Apply 0% Transparency to One Video Clip

[Jan1954]

I have two video clips of musicians performing which is too dark. They are sequential and are named PA070538.MOV and PA070539.MOV. I decided to split out the audio, and blacken the video using the 0% transparency. I cut …0538.MOV in two and applied the 0% transparency to that second clip. I plan to have photos replace the video as overlays, and keep the background music. However, VS blackened out the two …0538.MOV clips and the …0539.MOV clip. That was OK for …0539.MOV since I was going to blacken that entire clip. But I want a little of the first clip, …0538.MOV to introduce the setting with the musicians.

I created a copy of the …0538.MOV and renamed it, but VS still blackened the first clip even though I only select the “copied and renamed” clip.

How do I make VS only apply the 0% transparency to the copied and renamed …0538.MOV (as well as clip …0539.MOV)?

I thought about using the border feature around the photos, but it seemed like the blackened video would be my best bet.

[asik1]

I didn't fully understand what you want but you make it cumbersome.
add a screenshot .

[Jan1954]

What is a screen shot? I have the video on the video track which is too dark. So I want to cover most of the video up with the photos, which I added to the Overlay Track. The photos have to stay in their aspect ratio to look normal. I'm not sure what else to do.

[BJC]

Wouldn't it be easier to just split the audio from the video which would put the sound in a sound track - then delete the video from the video track and put your pictures in the video track (right click on video - choose 'split audio' )
OR - leave things as they are and just put your pictures in an overlay track where they will cover all of the unwanted dark video
a screen shot is just a picture of your computer screen - a most useful function for ALL computer programmes - have you never used it anywhere on your computer - I see you have upgraded to Windows 11 - I thought that still retained the Windows "Snip and sketch" app you could use that

[Davidk]

It may be easier to just use the brightness and contrast filter on the dark clips: click n drag to the clip, select the clip, then the options panel and customise/adjust the clip brightness until you are happy.

[lata]

Have you been using the track transparency option, if so that is not what you need
Try using Customise Motion on the video to hide parts of the video
Another option would be to add a Background Blur filter to your images.
Works well with portrait images.

[Jan1954]

I did split out the audio and put the photos in the overlay track. I want to keep the photos' original dimensions. When I tried to delete one of the video clips (after audio split), I was asked if I really wanted to do that since stuff affiliated with that would also be deleted. When I said yes, it also deleted the audio. So I undid that!

Right now the photos are in the overlay track. I will try the recs above and see what happens. I'll give an update later.

[Jan1954]

I have a darker video, but depending on the photo size, you can still the video movement. I selected the video clip, right clicked Motion, selected Customize Motion. I changed the Opacity to 0% and selected OK.

I could not find "Background Blur" in the manual or in VS. I have a hard time finding something I have not used before.

Can I make the video totally black somewhere?

[Jan1954]

I found out I was creating a problem I didn't need to. When I tried to delete the two of the three videos after splitting the audio, I was given the warning that I would lose stuff affiliated with the video. I thought it meant the audio which now was on a separate track. It then dawned on me that I had the tracks all locked to keep everything together. Once I performed the "unlock" I was able to delete the video and still have the audio. Duh... I relocked everything after that.

I have the photos on the Overlay Track and I will keep them there since the movie works. There isn't anything wrong with that, is there?

[Ken Berry]

Nothing wrong with that. It's a usual place for photos anyway...

[Jan1954]

Thanks, Ken.

I completed that movie and it worked slick using the audio as background with the photos in the overlay. That transitioned nicely into the closing credits.

Now I am trying to fix a problem with an old set of VS files that say I have a file mismatch. I even opened VS-8 again and am getting the same messages.

I guess I can say, working on all my videos will keep me busy and out of trouble.