VD2026 png's and masks?

idd-2016 wrote on 11/28/2025, 5:48 AM

I'm considering the BF sale of VD2026 so I'm with the trial.

1- How do you drop shadow/border a png, like this ? or an arrow? I can't find any way, does the full version has it?

2- How do you use such png as a mask

I see some Png's masks in "Image objects- Layer masks" that does work but my transparent png's does not.

Thank you

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 11/28/2025, 8:49 AM

@idd-2016

I assume from your comment that you are testing with the trial version of VDL 2026 before purchase.

Drop shadows - there is no in program native function that can do this. There are several methods the simplest is to add the drop shadow to the image , or create a separate image of the same dimensions and make the 'drop shadow, it helps if the rest of the image is transparent.
PNG as masks

How you use PNG files depends on whether they have an Alpha channel (transparency) or not.

Those with transparency will allow whatever is on a track 'above' ie lower track number, the transparent section eg

Using a PNG as a mask effect, the result varies depending on whether the Alpha channel is present or it is a plain black/white mask and the use of the Chromakey, Activate Black/White option, the example below is one result of this option - note the direction of the effect arrow indicated by the yellow arrow.

There is a list of tutorials here which include some examples of using masks, some of the tutorials were made with an older version of the software however the principles are the same.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator