Vegas 9 Still Photo Superimpose Won't Show at DVinfo.net

Jamie Dull · November 24th, 2009, 06:54 PM

I am just new to using Vegas 9 pro. I am trying to superimpose either a JPEG or PNG still image over the top of my video. I've tried it multiple times and each time I get different issues. Basically, it either doesn't show up in the Preview window, or when it is on the timeline, looks like a solid read box instead of a thumbnail of the photo. Sometimes it does show up, but then will dissappear.

Here is my set up:

Camera: Sony HDR-SR12 shooting AVCHD
Editing Properties - see screenshot
Computer: Custom Built 64 bit machine using Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit
8 GB Memory

Any help would be appreciated.

Jamie

Mike Kujbida · November 24th, 2009, 08:01 PM

Without knowing any of the image details, it's kind of hard to offer a definitive answer.
Feel free to post one of each (JPEG & PNG) so that we can test it and report back on our findings.
For example, are these full size images that you're shrinking down as required or are they on transparent backgrounds?
JPEGs generally won't work as it's much harder to get a transparent background with one.
For that reason, I always use PNG for graphics that I create in Photoshop with a transparent background.

Seth Bloombaum · November 24th, 2009, 08:04 PM

At first blush I'd suspect this has nothing to do with project, media, or computer properties, and something to do with your familiarity with making Vegas do what you want.

Am I right that this is your first attempt at Picture in Picture?

There's a couple basic concepts that are extremely important in this, keyframes and the sync cursor control.

I highly recommend Edward Troxel's excellent newsletters as a great place to start with these concepts. You're going to want to start with Volume 1 issues 2, 3 and 4, and Volume 2 issue 8. But then, you're going to want to read them all...

Don't be discouraged by the use of previous versions of Vegas in the older newsletters, this functionality has been basically unchanged over the development of Vegas.

Hope this helps. There are other instructional resources, too, but Edward's newsletters are very acessable and easy to use for most people.

Don Bloom · November 24th, 2009, 08:35 PM

my take at first look-since the text image shows RED in the timeline is the size of the image. Sometimes when the image is too big Vegas has a hard time seeing it and it shows RED like your's does. This has happened to me so many times it's not even funny. Knowing that I need to resize somethings smaller and still I forget, ooops, RED!
Not knowing for sure but just a thought.

Chris Harding · November 25th, 2009, 12:03 AM

Hi Jamie

I would also check your preferences!! They caught me out beautifully and I see the dreaded words "Media Offline" on your screenshot!! The default with Version 9 is that if you minimise Vegas, all media goes offline!! You can uncheck the media offline option for both video and audio in general preferences...I minimised Vegas to get some audio and when I went back into Vegas half my stuff was gone!!! Leave both options unchecked!!!

I always try to make my stills the "correct" size!! For normal 1440x1080 video that would mean your still needs to be 1920 x 1080 (due to the pixel aspect ratio) I would try a resized still as well and see if that helps????

Chris

Jamie Dull · November 28th, 2009, 05:23 PM

Thanks to everyone who responded. I took a closer look at the image. It is a PNG, and is 2908 X 796 pixels. I have used keyframes to manipulate photos before, but I am sure I have not fully mastered the technique.

Seth, I read all of Ed Troxels excellent tutorials. Thanks for pointing me to them. I will no doubt read many more of them.

In one of the Sony training videos for Vegas 9, they mention that it has improved support for larger images up to 4096 X 4096 pixels?

As far as Media being offline, it just goes offline when I am using my screen capture program to grab the screen shots. Media was not offline when I encountered my initial problem,

I ended up putting the photo in a blank project. I found I could manipulate the keyframes exactly as I wanted. I then rendered it and then put in back into my original project. Kinda klugie, but it worked.

I really appreciate what a great community this is,and how I can get great practical advice from experienced users. Thanks again to everyone.

November 24th, 2009, 06:54 PM	#1
Jamie Dull New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 24	Vegas 9 Still Photo Superimpose Won't Show I am just new to using Vegas 9 pro. I am trying to superimpose either a JPEG or PNG still image over the top of my video. I've tried it multiple times and each time I get different issues. Basically, it either doesn't show up in the Preview window, or when it is on the timeline, looks like a solid read box instead of a thumbnail of the photo. Sometimes it does show up, but then will dissappear. Here is my set up: Camera: Sony HDR-SR12 shooting AVCHD Editing Properties - see screenshot Computer: Custom Built 64 bit machine using Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit 8 GB Memory Any help would be appreciated. Jamie Attached Thumbnails

November 24th, 2009, 08:04 PM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	At first blush I'd suspect this has nothing to do with project, media, or computer properties, and something to do with your familiarity with making Vegas do what you want. Am I right that this is your first attempt at Picture in Picture? There's a couple basic concepts that are extremely important in this, keyframes and the sync cursor control. I highly recommend Edward Troxel's excellent newsletters as a great place to start with these concepts. You're going to want to start with Volume 1 issues 2, 3 and 4, and Volume 2 issue 8. But then, you're going to want to read them all... Don't be discouraged by the use of previous versions of Vegas in the older newsletters, this functionality has been basically unchanged over the development of Vegas. Hope this helps. There are other instructional resources, too, but Edward's newsletters are very acessable and easy to use for most people. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.

November 24th, 2009, 08:35 PM	#4
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	my take at first look-since the text image shows RED in the timeline is the size of the image. Sometimes when the image is too big Vegas has a hard time seeing it and it shows RED like your's does. This has happened to me so many times it's not even funny. Knowing that I need to resize somethings smaller and still I forget, ooops, RED! Not knowing for sure but just a thought. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

November 28th, 2009, 05:23 PM	#6
Jamie Dull New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 24	Thanks for the help Thanks to everyone who responded. I took a closer look at the image. It is a PNG, and is 2908 X 796 pixels. I have used keyframes to manipulate photos before, but I am sure I have not fully mastered the technique. Seth, I read all of Ed Troxels excellent tutorials. Thanks for pointing me to them. I will no doubt read many more of them. In one of the Sony training videos for Vegas 9, they mention that it has improved support for larger images up to 4096 X 4096 pixels? As far as Media being offline, it just goes offline when I am using my screen capture program to grab the screen shots. Media was not offline when I encountered my initial problem, I ended up putting the photo in a blank project. I found I could manipulate the keyframes exactly as I wanted. I then rendered it and then put in back into my original project. Kinda klugie, but it worked. I really appreciate what a great community this is,and how I can get great practical advice from experienced users. Thanks again to everyone.

November 24th, 2009, 08:01 PM	#2
Mike Kujbida Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Windsor, ON Canada Posts: 2,770	Without knowing any of the image details, it's kind of hard to offer a definitive answer. Feel free to post one of each (JPEG & PNG) so that we can test it and report back on our findings. For example, are these full size images that you're shrinking down as required or are they on transparent backgrounds? JPEGs generally won't work as it's much harder to get a transparent background with one. For that reason, I always use PNG for graphics that I create in Photoshop with a transparent background.

November 25th, 2009, 12:03 AM	#5
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Hi Jamie I would also check your preferences!! They caught me out beautifully and I see the dreaded words "Media Offline" on your screenshot!! The default with Version 9 is that if you minimise Vegas, all media goes offline!! You can uncheck the media offline option for both video and audio in general preferences...I minimised Vegas to get some audio and when I went back into Vegas half my stuff was gone!!! Leave both options unchecked!!! I always try to make my stills the "correct" size!! For normal 1440x1080 video that would mean your still needs to be 1920 x 1080 (due to the pixel aspect ratio) I would try a resized still as well and see if that helps???? Chris