How Can I Create A Frame?

[Mist001]

Hi, first time posting here and I've checked for an answer or guide to this, but can't find one, so excuse me if you've seen this before.

I want to create a black frame, 1280x720 and with a transparent circle in the exact centre, so it will display part of a video within the circle. I can sort of manage to create a custom frame by customising a sample frame from VS and renaming it as a PNG but the circle is never a proper circle, or the edges are jagged. A square one is no problem.

How can I do this, or is there already a guide which I've missed?

Cheers.

Michael.

[Ken Berry]

Have you thought about just having the frame, insert the video and then apply the Vignette filter and adjust it to what you want?

[BrianCee]

Hi Michael and welcome

lets see if we can get to the bottom of your problem - is it that you are having problems creating the frame or does it distort when you use it - it's not clear from your post how you are creating the frame - you do need to use some form of photo/image manipulation programme to create a transparent .png with 32 bit depth to use.

Can we investigate what's going on please put one of your videos in the top video track - then the zipped attachment below contains a black frame with dimensions of 1280 x 720 with a circular 'hole' in the middle - can you download it - unzip it and import it to the overlay track under your video - now click on it so it is selected (yellow lines all round) - now right click on the image in the preview window and from the fly out choose "fit to screen"

Hopefully then you will have what is shown on the second attachment

Can you then report back on the result and we'll progress from there

circular frame.zip

(14.45 KiB) Downloaded 219 times

click on the image to enlarge it

[Mist001]

That circular frame was perfect for what I was trying to do, cheers for that. I use PSP X2 as my main graphics program and can sort of figure things out with that, but I'd like to know how you created that frame for my own knowledge.

Cheers again.

Michael.

[BrianCee]

I do not use PSP myself but another less well know programme - first I created a transparent background of the correct size - then laid a black block over it of the same size - and selected a circular piece in the centre and then invert selection so that all except the hole is selected - now 'copy' to clipboard - delete the block on the baackground then "Paste as new layer" to bring the mask with the hole in back - then export as a 32bit transparent png.

Not sure if PSP works the same but it is a method I have evolved in my programme to get the correct effect - I am sure the experts on the PP forums will help with creating the mask if my method does not work in PSP

I have been thinking a bit further about what Ken suggested and it works well - only thing is I can't see how to change the 'hole' size using the vignette filter - put your video in the video track - drag the 'Vignette' filter from the FX library down onto it - open the options panel and choose the circle preset - you can change the mask colour by clicking on the "Customise Filter" option - - see below :-

click to enlarge

[Ken Berry]

When you go into Customize Filter, it's my understand that the Softness slider in effect governs the size of the hole, as well as the feathery nature of the surround.

[Mist001]

The Vignette filter works great too, even easier than creating something in PSP, although I'll do that too since I'll learn how to do it.

Michael.

[BrianCee]

Yes you never know when you are going to need a different shape so it might be worth pursuing the making of them - you might need one like this one day

flower cutout.zip

(33.94 KiB) Downloaded 190 times

which should look like this

[BrianCee]

Or even since it is the festive season something like this :--

16x9 border 03.zip

(1.47 MiB) Downloaded 194 times

which should look like this with your video through the middle :-

[Mist001]

I successfully created a frame in PSP using the instructions posted above by Briancee, and it's ideal, worked first time. What I'll do now (well after Xmas), is do a few more practice runs until I drum it into myself, so i can create more complex ones if need. Thanks for all your help, people. I'll show you the video when it's finished!

Merry Christmas, all.

Michael.

[Mist001]

Ok, I'm good for the frames (sort of), but just need a little bit more help. Around the edge of the cut out of the frame, there's a feathered edge. It's not a 'clean' cut, if you know what I mean. Is there any way to fix this, or avoid having it in the first place. I've uploaded a 30 second clip to YouTube, so if someone has the time or inclination, could you take a look at it and you'll see the feathered bits I'm talking about on the black sections, just before the lights come on. I can live with it, but I'd rather not have them if that's possible.

http://youtu.be/rDRkoovWJqA

Cheers in advance,

Michael.

[lata]

Hi

I think that is the save settings you used to create the transparency.
The first image looks ok at 0:08, so whats the difference between that and the image at 0:17.

What type of image did you use?

[Mist001]

Hi and thanks for the speedy response. I used standard 1280 x 720 BMP images when I created the frame using Paintshop Pro X2. I'm going to try a couple of things today because when I made them, I had the feathering set to zero, so I can try and increase that and see if it makes any difference. The other thing I was thinking was maybe darkening the entire frame right down. I don't think it would affect the image since it's black to start with, plus it has a transparent background. That might hide or disguise the feathering marks that we can see in the video. I'll let you know how I get on in a little while.

Cheers.

Michael.

[BrianCee]

Did the original circular one which I included in my post above on the 22nd December show that same feathering effect - you say you used bmp - I always use .png's they seem to give a cleaner edge - in fact I didn't know you could make a true transparent bitmap.

I am also a bit puzzled when watching your video - just before the light flash appears you can see a quick flash of a fuzzy outline of what the next cutout will be - where's that coming from ? - when you create your mask is it just a single image - looks like there is something else going on - if you put any of my masks in the overlay track do you see anything similar.

perhaps you could zip one of your masks and add the zip file as an attachment to you post - then we can see what your actually working with

[Mist001]

FrameFiles.zip

The three frame images.

(53.79 KiB) Downloaded 174 times

Hi, as I said, I just create a transparent 1280 x 720 image first, then I create another, black BMP to the same dimensions, make my circular cut out shape, invert it, then copy and paste it over the original transparent image as a new layer. Then I save it as a .PNG and that gives me the frame. I've attached a .ZIP file containing my two original images plus the completed frame. I managed to fix the feathered edge in PSP by making the cut out feathered by 3 points. When I did it originally, I had the feathering set to zero. I should have the completed video ready by tonight, the frame has been changed from the black background to a starred background now, but the technique is exactly the same.

Cheers.

Michael.