2021 P&Z Background Over-rides what is timeline for portraits

[Davidk]

I've found an issue with CVS 2021 24.1.0.299 ultimate pan & zoom:
with a portrait image in an overlay track, against a colour in the timeline, zoomimg the image puts the default P&Z background colour (black) over any colour or image in the main TL. Prior versions did not do this. 3 image examples to illustrate;
1. the timeline configuration - screenshot with area of interest circled

2. the intent is to gradually zoom on the image: setting of P&Z tool does that, but the TL background isn't shown.

3. But when the main TL is played with the P&Z set, the default background of the P&Z tool is over-riding the intended colour background

It clearly is the P&Z background colour doing this, and in the P&Z panel, there is no means of turning the background colour off. I have been able to 'work around' this by choosing a background set using the RGB colour numbers in the background colour panel, but that only works if you are using one of the sample block colours where the RGB numbers are available. If the background on the TL was a separate image, this black over-ride would look ridiculous. This issue does not arise with a landscape picture in the overlay track, because it's size does not bring the default background colour of the P&Z tool into account.

Trevor or Ken: should I bug this??

[lata]

Hi David
Testing with X10 2019 2020 2021 all show the same effect.
So if it is a bug then its been about for many versions.
Will not harm to post to Centercode maybe the background should have a transparency option.
I know P-in-P had a similar effect but Chroma Key removed that.

It depends on what you are trying to do.
Do you wish the image to remain the same size yet zoom in,
or resize the image making it larger has the effect of zooming
cropping or zooming
Your second image clearly shows the image frame being larger.

The FX Cropping will retain the same size frame yet zoom in, background colours has the option to deselect Fill Colour
Video Pan & Zoom does similar

Then there is Customise Motion to try which for me seems a good option. That does increase the frame size to affect a zoom.

But yes the Pan and Zoom should have a transparent background not a solid colour.

Using landscape images does the same if you pan beyond the frame edges.
If we change the project properties to use a portrait frame then things work ok for portrait images, now we have black when using Landscape images.
Confusing
Looks like Pan & Zoom needs a good makeover.

[Davidk]

Trevor,
The last big project I did in 2020 was using X10: a european river cruise with about 8 sub-projects, and I did not notice this effect with that version in any of the projects.
I find that a mild zoom on the portrait image makes the overall effect better viewing, compared to something that is 'still' for 4 seconds.
I had not thought of using a cropping filter or advanced motion to do the same - experimenting with those, cropping is better when text is being used in the space beside the picture - the image doesn't encroach on any text. Custom motion also works, but the picture image increases size with degree of 'zoom' and encroaches on text beside the image. In the latter case, just adjust the size and layout of the test to avoid.
Yes, P&Z panel - which is the new one that came with 2018 - needs a tweak; just permitting a transparent or no background colour would be sufficient.
Bugged and centercode updated.

[lata]

Hi David
I do have X10 installed and P&Z has the same effect
Using 2021 has a Background Blur filter, that uses similar colours to the image to fill the borders, looks good and retains that when using P&Z

I had forgotten about that filter
It was first used in Highlight Reel where portrait images are used.