Hi

You are complicating things by trying to create a sophisticated animated title in the same project as the video.

Splitting the project into two seperate steps will make things easier for you by creating the animated title in a project of it own and using it as follows:-

1. start a new project
    
2. create the title sequence in the project with all the animations etc - do not worry about scaling this will be done later make the title fill the screen as much as possible.  Depending on the text colours you may need a background colour which is not in the text. If the text is white leave the background colour black.
    
3. save the project (so you can go back to it again if needed)
    
4. export the title sequence as a mxv file - File, Export movie, As Magix video.
    
5. in the project(s) to which you want to add the animated title add the mxv file to the timeline in the appropriate place
    
6. use Movement Effects, Size / position to place the title on the screen where you want it to be and resize it.
    
7. Apply Video effect, Chroma key to the title clip using either one of the preset options or the Color option if you have used a none standard colour for the background - you may need to adjust the parameters on the Chroma key sliders to remove any slight fringing on the text

Here is an example of one I add to my movies as part of the intro or outro with different stingers - in this case as an outro

HTH

John

I'll take a closer look tomorrow as you've piqued my curiosity.

But meanwhile, when stumped with an effect like the one you describe, the most expedient solution is often to simply export it (from its central position in your case) then re-import and position as required.

I appreciate it, thank you!

And because of your helpful suggestion thus far, I explored that great idea further. Initially I didn't know what file-type to export as. I would need the text only (with no background), as a transparency, so I exported it as an Magix Video (.mxv). After selecting "Open" using the toolbar dropdown, I had to open a dropdown and change the default from "Movies, Projects" and instead select "All Files". THEN I found the newly created file, opened it into my project, and am in fact able to position it wherever I want, as you suggested!

However, it appears with a black background, and not as a transparency, and so it's not very useable.

Thank you for inspiring me to discover new solutions though! I'm eager to hear of your findings (and hopefully soilutions)!

You are complicating things by trying to create a sophisticated animated title in the same project as the video.

Splitting the project into two seperate steps will make things easier for you by creating the animated title in a project of it own and using it as follows:-

1. start a new project
    
2. create the title sequence in the project with all the animations etc - do not worry about scaling this will be done later make the title fill the screen as much as possible.  Depending on the text colours you may need a background colour which is not in the text. If the text is white leave the background colour black.
    
3. save the project (so you can go back to it again if needed)
    
4. export the title sequence as a mxv file - File, Export movie, As Magix video.
    
5. in the project(s) to which you want to add the animated title add the mxv file to the timeline in the appropriate place
    
6. use Movement Effects, Size / position to place the title on the screen where you want it to be and resize it.
    
7. Apply Video effect, Chroma key to the title clip using either one of the preset options or the Color option if you have used a none standard colour for the background - you may need to adjust the parameters on the Chroma key sliders to remove any slight fringing on the text

 

Thanks for the helpful advice!

I am exploring this program as I go, figuring out how to manifest my visions/ideas as I go along. After having created the title objects in the original video project, I've since had the two projects separated, with the animated title already in a project of it's own.

As you can see by my previous comment (which appears before your answer but was posted after yours), I had already followed all the steps you've suggested, right up UNTIL the final step-- using the Chroma Key.

Brilliant, thank you! I hadn't thought of that, as I've never used it before.

I admit that it IS odd that we seemingly cannot move an object in Magix and have ALL the keyframes associated with that object move along with it... Apparently, only the first does. It appears that we may have found a solution to my problem (THANK YOU!), but it seems like a lot of work to achieve something that could/should be achieved in a simple click or two.

Is there another method???

Here is an example of one I add to my movies as part of the intro or outro with different stingers - in this case as an outro

HTH

John

Nice one!

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hi,

It sounds like you made good progress using the 'export-reimport-reposition' method we recommended. Let us know if you need further help. BTW, note that you could make your text with a transparent background with several image editors, saving it as say a PNG. Then you wouldn't have to worry about its colours and fiddle with chroma settings.

From my brief experiments this morning with that Fly-In effect, I conclude that the underlying reason for being unable to move it wholesale is that each KF specifies x and y position coordinates as well as size and rotation.

Anyone else know if there's a clever way to get around this? I recall we discussed a similar issue a few months ago...

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hi terry

. . . .I conclude that the underlying reason for being unable to move it wholesale is that each KF specifies x and y position coordinates as well as size and rotation. . . . .

Your conclusion is correct each keyframe for positioning, size / zoom is an absolute position relative to the top left corner of the screen.

This why you get the message about object positions may not be as expected when you export to a different aspect ratio or where you export from HDc 16:9 to DVD 16:9 where the pixel shape changes.

AFAIK there is no way round this except for the export - re-import method.

. . . .you could make your text with a transparent background with several image editors, saving it as say a PNG . . .

Agree with this if you want to move the text as one piece, however the OP wants the title letters to move independantly - something like the bouncing images in this video - just after the title.

John

Here is an example of one I add to my movies as part of the intro or outro with different stingers - in this case as an outro

That's inspiring, thanks!

Hi,

It sounds like you made good progress using the 'export-reimport-reposition' method we recommended. Let us know if you need further help. BTW, note that you could make your text with a transparent background with several image editors, saving it as say a PNG. Then you wouldn't have to worry about its colours and fiddle with chroma settings.

From my brief experiments this morning with that Fly-In effect, I conclude that the underlying reason for being unable to move it wholesale is that each KF specifies x and y position coordinates as well as size and rotation.

Anyone else know if there's a clever way to get around this? I recall we discussed a similar issue a few months ago...

Yes, thank you, I made some progress before slipping away from the computer for the weekend... I'm eager to play with and learn Chroma Key later tonight/tomorrow. And yes, it's a brilliant idea about the PNG files used as transparencies, and johnebaker addressed my initial thoughts on the matter-- that I want to independently animate each letter... However, I've since considered that I technically don't NEED the visible image to be a text-image file-type-- I simply need the veiwer to recognise the letters as I intend them to be seen... Which COULD be done with a series of individual letters made on a .PNG... So thanks again! And thanks for keeping the subject continuing from here...

Hi,

It sounds like you made good progress using the 'export-reimport-reposition' method we recommended. Let us know if you need further help. BTW, note that you could make your text with a transparent background with several image editors, saving it as say a PNG. Then you wouldn't have to worry about its colours and fiddle with chroma settings.

From my brief experiments this morning with that Fly-In effect, I conclude that the underlying reason for being unable to move it wholesale is that each KF specifies x and y position coordinates as well as size and rotation.

Anyone else know if there's a clever way to get around this? I recall we discussed a similar issue a few months ago...

Yes, thank you, I made some progress before slipping away from the computer for the weekend... I'm eager to play with and learn Chroma Key later tonight/tomorrow. And yes, it's a brilliant idea about the PNG files used as transparencies, and johnebaker addressed my initial thoughts on the matter-- that I want to independently animate each letter... However, I've since considered that I technically don't NEED the visible image to be a text-image file-type-- I simply need the veiwer to recognise the letters as I intend them to be seen... Which COULD be done with a series of individual letters made on a .PNG... So thanks again! And thanks for keeping the subject continuing from here...

AFAIK there is no way round this except for the export - re-import method.

Hi John,

Reckon you're right, which is a pity.

. . . .you could make your text with a transparent background with several image editors, saving it as say a PNG . . .

Agree with this if you want to move the text as one piece, however the OP wants the title letters to move independantly - something like the bouncing images in this video - just after the title.

Thanks, understood.

@Flowing.Force: I'm looking forward to seeing a short extract of your title when you finish it!

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

. . . .you could make your text with a transparent background with several image editors, saving it as say a PNG . . .

Agree with this if you want to move the text as one piece, however the OP wants the title letters to move independantly - something like the bouncing images in this video - just after the title.

John

Yes! Exactly... Thanks for posting again... I too initially thought this, but considered it a bit deeper... Technically don't NEED the visible image to be a text-image file-type-- I simply need the veiwer to recognise the letters as I intend them to be seen... Which COULD be done with a series of individual letters made on a .PNG and then animated after I place them wherever I want on the screen. The extra bother of animating each letter is already assumed anyways, so the PNG transparency seems great for allowing me to move a COMPLETED image of text wherever I want throughout an entire stream of keyframes. The templates save us boatloads of time by offering us a pattern of animation already established, but if I'm already "undoing" that by customizing it my own way, then it seems like a viable option... At least for future-projects... Your chroma-key idea saved me from my most-recent dilemma!

Anyone else know if there's a clever way to get around this? I recall we discussed a similar issue a few months ago...

Guys.....remember that much underutilised and powerful command "Edit Effects Curve"

Using the Fly in effect example:-

Click on the title in the timeline and select Size / Position effect in the Effects tab of the Media Pool.

In the Keyframer click on the blue triangle to the left of "Size/Position" to show all the individual parameters currently set with keyframes with the Fly In Effect Template.

Click on "X Pos" box so that the label turns Blue then click the little white triangle to the right of the label and select "Edit Effects curve".

In the window that opens in the "Move Position >Effect" box select %, then key in say 10% and click the up or down arrow and all (and only) the X position KF's will change their values and move the title in the preview window by 10%.

You can move several parameters at once, say X and Y Posn if you select one (X) as above and AFTER the edit effects curve window opens, "Ctrl + Click" the Y Posn and then move both by the 10% entered in "Move Effect Position" with one click of the arrow.

To help you get your head around what the move is doing - click the eye symbol next to the parameter you are moving and the Effects "Curve"  with all the KF's will appear on the timeline object as a line and move each time you click the move arrows.

Peter

Bravo Peter  that's it ! 

This time I'm going to make a better job of committing curve effect editing to my (plainly flawed) memory. As soon as I finish my breakfast I'll try a practical example.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK 

This short tutorial is particularly for Flowing.Force. But also for others who like me have never used MEP's excellent Edit Effects Curve tool before.

Or for better quality:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MEP-UseEffectCurvesEditor-1.jpg

Or for better quality:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MEP-UseEffectCurvesEditor-2.jpg

Or for better quality:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MEP-UseEffectCurvesEditor-3.jpg

Or for better quality:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MEP-UseEffectCurvesEditor-4.jpg

And here are the same steps repeated as plain text:

1.  Created a title with the 'Fly in' template. (Using a whole string, not an individual character.)

2.  Changed its size and colour

3.  Displayed its KFs and confirmed that the 'Combine effects...' option was enabled.

4.  Discovered that the 10th KF disappears when duration is reduced below 5 sec

5.  Grouped the last 6 KFs and moved them slightly leftwards to prevent that complication.

6.  Now guessing the duration required, i.e. how long before the title becomes stable? Let's say 2 s.

7.  Also let's say that the title (and its image or video background) should occupy 6 s.

8.  Decided I didn't like the effect as it stands. Removed all but the first 4 KFs.

9.  Now a bit too fast, so manually relocated the 4 KFs further apart, preserving their relative positions.

10. Changed duration to 3 s which I liked more.

11. Disabled 'Combine effects...' and extended duration to allow for a long steady state.

12. Finally, followed Peter's clear outline for using the Curve Effects Editor to bodily move the text to the top left corner. To keep all this in one place, here's a paste of those steps:

1 Click on the title in the timeline and select Size / Position effect in the Effects tab of the Media Pool.

2 In the Keyframer click on the blue triangle to the left of "Size/Position" to show all the individual parameters currently set with keyframes with the Fly In Effect Template.

3 Click on "X Pos" box so that the label turns Blue then click the little white triangle to the right of the label and select "Edit Effects curve".

4 In the window that opens in the "Move Position >Effect" box select %, then key in say 10% and click the up or down arrow and all (and only) the X position KF's will change their values and move the title in the preview window by 10%.

Notes:
You can move several parameters at once, say X and Y Posn if you select one (X) as above and AFTER the edit effects curve window opens, "Ctrl + Click" the Y Posn and then move both by the 10% entered in "Move Effect Position" with one click of the arrow.

To help you get your head around what the move is doing - click the eye symbol next to the parameter you are moving and the Effects "Curve"  with all the KF's will appear on the timeline object as a line and move each time you click the move arrows.

(Thanks again, Peter!)

Here's the final result:

Or here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4019461/MovingAnimatedText-2.wmv

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

A readable screenshot or two would be helpful. And ideally, as you seem really anxious to get help, you should make a small, non-confidential project exhibiting the problem and use File > Backup > Copy project and media into a folder, zip it up and upload it so that we can see exactly what you're doing.

Thanks, Scenestealer/Peter, for taking the time to offer all those deets! Thanks too for all who have contributed to this thread.

It's been a busy weekend away from the 'puter, but I've done as you've suggested, Terrypin, although I've not yet found how to upload a project to the forum... I've got it right here though, non-confidentially altered for you all to see exactly what I've been doing... So if you're still interested in seeing the project to the clip below, just point me in the right direction.

In the meantime, here's a clip:

Nice work Terry and F.F.

Now where can we put this so we and others can find it once our memorys have faded? At present I just save the page as a favourite in I.E.

Not sure why you need to guess how long before the animation becomes stable in your point 6. Terry as this should be visible if you display all the parameters in the Size/position effect's  KF window. If you highlight the different KF positions a respective timestamp will appear. Also as I mentioned in my last paragraph, it becomes more obvious what the dynamics of the animation curves are, if you display them all on the object in the timeline by clicking the eye symbols.

Peter

Nice work Terry and F.F.

Now where can we put this so we and others can find it once our memorys have faded? At present I just save the page as a favourite in I.E.

Me too, a Firefox bookmark, but in this case I've saved a text file too.

Not sure why you need to guess how long before the animation becomes stable in your point 6. 

I worded it poorly. I meant I didn't know what FF's requirement was. (Still haven't seen any details.)

Any thoughts on my point about the last KF disappearing?

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hi Terry

Yes, thought you probably mean't something else but decided I would add a little more detail to the process.

Any thoughts on my point about the last KF disappearing?

Happens here too below 3 secs but the "curve" on the object and the effect remains unchanged. Odd!

Peter

although I've not yet found how to upload a project to the forum... I've got it right here though, non-confidentially altered for you all to see exactly what I've been doing... So if you're still interested in seeing the project to the clip below, just point me in the right direction.

 

I assume you have the ZIP, and have discovered you can't attach it in your post directly using Magix. Do you subscribe to a free host site? I use Dropbox as you've probably seen from my links. Join that, or another of your choice, upload the ZIP, and attach a link in your post.

In the meantime, here's a clip:

Nice, well done!

My guess of 6 seconds for my demo wasn't too wrong then.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Nice, well done!   Thanks!

My guess of 6 seconds for my demo wasn't too wrong then.

Bingo! And thanks for the tremendous help...

CLICK HERE if you want to download my mini-project of the "Fly In" Effect with independently animated letters.

Nice work Terry and F.F.   Thanks!

Now where can we put this so we and others can find it once our memorys have faded?  LOL! 

Any thoughts on my point about the last KF disappearing?

Happens here too below 3 secs but the "curve" on the object and the effect remains unchanged. Odd!

Yeah-- I encountered  this issue as well, but (like so many other things in Magix) I wrote it off as just another Magix mystery with a sensible explination that I was still clueless about.