Automatic chroma key setting tip: no longer works?

terrypin wrote on 9/14/2019, 2:58 AM

While making a couple of masks this morning I noticed that the old trick of including the appropriate chroma key string such as 'alpha' or 'green' etc in the file name no longer automatically assigns that setting in MEPP 2016 or 2017. For example, on importing DiagBlkWht2-alpha.png onto the timeline it still has the default Stamp setting.

Can anyone confirm please? And does it still work in more recent versions?

I think I first heard of this tip from Carl here

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 9/14/2019, 3:21 AM

@terrypin

Hi Terry

This 'function' was last available in MEP 2015 after which it was 'dropped or lost' and does not work in any later version.

Where is that file location - it does not appear on my PC?

John EB

terrypin wrote on 9/14/2019, 5:01 AM

Thanks John.

The mask example was one of my own that I had conveniently at hand. Here's a copy:

johnebaker wrote on 9/14/2019, 5:25 AM

@terrypin

Hi Terry

Thanks for the mask, for some reason I dropped in the 'wrong' folder, applied it via a Load effects mask for an effect and it worked ???

The masks must be located in the following folder:

MEP 2016 - C:\ProgramData\MAGIX\Movie Edit Pro 2016 Premium\VideoEffects\EffectAlphaMasks

MEP 2017 - should be C:\ProgramData\MAGIX\Movie Edit Pro 2017 Premium\VideoEffects\EffectAlphaMasks, however I cannot check because 2020 moved everything around.

MEP 2020 - C:\Users\Public\Documents\MAGIX\Common\Videocontent\Movie Edit Pro Premium\VideoEffects\EffectAlphaMasks

They can be used via the 'Load effects mask' option of an effect - do not have to actually apply the effect - or drag the mask from the folder.

Added: they also do not need the - alpha in the name.

HTH

John EB

browj2 wrote on 9/14/2019, 8:56 AM

@terrypin @johnebaker

Hi,

I just tried this in VPX11. With or without alpha appended, so long as the file was in the HD folder

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MAGIX\Common\Videocontent\Video Pro X\VideoEffects\EffectAlphaMasks\HD

dragging it to the timeline using Windows Explorer automatically gave it the alpha property. Not so dragging from another location.

Terry, note the new location of the content files, no longer under ProgramData.

I tested this with MEP2019 and the file with and without alpha appended and copied into the HD folder (under ProgramData), and alpha was added automatically when dragging from WE.

John CB

johnebaker wrote on 9/14/2019, 11:11 AM

@browj2, @terrypin

Hi John, Terry

AFAICS They do not have to be in the HD or SD folders in the . . . . . . . \EffectAlphaMask\ folder, they will work from any folder you create within the EffectAlphaMask folder or the EffectAlphaMask folder.

I have created a custom folder, for my static masks, within the EffectAlphaMask folder for MEP 2016, MEP 2020 and VPX and they work direct from there.

John EB