Hi Gang
I realize I'm using an older Magix Platform. The preconfigured options/templates for creating text or captions do not employ a simple colored background in order that ordinary text can be seen/read. I'd like to create a simple mask background (either white or black) and insert text onto it. I suppose I could use an external app like Photoshop to create both the background and the text but then it would appear less definitive (reduced resolution)? Any other ideas? Thank You
@CarpentersMate Hi,
In the Templates tab there's Test Images, there should be black in there, place that between the text & your video.
Use the Size/Position/Rotation option in Effects to resize it, untick 'Combine Input fields' so you can make it any size you want.
Use the slider on the object on the timeline to reduce the opacity of the black. (if you want to that is)
Mike, in MEP 2016, you'll be looking for the "Size/Position" effect and untick "Maintain Proportions" so you can drag the edges of your background image to shape it how you want.
Thank you AA & Gid (appreciate it) ... working on it .... :)
Hello Al ... thank you for the message (sorry for the late reply). The layout: (the difference in years of the application version), is why we don't see the same parameters? Yes?
And Thank You Too Gid!
@CarpentersMate Hi, sorry I didn't read your post heading properly & see that you were using MEP2016.
Yes the difference you see is because of the different versions.
Yes Size/Position will resize the background but because the background is built in to the text the text will resize also.
You need to turn off the background by changing it to Black, this is a bit confusing because it actually makes the background transparent.
For the background look in the Effects tab - Design elements - Test images. drag the white onto the timeline so it's above the text.
Apply Size/Position to that whit timeline object.
Mike, further, you can save your title and it's background and re-use over and over as you would do with a normal title without copying and pasting.
-After you have set up your title background with "Size and Position" and opacity, group it with your title
-Rightclick on the title itself and choose "Save as special Effect"
The title, and any combined object (which could be another file, title, effect) will be saved together, in your "My Own" titles section, so you can reuse them. The obvious advantage is that your subsequent titles (and background) will look exactly the same as previous ones; the title will appear in exactly the same position, with the same font.
To change the text, simply double-click the title object and edit as you normally would.
It's not quite "Styles" because you can't globally change all the title features and their background once they're on the timeline, but it does drastically speed up creating them in the first place; a very handy feature.
Mike, you'll see my title background goes right across the screen. I settled on that technique because it was too cumbersome to adjust the width of each background to match the length of the text.
It could be done though: after you bring in the special effect/title, change your text, ungroup it from the background object, then use Effects>Size/Position (untick "Maintain proportions") to reduce the width of the background. Then regroup.