Mask Creator error

[Wren]

I recently updated to VideoStudio Ultimate 2022 and I'm having problems with the Mask Creator. Sometimes, it seems to work, but at least half the time the mask does not appear where I put it. For example, if I were to put a mask on someone's shirt, it might appear on their head instead. If I go back into Mask Creator to revise the position, it shows in the correct placement. So far I've not been able to find any rhyme or reason to it. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm thinking about trying uninstalling and re-installing...but I'm doubting that will solve it.

[lata]

Hi Wren
And welcome to the forums

What is the resolution of your clips, I assume a video and not an image?
I believe there may be an alignment issue when using mixed ratios.
So what are your project properties and what are the video sizes, HD would use 1920 x 1080 (16:9 ratio)

[Wren]

Thank you for the input! I wondered if it might be a mixed ratio problem. On a past project many months ago, when I exported a video in different dimensions there was a mask misalignment problem similar to this. But in this case, the problem is visible even without exporting.
Yes, it's a video, 1920x1080. My project settings, Via >settings>project properties>
MPEG Transport-Stream Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(HDMV-NTSC), 16:9
H.264 Video
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 15000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 192 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

So, I'm not sure how to tell if there's any misalignment going on...

[lata]

You show the project properties but what type of video files are you using, and what are their full properties?
Right click a video clip on the timelines for properties, you can create a jpeg image of that panel to attach to your post

[Wren]

Ok, video properties attached

[Wren]

Here's a video link which demonstrates the problem. Sometimes the mask will be similar to the keyframes, but other times, it seems to totally disregard the keyframes entirely. In this example it does not seem to move whatsoever.
https://1drv.ms/v/s!At-0hvqoqa64gbE2AQO ... Q?e=R2IVT0

[lata]

Hi
Thanks for the video screen capture, a little difficult to see what has happened here.
You seem to be creating a Track Motion effect using Mask Creator, there is a Track Motion tool to the left of MM, the 3 circles. The motion is straight so the manual approach using Mask Creator should work using a few keyframes.
I downloaded your video to place on the timeline, looking at your video if I view at 18 seconds then compare with the frame at 28 seconds the dogs appear to be smaller as though a zoom effect has been used, could this be the reason to offset the mask?

Post updated
Going back to the question regarding the video size, your timelines appear to be using 1920 x 1080 16:9 ratio yet the video on the preview screen seems to be 4:3 having those black bars left and right.
I do not know if this is significant but can only assume that it could confuse Mask Creator.
So have you resized or cropped your video before applying Mask Creator

I have run a few tests and so far have not been able to offset the mask I created

[Wren]

Thank you very much for your time and continued suggestions. I realized after creating the video link that the sample video I'd made was not a 16:9 ratio and might cloud the issue. However, I normally work with 1920 x 1080 files with the same unfortunate result. I'm not sure what is happening with regards to the possible zoom effect you referred to. The only FX I used on the video was the "soft focus" effect which I applied to the mask, which in this case, remained unmoving in the middle lower portion of the screen.
I have been in communication with Corel support and after reviewing the video example, the technical team provided what they termed a "hotfix for the performance issue," a DLL file to be unzipped into the Corel program files on C drive. The provided file is having some issues, so while I am waiting to hear back from support, I thought I would go ahead and try to uninstall and re-install the program. Yet when an uninstall is attempted it fails with the message, "The Setup encountered a problem while trying to configure your software." I'm not sure how to force an uninstall in these circumstances, though I suspect something went wrong in the installation which is perhaps the very culprit causing the "mask creator" issues.

[lata]

Hi
There is a cleanup tool available from here:-
https://forum.corel.com/viewtopic.php?t=59847
Running this should remove the program allowing you to re-install

[Wren]

Thank you very much for the cleanup tool. That helped and I was able to reinstall without any issues. Unfortunately, the mask creator issue is still present.

[lata]

Hi
Can you deselect all Acceleration options, go to Preferences (F6) – Performance Tab.
Does that make any difference.
Can you share your project....
Are you able to create a short project that is affected, create a Smart Package, zip the package to upload to a sharing site, One Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox etc..

Corel Support
can you give details of that hotfix

[Wren]

Okay. I tried deselecting the Acceleration options. As far as the dll file that Corel gave me, I placed in in the program files as directed but the issue still persists. Unfortunately, I don't know any more details to share. The people at Corel Support who I have interacted with so far do not seem to be native English speakers so it is difficult to know how well one is understood. I was hopeful when they said that the development team had looked at the issue...I have given them a Smart Package as requested. Here is the link to that. Included in the project is the video sample in its original project settings, as well as a converted file format of 1920x1080.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!At-0hvqoqa64gbFA7aPb0r-rdxV_NQ

[lata]

Thanks for the sample

I am having some odd issues when applying the mask creator to a Mov 640 x 480 within a 1920 x 1080 timeline
Even opening the sample project is on the slow side as though VS is struggling with this mix.
I can manually create the keyframes to follow the dog but when I preview each keyframe instead of the mask going directly to my new keyframe it moves away then back to the keyframe.
It appears to be jumping to the old mask position before I repositioned it. Clear as Mud

I do think the problem is mixing the Mov 648 x 480 with the 1920 x 1080 timeline
If I create a project using 648 x 480 frame size ( I had to use DV/AVI options) I could create the mask to follow the dog without to many problems.

The better option is to convert the Mov to use 1920 x 1080, then the mask does stay in line, especially if you need to output to a 16:9 video

[Wren]

Thank you for your continued support; I appreciate it.

Hmm...odd. Inside the smartpackage I uploaded I included both the original 648 x 480 mov file and a converted one to 1920 x 1080 mp4. On my end, both dimensions/formats have the same issues with the mask creator.

[lata]

Hi
Sorry I did not work on the Mpeg4 that much, just concentrated on the original Mov
using a frame rate of 14.971 fps I think is causing this issue
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 14.971 fps
Frame-based
H.264 High Profile Video: 6000 Kbps, 16:9
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 161 Kbps

I rendered your original Mov to use 30fps to match the Project Properties, now the Mask seems to follow the dog.
Eventually I decided on 1280 x 720 x 30 as stretching the 640 x 480 to 1920 x 1080 caused more pixelization, mask stayed in line.

I have attached a sample Video

Lata mask 1280 x 720 x 30_01.zip

Mov video

(4.23 MiB) Downloaded 34 times

The main problem now is a matter of quality, the original being Mov 640 x 480 is not ideal

Post updated
I ran other tests trying to use 15fps for the mov and Project Properties but could not keep the mask in line, only by using the standard size 30fps did I manage to create a good mask