Soft-edge vignette frame for type? at DVinfo.net

Sam Renkin · January 14th, 2011, 11:57 AM

Does anyone know how to scroll a list of titles or names (vertically) within a "vignetted" window? I don't want to see the words enter or exit at the edge of the 1440 x 1080 frame - instead, they should only be visible within an area with the approximate dimensions of 90% title safe. The edges of the vignette window should be soft. But most importantly, the vignette window border should be transparent/invisible.

I tried doing what I know; I created a text media event, entered the type, and set up the travel of the type in the text timeline. Then I tried using the "Sony Border" effect, but the soft edge was TOO soft. So I tried using pan/crop to make the type window smaller than the project background, but that didn't work - it either (a) shrank the type but kept the hard edge of the frame or (b) magnified the size of the type.

Does anyone know of another way to do this? Thanks!

Sam

Edward Troxel · January 14th, 2011, 12:00 PM

Drop a cookie cutter on it and feather the edges.

Sam Renkin · January 14th, 2011, 02:39 PM

Thanks for the quick response Ed - your advise is truly appreciated! I'm not familiar with using the cookie cutter. Can you tell me a little more about it?

Sam

Jeff Harper · January 14th, 2011, 03:34 PM

Sam, apply it to whatever you wish, then play with the settings. Feather the border to your desire...there isn't much to it. Try it out then come back and let us know how it worked for you. You almost have to play with it to understand it, as with any effect.

Craig Longman · January 14th, 2011, 11:36 PM

And Sam, just in case you were as confused by it's name as I was when I first met it, it literally is called "Cookie Cutter" in the FX list.

Then, as Jeff said, play around. It is relatively limited but does still have many things it can accomplish with some clever thought.

Hope this helps,

Sam Renkin · January 19th, 2011, 02:25 PM

Thanks Ed, Jeff and Craig -

The cookie cutter did just what I needed, although it's disappointing that you can't change the shape of the cut beyond the preset geometric options.

As always, I appreciate your wisdom!

Robin Davies-Rollinson · January 19th, 2011, 03:28 PM

You can create your own cookie shape by going into Pan/Crop and selecting "Mask."
Do this on a solid background of whatever colour you need. Using the "pen" item, click and draw the shape you want until all the points are joined up and the mask is created, then apply the "negative" mode switch.
Place your titles on a lower track, add "feather" to the mask and you'll see the titles in the opening. You can use this mode for any number of effects...

January 14th, 2011, 11:57 AM	#1
Sam Renkin Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 211	Soft-edge vignette frame for type? Does anyone know how to scroll a list of titles or names (vertically) within a "vignetted" window? I don't want to see the words enter or exit at the edge of the 1440 x 1080 frame - instead, they should only be visible within an area with the approximate dimensions of 90% title safe. The edges of the vignette window should be soft. But most importantly, the vignette window border should be transparent/invisible. I tried doing what I know; I created a text media event, entered the type, and set up the travel of the type in the text timeline. Then I tried using the "Sony Border" effect, but the soft edge was TOO soft. So I tried using pan/crop to make the type window smaller than the project background, but that didn't work - it either (a) shrank the type but kept the hard edge of the frame or (b) magnified the size of the type. Does anyone know of another way to do this? Thanks! Sam

January 14th, 2011, 12:00 PM	#2
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Drop a cookie cutter on it and feather the edges. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

January 14th, 2011, 03:34 PM	#4
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Sam, apply it to whatever you wish, then play with the settings. Feather the border to your desire...there isn't much to it. Try it out then come back and let us know how it worked for you. You almost have to play with it to understand it, as with any effect. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

January 14th, 2011, 11:36 PM	#5
Craig Longman Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London, ON Posts: 175	And Sam, just in case you were as confused by it's name as I was when I first met it, it literally is called "Cookie Cutter" in the FX list. Then, as Jeff said, play around. It is relatively limited but does still have many things it can accomplish with some clever thought. Hope this helps, __________________ CraigL

January 19th, 2011, 03:28 PM	#7
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	You can create your own cookie shape by going into Pan/Crop and selecting "Mask." Do this on a solid background of whatever colour you need. Using the "pen" item, click and draw the shape you want until all the points are joined up and the mask is created, then apply the "negative" mode switch. Place your titles on a lower track, add "feather" to the mask and you'll see the titles in the opening. You can use this mode for any number of effects... __________________ TV Director / Cameraman Last edited by Robin Davies-Rollinson; January 20th, 2011 at 12:40 AM.

January 14th, 2011, 02:39 PM	#3
Sam Renkin Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 211	Thanks for the quick response Ed - your advise is truly appreciated! I'm not familiar with using the cookie cutter. Can you tell me a little more about it? Sam

January 19th, 2011, 02:25 PM	#6
Sam Renkin Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 211	Thanks Ed, Jeff and Craig - The cookie cutter did just what I needed, although it's disappointing that you can't change the shape of the cut beyond the preset geometric options. As always, I appreciate your wisdom!