Dumb Vegas Question re time lapse at DVinfo.net

Jim Andrada · May 27th, 2008, 09:47 PM

I have about 50 still images and I want to make a video with smooth disolves from frame to frame and then adjust the total length of the clip to about 10 seconds.

I've tried dragging the individual pictures so they overlap about 50% (cross fade) but I still get abrupt transitions. I also can't figure out how to stetch or compress the overal duration. I can stretch or compress an individual image's duration, but I want to adjust the total length of the clip which would stretc or shrink the duration of each image proportinally..

I know I'll get it someday but...

I think this has to be fairly simple to do, but so far haven't been able to break the code.

Edit...

Aha! I found that the frame to frame transitions actally were smooth when rendered to video clip - I was being fooled by the preview.

So the only question is how to adjust the duration of the set of still images.

Jim Ohair · May 27th, 2008, 11:06 PM

Select all-then right click and select group -create new- hit control and click the edge of first or last event and when the little squiggle shows under it drag to shorten or extend all all.

Jim Andrada · May 27th, 2008, 11:12 PM

Jim,

Thanks much! This is a lot better than what I was doing which was rendering the clip, then reading in the rendered clip and using CTRL drag. I knew there had to be a better way, but breaking the code as to what the help file calls what is - interesting!

Edward Troxel · May 28th, 2008, 07:44 AM

Jim Ohair, you can shorten that a little bit by selecting all, pressing "G" to group them, and then CTRL-dragging to resize.

Scripts can also be used to adjust the length/overlap of the events on the timeline as well.

Jason Robinson · May 28th, 2008, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

I have about 50 still images and I want to make a video with smooth disolves from frame to frame and then adjust the total length of the clip to about 10 seconds.

I've tried dragging the individual pictures so they overlap about 50% (cross fade) but I still get abrupt transitions. I also can't figure out how to stetch or compress the overal duration. I can stretch or compress an individual image's duration, but I want to adjust the total length of the clip which would stretc or shrink the duration of each image proportinally..

I know I'll get it someday but...

I think this has to be fairly simple to do, but so far haven't been able to break the code.

Edit...

Aha! I found that the frame to frame transitions actally were smooth when rendered to video clip - I was being fooled by the preview.

So the only question is how to adjust the duration of the set of still images.

Some times vegas has problems with large still images and correctly (and smoothly) applying transitions between them, mainly because stills have far more data in them per frame than video. A 10MP camera can create some massive stills.

Sometimes bumping your preview window down a few quality settings will show you the smoothness you desire, at a cost of detail. Draft will look horrible, but might help. You could also do a ram-render using Ctl-B (I think) after double clicking on the transition to highlight it. Then you can playback at full quality and full speed.

Jim Andrada · May 28th, 2008, 01:26 PM

Thanks for all the comments.

A couple of other questions have occurred to me though relative to stills on the timeline

Is it possible to set the timeline to read in frames instead of seconds?

And how can you set the time (or preferably the number of frames) that a still image should take when dropped into the time line?

Each of the stills is a 4MB JPEG, so I can understand why Vegas may bog down a bit.

I was thinking to set each still to last for a set number of frames with a crossfade to the next still such that each image is about 50% overlapped with both the preceding and succeeding images.

The camera is locked down and running on a timer taking one exposure every 20 minutes for a full day and i want to use this as the view through the window of a CG room showing how the view changes smoothly through the day. It's to help visualize the effects of a major remodel.

Edward Troxel · May 28th, 2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

Is it possible to set the timeline to read in frames instead of seconds?

Right-click on the timecode above the track headers, choose "Time Format", and pick "Absolute Frames". You can also right-click the timecode running above the timeline as well and get there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

And how can you set the time (or preferably the number of frames) that a still image should take when dropped into the time line?

Options - Preferences - New Still Image Length

If you want them to all be ONE frame, you should insert them as an "Image Sequence" instead.

Paul Kellett · May 28th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Is it possible to set a duration for when text from the media generator is dropped onto the timeline ?

My texts are always 10 seconds long, which is too long and i have to keep shortening them by dragging.

Thank.
Paul.

Jim Andrada · May 28th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Edward,

Thanks much.

Actually I want them to each be about 10 frames overlapping by 5 frames, at least as a starting point. This would make the total animation about 8 to 10 seconds.

Edward Troxel · May 28th, 2008, 01:49 PM

Options - Preferences - Editing tab, change the "New Still Image Length" to 10 frames. You actually have to enter a number of seconds but it will tell you the number of frames that it corresponds to. Plus if you know it's 10 frames, that's 1/3 of a second at 30 fps.

Then in the "Cut to overlap conversion" section, change the amount to 5 frames (once again, you have to enter it in seconds)

Now select all the images in the Explorer window and drag the first one to the timeline. That should put them all on the timeline at the designated length and overlap.

If they're already on the timeline and you don't want to delete/re-add, you'll need to use a script that can set the length and overlap amount. There are multiple scripts that can do that task.

Paul Kellett · May 28th, 2008, 01:53 PM

I just did that.
New still image length (seconds) 5.000 .. 250 frames at 50.000fps.
The text's are still 10 seconds long when i drag them onto the timeline.

Paul.

Jim Andrada · May 28th, 2008, 01:57 PM

Edward,

Thanks so much!

I was going to try it right away, but just remembered that the memory card is back in the camera which will run until about 8PM tonight so I'll just have to wait.

Edward Troxel · May 28th, 2008, 03:22 PM

Paul, changing that setting should also change all future added generated medias. It won't do anything to already existing ones, though.

Norris Combs · May 28th, 2008, 04:29 PM

What should I resize the jpegs to? Each is about 3 mb.

Thanks,

Mike Kujbida · May 28th, 2008, 05:04 PM

Unless you're doing a deep zoom on an image, twice your project size is more than sufficient.
For an SD NTSC project, that would be 1440 x 960.
IrfanView has a very quick batch processor built into it.
BTW, Vegas seems to prefer the PNG format over JPEG so, when I do a batch conversion, I also change the images to PNG at the same time.

May 27th, 2008, 09:47 PM	#1
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Dumb Vegas Question re time lapse I have about 50 still images and I want to make a video with smooth disolves from frame to frame and then adjust the total length of the clip to about 10 seconds. I've tried dragging the individual pictures so they overlap about 50% (cross fade) but I still get abrupt transitions. I also can't figure out how to stetch or compress the overal duration. I can stretch or compress an individual image's duration, but I want to adjust the total length of the clip which would stretc or shrink the duration of each image proportinally.. I know I'll get it someday but... I think this has to be fairly simple to do, but so far haven't been able to break the code. Edit... Aha! I found that the frame to frame transitions actally were smooth when rendered to video clip - I was being fooled by the preview. So the only question is how to adjust the duration of the set of still images.

May 28th, 2008, 07:44 AM	#4
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Jim Ohair, you can shorten that a little bit by selecting all, pressing "G" to group them, and then CTRL-dragging to resize. Scripts can also be used to adjust the length/overlap of the events on the timeline as well. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

May 28th, 2008, 01:43 PM	#8
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	Is it possible to set a duration for when text from the media generator is dropped onto the timeline ? My texts are always 10 seconds long, which is too long and i have to keep shortening them by dragging. Thank. Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000 Last edited by Paul Kellett; May 28th, 2008 at 01:44 PM. Reason: more info

May 28th, 2008, 01:49 PM	#10
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Options - Preferences - Editing tab, change the "New Still Image Length" to 10 frames. You actually have to enter a number of seconds but it will tell you the number of frames that it corresponds to. Plus if you know it's 10 frames, that's 1/3 of a second at 30 fps. Then in the "Cut to overlap conversion" section, change the amount to 5 frames (once again, you have to enter it in seconds) Now select all the images in the Explorer window and drag the first one to the timeline. That should put them all on the timeline at the designated length and overlap. If they're already on the timeline and you don't want to delete/re-add, you'll need to use a script that can set the length and overlap amount. There are multiple scripts that can do that task. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

May 28th, 2008, 01:53 PM	#11
Paul Kellett Trustee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bristol UK Posts: 1,273	I just did that. New still image length (seconds) 5.000 .. 250 frames at 50.000fps. The text's are still 10 seconds long when i drag them onto the timeline. Paul. __________________ Round 2 GH5,FZ2000

May 27th, 2008, 11:06 PM	#2
Jim Ohair Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Laguna Niguel, California Posts: 62	Select all-then right click and select group -create new- hit control and click the edge of first or last event and when the little squiggle shows under it drag to shorten or extend all all.

May 27th, 2008, 11:12 PM	#3
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Jim, Thanks much! This is a lot better than what I was doing which was rendering the clip, then reading in the rendered clip and using CTRL drag. I knew there had to be a better way, but breaking the code as to what the help file calls what is - interesting!

May 28th, 2008, 01:26 PM	#6
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Thanks for all the comments. A couple of other questions have occurred to me though relative to stills on the timeline Is it possible to set the timeline to read in frames instead of seconds? And how can you set the time (or preferably the number of frames) that a still image should take when dropped into the time line? Each of the stills is a 4MB JPEG, so I can understand why Vegas may bog down a bit. I was thinking to set each still to last for a set number of frames with a crossfade to the next still such that each image is about 50% overlapped with both the preceding and succeeding images. The camera is locked down and running on a timer taking one exposure every 20 minutes for a full day and i want to use this as the view through the window of a CG room showing how the view changes smoothly through the day. It's to help visualize the effects of a major remodel.

May 28th, 2008, 01:57 PM	#12
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Edward, Thanks so much! I was going to try it right away, but just remembered that the memory card is back in the camera which will run until about 8PM tonight so I'll just have to wait.

May 28th, 2008, 03:22 PM	#13
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Paul, changing that setting should also change all future added generated medias. It won't do anything to already existing ones, though. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

May 28th, 2008, 04:29 PM	#14
Norris Combs Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: OC, CA Posts: 344	What should I resize the jpegs to? Each is about 3 mb. Thanks,

May 28th, 2008, 05:04 PM	#15
Mike Kujbida Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 2,770	Unless you're doing a deep zoom on an image, twice your project size is more than sufficient. For an SD NTSC project, that would be 1440 x 960. IrfanView has a very quick batch processor built into it. BTW, Vegas seems to prefer the PNG format over JPEG so, when I do a batch conversion, I also change the images to PNG at the same time.