Nationalsolo

Hi

Follow up...

Very little changed in the stabilized version and as Borate and myself mentioned very slow movements or even slow movements of the camera cannot be considered as "shake" in the true sense of the word making stabilization ineffective. It might be possible by dint of a lot of fiddling to use the Position effect to reduce say, the vertical motion using the top bar in the image as a datum point and adding keyframes but you would have to experiment a bit to see if this would be worthwhile and like Deshaker one would need to add some cropping to remove the top/bottom borders that this would introduce.

Nat

Hi

This clip doesn't really show "shake" as the movements (due to the motion of the boat?) are generally slow and gentle and more resemble a slow pan up/down and side to side; something that might usually be used as part of normal videoing technique. Deshaker cannot in fact distinguish this from a normal pan or other deliberate slow camera motion. There are two rapid movements that might be smoothed out at 17 seconds and 45 seconds. The latter also shows a slight border jump so I am wondering if this clip has already been stabilized?? 

As it stands the nature of the movements in this clip means that stabilization using Deshaker will be of limited value.    I am currently running stabilization it but it is large format clip (4096 x 2160)  and so Deshaker has a big area in each frame to examine and obtain data from so it's taking some time on my (slow) PC so I'll come back in when it completes.

Nat

Hi

The 10.02 version of VP works fine here with a shaky clip. In general Deshaker works pretty well in VP using the default (high quality) setting, but if the "raw" shaky video is very bad then it may not appear to have been very effective even using the Ultra setting. You can of course Deshake the Deshaked clip again and getting a "Stabilized - Stabilized" clip and see if there is an improvement. It would be interesting to see your clip. Upload it to a free server and someone could take a look.

Nat

Hi

Within VP and using a 5 second white text on a black blank,used as a track 1 background, a 2 second Fade in using the f and and a 2 second fade out using the Fade out transition (but only on this one clip - nothing following) seemed to work correctly in preview. The text faded in and out as expected leaving no visible after effect or distortion. Exported as an mp4 1920 x 1080 and played in VLC there were no issues. Looked perfect. However very wide characters like Ariel size 35 Bold gave a "shadow" within the white part of the character but checking frame by frame revealed this to be a simple optical illusion due to the contrast.

I don't see your examples on imgur unfortunately so not sure what you are seeing. What type of distortion are you seeing?

Nat

Hi

Downloaded OK but needed 3 files to resolve. Nothing however seemed to be missing and and I suspect you have used a similar named alternative in the project. (Like kim1-(3).png) If a clip isn't used it won't have a tick so if the project is complete it is probably better to delete the unused clips

It's a nice family slideshow set to music. Only suggestion is to check the first scrolling text...last word "too" instead of "to"

Exporting as Video file  mp4 1280 x 720  45 fps. was fine

A random transition between clips might enhance things but it's nice as it is.

Nat

Hi

Are you looking at your exported project ... your finished video...or the VP clip bin area?  The exported project should not have any ticks in it. When you add clips/images/texts etc to the timeline then VP will place a green tick on the clip bin thumbnail.....as shown here...

This indicates that the clip has been used somewhere on the timeline. It doesn't appear in the exported video. Is your project mainly images as you refer to the problem affecting "pictures" What is the glitch you mention.

Nat

Hi

"......Hiya, when you say a blank clip, you mean a blank video right?  As I'm trying a photo and it doesn't work...  If I encode a photo to a video I'll be able to use that is that correct?........"

A photo should work with no problem. 

To all intents and purposes an image. i.e. a photo such as a jpg or bmp etc. is simply a video clip when used in VP. The duration of this is set in the Options/Media/Still Image Duration setting box.  Check you have a value in this box of, say, 5 seconds. Add  the photo to  VP, or directly drag and drop it into the  bin area. It will then appear as a thumbnail in the image bin. From here you can place it on Video Track 1.

In the scenario suggested by Borate he uses a blank clip as a background since this is easier to illustrate but any image will do in place of this...remember when used in VP images=video clips .  As explained by Borate above......

• Place the background image (even if it is a blank clip) on Video Track 1
• Place your Phone video 1 on Video Track 2
• Place your Phone video 2 on Video Track 3
• Note that your background image should be on Track 1. It will have the default duration when added to the timeline but you can drag the end out using the little white box so it plays for any length of time. Drag it left or right so it matches the duration of the phone videos.
• Add the Split Screen effect to Tracks 2 and 3 selecting the Horizontal 2  layout for each.
• Place each track in Box A or Box B as appropriate.......... The sequence preview should then look somewhat like this....

If you still can't get an image to work as your background (In this example it's a photo of the dinghy park) drop back in and we can check things further.

Nat

Hi

If things are working correctly, start by opening VP and then connecting your device...Camera, Card reader, External memory or disc etc. Once this is done VP should show the following message.....

and also open a window with the device contents......

If Add Files is selected VP will open the indicated folder and leave you to find and select the clips/images required when they will be added  to the clip bin. (i.e your project)

Nat

Hi

Adjusting the Position of an image should not result in distortion. The two controls either move the image up or down or left to right.

However if you adjust the Scale (size) of the image it may become stretched in one direction or the other if the AR is not first fixed by ticking the Keep Aspect Ratio box shown below. (Normally this is ticked by default.)

Nat

Hi RZ2021

The link in the page supplied for the free version points to the 64 bit version.

A free version of VideoPad is available for non-commercial use only. If you will be using it at home you can download the free version here.  **

** NCH link

Nat

Hi

Any mileage in creating a Template  of your intro with a placeholder?

 The template (a vpj file) should retain transparency.  "On paper" you should then be able to start a new project and at some point load the template  whereupon your new project will be inserted in the placeholder.  Needs testing on a small scale.

Nat

Hi B

Your test played OK

A bit of a learning curve here. I had previously widened the tracks by sliding up the white bar. When at the widest the clip bin area becomes scrollable with all the bins present one above the other.(I hadn't noticed this before.) With the tracks made less wide the normal separate bins turns on.

Importing the clips from the text project places a non transparent clip in the Sequence bin since the project sequence is imported AND a transparent text image in the Image bin. As I had the tracks at their widest (which default scrolled to the Sequence section) I must have added the non transparent sequence to  track 2 instead of the transparent image whose section was not visible.If I had scrolled the bins down I would have seen the actual text clip with transparency in the image section. Doh! 

Happy to say it IS working OK

Nat

Hi B

Yes that works OK but text doesn't seem to retain the transparency even when the scenario is...

1. Text placed on track 2 alone..track 1 empty 
2. Saved as a project (text.vpj)
3. A new project is created and clips (the text clip) are loaded back from the text project ..they are no longer transparent.

Nat

Hi B

"....And Bikegoddess should get the same result with any clip that has a transparent bg, whether it be an image or video...."

Are you sure this is correct? Text has a transparent B/G so I exported a simple text image as an mp4. Reloaded it back into VP on Track 2 over a clip but B/G was black.

When Bikegoddess mentioned he couldn't get a transparent B/G with mov I did the same. The clip I used was an mp4 and had a greenscreened transparent area which I exported as a mov but when reloaded the mov, the formerly transparent area was black.

Nat

Hi Borate

For some reason this example played here. Normally I just see an "Unavailable" notice. Did you load it to the forum in a different way?  Also was your last character an emoticon (Emoji) from the smiley button - as I only see a tiny square?

Nat

Hi

"....so that I can add my time-lapse music intro etc and it will always be immediately available to me when I open a new project,...."

Starting a new project from scratch always has empty clip bins. If the music in your intro is a single clip then it can be saved  to your PC by right clicking the audio track and selecting Save Audio Clip As a New File. If, as is probable you have created the audio intro from several clips then click the + which follows the words Sequence 1 x  at the left end of the timeline. This will create a sequence in the Sequence bin. Right click the sequence  in the bin and select Save Sequence Audio as a New File  You can now load the audio file in any other project.

"....that I could export a .apng which is transparent but doesn't have sound. ...."

A png is an image file and by itself is silent but it will retain any transparency created when the clip is on the timeline...e.g by a green screen effect. Right clicking the preview or sequence display and then selecting Take a Snapshot of Sequence will save a png of the displayed frame with transparency.

"....I see the ability to export .mov which supports transparency but I can't get it to become transparent and I'm stuck with a large ugly black box....."

Exporting as a mov file does not retain the transparency of the VP clip and transparent areas reload a black areas. 

Without seeing exactly what you are after the obvious suggestion is to create your into and then export it as a stand alone clip that you can use whenever you want.

The best way to advise on this is for you to upload the specific intro  and its components to a free server as Borate suggests and someone can take a look.

Nat

Hi

Currently an "Upgrade" or "Latest" version of VP is made available in the light of users finding problems or bugs  in the current version which,  in some situations might be a show stopper. IMO these "Latest" versions perhaps ought to be more correctly called a "debugged" version.  

A true "upgrade"  would be a version that works just as before (i.e. without major bugs)  but has some enhanced features for example that follow suggestions made byusers or in which parts of the program have been  rewritten to enhance the way it works. As Borate rightly points out a "debugged" version (to use that term) is available as soon as the problem has been fixed, and if you bought your current program less than 6 months before, it can be downloaded free of charge. It may be that the you never experienced the bug but nevertheless you can still download it. In fact this scenario also applies to "Latest" versions which have enhancements (like user suggestions).....That would still be free.

However it is perfectly logical that one would pay for "Debugged"  or  the "Latest" version after 6 months of use.

Although you may be given the option to upgrade, (no harm in asking)  there is no compunction for you to take up that offer if you find the "old" version you are using OK. At the same time trial versions (Beta versions) are available for users to test and report on or simply to try out. 

Whilst it is true that later versions do not always work with older project files (e.g. vpj files) This is not usually the case except where the vpj files were created with quite old versions. It should be pointed out that some users who used VP 4.xx and 5.xx to create projects (which are pretty old) unrealistically still expect to open these vpj in much later versions of VP. 

When NCH develop versions (or correct versions) with important changes the differences are listed here...

https://www.nchsoftware.com/videopad/versions.html

Limited as these change descriptions seem to be they are similar to those seen with other software.

The advice I think would be to keep with the version you are currently using if it does what you want. Update to the latest before your 6 months is up. Give it a try and see if it is better (or just the same). Revert to your old version if you feel that is better. All that is free. If, on the other hand if you have had it for more than 6 months,there is no compunction to upgrade. You can run the trial version free for a time (usually with restricted export) and then upgrade and  pay if you like it. If you don't you can revert to the old version again.

Nat

Hi

Forum is for discussing NCH products. Best to keep to questions and advice regarding VP Editor rather than 3rd party apps.

Nat

Hi

The mask is independent of the image so..

1. Place the image on video Track1
2. Create the mask around the part of the image required and UNTICK the Mask inside box.
3. Add a Transparency effect and set the Opacity to 0.00. Only the masked area will now be seen.
4. Right click the Clip Preview screen and select Take a Snapshot of Clip option. The image of the masked area will now appear in the Image bin (or Image Media section of bin depending on the version of VP being used). The transparency will be retained.
5. Delete the image clip from the timeline.
6. Now place your video clip on Video Track 1
7. Place the Image clip of the masked area on Video Track 2.
8. Add the Position effect to Video Track 2 and use keyframes to animate the masked area. If you set Dual Previews in Options/Display you can check the animation effect.

Nat

Hi

Nothing as yet. The workaround still remains using a suitable drawn template image and creating a mask around that and then saving it as a template.

Nat

Hi

Oh yes..the f is not present in the right hand part of a split clip.....I think it ought to be. However the gap is not needed as after splitting the clip you can use FX on the right hand portion and then select Fade In from the effects. This acts in the same way as if you had used the f.

Nat

Hi

   Even simpler!  See..More ways to skin a cat even when sitting in a dish! 

Nat

Hi

Using VP 10.02  srt  subtitle files  e.g...........

load with the correct timings......

Does the VP subtitle list (like above) show the correct timings??

What version of VP are you using?

Nat

Hi

A stand alone clip can be faded in by clicking the f at the left end.

Use the Transparency effect with a start keyframe showing 0% Opacity and a second keyframe at 100% Opacity positioned where you want the fade-in to be complete.....

If you are doing this over another clip on a lower track then you may have to use a black blank below the fading in clip.

Alternatively split the clip where you want the fade in to start and then add the fade-in to the second half of the clip BUT you have to fade in from something and this is usually a different clip consequently this would look decidedly odd.

Nat

Hi

Set up the text with Left justify and then use Position effect to place it in the centre of the screen.

Nat