I am using movie edt pro 2013 plus, how do I create soft edges on the a video or photo clip. I want to be able to take this clip and have it in the center of the screen, with a background behind it. But I would prefer the edges of this clip be soft rather than hard.
Please help.
Hi,
I'm not at my PC right now so I can't illustrate with screenshots, but in summary:
1. Make a mask of your preferred shape with blurred (feathered) edges, using your image editor. For example, a white circle feathered into a black background.
2. Save it as a PNG, assigning white to be transparent.
3. Import it into MEP, track 2 and apply Video Effects > Chroma Key > Alpha
4. Place your background in track 1 and your video in track 3.
Terry, East Grinstead, UK
Hi
There are quite a few gradient "Effects masks" like Terry is describing, in commonly used shapes, in MEP2013.
Look in C:\Users\MAGIX\Movie Edit Pro 2013 \ VideoEffects\EffectAlphaMasks\HD (or SD) and drag and drop them into the timeline as Terry described.
Ss
Either I don't understand the process your describing or I am doing something wrong. When you say image editor are you talking about a picture editior such as paint shop pro or Magix Extreme photo editor? Can you give me an example? I guess I don't know enough about the alpha channel to understand the concept of how it works?
Vincent
This is pretty basic stuff!
An image is typically a bitmap, such as a photo, drawing, illustration, background, etc. File types include JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG, etc.
An image editor is an editor that edits images. Such as Paint, PhotoShop, PaintShop Pro, GIMP, Paint.Net, etc.
But if you're not comfortable working with an image editor, simply use one of those built-in masks that Peter described.
Have you successfully created videos in MEP 2013 using basic tools and techniques?
Terry, East Grinstead, UK
I gues the answer to basic tools is yes. I now have a video with photos that have been resized using size and position in MEP, and there is a background layer behind the picture clip. What I am trying to do is to make the edges of this resized video clip have soft edges rather than shape. The pictures are in a retangle shape.
Vincent
Hi Vincent
If you create or use a rectangle soft edged (gradient) mask as we have suggested you will have a rectangular hole in the middle of your background, with the lower track showing through, after applying the Alpha Chroma key to the mask track 2.
With this mask track selected, use the size position effect to adjust the size of the mask hole and drag in the monitor to move it so that it coincides with the position and shape of your resized photo clip on track3. In your case this should be easy because the default for the mask and the photo resize is centered in the middle of the preview monitor. Fine tune the masks zoom level or shape until the soft area covers the hard edges of the small object on track 3. You can make the edge of the mask harder or softer by adjusting the Contrast of the mask track 2.
An Alpha mask works by letting through light/image from the lower track only where the mask is white. You can reverse this and let the image through where it is black by hovering the mouse over the mask track which has had the Alpha effect added - a small arrow will appear at the far left of the timeline - click on this and it will invert the arrow and the mask.
Peter
Scenestealer,
Your xplaination seems very clear I will try it later today, and leave fedback if I am successful. I am not new to MEP just new to doing something like this. I truly thank you for taking the time to explain the process.
Vincent