Problems with track transparency

[Andy C]

Has anybody else experienced problems with track transparency in Videostudio ultimate 2018? I am using version 21.04.165 64bit.

After a lot of testing, I seem to be able to demonstrate that there are "unhealthy" segments in my video timeline that stop track transparency behaving correctly.

The issue that I have is that the variable track transparency using key frames just does not work most of the time, and despite lots of experimenting I can not find a pattern to isolate a problem with specific media.

In attached screen shot, according to the stalagmites and stalagtites I should expect the clips in overlay 1 (left to right 1-2-3-4) to start invisible, go to solid and back to invisible within the duration of the clip. The outcome is...
Clip 1 Invisible for duration of the clip
Clip 2 works as expected
Clip 3 starts as 100% solid, fades out, then returns to solid; exact opposite of what is expected
Clip 4 works as expected.

The same outcome happens if I swap the overlay clips around in different positions. So the overlay clips do not appear to be the problem. However if I move the clips around in the top video track, it also has no bearing, it simply seems to be that certain areas of the overall timeline can't interpret the keyframes correctly. There is nothing else in any other tracks, and deleting and readding key frames doesn't fix it. Hence my conlusion that I have "unhealthy" areas in my timeline.

Any ideas welcome! Thank you.

[gewb]

Which VS tool are you trying to use? I use the Customize Motion and can create what you want with no issues.

[tletter]

Has anybody else experienced problems with track transparency in Videostudio ultimate 2018? I am using version 21.04.165 64bit.

A simple test of track transparency on the video track in VS Ultimate 2018 worked as expected.

I should expect the clips in overlay 1 (left to right 1-2-3-4) to start invisible, go to solid and back to invisible within the duration of the clip.

That's what would be expected and that's what happens in my simple test. You should check if you have track transparency activated on both the video and overlay tracks. This would cause the issue that you're seeing.

Any ideas welcome

Create a Smart Package illustrating the issue and post it.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[lata]

Which VS tool are you trying to use? I use the Customize Motion and can create what you want with no issues.

I agree try using Customize Motion, right click a clip for the option
One of the best tools Corel has provided.
and if you want the exact same effect on another clip simply use Copy and Paste Attributes

[Andy C]

Thanks for the answers guys. I'm basically just trying to fade in and out overlay clips over the video track showing a map for a holiday video using track transparency. I want the map in the video track to stay 100% opaque.

This shot shows the problem. The position of the slider on the timeline is further on than the last track transparency key frame. The last key frame is set to 0, so the overlaytrack of the lake should be invisible, but as you can see it is still at about 80% visible. It seems like the more keyframes you add, the more VS is unable to process them. If I drag the left most keyframe box vertically up and down, the preview window adjusts the transparency in and out perfectly. On the second keyframe it is unreliable, and by the time you yry the third key frame it doesn't adjust the opacity at all. The effect is that the lake clip does not fade out again and just disappears at the end of the clip.

[Andy C]

But thank you - I have been able to achieve the intended effect by working the transparency at clip rather than track level using the customise motion feature so, good tip.

[lata]

Hi Andy
You will find Customise Motion very useful

Going back to Track Transparency we set this for each track.
I assume you have set for the top track and the overlay track, your image shows one of those
So is your image showing the Top track or Overlay track transparency

To the far left is a camcorder looking icon to disable the track, click that for the top track, then play of preview the timelines to see how Overlay 1 is set
Then disable overlay 1 to view the top track transparency settings.
I find it confusing to set accurately

[Andy C]

The picture was showing the overlay track, but I didn't realise what the camcorder icon did so that's useful.

One question on the customise motion and key frames, which I hope I can articulate clearly. Do the the key frames apply to all the customisable settings at the same time? So for example I want to create a fade in - pause- fade out effect using opacity, while also wanting is a constant zoom out on the picture. So I need key frames a quarter of the way in, and a quarter of the way out to make the fade in and out on the opacity. But those keyframes are not wanted for the size setting for the zoom effect as I simply want a higher to lower number on the first and last keyframes for a smooth change. I think the answer may be to use the pan and zoom effect separately, and the customise motion for the opacity?

[lata]

Hi Andy
Set the first and last keyframe to show the pan and zoom
Assuming the clip is 8 seconds, add a keyframe at 2 and 6 seconds

Now change the opacity of 1 and 2 to zero that is the basics

We can also copy one frames settings to other keyframe, right click a keyframe for options
Copy and paste using the keyboard Ctrl C and Ctrl V will copy from any keyframe to any other

I am not on the pc, but can provide a sample of what customise motion

If you wish to Share your efforts, create a test using any library image with customise motion applied
Save and Zip the project file to attach to your post

Post updated
Back on my pc --try this project
Check each keyframe settings

CustomiseMotion.zip

opens using 2018

(1.43 MiB) Downloaded 136 times

[Andy C]

Thanks Trevor, I think I have got the grasp of the keyframes on the customise motion, what I couldn't work out was to achieve a fade in and fade out, and a constant pan and zoom, but not both at the same time.

You've helped me to the answer - which is the setting have to applied in a certain order. If you set the pan and zoom first, then go in and add the keyframes to set the fade, the pan & zoom remains constant. If you add the fade keyframes first and then try to set the pan & zoom, the pan and zoom is impacted by the keyframes as well.

Thanks again! Andy