as if the .VSP were a single video or photo. Then drag the VSP project from the library to track 2. Extend the background on track 1 so it is the same length as the .VSP project on track 2. You may need to select the VSP clip on track 2 and right-click on the preview window so you can select "Original Size" followed by "Maintain Aspect Ratio."

I actually thought about that last night. Vaguely remembering that's what I had to do last year for the 4:3 videos I had. I'm glad you brought it up, it will probably work. I'll work on that today.

Thanks!

[lata]

Hi

Take care when editing using Nesting, once you have added the VSP to the overlay track, if you try to re-edit that particular VSP the main project will then show errors.
Choosing Fit to Screen then Keep Aspect Ratio will effectively fill the screen, this will stretch the image, all be it in proportion, but you will loose details top and bottom of the images.

Also keep in mind the OverScan effect of viewing on a TV, the bulk of your image should be kept within the Safe Area shown on the preview screen.

Rather than nesting you may be best to add the background images to the top track and the display images to the overlay track, normal editing.

Once you have set the size of the first image you can apply the settings to all others using the Copy and Paste Attributes saving loads of time.

The problem I see is that all images are not 4:3, some are 16:9 so to fill the screen is difficult.
Keeping the images within the safe area effectively gives you a Picture-in-Picture effect.
If you opt this approach you don't need to worry about the original aspects of the images.

Finally, do you want a different background image for each displayed image, or are you having one background for all?

[lisaviolet]

Trevor pointed out to me in a private mail (he made me a sample vsp file to show me how I could do the work) to keep the "safe" area in mind when working. So yesterday afternoon I played the video that I made last year on the office tv and compared the actual 4:3 images with backgrounds and the 16:9 images without to the video. To my surprise, the 16:9 had sides cut off. I had lost a little over 8% of the image. I realized I'd need to resize the 720 x 405, too (650 x 360, which leaves a small space at the top and bottom).

Batch resizing ain't no thang, but batch merging one image onto another is. I spent hours last night looking for either PSP scripts or CS3 scripts that would do the job, but had no luck. Even tried making my own. At 11 last night, I admitted defeat.

Well, today, one of my friends offered to make a Photoshop script that will allow me to batch process all of my photos onto the same background. She's making two scripts, one for each size picture. I can do the odd lot (the portrait photos) manually.

My pretty background (the same for all video and photos) will show at the sides of the 4:3 images and at the top and bottom of the 16:9 images.

Just once I'd like to have a scathingly brilliant idea that wasn't lots of work. And with any luck, I won't have to start over next year.

Thanks to you all for your help.

[Kingston]

So when you do transitions, you are going to have the background included in the transition? Of course, if you do a cross fade, then the background will seem static. I was thinking that only the images would have transitions, not the background.

[lisaviolet]

Yes, the background will also transition, but it didn't bother me on last year's video.

It probably will now that you've pointed it out.

Thank you for that.

[lata]

Hi Lisa

Kingston. apologies for not making the sample VSP available, very remiss of me,
You should be able to download it from here.
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=6 ... F06C90!355

It contains only three images, used in the top track as a background, and in the Overlay track as the slide show. Just an idea that seems to work.
The top track has had its images fit to screen, most are therefore distorted, then apply a few filters, Blur , Duo Tone/Black and White.

The overlay track holds the same images with the same transitions, resized to fit within the safe area.
Copy and Paste Attributes comes in handy, but a bit of a problem when using different sizes.

I generally edit my images to fit them on a 16:9 black frame, sometimes using two or three images per frame.

View this web page, then the Baltic Cruise
http://lata.me.uk/gallery/gallery.htm

Most if not all images have been placed on a 16:9 black background, using these in a video will display ok, some of the black border will be lost due to the TV overscan.

These backgrounds were created by Video Studio
http://www.englishdvd.com/web_video/flv/sample_1.html

The question is what type of backgrounds do you want, not you personally............
Lisa, do you have Photoshop, or do the "scripts" work for PSP as well???
I recently purchased PSP but have use Photoshop for many a year. referred to as "actions", you can then create a "droplet" which when applied to a folder will edit the contents whilst you have a cup of coffee......

[lisaviolet]

Trevor, I have CS3, but am not used to using it. My go to graphics program is PSP X. (Had a scare after I installed my new PSU - I could no longer get PSP X to run, I tried uninstalling it and reinstalling it with no luck. I'd also upgraded some drivers and in doing a search I found that having hardware acceleration enabled in the video driver could interfere with PSP. I disabled it and got my favorite program back. That wasn't very much fun.)

I have some PSP scripts, but I didn't write them, I use sheilsoft scripts (now only $8.00 for the lot), Howard actually special made one for me so I can batch resize images. Anyway, my friend made an action for me in Photoshop and we were on the phone for hours last night as she walked me through it, so I'll be able to make my own for image overlays.

It works nicely. I have to make sure the photos have the same extension as the background (PSP script will take care of that), then use Photoshop to merge the two.

And once I get the finale done, I can do the rest of the trip. Choosing photos and having them match the music (designed to bring a tear) takes more time than just putting photos in order, which is what the rest of the video will be. Since I don't want duplicate photos, I need to do the last video first.

If you want a copy of the photoshop action that merges the image and step by step instructions for making your own action, let me know, I'll send them or upload them or something.