How do you layer video clips to get an overlap look?

[Presence]

Hey guys!

As someone who is new to video editing, chances are I'm not using the correct terms to describe the editing effect I'd like to use.

Check out the first 45 seconds of this video to get an idea of what I'm asking about:



I'd like to do as she did when listing off the items that will be needed. Rather than stringing video clips together of each item by itself, I want it to have the same look--to have each item appear one after the other. To me, it looks like each clip of each item was layered on top of the original video of the first pair of leggings.

How do I create something like this?

Thank you!

[BrianCee]

Hello

Basically you do just that in VideoStudio - layer your items one on top of the other

In Videostudio X5 you can have up to 21 overlay tracks - each one overlays the previous one - so you put your background in the top track - then add items (images) or videos on top - using either Chroma-key or transparency to remove the background and have only the item appearing.

although looking at that video I am not at all sure it was made that way - it looks to me more as though that was done in the original filming - film a bit of background - stop - add another item - film a bit - stop - add another item - film a bit - stop - add another item etc. etc.

Depends on what control you have either at filming or editing.

it is much easier if you try for yourself - so the first step should be for you to download the 30 day free trial of VideoStudio - it is 100% functional so you can do everything the paid for version can do.

once you have the trial - you can then ask specific questions and one of us will try to give you specific answers

[pvreditor]

In the first 45 seconds of that video, the most prominent effect is when item after item appears on screen. The background is apparently a carpet. This is REAL easy to do if you shoot it correctly.

1. Light the scene and position the camera on a tripod. Place the first item near the left edge of the image. Shoot a few seconds of video with the first item in it.

2. Without touching the first item, place the second item next to the first one. Shoot a few seconds of that.

3. Without touching the first two items, place the third item next to the second one. Shoot a few seconds of that.

4. Repeat this until you have a few seconds of each new item as it appears.

When you edit, string the clips together in the timeline first clip first, then the second clip, third, etc. When you play it back, it will give the appearance of each new item suddenly appearing on the screen... I've referred to that as the "I Dream of Jeannie" effect. You can do brief crossfades or dissolves between the clips to give more of a "beaming it in" effect. As long as you never touch the existing items, you can add more and continue the effect.

Is that what you're asking about?

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[Presence]

BrianCee: Thank you for your reply! I should have mentioned that I do have VideoStudio and have been using it for about a year. The thing is, I've only done basic editing and thought this editing effect I'm wanting to achieve was something more advanced than what I've done.

pvreditor: Thank you so, so, so much! I'm relieved to know getting this effect is more about filming than doing some complex editing. At first, I thought the effect I was going for was "teleporting" and had watched a couple of tutorials thinking this is what I needed to do. But I wondered if there was an easier way. You gave me one.

I'm going to try it (with fruit rather than craft items!) and let you know how it turned out. Again, thank you!

[pvreditor]

You're very welcome! FWIW, you can get the same effect with a still-image camera. Just put it on a tripod and take a snapshot of the items as you add them one by one. In VideoStudio, import the photos, then drag them in order onto the timeline. Adjust the photos for the desired length.

You can also take one or more items and shoot video clips (or photos) of them as you slightly move them around the "set." Move each item a centimeter or so at a time, shooting a new clip (or photo) after you reposition whatever items you want to move. Load the clips (or photos) into VideoStudio and drag them down onto the timeline, and you have animation. Here's a video where I did this technique:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlytK21aIes

The "snow angel" and skiing around the birdbath scenes used exactly that animation technique. Try it out... it's fun!

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com

[Presence]

You're very welcome! FWIW, you can get the same effect with a still-image camera. Just put it on a tripod and take a snapshot of the items as you add them one by one. In VideoStudio, import the photos, then drag them in order onto the timeline. Adjust the photos for the desired length.

Come to think of it, I think that's what she did in the video example I gave in my initial post. I noticed, when she was doing the voiceover, each clip was timed exactly the length she needed it to be. I wondered, how could she know, while filming, the exact amount of time to shoot to match what she was going to say? But if she were working with photos, it would be easy to simply match them with her voiceover.

Thanks, again, Bob!

I loved your video, by the way. So cute! It must have taken a lot of work to put together. Bravo!

[Presence]

As promised, here's the finished video. To see how I used Bob's advice, start watching at the 2:30 mark:

http://youtu.be/Ib79Vz74gEc?t=2m32s

(Sorry I couldn't embed this video. For some reason, I couldn't get the URL to work with the YouTube code.)

This is the first video I've made in months. There were a lot of issues with it, I know. But, I did get the effect I was obsessing about.

[pvreditor]

Very good! The technique is easy once you see how it works. It's pretty effective, too.

The next time, you can animate all the foods to simulate mixing them...

Bob Kovacs
http://www.bobkovacs.com