Manual Serif MoviePlus X3 (page 147 of 212) (English)

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Contents

1. Welcome to MoviePlus X3!...............................1

What's new?.............................................................................................................4

Ease of use ........................................................................................................4

Gathering and managing media ..............................................................5

Performance.....................................................................................................6

Audio ..................................................................................................................6

Text......................................................................................................................7

Exporting...........................................................................................................7

Other improvements ....................................................................................8

Established features..............................................................................................8

Licensed feature unlockling.................................................................... 10

Installation.............................................................................................................11

System requirements................................................................................. 11

First-time install ........................................................................................... 12

Manual install................................................................................................15

Modifying, repairing or removing MoviePlus................................... 16

Removing MoviePlus .................................................................................17

Repairing MoviePlus ..................................................................................17

2. Getting Started ...............................................19

Visual Reference ..................................................................................................21

Starting a new project....................................................................................... 24

The Startup Wizard .....................................................................................24

MoviePlus projects......................................................................................25

Adding media files to your project............................................................... 27

The Media pane ........................................................................................... 29

Adding files to your library ......................................................................30

Capturing video................................................................................................... 31

Contents

Scene detection .................................................................................................. 35

Trimming............................................................................................................... 37

Previewing your project................................................................................... 39

Checking audio levels ............................................................................... 43

3. Editing in Storyboard mode............................45

Storyboard basics............................................................................................... 47

Adding media files............................................................................................. 50

Selecting clips...................................................................................................... 51

Arranging clips .................................................................................................... 52

Deleting clips................................................................................................ 53

Resizing clips........................................................................................................ 53

Applying transitions .......................................................................................... 55

Using pan and zoom ......................................................................................... 58

Using CG clips ...................................................................................................... 60

Backgrounds................................................................................................. 60

QuickShapes ................................................................................................. 60

Adjusting a clip's colour ........................................................................... 61

Adjusting a clip's transparency.............................................................. 62

More about QuickShapes ........................................................................ 63

4. Editing in Timeline mode................................65

Timeline basics .................................................................................................... 67

Introduction.................................................................................................. 67

Timeline elements ...................................................................................... 69

Adding and arranging tracks ......................................................................... 73

Adding media files............................................................................................. 74

Selecting clips...................................................................................................... 75

Selecting multiple clips ............................................................................ 76

How selected objects are displayed .................................................... 77

Zooming, scrolling and seeking.................................................................... 79

Contents

Zooming......................................................................................................... 79

Scrolling.......................................................................................................... 79

Seeking............................................................................................................80

Scrubbing....................................................................................................... 80

Arranging clips.....................................................................................................80

Simple arrangement—clips following one another ......................81

Making one clip appear on top of another........................................ 81

Deleting clips ................................................................................................82

Linking clips together for easy editing................................................ 82

Aligning frames............................................................................................84

Rippling........................................................................................................... 84

Snapping ........................................................................................................85

Using groups ........................................................................................................ 86

Applying Opacity to Groups....................................................................88

Audio Groups................................................................................................88

Master groups ..............................................................................................88

Video effect groups ....................................................................................89

Splitting clips........................................................................................................ 89

Cropping ................................................................................................................90

Cropping with Masks .................................................................................91

Using envelopes.................................................................................................. 92

Displaying envelopes ................................................................................ 93

Preset Envelopes ......................................................................................... 94

Editing envelopes ....................................................................................... 95

Resetting envelopes................................................................................... 95

Copying envelopes..................................................................................... 95

Saving envelopes ........................................................................................96

Adjusting Keyframes..........................................................................................96

The Keyframe View..................................................................................... 96

What are keyframes?.................................................................................. 97

Modifying the default keyframe............................................................ 98

Adding and Modifying keyframes ........................................................98

Selecting keyframes ...................................................................................99

Contents

Moving keyframes ....................................................................................100

Navigating keyframes ............................................................................. 100

Copying keyframes ..................................................................................100

Altering rate of change between keyframes ..................................101

Positioning keyframes.............................................................................102

Applying transitions ........................................................................................103

Modifying transitions ..............................................................................106

Adjusting transition properties ...........................................................107

Applying transitions over time ............................................................ 107

Using markers ....................................................................................................109

Using markers ............................................................................................109

Navigating markers..................................................................................110

Using chapter points ...............................................................................111

Using selection markers .........................................................................112

Looping................................................................................................................113

Static extensions...............................................................................................115

Slowing down and speeding up.................................................................116

Video overlays ...................................................................................................116

Top clip made smaller.............................................................................118

Top clip has transparent regions.........................................................118

Top clip with reduced opacity .............................................................120

5. Effects..........................................................121

Applying video effects....................................................................................123

Applying effects ........................................................................................125

2D filter effects ..................................................................................................128

Creating outlines.......................................................................................129

Blur .................................................................................................................130

3D filter effects ..................................................................................................130

Overview ......................................................................................................131

3D bump map ............................................................................................133

3D pattern map .........................................................................................133

Contents

Transparency ..............................................................................................133

3D reflection map .....................................................................................133

3D lighting...................................................................................................134

Colour correction..............................................................................................134

Applying audio effects....................................................................................135

Applying audio effects ............................................................................137

Using third-party effects.........................................................................138

6. Audio ............................................................139

Introducing audio.............................................................................................141

Audio editing..............................................................................................142

Adding and replacing audio.........................................................................143

Adding audio to the storyboard..........................................................143

Adding audio to the timeline ...............................................................144

Audio fading ...............................................................................................145

Volume and pan................................................................................................147

Adjusting volume......................................................................................148

Muting...........................................................................................................148

Adjusting pan .............................................................................................148

Adding narration...............................................................................................149

Setting up your microphone.................................................................149

Recording.....................................................................................................150

Ripping audio CDs............................................................................................152

7. Text ..............................................................155

Adding text .........................................................................................................157

Text clips or overlays?..............................................................................158

Titles...............................................................................................................158

Captions........................................................................................................159

Credits ...........................................................................................................160

Adding more text......................................................................................161

Contents

Manipulating text.............................................................................................161

Selecting text..............................................................................................162

Editing text..................................................................................................163

Manipulating text .....................................................................................163

Formatting text .................................................................................................165

Animating text...................................................................................................167

Exporting...................................................... 171

Exporting movies..............................................................................................173

Exporting movies to disc ...............................................................................174

Disc settings................................................................................................174

PAL vs. NTSC Video Standards .............................................................177

Using Menu Designer .....................................................................................177

Galleries........................................................................................................179

Customizing a template .........................................................................179

Editing chapter properties ....................................................................182

Disc options ................................................................................................185

Setting background music ....................................................................185

Writing project...........................................................................................186

Animating your menu.............................................................................186

Closing Menu Designer ..........................................................................187

Exporting as a file .............................................................................................187

Exporting to iPod/PSP ....................................................................................188

iPod................................................................................................................189

via PSP...........................................................................................................190

Exporting to YouTube.....................................................................................191

Archiving to camcorder (Print to Tape)....................................................193

9. Index ............................................................197

Contents

Welcome to

MoviePlus X3!

2 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 3

Welcome to MoviePlus X3, the powerful video-editing program fully

certified for Windows® Vista and XP. MoviePlus is the program of choice for

the video editor looking for easy and intuitive ways to create and share your

own movies.

MoviePlus X3 offers an exciting experience at all the key steps of movie

creation—from importing media, media management (trimming and scene

detection), video editing via storyboard or timeline (for ease-of-use vs.

power), through to exporting your project to YouTube, DVD, file, iPod, or

PSP.

In this latest release, the new

Storyboard mode offers a new approach to

MoviePlus video editing. Ideal for simpler projects, this mode lets you:

Sequence your clips along a storyboard one-by-one.

Change clip order by drag and drop individually or as multiple

selections.

Apply stylish titles, captions and credits as text clips or as overlaid

text ("floating" over your video). Apply fantastic animated effects to

your text via an Animations gallery.

Resize clips to remove unwanted borders or areas of your video or

image.

Pan and zoom for "slideshow" image montages ("Ken Burns effect").

Introduce transitions between clips automatically, and swap out at

any time.

Apply cool special effects.

Use the How To pane for always-at-hand assistance when you need to

perform a storyboard task.

4 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

Before moving on, you'll be pleased to hear that MoviePlus's award-winning

multi-track timeline remains as powerful and versatile as ever. Arrange video

and audio clips along a chronological timeline, while working with an

unlimited number of video and audio tracks (or groups) for a traditional

"layers-based" approach! Simply Switch to Timeline mode to unleash the

tiger in MoviePlus!

Whichever mode you plan to work in, you'll be the envy of your audience at

your movie's first screening.

Let’s look at the other new features of MoviePlus X3, followed by the

established features which have made MoviePlus so popular with so many

budding movie directors.

What's new?

Ease of use

Fantastic new look!

MoviePlus sports a new contemporary appearance that will make your

video editing experience that much more enjoyable.

Easy-to-use Panes

Enjoy larger and more intuitive panes which can float and be resized—

design your own MoviePlus workspace! Make use of Full screen

previews on additional monitors.

Editing Toolbars for More Efficiency

Context-sensitive toolbars for storyboard and timeline; toolbars only

offer the tools you need, when you need them.

Switch Editing Modes

Swap between the simplicity of the new

storyboard and the power of

the

timeline. A single click gives an easy jump between either mode.

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 5

Edit multiple attributes

Change individual, specific, or all attributes (e.g. transitions, clip

durations) at the same time.

Gathering and managing media

Download Media

Download from HDD/DVD camcorder (AVC HD support), USB

mass storage devices (hard drive, memory stick/card, flash drives),

or CD/DVD. MoviePlus transfers media files straight from your

device, ready for use in your Media pane. Media can be saved to a

chosen destination.

Quick Sourcing of Video, Audio, Image Content

Capture video and audio directly from sources like a DV (digital

video) camcorder and video capture card. Take images straight off

your camera.

Trimming

Trim video clips to your preferred length in a dedicated Trimming

dialog, without affecting your original video clip.

Automatic Scene Detection and Management

Detect and utilize scenes within movies from tape-based camcorders

(even adjust detection sensitivity). Exclude unwanted scenes, merge

scenes together, or even add manual cuts to trim and split scenes to

your liking! The original file is left intact, not split into pieces by the

process.

Media pane

Your project's media (video, image, and audio files) can be gathered

together in a Media pane before commitment to your storyboard (or

timeline). For media-rich projects, you can organize media content

into folders or even reuse media in subsequent projects by adding to

the pane's Library tab. Fix incorrectly oriented image and video files by

one-click rotation.

6 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

Performance

Pre-Rendering for improved video playback

Render transitions, video clips, or a time range in the background for

improved preview performance; lightning fast previews for complex

timelines and clips with multiple processor-intensive effects!

Audio

Narration Recording

Record voice-overs while you play back your movie—simply set up

your microphone, press record and begin talking!

Digital CD Ripping

Rip your audio CDs—great for creating movie soundtracks from your

favourite songs.

Dolby® Digital Stereo Support

For

DVD export, MoviePlus now uses Dolby Digital to encode and

compress audio (leaving more room for video!). Video files with

Dolby Digital streams can also import without the need for third party

codecs.

Audio Effects

Choose from a range of audio special effects—Reverb, Bass, Fill Left,

Fill Right channel-related effects. Even use third-party VST effect

plug-ins.

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 7

Text

In-Place Text Editing

Edit titles, captions, and credits directly on the Video Preview pane for

accurate text design and representation. Drag multiple text objects to

position text independently of each other.

Text Styles

For titles, captions, and credits, the new

Text Styles gallery offers

hand-picked styles for that professional look. Apply a full range of

character formatting for custom text styles.

Text Animation

Bring text to life by choosing In and/or Out animations, all from the

new Galleries pane. Fly, Spin, Blinds, Explode, and Type are among an

impressive collection of preset categories.

Exporting

Even Easier Exporting

Export to any media, file or device using either Basic or Advanced

mode—the former uses unchanged project settings, the latter lets you

modify project settings for export in a custom export template, which

can be saved.

Share Worldwide with YouTube

Export your movie then automatically upload to your YouTube

account.

PSP/iPod Export

Export mp4 movies to play on these popular devices. Upload to PSP

directly from MoviePlus; import movie into iTunes for later syncing

with iPod.

DVD Menu Designer

For handy chapter navigation, the Menu Designer lets you create your

very own menu designs from a diverse range of pre-built templates, by

8 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

changing layout, background images/music, titling, and button styles.

The designer now offers DVD Preview (with remote control

simulator), video menu backgrounds, and manual positioning of

menu buttons. For multi-page menus, each page can adopt its own

appearance (e.g., layout, background, etc). Options let you play your

first chapter before menu displays and create text-only menus.

Other improvements

Video effects now include Old Film, Motion Blur, Noise, with an

Chroma Key effect that inverts. Share your movies much more easily

with basic export settings. Filter effects now include

Outlines, Blur,

and a 3D

Reflection Map effect. Now archive to HDV camcorder.

Menuless DVDs let you play your movies directly. Create ISO disc

images for DVDs and VCDs—write using any disc authoring software.

Established features

Audio levels

Avoid audio distortion with the

Levels pane—audio level meters

indicate if your current audio levels hit the Red. Use as a master

control volume to normalize project audio levels prior to movie

export. Audio waveforms for any audio clip are optionally displayed

on the timeline to help synchronize audio events.

Cool Transitions

Automatic transitions between two clips makes MoviePlus a breeze.

MoviePlus offers dozens of built-in, customizable transitions... enjoy

standards like wipes and cross-fades through to stretches, pushes,

pixellation, and 3D transitions.

Computer Generated (CG) clips

For movie interludes or backdrops to titles or credits, add coloured

Backgrounds (solid or gradient fills) or QuickShapes such as hearts,

chevrons, hearts, teardrops, and zigzags (plus many more).

QuickShapes are great for masking effects!

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 9

Stunning Effects

Enhance your movies with a wide range of customizable correction

filters and special effects. Correction filters include basic brightness,

contrast, gamma adjustments, sharpen... and many more! Special

effects such as

Shadow, Glow, Bevel, Emboss, Colour Fill, Outlines,

Reflections, and Feathering, as well as 3D lighting and surface effects

are supported. Apply individually or cumulatively. Even perform

reverse video playback as a special effect.

Keyframe Controls

Transitions, effects, video motion, opacity, plus audio volume and

stereo panning are all "key-framable". You can specify changes over

time and all the in-between steps are calculated for you. The changes

themselves can also adopt different speeds or accelerations by

changing the Keyframe properties.

Preset Envelopes

Use MoviePlus’s advanced Keyframe technology is even more

accessible through a comprehensive new range of preset Envelopes—

these can be simply dragged and dropped onto video and audio tracks

and will perform previously complex video editing techniques, such as

Opacity, Transform and Crop, with ease.

Transparent Overlays

All of MoviePlus's video tracks support video transparency to

superimpose not just titles but any 32-bit transparent image (or video)

over your movie's action. Make portions of existing video transparent

by adding a Mask (as you might in a bitmap-editing program like Serif

PhotoPlus) or by picking a solid colour to become transparent. Use

popular Blend Modes to adjust how your layered videos' pixels interact

with each other.

10 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

Multiple Picture-in-Picture

Create professional picture-in-picture effects easily using video clips or

still frames... Easily edit the size and position of your video in the

Video Preview pane. Perfect for showing supplemental visuals without

detracting from the main movie, or tiling multiple videos together for

a dynamic scene.

Built-in DVD Authoring!

Now bring your movies to the masses with quick and easy authoring

to DVD or VCD (includes auto-erase)!

Don't forget to register your new copy, using the Registration Wizard on the

Help menu. That way, we can keep you informed of new developments and

future upgrades!

Licensed feature unlockling

After a fixed time period, you may have to unlock features as part of the

MoviePlus import or export process—this is purely for Serif licensing reasons

and does not incur any charge. Once unlocked, the feature will be freely

available and you will not need to unlock the MoviePlus X3 feature again on

your computer.

In unlocking, Serif does not gather personal information from your

computer, or any other information that may impinge confidentiality.

To unlock features, you will need to connect your computer to the

Internet.

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 11

Installation

System requirements

Minimum

Intel

Pentium

II or AMD Athlon

™

XP processor

256MB RAM

382MB free hard drive space (2-5GB of additional space may be

required during the composition and export of video projects)

Graphics card and monitor capable of 800x600 display size and 24-bit

colour depth

Windows-compatible sound controller

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive (for program install)

Microsoft Windows

XP or Vista

Microsoft DirectX 9.0b device drivers (included with install)

Microsoft Windows Media Video support files (included with install)

An Internet account and connection (for Auto Update and Licensed

Feature Unlocking)

12 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

Recommended

Intel

Pentium

4 Hyper-Threaded processor or Multi-core processor

512MB RAM (ideally ≥1GB)

Fast hard disk (7200rpm drive with dedicated ATA133 connection or

better)

Modern graphics card and monitor capable of 1024x768 display size

(ideally 1280x1024)

In addition to the typical processing, disk, and graphics requirements, there

are some optional items that may enhance your use of MoviePlus.

Optional

FireWire (IEEE1394) support for connecting tape-based camcorders

Video capture card for digitizing and editing analogue video clips

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (for HDV video capture)

DVD±R or CD-R drive for Disc writing

Apple QuickTime software (included with MoviePlus install; up to

156MB)

First-time install

To install Serif MoviePlus X3, simply insert the Program CD into your

DVD/CD drive. If AutoPlay is enabled on the drive, this automatically starts

the Setup Wizard. If you are installing MoviePlus on Microsoft Windows®

Vista, you may need to click on Run autorun.exe from within the Autoplay

dialog. If AutoPlay is not enabled (or doesn't start the install automatically),

use the Manual install method described below.

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 13

1. The Setup Wizard begins with a Welcome dialog, click Next>.

2. To add customer information, enter your User Name, Organization

(if applicable), and the software Product Key that either came with

your software (on your CD's case) or was previously emailed to you.

For more information, click the

. Click Next>.

3. Please read through the scrollable license agreement, then if in you

agree to terms, enable the I Accept... button. Click Next>.

4. You'll need to choose a Default Video Standard. Set this broadcasting

and recording standard according to the region in which you intend to

share your movie—NTSC (North and South American continents,

Japan and South Korea) or PAL (Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia,

and Oceania). All new MoviePlus projects will adopt this standard by

default. Click Next>.

5. (Optional) Install QuickTime if you intend to use mov files in

MoviePlus. Click Next>.

6. In the Setup Options dialog, you have the opportunity to customize

your installation.

To install the recommended options, simply click Next. However, if

you are concerned about disk space, you may choose to run some of

the features from the DVD/CD. The drop-down boxes display the

available options for each feature:

Will be installed on the local hard drive. If this option is

selected, it will install the feature to your hard disk but will not

automatically install any subfeatures that may be available.

Entire feature will be installed on the local hard drive. By

selecting this option, all of the subfeatures relating to this feature will

also be installed. Some subfeatures can require a substantial amount of

hard disk space.

14 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

Will be installed to run from the CD. If this option is selected,

you will save space on your hard disk but you will need to have the

installation media at hand to access the features.

Entire feature will be installed to run from the CD. This

option will allow you to access the content and all of its subfeatures

from the installation media, saving you disk space.

Will be installed to run from network. If you are installing the

software from a network, this option will allow you to access the

content from the network storage, saving you disk space.

Entire feature will be installed to run from network. If you

are installing the software from a network, this option will allow you to

access the features and all related subfeatures from the network

storage, saving you disk space.

Entire feature will be unavailable. By choosing this option,

you will not be able to use the selected feature. However, if you later

decide that you want to use the feature, you will be able to install it by

modifying your installation.

When you select a feature installation option, the information pane on the

right of the list will inform you of the amount of hard disk space that the

feature needs. Not all installation options are available for all features.

If disk space is not an issue, you may decide to install the entire program

to your hard disk. This can improve performance and you will be able to

use all of the features without the need to keep the program disk in your

DVD/CD drive.

If you do not want to install the program to its default location, click the

Change... button. Browse to the folder that you want to install MoviePlus

in and click OK. Caution should be taken here as changing the default

settings may affect subsequent installs of later versions of the software.

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 15

Changing the installation defaults may result in some options of the

program being unavailable. It is only recommended for advanced users.

7. At the Shortcut Options screen, you can choose to automatically create

shortcuts by checking the option boxes. Click Next>.

8. Click Install to accept your settings and install the program. The dialog will

display a progress bar as the program installs. Once installation is complete,

click Finish to exit the Setup Wizard.

Your installation is now complete and you can begin using Serif MoviePlus

X3!

Manual install

For manual installation, use My Computer (Windows® XP), or Computer

(Windows® Vista), to navigate to the DVD/CD drive in which your

MoviePlus Program CD is located. Double-click the DVD/CD drive and then

double-click setup.exe in the displayed folder. If you are installing on

Windows® Vista, choose Serif MoviePlus X3 from the warning dialog

(optional). Follow the on-screen installation instructions.

16 Welcome to MoviePlus X3

Modifying, repairing or removing MoviePlus

To modify, repair or remove the installation:

Microsoft Windows® XP:

1. Click the

button and select Control Panel from the

Windows Start menu.

2. Double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.

3. Locate Serif MoviePlus X3 in the list of installed programs, then select

it.

4. Click the Change button to make changes to the install via the Setup

Wizard.

Microsoft Windows® Vista:

1. Click the

Start button and click Computer.

2. Click the button.

3. Locate Serif MoviePlus X3 in the list of installed programs, then select

it.

4. Click the Change button to make changes to the install via the Setup

Wizard.

You can also access this via Programs and Features by clicking Control

Panel from the Windows Start menu (or Settings>Control Panel from the

"Classic" Windows Start menu), clicking Programs and then clicking

Programs and Features.

Welcome to MoviePlus X3 17

To change the installed features:

Open the Setup Wizard as described in the previous steps. To change the

installation, select the Modify option and then click Next. From here, you

will be able to make changes such as removing some of the program features.

Adding additional content may prompt you to insert your original

MoviePlus X3 Program CD; removing content may or may not require the

CD. See the steps in First-time install if you are unsure about any of the

options.

Some features, such as fonts, cannot be removed by the Setup Wizard

once they have been installed. This is due to the way they are used by

other applications. Modifying the installation settings in this case will

never free up disk space. Fonts in particular, will even remain if the

program is completely uninstalled.

Removing MoviePlus

Open the Setup Wizard. Select the Remove option and click Next. Click

Remove to completely remove MoviePlus from your computer.

Repairing MoviePlus

On occasion, it may be necessary to repair your installation of MoviePlus.

This can happen if system files are overwritten by another program or if they

are accidentally deleted.

Open the Setup Wizard and select the Repair option and click Next. Click

Repair. The repair process will reinstall all files and registry entries, therefore

replacing any missing or incorrectly overwritten files. Once the repair has

completed, open MoviePlus.

Getting

Started

20 Getting Started

Getting Started 21

Visual Reference

Menu bar

The Menu bar in MoviePlus offers a typical range of drop-down menu

commands; some are standard to most programs, such as File>New,

File>Open, File>Save, Edit>Undo and so on, and some commands are of

course specific to MoviePlus functionality, such as Insert>Video Track or

Tools>Capture. Hover over any option and read its description on the Status

Bar for assistance.

22 Getting Started

Standard toolbar

Provides a typical range of standard editing tools, typically creating new or

opening existing projects, as well as cutting, pasting, and undo/redo

operations.

Tasks toolbar

Offers access to the Menu Designer (for menu-driven DVDs/VCDs) and a

range of movie exporting options (to disc, camera, file, iPod, PSP, or

YouTube).

Storyboard/Timeline toolbars

These toolbars host essentialtools for video editing in Storyboard or Timeline

mode, respectively. A Context toolbar alongside either toolbar offers tools

relevent to the currnelty seelected object type (clip, transition, etc.).

How To pane

Shows step-by-step instructions for making and exporting movies in

Storyboard mode.

Video Preview pane

Displays your current project, with built-in project playback control and a

host of viewing tools.

Media pane

Stores and arranges media files that you've imported, downloaded, captured,

and ripped, before dragging to the storyboard (or timeline).

Properties pane

Use the pane to display and modify the properties of any currently selected

object (clip, transition, effect, etc.).

Galleries pane

Use the pane to apply transitions, video effects, and text animations by drag

and drop of presets. Audio effect and Envelope presets show in Timeline

mode.

Getting Started 23

Storyboard

The default editing workspace for MoviePlus, the storyboard can be used to

add and arrange all video, image, or audio clips along a simple time-based

strip. Apply transitions, effects, and add narration.

Timeline

A more advanced workspace based on a traditional video editing timeline;

clips can be arranged on "layered" tracks for blending, mixing, and other

more complex editing techniques such as masking, overlays, and transforms.

Status bar

Displays helpful, context-sensitive messages about MoviePlus interface

elements, as well as status information for selected operations.

24 Getting Started

Starting a new project

The Startup Wizard

The MoviePlus Startup Wizard offers easy access to the most common

starting tasks after you launch MoviePlus (or when you click File>New), i.e.

Start New Project (create a new project; check Widescreen if needed)

Open Saved Project (to browse your PC for previously saved

MoviePlus projects)

Browse Tutorials (learn all about MoviePlus with PDF tutorials)

The Startup Wizard is displayed by default when you launch MoviePlus. If

you don’t want to use the Startup Wizard again, check the “Don't show this

wizard again” box. You can switch it on again via the Use Startup Wizard

check box in Tools>Options... (General tab).

Click the

cancel button or press Escape on your keyboard to bypass the

Startup Wizard and launch MoviePlus with an empty project. The type of

Getting Started 25

project will match the last project you selected. By default, MoviePlus will be

launched in

Storyboard mode (see p. 47), an easy-to-use workspace for

simpler projects.

MoviePlus projects

MoviePlus bases its movie compositions around "projects". You can save and

reopen your projects at any time for ongoing editing. A MoviePlus project

file is a collection of project settings (the video size and shape, audio

properties, aspect ratio, etc.) plus information about how all your clips are

arranged and edited on the timeline. Custom project templates can also be

created from any template preset.

To start a new project from the Startup Wizard:

From the Startup Wizard, select Start New Project. MoviePlus

automatically picks a DVD project setting with the video standard

(PAL or NTSC) set according to your installation.

MoviePlus lets you review and possibly adopt different project settings if

necessary.

To use a different project setting:

1. Select Project Settings... from the File menu.

2. Pick a different project template preset. Templates include DV presets

(for maintaining DV movie quality) and DVD presets (for projects

intended to create TV- or computer-ready DVDs). Some of these

formats offer NTSC/PAL choices for you to choose depending on your

local standard, and a Widescreen variant in each case.

26 Getting Started

3. Click the OK button to save your changes.

You can modify the current project settings at any time by modifying its

template.

To create a custom project template:

1. Select Project Settings... from the File menu.

2. From the Project Settings dialog, pick a template in the Templates list

on which to base your new project settings (or select the Multimedia

preset for general use).

3. Click the Modify button to make a copy of the project, now named

(Untitled).

Change various settings including the pixel size of your project, the

Pixel aspect ratio (many types of output use stretched pixels), the

video Frame rate (number of frames per second), Interlacing, and

Audio sampling rates.

Getting Started 27

4. When you are happy with your settings you can save your project

template for reuse—simply click the Save button, type a new preset

name and click OK.

Adding media files to your project

The media files you use for your project could reside on a variety of devices,

typically on your HDD camcorder's hard disk, DVD camcorder's internal

DVD drive, camcorder tape, digital camera, but also on any computer drive

(local, network, or DVD/CD). Adding media files simply involves importing,

downloading, capturing, or ripping media files into MoviePlus's Media pane,

i.e.

Media files are added by clicking the

button at the top of

the Media pane. The flyout lets you:

A standard dialog lets you navigate to, then select one or more

28 Getting Started

media files from local disk or network drive for import directly into your

Media pane. Use Shift-select or Ctrl-select for adjacent or non-adjacent

multiple selection before download.

Download media from your HDD/DVD camcorder, USB Hard

drive, USB memory stick, memory card reader, or CD/DVD. For

HDD/DVD camcorders, adding media is easier compared to

capturing

video from camcorder tape (this is still the method used on present-day

lower-specification camcorders, e.g. Mini DV). The device's hard disk or

DVD is treated as a removable storage device.

From the Download button, select the connected Device as a remote drive

in the dialog, then Browse... to a chosen folder, then click Next>. In the

next screen, the device's media files can be selected and downloaded to your

computer's Destination folder by clicking Finish. Selected files show in the

Media pane automatically.

With your tape-based camcorder connected via USB/FireWire

you can

capture your movie's video footage and/or audio to a file, with

optional scene splitting.

Rip audio tracks from your favourite audio CDs straight into the

Media pane.

Getting Started 29

The Media pane

An important function of the Media pane is to manage your media files

before committing media to your storyboard or timeline. In particular, you

can reorder files by clicking and dragging a thumbnail (or selection of) into

the position you wish it to appear on the storyboard (or timeline).

You can fix incorrectly oriented images or movies obtained from your

digital camera by using the Rotate Left and Rotate Right buttons. Media

files can also be copied, renamed, or removed from your project within the

Media pane by right-click.

30 Getting Started

Remember that MoviePlus does not perform these operations on your

original media, but instead on project "copies" of the original, thus preserving

your valuable original media in their original file locations.

Hover over any media file to view its media properties, and if a video file,

a preview of the video.

Scene detection and trimming can then be carried out with

respective buttons from within the Media pane (see

Scene Detection and

Trimming on p. 35 and p. 37). After that, media files can then be added to

your storyboard by drag and drop. See

Adding media files on p. 50.

Thumbnails in the Media pane are just links to their original files (try

right-click Properties... to view file location). As a result, changes made

to files within MoviePlus will not affect the originals.

Adding files to your library

If you want to reuse media files in other MoviePlus projects you can save

them to your library. Simply right-click the media file and choose Add to

Library. The view changes to Library view where you'll see the file stored in

the library's root folder but you can create your own folder structure by

selecting New Folder on right-click (you can also create folders under the

default Projects tab!). You'll also see some resources such as titles,

backgrounds, credits, and some tutorial workspace files.

To return to your current project, click the

tab.

To revisit your library at any time (even when using new projects), click the

pane's tab.

Getting Started 31

Capturing video

MoviePlus makes it easy to capture your own video and audio footage to

your PC from tape-based digital camcorders (e.g., Mini DV), analogue video

sources (e.g., analogue camcorders, VHS, or TV; all via a capture card) or

USB web cams.

Remember that videos stored on tapeless camcorders can be downloaded

directly from the device's hard disk or internal DVD. See

Adding media files

to your project on p.

27.

To set up and initiate the video capture, a Capture Video dialog is used.

This example shows in-progress capture of digital video footage with

associated audio from a tape-based camcorder. As you capture (by pressing

the Record button), the footage is written to a file(s), which shows directly

within the Media pane.

32 Getting Started

To launch Capture Video dialog:

1. Click the

button on the Media pane.

2. From the flyout, select the

Capture button

Choose Capture... from the Tools menu.

To connect your camcorder or other capture device:

If your camcorder is properly connected and supported (and is set to

playback mode rather than record mode if appropriate), you should see a

video preview in the preview window of the Capture Video dialog when your

camcorder is playing.

If you are using an analogue video source, ensure that it is connected to your

video capture device (or a USB socket in the case of a web cam).

To choose an appropriate capture format:

If your source footage is on a tape-based camcorder, the video and audio

capture settings are greyed out in the Source Properties button as the

capture format is fixed to the camcorder's format. However, if your source

footage is being captured via a video capture device or USB web cam, you can

choose a file format suited to your video type by choosing this button.

It is recommended that you capture at a resolution and quality as high as

possible to achieve high quality results—it is best to aim as high as the source

footage resolution and quality. Even when you ultimately aim for your

resulting video to be very compact, for instance to make it suitable for

download from the Internet, you can defer the file-size-smashing resizing

Getting Started 33

and compression operations to final export time, don't compromise your

captured quality!

To set a suitable file storage location:

Captured video footage can occupy a large amount of hard drive space when

it is transferred to your PC, so it is important to choose a drive location with

lots of room when capturing video.

Choose Options>Folders from the Tools menu, then Browse... for a

different Capture folder.

During capture, you can define a different destination Folder within the

Capture Video dialog (Output section).

To preview and cue your video footage:

For tape-based camcorders, "navigation" controls under the preview window

allow you to cue your tape to the point at which you would like capture to

start; for other sources you'll need to control the device yourself, a remote

control may be handy here.

To capture with scene splitting:

For DV video, the Split files by scene check box offers the chance for all your

scenes to be saved as separate video files as part of the capture process. For

capture from tape-based camcorder, the default is for the box to be checked

so that scenes are split (by timestamp) where the recording has been stopped

and restarted; for all other captures, if the box is unchecked, no splitting

occurs so you'll capture a single video file.

For non-DV video, e.g. from analogue devices, scene splitting is not possible;

the option is unavailable (greyed out) as time stamps are not present. Instead,

scene detection can be carried out in the Media pane (see Scene Detection on

35). Scene detection does not create separate video files but creates

34 Getting Started

"virtual" scenes from the single video file. Incidentally, you can still use

timestamp-based scene detection on DV sources within the Media pane.

For HDV video, scene splitting may not be possible—if so, the Split file

by scene button may be greyed out.

Record

Ensure that Video and Audio Capture check boxes in the Capture Video

dialog are checked if you want to capture both audio and video. Check

that your audio levels meter indicates that audio is being played.

1. Play your video source from at least a couple of seconds before the

point at which you'd like capture to start (to allow the video device to

begin playing smoothly), then press the

button.

2. Click the

button in this dialog to begin the

capture.

3. To skip footage, press the button to finish capture,

then pause the playback by clicking the

button, cue the tape to

the point you would like to proceed from, then play and record again

to resume the capture.

Don't use the "navigation" playback controls while recording!

It's better to capture too much footage rather than too little, it can

always be trimmed later, so don't worry too much about exactly how

much is captured if you are uncertain.

4. When you are happy that all the required footage has been captured, click

the Stop button, then the Close button.

Getting Started 35

The captured video footage will show in your Media pane (see p. 29)

automatically on closing the Capture Video dialog. The files are still

physically located in your Capture Folder.

When MoviePlus captures your video or audio footage with scene detection,

it will automatically name and incrementally number your files if you do not

specify a particular filename (by default the Prefix "Capture" is used; the

number is added as a suffix). To change the prefix name, enter a new name in

the dialog's Prefix option.

Scene detection

For any video file, scene detection can be carried out in the Media pane at

any time. Your original video file is not affected by this process because the

clips generated are "virtual scenes"; they are real clips that you can drag

straight on to your timeline, but they are merely references to the original

video file with separately stored information about where each scene begins

and ends. Even if your video file is moved or renamed, once the scenes have

been generated MoviePlus will be able to show you the detected scenes for

your media.

DV video files are normally split at

capture (see p. 31) to create a separate

video file per scene. However, non-DV video files such as those from

analogue devices cannot be split in this way so benefit from this virtual scene

detection method.

If you're using a HDD or DVD camcorder, you won't need to split or

detect scenes. Each scene is stored as an individual video file which can

be downloaded to your computer; the files show in your Media pane

automatically.

How does it work? MoviePlus detects scenes by firstly searching for any

timestamps in the file (if DV video) and, if they're not present, will search for

discontinuity between frames. If one frame is very different from its previous

frame (based on changes to their colour histograms) it is likely to be

considered to be in a separate scene and a scene break is made.

36 Getting Started

Detection and management of scenes is carried out in a Scenes dialog, which

displays a Scenes timeline hosting all of your automatically detected scenes.

You can exclude unwanted scenes, merge scenes together, and add your own

cuts to create further scenes—just like on a real studio's cutting room floor.

To detect scenes:

1. In the Media pane, select a clip and click the Scenes button (or

right-click the video file and select Scenes...).

2. From the Scenes dialog, a series of consecutive scenes are detected and

displayed along the Scenes timeline. By default, all automatically

detected scenes are included. Several operations are possible:

To exclude an unwanted scene, click on it to turn it grey.

To merge scenes together, click the grey dividing line between

scenes (it turns green), then choose the Delete Split button.

To add your own cut, set the current time indicator to

a frame in a scene. If removing footage before the frame, click the

Set In Point button; to remove footage after the frame, click the

Set Out Point button. This only affects the current scene. You

can also add cuts while playback progresses.

Getting Started 37

3. Click the Add Selection to Media Pane button to add the retained

scenes to your Media pane. The scenes will be named separately and

will show in your Media pane.

If detecting scenes in a large video file, a progress bar appears until all scenes

have been processed (click Cancel if you want to abort the process). You can

still manage scenes while this is in progress.

Scene detection sensitivity

You can adjust the sensitivity of MoviePlus's scene detection simply by

adjusting the Threshold slider in the Scenes dialog. An average scene

detection value is set to detect scenes but you can adjust the detection

sensitivity, resulting in a different number of scenes. Moving the slider to the

left results in fewer scenes, moving to the right results in a greater number of

detected scenes.

Trimming

With audio or video clips, both duration and playback speed come into play.

Most often, you'll want to shorten a clip without altering its playback speed—

this is usually called trimming. For example, media files seldom begin or end

exactly where you'd like; there may be extra frames at the beginning or end,

or you may want to use a short section from the middle of the file. The

solution is to trim the media file—adjusting its start and end point, called "in"

and "out" points, to include just the section of video you want.

Clips stored in your

Media pane are usually trimmed in a Trim dialog before

committing to the storyboard (or timeline). The dialog shows the clip's frame

preview and the clip's timeline (with ruler), from which trimming can be

applied.

38 Getting Started

To trim a clip:

1. In the Media pane, either:

Select a clip and click Trim.

On the storyboard (or timeline), select a video clip and

click the Trim button.

2. From the Trim dialog, for trimming visually by frame:

Hover your mouse cursor over the furthest left (or

right) edge of the Clip's timeline so that it changes to the Set In

Point (or Set Out Point) cursor, then drag the mouse to the right

(or left) to trim away the start (or end) of your clip.

Getting Started 39

Or, to trim to a specific time/frame (using the Frame Preview):

1. Click on the ruler and drag the Time indicator to the frame where you

wish to trim before (or after), or use the controls under the frame

preview for accurate frame-by-frame navigation.

2. Click the Set In Point (or Set Out Point) button. The

unwanted portion of the clip will appear in grey shading.

3. To check the trimmed clip, click the Play Trimmed button.

4. Click the OK button.

The clip will show the adjusted Start or End time in the Media pane

(click Change View Style for a Detailed view).

Previewing your project

The Video Preview pane will help you check that your movie editing is going

according to plan... you can preview your project at any time; MoviePlus will

begin playing your video, will compose a realistic end result from the

contents of your all video tracks, and will incorporate all transitions, effects,

and other envelopes on the fly. Audio levels can be checked at the same time.

You can even continue editing your project while the preview is playing as

your edits will be incorporated into the preview in real-time.

40 Getting Started

The lower playback controls operate much like your DVD recorder controls

and allow you to navigate around your project during preview.

Go to Start

Jumps to the start of your project.

Previous Frame

Jumps to the previous frame in your project.

Click the Play or Pause button to start and pause the

video preview, respectively. On play, the preview will

begin from the current preview marker's position.

Press the Space bar to play and pause.

Click the Stop button (or ESC key) to stop your video

preview and reset the preview back to where it originally

started.

Getting Started 41

Next Frame

Jumps to the next frame in your project.

Go to End

Jumps to the end of your project.

Shuttle

Allows you to vary the preview playback speed and

direction by dragging from the centre point to the left (to

reverse) or to the right (to fast forward); release the mouse

to snap back to normal play speed. This is known as "trick

play".

The buttons at the top of the pane offer preview options to optimize the

pane's usage.

The Full Screen button switches the Video Preview

pane between normal and full screen display.

For multi-monitor users, you can use this button to

view your Video Preview pane on additional

monitors. Simply enable the "Monitor x" option

from the drop-down list (where x is the monitor

number)—this also changes to full screen display

(click the Full Screen button to revert).

In Storyboard mode, the Add Caption button can

be used to add one or more text objects onto the

currently selected clip. Once added, the button is

labelled Add more text for adding additional text.

Timeline mode lets you add text via the latter

button on a selected text clip (see Adding text on

157).

42 Getting Started

The Pan button lets you drag an area of your video

around the preview pane. When used with the

Zoom in button, this allows for more detailed

analysis of screen areas.

The Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons let you focus

in or out on the video as a whole.

The AutoFit button zooms the preview in or out so

that it fits in the Video Preview pane.

The TV Safe Borders button switches on/off a

translucent border (coloured in red, 10% of frame

size, 50% opacity) placed over your video preview.

This is used as a guide to help prevent titles and

movie action from being cropped when your movie

is played back on some older CRT TVs. Use TV

Preview (via DV) in Tools>Options>Preview to

check your project while fine-tuning the size of the

TV Safe border in percentage increments until the

border just disappears during preview.

Adjustments to border size (in percent), colour and

opacity are made in Tools>Options>Preview.

The flyout allows the currently displayed frame to

either be saved to an image file (use Save Frame...)

or copied to the Clipboard (Copy Frame); the

image can then be pasted as a graphic into a photo

editing program, e.g. Serif PhotoPlus. Saving a

frame adds the created image to your Media pane

(Project tab).

Getting Started 43

Checking audio levels

The Levels meter provides a visual indication of current audio levels in your

project. If levels peak above 0 dB (i.e. digital clipping occurs) to show red

indicators, it's recommended to reduce Gain until clipping doesn't occur. See

Volume and pan on p. 147.

44 Getting Started

Editing in

Storyboard mode

46 Editing in Storyboard mode

Editing in Storyboard mode 47

Storyboard basics

If needed, click the button if you're in

Timeline mode.

Storyboard mode within MoviePlus provides the user with a simplified

approach to movie making. If you're a beginner to video editing or you've no

requirement for more complex multi-track editing techniques, the

storyboard offers an easy-to-use workspace to build up your project and

visualize different scenes in your movie. The easy-to-use storyboard is

particularly good at creating quick-to-share photo slideshows.

Storyboarding itself has its origins in the animated cartoon industry, notably

Walt Disney studios. By laying out cartoon cells in a time-based strip the

cartoonist can add, rearrange, and remove individual cells to create a finished

movie. The concept is exactly the same in MoviePlus—where a visual layout

is created as it is to be seen by your audience. The difference being that

cartoon cells are replaced by video clips, image clips, and text clips.

A major strength of the Storyboard mode is its simplicity. You'll only see

options, buttons, and dialogs that are needed for simple projects with the

more advanced multi-video-track editing controls being hidden in another

mode, called the

Timeline mode (see p. 67). Think of the Storyboard and

Timeline mode as being like two sides of a coin—you can flip between modes

to jump between basic and advanced use any time you like.

48 Editing in Storyboard mode

Video and Image clips

Video and image clip thumbnails, representing your media elements, appear

on the storyboard by drag-drop from the Media pane.

Text clip

A Text clip can be added for use as a static or rolling title or as credits. The

clip has its own duration, and can be treated as for video/image clips.

Additional text, as separate text objects, can be added onto the clip. See

Adding text on p. 157 for more information.

Narration and audio clips

A narration clip is added under your video or image clips after recording

from a microphone. Such purple-coloured clips reside on their own strip.

Likewise, green-coloured Audio clips show on a strip, which lies above the

narration strip. Use both in combination for commentary over background

music (e.g., soundtracks).

Caption

Static or animated captions can be added to any clip. They are superimposed

onto the clip and, like text clips, can adopt a preset text style or be

customized. Caption text can appear for the clip's duration or appear for a

shorter time.

Transition

A cross-fade transition of fixed duration exists between clips by default. The

default transition can be swapped for another and have its duration altered.

See

Applying transitions on p. 55 for more information.

Chapter point

The

icon and supporting text label (e.g., Bride and Groom) indicate that

a marker, used exclusively for DVD menus, is associated with the clip. Your

DVD menu will include your chosen clip as a chapter which can be clicked to

play from that point in your movie. The chapter point is added from the

equivalent button on the Storyboard toolbar. See Menu Designer: Editing

Chapter Properties on p.

182 for more information.

50 Editing in Storyboard mode

Effects

The

Effects icon indicates that an effect has been applied to the clip.

Click the icon to view currently applied effects in the Properties pane (Effects

tab). See

Applying effects on p.123.

Duration

The duration is the time the clip or transition will be shown for when your

movie plays. Video clip durations cannot be edited, but for text clips, image

clips and transitions, click under their thumbnails and edit their values.

Adding media files

Media files show in your Media pane after capture, download or import (see

Adding media files to your project on p. 27). Once present, it's a great idea to

arrange the order of the files prior to adding them to the storyboard (see p.

29). This avoids having to rearrange clips in bulk on your storyboard itself.

Once you're happy with the order you can add the media to the storyboard.

Editing in Storyboard mode 51

To add media to the storyboard:

1. From the Media pane, select your media, either:

Use marquee select (to lasso files under a selection region).

Use Shift key and click (to select a range of adjacent files).

Use Ctrl key and click (to select a range of non-adjacent files).

press Ctrl+A (to select all files).

2. Drag selected media onto your storyboard. If the storyboard is empty,

drag your clips directly into the empty workspace. Video or image clips

go the "Drop clips here" target areas, while audio clips snap onto

horizontal audio or narration strips below the thumbnails.

If video clips are already present, insert your clip between

existing clips. An insertion point indicates where your clip is to be

placed.

Multiple clips will be added one by one along your storyboard.

If the added video already has audio of its own, the audio clip will be

added under the video clip, with both clips maintaining their linkage.

Selecting clips

When you are editing your movie and have already added a range of media

clips to your storyboard, all your editing operations (including moves, trims,

properties changes and other adjustments) are carried out on the selected

clip. Clip selection is straight forward but several options can be used for

multiple selection.

52 Editing in Storyboard mode

To select a single clip:

Click on the clip to select it.

To select multiple clips:

Use Shift key and click (to select a range of adjacent clips).

Use Ctrl key and click (to select a range of non-adjacent clips).

Press the on the Storyboard toolbar or Ctrl+A (to

select all clips).

When selected, the clip's thumbnail

will be outlined to show that it is

selected.

Arranging clips

The storyboard is a workspace that arranges clips automatically as they are

dragged to the storyboard. As such there may not be a necessity to rearrange

clips if the clip order is as intended. Realistically, it's often the case that you

may want to further modify the clip order.

Once on the storyboard, an individual clip can be moved by drag and drop.

The vertical marker indicates the target location for the moved clip.

Editing in Storyboard mode 53

You can also copy and paste a clip by using options from the Edit menu.

Both methods can also be carried out on multiple clips simultaneously.

Deleting clips

To remove a clip, select it and press the Delete key. By multiple

selection, you can remove more than one clip at the same time. Use

Ctrl-click to select non-adjacent clips, Shift-click for adjacent multiple

clips.

Resizing clips

If your added video or image clips are a different size and shape to your

project settings, MoviePlus will not resize your media to fit the project size,

leaving either "black" bars (letterboxing) or your underlying clip showing in

the available space. Although you see black, the letterboxing is actually

transparent (you're really seeing the default project background showing

through).

The shape of the video in the Video Preview pane is determined by your

project settings; if your clip properties and your project settings are different,

you can decide what to do about the variance, i.e. you can leave the media

with letterboxing or correct it via cropping.

Cropping removes unwanted borders either automatically by fitting to the

Video Preview pane or by defining a crop area you draw yourself (anything

outside the area is discarded); the clip is resized to fit the project. While used

frequently on Image clips (of unusual dimensions or if in Portrait

orientation), you can also apply cropping to video clips—although it's

54 Editing in Storyboard mode

important to ensure items of interest are not cropped out throughout the

video clip's duration.

To resize a clip:

1. Select the clip.

2. Click

from the context toolbar and pick a resizing option

from the drop-down list.

Letterbox - This is not normally set

manually but can be used to override

auto-cropping if this is deemed too

excessive an action (if the clip's edges need

to be preserved rather than removed by

cropping).

Crop - This crops the clip to make it fit

with the project size thus removing any

letterboxing. The clip's aspect ratio is

maintained so that the taller (or wider)

areas are left outside the visible part of the

project. See

Cropping on p. 90 for more

information.

Stretch - Stretches your clip horizontally

or vertically to match the project video

size—removing the letterboxing effect, but

changing the clip's aspect ratio.

Editing in Storyboard mode 55

Custom - Launches a dialog that lets you

remove everything outside a defined crop

area. The clip will resize to fit the crop

area. Size the crop area by moving corner

or side handles then position the crop area

again by dragging. The clip's aspect ratio is

maintained by default. Drag a side handle

to alter aspect ratio.

You can double-click on the crop area to reset its size back to the

project’s dimensions.

By default, clips that almost fit your project will crop (only if <3%

difference between clip and project size) or letterbox (>3% difference).

DVD clips in a VCD project will crop.

Applying transitions

MoviePlus supports many different transition types. For example, you can

dissolve (Cross-Fade) between one clip and the other, or apply a variety of

patterned wipes that use a moving edge or outline. Transitions such as Iris

Wipe, Cross-Blur and Zoom & Spin are very popular in movie editing and

are, of course, fully supported. MoviePlus can also produce some awe-

inspiring 3D transitions—choose from 3D blinds, 3D Swap, 3D Flip, 3D

Tumble, 3D Page Roll, to name but a few.

Transitions are displayed as inter-clip thumbnails in Storyboard mode,

which changes according to transition applied (the thumbnail represents the

transition's function). The transition's duration is shown under its

thumbnail. Some examples include:

56 Editing in Storyboard mode

Cross-fade

(default)

3D Page Roll Blinds feathered

Each transition is applied to the start of a clip—this is called an In transition.

To change a transition's duration:

Click the duration time under the transition thumbnail, enter a new

value, then press Return.

Changing this value will value will automatically "ripple" all other subsequent

clips along the storyboard with respect to time.

To replace a transition:

1. Select one or more transitions on the storyboard. For multiple

transitions, Ctrl-click on each transition one-by-one; for all transitions

click the Select all transitions button.

2. Click on the context toolbar.

3. From the dialog, choose a category from the upper window. In the

lower window, review the presets available (especially their names,

which indicate their intended function). Select a preset, e.g. 3D Page

Roll.

Editing in Storyboard mode 57

4. Click OK.

For a quick way to replace transitions, open the Galleries pane,

select the Transitions button, then drag and drop a transition thumbnail

onto your transition.

Hover over any preset to get a preview of how your transition will look!

To modify a transition:

1. Select the transition thumbnail.

2. From the transition's Properties pane, alter the transitions' properties

at the bottom of the pane.

To delete a transition:

Simply select a transition and press the Delete key.

The result is simply a cut: in less than the blink of an eye, the last frame of the

first clip is replaced by the first frame of a second clip. In reality a cross-fade

58 Editing in Storyboard mode

transition of zero duration is created. To reinstate the transition at a later

date, give it a duration in its Properties pane.

To save a modified transition to a new name:

Click the button at the top of the Properties pane.

Once named, the transition appears as a new preset in the Choose

Transition dialog.

Using pan and zoom

Pan and zoom effects can be used on any clip, but the effect really comes into

its own when used on image clips. Rather than displaying clips that always

display at the same size, you can easily apply panning and zooming effects

that create variety and interest in your project.

The effect is applied by using a dual-pane dialog, the left-hand Start pane

representing the start of the clip and the right-hand End pane, the end of the

clip. Simply adjusting the resizable selection area in each pane sets the zoom

level or pan position.

Editing in Storyboard mode 59

To pan and zoom your clip:

1. Select the clip on the storyboard (or timeline).

2. Select the button on the context toolbar.

3. From the dialog's Start pane, drag a corner or edge control handle (for

maintaining aspect ratio or unconstrained sizing) on the selection

area. Use the Alt key to resize the area in relation to the centre of the

area (rather than the opposite corner or edge). Once sized, reposition

the area with the hand cursor. Click the Reset button to reset each

selection area back to the default size.

4. Adjust the area on the End pane as above.

5. (Optional) Click Match project aspect on either pane to make the

aspect ratio of that pane's selection area match that of your project.

6. (Optional) Check Ease In or Ease Out on respective panes to apply a

non-linear rate of change to your pan and zoom (Quadratic slow

interpolation).

7. Click Close to save your resized or repositioned areas.

The result is two sized areas which, on playback, MoviePlus will pan and

zoom between according to the position and size of each area, respectively.

60 Editing in Storyboard mode

Using CG clips

Several types of Computer Generated (CG) clips exist within MoviePlus.

They differ from video or audio clips in that they are not captured by

camcorder but are created from within MoviePlus itself. The following types

of CG clip are available:

Backgrounds

To apply simple solid or gradient colours as a clip.

QuickShapes

To add modifiable drawn shapes such as stars, hearts, spirals and many more.

Applying a background clip can be used to introduce colour either as part of

a fade-in or fade-out or as a background to text. Other uses include

recolorizing semi-opaque video clips and masking shapes or text over a

background colour.

For QuickShapes, a wide variety of commonly used shapes, including boxes,

arrows, hearts, spirals and other useful shapes are available. QuickShapes are

really useful ready-made object for introducing filled shapes or for use in

such techniques as masking.

Editing in Storyboard mode 61

What CG clips all share is that they are managed in a very similar way within

MoviePlus, i.e. they can have colour, transparency and effects applied to

them.

To apply a CG clip:

1. In Storyboard mode, select a clip (the clip before which the CG clip

will be added).

On the timeline, position your time indicator on the timeline.

2. Select your chosen CG clip type from the CG Clip> option on the

Insert menu. By default, a white background or a QuickShape Ellipse

is added to your timeline.

It's very likely that your CG clip will need to be modified, either to change its

colour or transparency.

You'll find some ready-to-go sample gradient backgrounds or

QuickShapes in the Media pane (Library tab), under Samples>Fills or

Samples>Quickshapes. Simply drag to your storyboard or timeline.

Adjusting a clip's colour

MoviePlus offers a number of ways to apply colour to CG clips in MoviePlus.

You can apply solid or gradient colours to any clip's fill.

A new colour is selected from a spectrum of preset

colours or from a Colour Picker (both accessible via

the Edit Fill... button on the clip's Properties pane).

See the topic Using the Fill dialog.

For gradient fills you can adjust the gradient path

of any gradient fill and the colours used to make up

the gradient.

62 Editing in Storyboard mode

Fro gradient fills, see the topic Object Fill dialog.

Adjusting a clip's transparency

Transparency is great for highlights, shading and shadows, and simulating

"rendered" realism. It can make a huge difference between your clips looking

"flat" and appearing with depth and snap. MoviePlus fully supports variable

transparency and lets you apply solid or gradient transparency to your CG

clips.

Like fills, transparency can be applied

from the clip's Properties pane. Select

the Edit Transparency... button and

choose a percentage solid transparency

(via slider) or pick from a spectrum of

preset gradient transparencies. If

necessary, you can edit the transparency

path.

Solid transparency distributes the

transparency evenly across the

object.

Gradient transparencies (Linear,

Ellipse, and Conical), provide a

simple gradient effect, with a

range from clear to opaque.

Editing in Storyboard mode 63

In the illustration below, the hexagonal QuickShape clip has had a Linear

transparency applied, with more transparency at the lower end of the path

and less at the upper end. The text clip in front has a solid semi-transparent

effect applied. It makes a difference which object is in front (here, the text

clip); where there's more transparency, more of the object(s) behind will

show through.

Varying the transparency of a CG clip gives the effect of variable erasure, but

it leaves the original object intact—you can always remove or alter the

transparency later. Transparencies work rather like fills that use

"disappearing ink" instead of colour. A gradient transparency varies from

more "disappearing" to less, as in the hexagon above.

To save your CG clip:

Change the clip's name, then click the button

at the top of the clip's Properties pane. The animation will appear in

the Media pane's currently selected tab.

More about QuickShapes

You're more than likely to swap the default Ellipse for a more applicable

shape. An impressive selection of QuickShape types can be chosen from, and

once you've picked a type (e.g. Heart, Spiral ,etc.), you can further morph its

shape—all from within the QuickShape's Properties pane. The ability to

64 Editing in Storyboard mode

further alter the appearance of any QuickShape type makes them more

flexible and convenient than clipart pictures with similar designs.

To change your QuickShape type:

Once added to your timeline, the QuickShape type can be edited in its

Properties pane (or by pressing F4). The lower portion of this pane hosts

several options which will affect your QuickShape's appearance, i.e.

Click the QuickShape type drop-down list to swap the default

QuickShape Ellipse for your preferred design.

The QuickShape preview window updates to show the current

QuickShape, without colour fills or effect applied. This lets you focus

on the main purpose of the window—to morph your QuickShape.

The Stretch to project size checkbox, if checked, will ensure that the

QuickShape will fully occupy the frame size.

To morph your QuickShape design:

In the preview window, select a square control handle appearing next

to the shape. Different QuickShapes have different handles. To find

out what each handle does for a particular shape, move the control

handles while reading the Status Bar. You can alter shapes

dramatically with combinations of control handle adjustments. It's

best to experiment!

For example:

Dragging the handles on a Polygon will change the number of sides to

make a triangle, pentagon, hexagon, or other polygon.

Dragging the handle on a Rectangle alters the box corners to make

them more or less rounded.

Dragging the handles of a Star will alter its inner or outer radius, the

number of points and the extent to which the points twist.

Editing in

Timeline mode

66 Editing in Timeline mode

Editing in Timeline mode 67

Timeline basics

Introduction

Click the button to switch from Storyboard

to Timeline modes.

For more advanced projects (compared to simpler storyboard-driven

projects), the timeline lets you organize all your video and audio footage on

multiple tracks, sequence clips one after the other, add and edit envelopes,

effects, and so much more. The timeline offers the equivalent of all the

manual editing operations that traditional movie editors need to be able to

carry out, and it allows for post-production alterations.

The timeline has two basic dimensions, height and length. Horizontal length

relates to the duration of your project... your timeline has markings along a

ruler to indicate the passing of time, starting with zero at the left of the

timeline. Any clips added to your timeline will follow a playback sequence

from left to right. You can position the start point for previews (or the point

at which you'd like to perform an edit) using a vertical marker called the

Time indicator—this shows on both the timeline and as a preview marker in

the Video Preview pane. The height of the timeline is related to the number

of video or audio tracks used—you'll need to introduce more tracks if

tackling advanced editing techniques including overlays, masking, blue-

screening etc.

68 Editing in Timeline mode

Timeline elements

Headers

Headers control the strip they are attached to. In the case of tracks and

groups, adjustments to the header can affect all the clips on a track or all the

tracks in a group (or both), respectively. You can select the track/group by

clicking its name, mute (and unmute) to disable or enable its contents in the

project composition, and display track/group envelopes for Opacity and

Transform (video tracks/groups) or Volume and Pan (audio tracks/groups);

a clip's Crop envelope may also be shown along with its Opacity and

Transform envelope. Track-wide effects may also be displayed.

The header may also show a clip's envelope or applied effects—these

attributes are revealed by clicking its

Attributes button, and selecting an

attribute.

Strips

Strips are the horizontal "stripes" running the length of the timeline (to the

right of the headers section) that can store your clips. Each strip allows you to

edit and arrange clips, as well as edit their effects, transitions, and envelopes.

Each strip is accompanied by a header to its left.

Video/Image/Audio Clip

A clip is a media element; an "object" you can place on a timeline track. Clips

can also include Computer-Generated (CG) clips (backgrounds, text, and

QuickShapes). It's important to appreciate the difference between clips,

tracks and groups because MoviePlus will allow you to add effects, for

instance, to each or all of them with differing results.

Video/Audio Track

A track is just a straightforward combination of a single strip and its header.

You can add multiple clips to a track by dropping a multiple selection from

the Media pane onto your track's strip and they will be added to the timeline

in succession with a default overlap. You can apply effects and envelope (like

opacity or a transform) to tracks, which will have a resulting effect on all the

clips on that track. MoviePlus supports multiple audio and video tracks so

70 Editing in Timeline mode

that it is possible to compose more complicated projects with "layers" of

video using fades to reveal underlying layers.

Additional Caption or Music tracks may show if you've created text or

adopted some background music in Storyboard mode. A Narration track is

created when you record narration (the narration clip is stored on this track).

Video/Audio Group

MoviePlus supports audio and video groups (and effect groups). They are not

only a way of keeping complex compositions tidy, you can also choose for

effects—including the partial revealing of video using masks—to be applied

to selected tracks only by placing them inside a group. The View menu also

has an option to Show Master Groups, a top-level group to allow you to

mute, apply effects to, or adjust

envelopes for all video or all audio at once.

Keyframe View

When you add an envelope or effect to a clip, track, or group, or when you

want to edit an existing envelope, effect or transition, the Keyframe View is

displayed directly underneath the clip, track, or group.

Keyframes

Keyframes are points along a strip associated with a clip, track, or group's

attributes (envelope, effect, or transition). The keyframe stores your chosen

settings for use at a specific point of time along your timeline. Using more

than one keyframe along a strip, MoviePlus automatically (and gradually)

changes from one keyframe's settings to the next keyframe's settings as time

passes between them. For example, on an Opacity envelope, a keyframe at

time zero with a setting of 0% opacity followed by another keyframe two

seconds later with a setting of 100% would cause a gradual "fade in" effect

over a period of two seconds. The keyframes can have their properties

modified in the Properties pane when selected, they can be moved along the

timeline to different points.

Envelopes, Effects and Transitions

Any time a clip, track, or group's Keyframe View is displayed via a common

Attributes menu, the strips that show belong to one or more attributes of that

object. Each attributes can be of type envelope, effect, or transition, and are

grouped together for easy management. Normally you'll see envelopes, effects

Editing in Timeline mode 71

or transitions but not all three attribute types all at once (this saves valuable

timeline space). Each clip, track, or group cannot possess more than one

envelope of the same type; only two transitions can be set on any single clip

(you can't set a transition on a track). There is no restriction on the number

of effects an clip, track, or group can have.

Marker

Markers act as guides on your timeline to indicate key time location or events

that occur within your project. They can be labelled, positioned and

navigated equally.

Chapter point

A chapter point is a type of marker which is used exclusively for disc

creation. Each chapter point placed on your timeline defines the start of your

chapters shown in your disc menu.

Set Selection Start/End

Selection markers set a start and end range on your timeline within which

any encompassed clips will be either pre-rendered (for optimized preview

performance) and/or exported to file, PSP, or iPod. The markers apply to all

clips, tracks and groups down the entire height of the timeline. Limiting your

export range is ideal for sharing only a chosen section of the movie, rather

than the whole movie.

Time indicator

The Time indicator, the blue vertical line you can see spanning the height of

the timeline and its ruler, is most easily thought of as your editing marker. It

allows you to set a precise position for splits and trims, allows clips and

Keyframes to be accurately positioned on your project timeline, and can be

used along the timeline Ruler to play back a preview of your project from

that point. You can also position your Current time indicator over the

start/end of a clip then single-click to set a precise Time indicator position.

The time indicator is also shown in the Video Preview pane to indicate your

playback position during playback.

Ruler

The ruler runs along the top of the timeline and shows you the current time

range for the visible part of your project. You can zoom in or out of the

72 Editing in Timeline mode

timeline using a mouse wheel to display more or less of your project timeline

on screen. A single-click on the ruler will position the Current time indicator

marker for editing or video preview. You can alter your ruler units using the

View menu's Ruler Units flyout. The default setting of "Time and Frames" is

in the format hh:mm:ss/ff, representing hours, minutes, seconds and frames

(of video), respectively.

Counter

The counter sits at the top-left of your timeline and shows you time at the

current time indicator. It uses the format set in the View menu's Ruler Units

flyout.

Clip/track indicators and buttons

An LED in the top-left corner indicates if the clip (or track) is included in the

composition (green) or if it is temporarily disabled (red). If you mute a

track/group, the track/group header and each clip on that track/group would

show a red LED to indicate that they are disabled. Clips also have blue

triangular handles at each end that can be dragged to introduce an automatic

cross fade (the fade can be replaced with a different transition by dragging

and dropping a transition preset onto the clip's blue transition bar).

Attributes menu

On clips and track/group headers—clicking the Attributes button

displays an Attributes menu which is used to show envelopes, effects or

transitions applied (along with their keyframes). The button will display in

different colours according to selection and if the object's attributes have

been modified, i.e.

Grey/White. Attributes unselected and unmodified.

Red/White. Attributes selected and unmodified.

Grey/Yellow. Attributes unselected and modified.

Red/Yellow. Attributes selected and modified.

Mute

Any clip, track or group can be muted at any time during video preview. You

Editing in Timeline mode 73

may want to temporarily switch off an audio track while you are editing and

previewing the same track again and again. Equally, you may want to mute or

“black out” a particular clip while testing your project.

Muting is possible by switching on or off the Mute buttons on a

video or audio track's header, respectively. For a video or audio clip, you can

right-click and select the Mute option.

To keep the attribute(s) on permanent display, click the drawing pin

in the header of your clip, track or group's attributes strip. Click again to

hide.

Adding and arranging tracks

In Timeline mode, MoviePlus is supplied with a single video and audio track

already present on the timeline by default; these are named Video Track 1

and Audio Track 1. These empty tracks will allow a video and its linked

audio clip (if present) to be dragged onto each track from the Media pane.

To add extra tracks:

Choose Video Track or Audio Track from the Insert menu. The track

is inserted above any existing tracks of the same type.

Use the Shift key as you insert to add a new track below any selected

track rather than above it.

To change the track order:

Drag the appropriate track header further up or down the stack of

headers at the left of the timeline. You will be shown a grey line

between tracks and a place cursor where your track can be inserted.

Release the mouse button to place.

74 Editing in Timeline mode

The above example reorders two simple video tracks (selected Video Track 3

is dragged to be placed above Video Track 2).

Adding media files

Media files show in your Media pane after capture, download or import (see

Adding media files to your project on p. 27). Once present, it's a great idea to

arrange the order of the files prior to adding them to the timeline (see p.

29).

This avoids having to rearrange clips in bulk on your timeline itself. Once

you're happy with the order you can add the media to the timeline.

Editing in Timeline mode 75

To add media to the timeline:

1. From the Media pane, select your media, either:

Use marquee select (to lasso files under a selection region).

Use Shift key and click (to select a range of adjacent files).

Use Ctrl key and click (to select a range of non-adjacent files).

press Ctrl+A (to select all files).

2. Drag selected media onto your timeline. Multiple clips will be added one by

one along your timeline. Tracks suitable to specific clip types will be

offered.

Where you drag your clips onto the timeline is up to you, the area is

"freeform"; video and image clips must be located on video tracks, and of

course audio on audio tracks. It is normal to place clips in an empty spot and

move them to the desired precise spot if necessary afterwards. Being placed

on a track higher up the timeline will mean your clip could obscure

underlying elements; underlying tracks are perfect as backgrounds behind

video, image, or text overlays.

Selecting clips

When you are editing your movie and have already added a range of media

clips to your timeline, all your editing operations (including moves, trims,

properties changes and other adjustments) are carried out on the selected

object(s). So, let's cover how you go about selecting clips!

The good news is that you can simply click on clips to select them. Whether

it's a video, image, Audio, or Text clip, a click will outline it in red to show

you that it is selected. Track or group names (in the header) are highlighted

in red.

76 Editing in Timeline mode

Selecting multiple clips

You can select multiple clips (includes clips that are linked) on your timeline

by three main methods:

To select non-contiguous clips, hold the Ctrl key down on your

keyboard and click each clip you would like to include in the selection.

Ctrl+click again to remove a clip from the current selection.

To select contiguous clips on a single track, click a clip at one end of

your proposed selection range, hold the Shift key down and click on

the clip at the other end. All clips in between, plus the selected clips,

are selected.

For marquee selection, hold your primary mouse button down and

drag a rectangle on your timeline—anything touching (and also

anything inside) the rectangle will become selected.

When multiple clips are selected, you can perform stretching on all clips

simultaneously.

To make your multiple selection a permanent feature of your timeline for

continuous easy editing, you can create a Link as described in the

Arranging

clips topic.

Editing in Timeline mode 77

How selected objects are displayed

Object Selection status

Clip has been clicked and

is selected (a dark-blue

border appears around

the object). You can now

modify its properties in

the Properties pane, and

perform other operations

(trim, fit, etc).

Selecting a transition

(e.g., Cross-Fade) also

shows in dark blue.

This audio clip is part of

a Link (with the above

video clip)—a pale-blue

border is shown. When

any object in the Link is

selected, all other items

in the Link take on this

"pale-blue" selection

highlight. Although not

actually selected, edits

will affect it.

This clip has had one of

its envelopes, effects, or

transitions modified

(e.g., a keyframe below

the tracks in the

Keyframe View area) as

the Attributes button has

78 Editing in Timeline mode

changed from grey/white

to red/yellow.

A keyframe on an

envelope, effect,

transition, background,

QuickShape or text strip.

This keyframe is not

selected.

A keyframe selected by

single-click. You can now

modify this keyframe's

properties via the

attributes Properties

pane.

A selected track as its

name is highlighted.

Other strip headers (clip

strip headers,

effects/envelope/transitio

n strip headers) have a

similar appearance.

This track has had one of

its envelopes, effects or

transitions modified.

Editing in Timeline mode 79

Zooming, scrolling and seeking

To see more or less of your project at one time, you can perform various

zooming, scrolling, and seeking operations along your timeline.

Zooming

The Status Bar hosts a series of very useful tools for zooming your timeline.

To see more detail on your timeline to make it easier to perform

fine edits, click the Zoom In button or scroll your mouse wheel upwards.

To see more of your project in the timeline area, click the Zoom Out

button or scroll your mouse wheel downwards.

To see your entire project within the available timeline area—simply

click the Zoom to All button.

If your Time indicator is out of view due to a zoom operation or

playback of your project preview, select Scroll to Time Indicator from the

View menu to jump to the time indicator's current position.

Scrolling

To scroll the timeline horizontally, hold down the Shift key while using your

mouse wheel, or to scroll vertically, hold down the Ctrl key.

It's also possible to drag your Time indicator to the left or right edge of

your window to scroll previously hidden parts of your timeline into view.

80 Editing in Timeline mode

Seeking

The Video Preview pane also helps with some seek operations.

The Go to Start and Go to End buttons let you jump to the

beginning or end of your project, respectively.

For fine tuning the position of the Time indicator (i.e.,

frame stepping or frame advance), for instance to perform a trim

operation at a specific frame of video, you can use the Previous Frame

and Next Frame buttons.

Your preview will update any time the Time indicator is moved, so

you should always use the preview in conjunction with your editing

operations.

Scrubbing

Scrubbing might seem an unusual term but it is an extremely useful feature!

You may already know that clicking along the Ruler above the timeline sets

your Time indicator's position. However, if you click and drag along the

ruler, MoviePlus will preview your project at the speed of the drag—as your

mouse passes along the timeline in either direction, the preview will show

you the current frame. This allows you to pass your mouse over an area of

the timeline to preview a specific section without starting and stopping

preview playback.

Arranging clips

Arranging clips on your timeline is crucial to building interesting more

complex projects—typically to create a rich multi-track multimedia project

with the most popular video editing technique. While the Storyboard mode

offers a simple

sequential clip-by-clip ordering, the Timeline mode offers

more versatility and power to arrange clips where you want them.

Editing in Timeline mode 81

Simple arrangement—clips following one another

When you want one clip—a video or image—to directly follow on from

another clip, they need to butt against each other on the timeline with no

space in between them. When one "scene" follows another in this way, it's

often referred to as a "cut" although you don't need to get the scissors out to

achieve it with MoviePlus.

Simply drag clips along on the same track so that they are positioned next to

each other. When two clips are close together the one you are dragging will

snap into place. Multiple clips can be dragged onto the timeline with a

default cross-fade transition overlap.

Making one clip appear on top of another

MoviePlus uses multiple tracks in a similar fashion to the way photo-editors

(such as Serif's own PhotoPlus) use multiple layers. The question of whether

you need to use multiple layers—or tracks in the case of MoviePlus—can be

answered in the same way for both types of program... many compositions

are perfectly fine with one "layer" but you can introduce some interesting

effects by layering your images or videos on top of each other.

MoviePlus composes your video based on timeline content, working from

the top downwards. If you have multiple tracks in your project with a full-

size video on the top layer, it could well obscure all underlying tracks because

you can't see through it... but if your top-most track (or clips on it) contains

Images (with transparency), Background, QuickShape or Text clips with

reduced opacity, resized video or images using a Transform envelope, video

with a mask applied or a Chroma Key effect, you will be able to see through

to underlying tracks.

82 Editing in Timeline mode

So, to make one clip an overlay appearing on top of other clips, you need to

add an additional video track (choose Video Track on the Insert menu).

Place the video or image you would like to appear as an overlay on the top

track. All tracks support images or video with transparency, and all tracks

follow the same timeline, so objects are almost as easy to arrange when using

multiple tracks as they are for single-track projects.

Deleting clips

Any selected clip on your timeline can be deleted by pressing the Delete key.

Any accompanying linked clip will also be deleted, i.e. a video clip and

associated audio clip is removed simultaneously.

Linking clips together for easy editing

Automatically-linked clips

When you add a video clip to your timeline, you will normally find that two

clips are added to your timeline—one video clip and one audio clip, on a

video and audio track, respectively. This is because the video file contained

both an audio and video stream that MoviePlus has separated for you for

editing purposes. Because these two streams came from the same location,

MoviePlus automatically links them together. When clips are linked, edits to

one of the objects will affect other linked objects. If you select your video clip

and perform a split, for instance, the linked audio clip will split in the same

place.

When you select a clip it is highlighted in dark blue; any clips linked to it will

adopt a "light blue" selection outline at the same time.

When moving clips, any linked clips on different tracks will move to new

relative locations on the timeline providing there is enough space on each

track for your clips to relocate to.

Editing in Timeline mode 83

Manually-linked clips

You can forge your own links between clips using the right-click menu's Link

flyout. Note that you'll need a multiple selection of objects to forge a link

(Ctrl+click objects to add them to a selection).

You can manually create, edit, and destroy links of your own, too, to make a

collection of clips easier to move or otherwise edit. The operations described

below as being available in a right-click menu are all also available in

MoviePlus's Edit menu.

Create Link: Establishes a link between two or more selected clips.

Add to Link: If you've got linked files already selected, use Ctrl-click

to select another clip to be linked, then select this option.

Remove from Link: Select a file already linked, then choose this

option to remove just the selected file from the link.

Destroy Link: Click any linked file then select this option to unlink

itself and all other files that are linked.

Temporarily disabling Linking

There are occasions where you may find the need to temporarily disable

Linking, for instance when trying to trim clips that are part of a Link where

other linked clips start or end outside the range of the clip you are editing...

in such instances some editing functions are unavailable because they cannot

be applied to the entire contents of the Link group. Other reasons for

unlinking include deleting an unwanted audio track and copying a clip

independently of its linked clips. In such instances you would need to disable

the Linking button on the timeline's context toolbar, perform your edit, then

switch Linking back on using the same button.

84 Editing in Timeline mode

Aligning frames

The Align To Frames option on the Arrange menu will enable and disable

snapping to the nearest frame of video. Video frames are typically about 30

or 40 milliseconds apart (there's typically 25 or 30 frames per second of

video), so you can choose whether your Time indicator-based editing snaps

to these divisions or is totally freeform. Frame snapping, or align to frames, is

the normal mode to work with unless you are trimming audio to a very fine

degree.

Rippling

Rippling is a design aid that takes some of the headache out of

making room on your timeline, or taking up slack (empty) space on the

timeline, keeping your clips' relative positions constant when you make edits

(this also includes a clip's keyframes). Rippling saves you the effort of moving

multiple clips for the sake of what is often a minor edit, perhaps to make

room at the start of your project for titles or a new intro or the deletion of a

section of video from the middle of a project. You can enable and disable

Rippling using either the Rippling button on the timeline's context toolbar,

or by using the command on the Arrange menu.

Moving clips

Rippling affects other clips (and its envelope, effect or transition's keyframes)

starting at the same time or after the clip you are moving; when you move a

clip, those other clips that start at the same point or later on the timeline will

shuffle left or right to account for your move.

When trimming or extending the end of a clip

Rippling only affects other clips that both start after your edited clip starts

and end after the end of your edited clip.

Editing in Timeline mode 85

When trimming the start of a clip

Rippling affects other clips that start and end after the start of your edited

clip, and it also moves your edited clip to the same "start time" it had before

you trimmed its start, shuffling other affected clips at the same time.

Ripple mode

Rippling can be set to work in one of four modes: it can affect the

track you are working on, all tracks of the same level (e.g., those within a

group), all tracks on the same level including

marker rippling, or the whole

timeline (with marker rippling). The last two options allow markers to

maintain their positions relative to the moved clips—otherwise marker

positions will not alter when rippling takes place.

Rippling with complex projects

For complex multi-track projects, you might worry that Rippling won't

manage all the necessary moves—don't worry, Rippling works regardless of

the number and type of clips or tracks involved. Providing you have selected

the appropriate Ripple mode as mentioned above, you can move a large

number of clips that span multiple tracks by having Rippling enabled. Be sure

to select an appropriate timeline zoom level when selecting and moving your

clips—you may wish to use a low zoom level (too see all of your project) to

make the move easy, but you might find that using a higher zoom level

(seeing just a few small clips) allows you to more easily select and drag the

correct clip. MoviePlus will automatically scroll the timeline in the direction

of your drag until you centre your mouse to choose a "drop zone", but you

could instead type a new start time for your selected clip in the Properties

pane—Rippling works however a clip is moved.

Snapping

Snapping is a design aid that helps you achieve neat layouts. When you are

moving objects around on the timeline (or trimming/stretching them),

snapping makes your edit jump to the nearest clip, to the position of the

86 Editing in Timeline mode

Time indicator, to the beginning of the timeline, and to a default transition

overlap value.

By default, snapping is enabled, although you can switch it off from the

Arrange menu. To control which elements do and do not get snapped to, or

to adjust snap sensitivity, visit the Snapping tab in the Tools>Options. Hold

down Alt during your editing operations to temporarily switch Snapping off

(or on, if disabled).

Using groups

Groups serve a couple of important functions on MoviePlus's timeline...

firstly they can help keep related tracks together for easy management.

Applying an effect, for instance, to a video group means that all tracks within

the group inherit the effect. For example, for a Solarize effect:

Video Group 1 contains Video Track 1 and Video Track 2 (but not the

Background Video track). The Solarize effect has been applied to the Group

(and therefore Tracks 1 and 2 simultaneously). Background Video is not

subject to the Solarize effect.

The next main function for groups is more complicated but very useful, i.e.

limiting the range of a transparency effect or mask. Masks and the Chroma

Key effect are both methods of achieving transparency (see online Help).

Editing in Timeline mode 87

To add a video or audio group:

1. Select the video or audio track above which you want to insert a group.

2. Choose Video Group or Audio Group from the Insert menu.

Once you've created a group you have to then associate chosen tracks to the

group.

To add a track to a group:

Drag and drop the track over the group header, i.e.

The track will be nested under the group is the operation is successful.

To drag a track out of a group, aim to drop the track at the bottom edge of

the group or any header position which is as wide as the group's header.

If using video or audio groups, click the

Collapse/Expand button to collapse the group's tracks, envelopes, or effects.

88 Editing in Timeline mode

Applying Opacity to Groups

You can adjust the opacity of a group in two ways—either a simple

adjustment of the group's Opacity slider in the group’s Properties pane or by

adjusting a group's opacity by revealing and modifying its Opacity envelope.

For the latter method, click the

Attributes button in the group header to

reveal the Attributes menu—select Opacity to reveal an editable inline

Opacity envelope. This will allow you to fade the result of an affected section

of video organized within a group, for instance, or to make a series of still

image overlays appear translucent—without having to edit each clip or track

in an identical way.

See

Using envelopes on p. 92 for more information about revealing and

editing envelopes in general.

Transforms—perspective, scaling, and motion

You can apply transforms, such as perspective effects, resizing, or animated

motion, to video groups. Such an effect would allow for the composite result

of a group to be used as an inset video, for instance. To learn how to edit a

Transform envelope, please see

Adjusting keyframes on p. 96.

Audio Groups

It is possible to add audio tracks to audio groups to adjust overall volume

and/or pan. Volume and Pan envelopes allow for simple adjustments as well

as introducing changing levels over time; please see Using envelopes and

Adjusting keyframes for more information.

Master groups

Show Master Groups in the View menu lets you affect all the audio or video

groups/tracks separately but in one fell swoop, by showing master groups on

your timeline header region. There are two Master Groups, one for video and

one for audio. The Master Groups each encapsulate all the video and audio of

your project so you can adjust the master volume, for instance, by adjusting

the Volume envelope for the master audio group, or apply a final video effect

Editing in Timeline mode 89

to the entirety of the video in your project by applying it to the master video

group.

If there's no need to use this, you should leave the option unchecked in the

View menu.

Video effect groups

Video Effect groups are not used frequently but are essential if you wish to

blend affected and unaffected video. The affected video would have

cumulative effects applied which could be blended in and out of the mix by

adjusting the keyframes of the Video Effect Group's envelope.

Splitting clips

Timeline mode exclusively offers a very useful video editing tool for splitting

any video clip into two at the currently set time indicator's position.

Compare this to scene detection, carried out in the Media pane, which splits

scenes automatically but offers an equivalent manual splitting option if

needed. Generally speaking, you'll want to split clips in the Media pane in

most instances.

Splitting a clip into two lets you insert another "filler" clip in between each

split clip. You can perform multiple splits to create distinct sections of your

clips for deletion.

To split a clip:

1. Select the clip you would like to split.

2. Position the time indicator on the ruler at the point you would like to

make the split.

3. Click the

Split button.

90 Editing in Timeline mode

Cropping

You can perform simple crops on any clip by using the button in

either Storyboard or Timeline mode (See

Resizing clips on p. 53). This affects

the clip for its entire duration. However, the power of the Timeline mode lets

you change a clip's cropping over time (just as for transforming a clip). The

method for cropping and transforming over time is similar in the way it is

applied, i.e. like a transform, cropping uses a dedicated envelope which is

accessible for any clip from the clip's Attributes menu. This Crop envelope is

displayed, controlled and modified as for any other envelope. It can host one

or more keyframes along the envelopes length (called the strip) to dictate the

crop selection area, i.e. each keyframe sets the crop area size at that time.

For a quick recap on envelopes and keyframes, see

Using envelopes and

Adjusting keyframes for more information.

MoviePlus opens up some interesting possibilities when cropping over time

as you can pan in any direction, zoom, pan/zoom together and create

panoramas. To make life easier, you can perform the above operations by

adopting a pre-built crop envelope preset.

To use a crop envelope preset:

1. Right-click a clip and choose Apply Envelope....

2. From the dialog, pick the crop folder, a crop preset from any child

folder, then click on a preset under that folder.

3. Click OK.

You'll notice the crop envelope appear under your clip, e.g.

Editing in Timeline mode 91

The envelope typically shows two keyframes, each storing the crop area's size

at that time. The properties of the selected keyframe ( ) show the sized crop

area, e.g.

You can modify the envelope by adjusting the crop area on each keyframe in

the envelope, and optionally saving the preset to a new name.

Alternatively, you can set the crop area manually by entering Top, Bottom,

Left or Right percentage values (click the Manual drop-down option).

To save your modified envelope:

Click the button in the envelope's Properties pane.

You'll be asked for an envelope name. The envelope is saved to the

root Crop folder of the Envelope dialog.

Cropping with Masks

As a very powerful way of cropping irregular shaped objects (as opposed to

cropping to square or rectangle areas), cropping video with masks involves

using a simple image overlay to describe which areas of your video should

remain visible and which areas should become transparent.

Masks are usually simple images made with a transparent region and a white

region; when applied correctly in the MoviePlus timeline, these images affect

underlying video, with white in the mask translating to visible regions of

your video and transparency in your mask translating to transparent

(cut/cropped) regions of the video. You can use this functionality to hide (or

92 Editing in Timeline mode

crop away) portions of your video that you do not want included. Masks

allow for irregular cropping, cropping with soft edges, animated cropping;

the possibilities are infinite, as are the number of mask images or videos you

can create.

Using envelopes

Envelopes in this context are not an item of stationery, they are a method of

applying change to a clip, track or group's properties over time. Imagine an

envelope as a hidden "track" that runs along with each clip, track, and group

in your project and at specific times you determine how it changes its

properties. Between the specific times you specify envelope settings,

MoviePlus can calculate smooth changes to the properties.

There are different types of envelopes that all work in very similar ways for

controlling cropping, opacity, and transforms for video clips, and volume

and stereo pan for audio clips. Once you learn how to display and modify

one type of envelope, you can apply the same principle to all other envelope

types. However there is a distinction between some envelope types, i.e.

Opacity, Volume and Pan: These simple envelopes can adjust the

properties of an object over its duration on the timeline. They appear

as thick strips because the envelope only affects one attribute (e.g.,

volume level). This lets you position buttons (called keyframes) in the

vertical axis to create fade-ins or fade-outs of opacity, volume and pan.

For example, a Volume envelope could be used on an audio track to

fade-in the sound at the start of your video, i.e.

Crop, Transform: These more complex envelopes can also adjust the

properties of an object over the timeline, but as they possess multiple

properties which are often inter-related, they can't be easily

represented on the timeline. Therefore, they appear as a thin strip

stretching the duration of the clip, track or group, leaving the

Editing in Timeline mode 93

envelope's Properties pane to take on the configuration role. Here's a

simple Crop envelope, containing three keyframes.

Envelopes can be edited, copied, pasted and muted (to temporarily switch

off). Editing of the envelope is possible on the whole envelope or on

individual keyframes within the envelope itself.

Displaying envelopes

Envelopes are exclusive to the Timeline mode and can be displayed as strips

that show under the selected clip, track or group. Choose from the options

below:

For clips

Click on the

button on top

of your clip to reveal an

Attributes menu. When an

Opacity, Crop or Transform

envelope is selected from the

menu, the clip's Keyframe

View is displayed directly

below the clip.

All envelopes are shown in separate strips with your chosen envelope already

selected. To change to a different envelope either click another envelope's

name in the video header or click anywhere in the envelope strip on the

timeline.

The

button, being grey/white, will change colour to red/white when

selected. If your envelope has been modified it will adopt a red/yellow colour.

94 Editing in Timeline mode

For video tracks and groups

Click on the

button in the header section of a selected track or group to

reveal an Attributes menu. Like clips, selected envelopes and keyframes

show under track or group.

Adjustments to envelopes will affect all clips on the track, or all tracks in the

group. For example, adjustments to a video group's Opacity envelope will

result in opacity changes to the composite result of the group's contents. For

example, if a video group contains four tracks each with a Transform

envelope that makes each track fill just one quarter of the visible area, all four

videos would simultaneously have their opacity adjusted when you modify

their group's Opacity envelope. Groups are also used when cropping or

masking video, so you may want to adjust the group's opacity—rather than

individual tracks or clips.

Preset Envelopes

MoviePlus provides a great selection of preset Crop, Opacity, and Transform

(video/image) and Volume and Pan envelopes (audio) to apply to your clips,

tracks or groups. Use the presets to get you started or to simply save you

time.

To apply an envelope preset:

1. Select the object.

2. From the Attributes menu, select Opacity, Crop (clip only), or

Transform to show its envelope.

Editing in Timeline mode 95

3. From the Properties pane, select and from the dialog,

navigate the tree menu structure and choose a preset envelope. Your

envelope shows automatically under the object.

Editing envelopes

All envelopes are powerful because of the potential to manipulate existing or

added keyframes along the envelope's length. This keyframe control is at the

heart of not only envelope management, but also the management of effects

and transitions, and is described in detail in

Adjusting keyframes (see p. 96).

All envelopes have one default keyframe positioned at the start of the object,

which defines how the envelope will operate either until the next keyframe

on the timeline or for the duration of the clip, track or group.

Resetting envelopes

An envelope cannot be deleted but instead its resident keyframes can be

deleted, effectively resetting the envelope back to its default state. Simply

select the envelope and press the Delete key.

Copying envelopes

An envelope can be copied by right-clicking on its header and choosing

Copy. When an envelope is copied to the clipboard, it can be pasted to

another selected object to replace the existing envelope of that object, e.g. an

Opacity envelope from one clip will overwrite the Opacity envelope of

another video clip by copy and paste.

If an envelope is copied and pasted from one clip to another clip further

down the timeline, associated

keyframes can be optionally scaled so they are

in proportion with the new clip. This is also useful if you are changing the

total length of the track as the key frames are scaled to that new length. To do

this, change each keyframe’s Keyframe Mode to Proportional in the

envelope's Properties pane. Another advantage of scaling is that you can save

your own custom envelope to a new preset, safe in the knowledge that the

96 Editing in Timeline mode

keyframes are never stored with absolute times, and instead can be scaled

easily to any object on the timeline in the future!

Saving envelopes

To save your envelope to a new name (in the Properties

pane) along with your existing presets, use the Add to Gallery button in the

Envelope's Properties pane. After providing a name, your new envelope is

saved in the envelope type's root folder.

Adjusting Keyframes

The Keyframe View

When you add an envelope, effect or transition to a clip, track, or group, the

Keyframe View is displayed directly underneath the object as a white area,

e.g. for a clip.

When you want to edit an existing envelope, effect or transition, click on the

grey/white button on your object to reveal a drop-down Attributes

menu. On selecting a menu item, the object's currently applied envelopes,

effects and/or transitions are shown in one or more

strips directly under the

object (the button changes to

red/white). Each strip allows you to induce

change over time, whether it's for an envelope, effect or transition. The points

Editing in Timeline mode 97

in time that you specify such change are represented on these strips by

Keyframes ( or when selected).

The Attributes button will change to red/yellow ( ) if an envelope, effect or

transition has been edited and then to

grey/yellow when a modified object

has all its strips hidden.

Once the Keyframe View is enabled, you will be able to edit envelopes and

their keyframes, causing change over time.

What are keyframes?

A keyframe is the small grey circle that appears on the envelope, effect or

transition strips. For tracks and groups there is a default keyframe at the start

of the timeline. For selected clips, the default keyframe is at the same time as

the start of the clip, so when you move your clip its envelope also moves in

synchronization.

Keyframes store information about the property you are editing. If we use

Opacity as an example, as it's such a simple property, MoviePlus is able to

draw a line of a set height along the length of its envelope to describe whether

the current opacity value is high, low, or any stage in between (as shown).

The initial single keyframe defines the Opacity level by its vertical position in

the envelope (see how the Properties pane's Opacity slider changes as you

drag the keyframe up and down).

You can modify keyframe properties when a keyframe is selected—click a

grey (deselected) keyframe and it will turn red (selected).

98 Editing in Timeline mode

Modifying the default keyframe

To modify the default keyframe you can either move it up and down within

the strip (for some simple envelopes) or just click the keyframe to select it (it

will turn red) then adjust its properties in the Properties pane (for complex

envelopes, effects, or transitions). You can also move the keyframe further

along the timeline to the right.

An important point about the first and last keyframes when moved is

that their properties will extend to the beginning and end of the clip,

track, or group.

Adding and Modifying keyframes

To cause change over time (by changing an object's properties), it is essential

to add and subsequently edit keyframes along the attribute's strip (for crops,

transforms, effects, and transitions). For effects and transitions you'll need to

apply them in advance.

Any added keyframe adopts the properties of the keyframe positioned

previous to it on the timeline.

To add a keyframe:

1. (Optional) Position your time indicator for accurate keyframe

placement.

2. Select the attribute from the Attributes menu (click

3. In the strip's header, select the attribute to add a keyframe to.

4. Hover the cursor along the object's strip until it changes to a different

cursor (

), then click to add the keyframe. If you've positioned your

time indicator, hover over where the indicator intersects with the

strip—you'll add a keyframe that snaps to an exact time.

Editing in Timeline mode 99

You can also use the

button on the Properties pane; this

adds a keyframe at the current time indicator's position.

Whichever way keyframes are added, they can be arranged along a strip at

chosen intervals (a keyframe is red when selected), i.e.

For some simpler envelopes such as Opacity, Pan and Volume, you can add

and edit keyframes as above but you can also drag the keyframe up or down

to adjust the keyframe's properties directly. These envelope strips are

designed to have more depth for this reason—great for fade-in and fade-outs

on Opacity and Volume envelopes.

In this example, a Volume envelope on an Audio track fades in at the start of

a movie. MoviePlus will draw the rate of volume change as a line between the

keyframes.

Any keyframes can be modified via the Properties pane—simply select the

keyframe (making it red) and then press F4. The Properties pane is shown

for the keyframe.

Selecting keyframes

At some point you may want to select more than one keyframe at the same

time—typically to cut, copy, or move keyframes. You can also change

Interpolation or keyframe Mode by right-clicking on multiple keyframes and

accessing a flyout menu. MoviePlus lets you select multiple keyframes as for

any other object on the timeline, i.e.

100 Editing in Timeline mode

Use Ctrl-click to select each keyframe in turn.

Drag a marquee around a region containing your keyframes.

Moving keyframes

You can move one or more keyframes left and right along the strip which has

the effect of moving them earlier or later along the timeline. For more

precision, you can also set a selected Keyframe time position in the

Properties pane.

Navigating keyframes

Use the Ctrl+< and Ctrl+> keyboard shortcuts to Select Previous

Keyframe and Select Next Keyframe on a strip (also available on the

Edit menu).

Use the button in the Properties pane.

Copying keyframes

Any selected keyframe can be copied to the clipboard. Simply select a single

keyframe (or multiple keyframes with the Ctrl key), right-click and select

Copy.

When keyframes are on the clipboard, they can be pasted into any attribute

strip of the same type they came from. They will be pasted at the Time

indicator location.

If an envelope, effect or transition is copied and pasted from one clip to

another clip further down the timeline, associated keyframes can be

optionally scaled so they are in proportion with the new clip. This is also

useful if you are changing the total length of the track as the keyframes are

Editing in Timeline mode 101

scaled to that new length. To do this, change each keyframe’s Keyframe

Mode to Proportional in the envelope's, effect's or transition's Properties

pane. Another advantage of scaling is that you can save your own custom

envelope, effect or transition to a new preset, safe in the knowledge that the

Keyframes are never stored with absolute times, and instead can be scaled

easily to any object on the timeline in the future!

Altering rate of change between keyframes

By default, where you have two keyframes with different values, MoviePlus

will gradually step from one range of settings to the next in a smooth

manner—this is known as Linear interpolation. MoviePlus is interpolating

(calculating) values between the keyframes and the change is linear, i.e. half

way between the values you will have encountered half the required amount

of change.

However, it's handy to be able to alter the rate of change, as in video

production it's usually a good idea to aim for smoothness—sudden starts or

ends to movement (as with other effects) is not always desirable as it can

sometimes detract from the video.

To alter the rate of change between keyframes:

1. Right-click the first keyframe.

Select the first keyframe.

2. From the Interpolation drop-down in the flyout or Properties pane,

choose an interpolation method. The right-click flyout offers handy

previews of the rates of change as curved or straight lines, like a graph

or chart.

Using the Volume envelope example below, a right-click on the first

keyframe will allow you to adjust the rate of volume change towards the

second keyframe—a curve appears between keyframes.

102 Editing in Timeline mode

The first keyframe is subject to a Quadratic Slow curve to start and end the

fade-in slowly.

On occasion, you may wish to apply a Hold interpolation on a keyframe

where, instead of change over time, the keyframe’s properties remain

constant for its duration. These are particularly useful on an audio clip's

Volume envelope where you may want to switch the volume on and off at

specific points along the timeline (instead of fading).

Positioning keyframes

When you modify an object or you intend to copy and paste an attribute's

strip to another object's attribute strip (of different length) you can choose

various mode options to decide how MoviePlus will reposition a keyframe

once it is copied.

For an envelope, effect, or transition, the Keyframe Mode setting

offers various positioning options for keyframes; this affects only the

currently selected keyframe(s).

The setting, found in the More section of the attribute's Properties pane, can

be one of the following:

Absolute: keyframe does not move (default). Great for corresponding

your keyframes to an event on the timeline.

Proportional: keyframe moves in proportion to the new object's

length (i.e., duration). Useful for creating presets (e.g., envelopes)

whose keyframes will scale to any target object.

Relative to Start: keyframe moves relative to the start of the object if

its length is changed. Use for Fade-ins.

Editing in Timeline mode 103

Relative to End: keyframe moves relative to the end of the object if its

length is changed. Use for Fade-outs.

If you want to apply the same Keyframe Mode to multiple keyframes, you

can select your keyframes (see

Selecting keyframes), right-click, and pick a

new setting from the flyout menu.

When keyframes have a Keyframe mode of "Absolute" they are affected

by Rippling (if turned on). Other modes will be unaffected by rippling.

Applying transitions

Any time one piece of video ends and another begins, a transition takes place.

In its simplest form, the transition is simply a cut: in less than the blink of an

eye, the last frame of a clip is replaced by the first frame of a second clip. In

MoviePlus, the term “transition” applies to a more gradual way of switching

from one clip to another. If you overlap two clips slightly on the same or

separate tracks, you get a time-based change between them, shown as a blue

strip (as indicated below). An In transition called "Cross-Fade" is added by

default to the second clip.

The default Cross-Fade transition type has no associated properties.

However, all other transition types have associated properties which can

be modified at any time.

Transitions can be used in two ways, i.e. either as an In transition or Out

transition which appear at the start or end of a single clip, respectively. The

former can be useful as a fade-in on the first clip at the start of a track (first

example below). Conversely, an Out transition can be applied to the last clip

in any track as a fade-out (second example above).

104 Editing in Timeline mode

In Transition Out Transition

You may have notice the transition region's shapes are different on the above

examples. The square-shaped region indicates an automatic transition,

created when multiple media files are dragged from the Media pane onto the

timeline (or anytime that you partially overlap one clip over another by

dragging). The arrow-shaped regions are manual transitions—the arrow is

actually a handle to drag left or right to set your own transition.

To change a manual transition's duration:

Drag the left or right-hand end (as shown below) of the transition region to

stretch or shrink it, or specify an absolute value in the transition's Properties

pane.

Remember that each transition takes time to happen—so make sure the video

in the overlap region is not part of the main action. If you expect to use

transitions, it’s a good idea to allow a couple of seconds of non-essential

material at the start and end of clips when you initially capture them.

The duration of Automatic transitions is altered automatically by moving

either clip on the timeline.

Editing in Timeline mode 105

To replace transitions:

1. Select one or more In or Out transitions on the timeline, i.e.

For specific transitions, Ctrl-click on each clip's transition region

one-by-one. This can be carried out across multiple tracks if

needed.

For all transitions on a single track, select any single transition on

the track, then press Ctrl+A.

For all transitions across multiple tracks, select a transition on

each of the tracks (with Ctrl-click), the press Ctrl+A.

2. Click on the context toolbar.

3. From the dialog, choose a category from the upper window. In the lower

window, review the presets available (especially their names, which indicate

their intended function). Select a preset, e.g. 3D Page Roll.

4. Click OK.

106 Editing in Timeline mode

The Transition name(s) changes, e.g. from "Cross-Fade" to "3D Page Roll":

The end of the first clip is indicated by the vertical dashed red line.

For a quick way to replace transitions, open the Galleries pane, select the

Transitions button, then drag and drop a transition thumbnail onto your

transition.

Modifying transitions

Transitions added to your project will have their own set of properties

associated with them. These are highly customizable via the Properties pane,

just like any other object in MoviePlus. Try selecting a transition region and

check its properties in the Properties pane.

The ability to customize transitions by changing these property settings

means that the presets supplied are merely a starting point for you to further

create and save your own transitions to your own requirements.

To modify a transition:

1. Select the transition region.

2. From the transition's Properties pane, alter the transitions' properties

at the bottom of the pane.

To save a modified transition to a new name:

Click the button at the top of the Properties pane.

Once named, the transition appears as a new preset in the Choose

Transition dialog.

Editing in Timeline mode 107

Adjusting transition properties

A transition, when applied, possesses a single keyframe which dictates the

transition duration, interpolation, and settings particular to the type of

transition, e.g. Blur, transition direction, etc. This applies a uniform setting

throughout the transition's duration.

A single keyframe is shown in a Transition strip, shown directly below the

clip when double-clicking the transition region (double-click again to hide

the strip). In and out transitions are shown in separate strips with your

chosen transition already selected. For example, for an automatic In

transition "3D Page Roll" and manual Out transition "Iris Wipe" applied to a

single clip:

By clicking on the keyframe (the button on each strip) on either transition,

the properties of the transition can be modified for the duration of the

transition (you alter each keyframe's properties in the Properties pane). The

duration of automatic transitions cannot be modified.

If one keyframe is modified the change is applied over the transition's

duration. However, more exciting transitions can be made by Applying

Transitions over Time.

Applying transitions over time

It is possible to specify how a transition alters throughout its duration by

setting keyframes at different points on its strip, but only within the

transition's duration (and not over a whole clip or track). The strip allows

keyframes to be place along its length, which can be modified in turn to

108 Editing in Timeline mode

define how a transition's properties are to be applied at that point in the

transition. The 3D Page Roll transition above could have a second keyframe

(with different properties) added at the end of the transition, to allow the

transition to change over time, i.e.

During video preview, as the time indicator passes along the timeline the

video's transition will change over time by using the differing properties of

the last visited keyframe and the next keyframe on the timeline. The

transition can be interpolated linearly or can adopt different types of

quadratic or cubic algorithms to effect different rates of change.

Keyframe control is described in general terms in Adjusting keyframes.

Snapping

If Snapping is enabled (Arrange menu), the transition will conveniently fit

into the overlap region. If snapping is disabled, or you drag the transition to

an overlapping area between tracks, it will adopt a default overlap time as set

in Tools>Options>Editing. Any applied transition should always match the

overlap region, i.e. where two clips are co-existing on the timeline. If

snapping is enabled, your clips will be "sticky" when you drag clips near the

default overlap period (MoviePlus offers a 1-second sticky overlap point by

default). This makes it easy to keep a standard transition duration

throughout your project without manually editing each transition duration

in the Properties pane (or very carefully dragging your clips) for each

overlap; MoviePlus makes it easy to use a standard value that you can alter in

the Tools>Options>Editing dialog. The overlap value is also used as a

default transition duration when you add multiple image clips to the timeline

simultaneously—great for making quick slide shows!

Editing in Timeline mode 109

Using markers

Markers have several uses in MoviePlus but are always added along the top

of your timeline at the current time indicator. Three types of marker are

available.

Basic marker

as simple reference points, to indicate important

events occurring at key times in your movie, e.g.

sound or action, or to mark the start and end of

clips on more complex multi-track projects (for

positioning and arranging).

Chapter point

For use exclusively in DVD or VCD creation.

These indicate the beginning of chapters when

creating menus for DVDs (see

Menu Designer:

Editing chapter properties on p.

182).

Selection markers

Defines a time range for selective

pre-rendering

or to export only part of your MoviePlus project

(to file, PSP, or iPod).

Using markers

Markers of any type can be added at any point on your timeline—they can be

labelled, repositioned by dragging, as well as navigated.

To insert a marker:

1. Click on the timeline ruler to set the time indicator's position.

2. From the Context toolbar's

drop-down list choose:

110 Editing in Timeline mode

Insert Marker.

Insert Chapter Point.

Set Selection Start (or End).

By default, markers will be named according to type, i.e. Marker 1, Marker 2,

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Selection Start, etc.

To rename your marker:

Go to the selected marker's Properties pane and edit the Marker field.

To select a marker:

Click the marker box (whether a basic marker, chapter point, or

selection marker) on the timeline ruler (use Shift-click to select

multiple markers).

To delete a marker:

Click on the marker and press Delete.

Navigating markers

If you're working on a long timeline you may need to navigate your markers

so you can check that each marker is of the correct type and position. The

navigation method is the same for any marker type (basic, chapter point, or

selection marker).

To navigate markers one by one:

With any marker selected, use Shift+left or Shift+right arrow keys

Editing in Timeline mode 111

To navigate markers via dialog:

Use Go to Marker... on the Transport menu to select from

markers (of any type) listed in a dialog.

Using chapter points

Chapter points are a type of marker used to define where chapters play from

in your generated DVD—much the same as the initial menu shown in any

Movie DVD from your local movie store. In the Menu Designer, chapter

points inserted in your timeline will be detected and the associated chapters

will be thumb nailed automatically (see Menu Designer on p. 177).

In Storyboard mode, chapter points can be inserted

at the start of any clip using the Insert Chapter button on the

Storyboard toolbar.

If you want to convert a basic marker to a chapter point, simply check

chapter point in the selected marker's Properties pane, and set the additional

chapter point options as required. Options let you control the chapter end

action expected once the DVD chapter has finished playing in your DVD

player. If the Progress to next chapter is enabled the next chapter is played

automatically. Alternatively, the Return to title menu option keeps your

chapters independent of each other, by returning to the menu once the

chapter has played. This latter option would be useful if your DVD is to

contain separate unrelated movies.

As an example of chapter points on the timeline, a climbing movie could

have named chapter points which represent key points on the movie, e.g.

Teamwork, Effort, etc.

112 Editing in Timeline mode

When you decide to create your disc, these named chapters will be shown as

thumbnails which can be clicked to play the movie from that point.

Using selection markers

Selection markers differ slightly from basic markers and chapter points.

Instead, they work as a pair to set a time range on your timeline within which

MoviePlus can perform operations limited to that set range. Operations

include:

Pre-rendering part of the timeline which contains complex

MoviePlus-applied effects and transitions for improved preview

playback.

Exporting a part of your movie by setting an export range. Used for

exporting to

file, PSP, or iPod.

To limit to a specific time range:

1. Click on the timeline ruler to set the time indicator's position.

2. From the Context toolbar's

drop-down menu, choose Set

Selection Start (or right-click on the time indicator) to set the start of

your time range. From the same menu, select Set Selection End to set

the end of your range.

3. (Optional) Drag your

and

markers along the timeline to fine-tune your time range.

Once set, any pre-rendering or exporting will be limited to the chosen time

range. Pre-rendering is carried out with the Pre-render Selected Range

option (Preview menu).

Editing in Timeline mode 113

Looping

When you are manipulating clips on your timeline, it is extremely easy to

make audio or video clips loop or repeat themselves. Like trimming, you will

most probably find that looping, freeze-frames (static extensions), or the

speeding up or slowing down of audio and video are common tasks. Other

kinds of clips, such as Image or Text clips, can all have their duration

changed but do not repeat loop or repeat.

As an example of looping, a short audio clip of crowd noise can be repeated

(by looping the part of the audio clip) for the duration of the accompanying

video clip to artificially prolong the length of that audio clip.

To loop a clip:

1. Select an audio or video clip.

2. (Optional) For looping to a precise time, set the time indicator's

position on the timeline beyond the end of the clip end.

3. From the Properties pane, check Enable Clip Extending and ensure

the Loop radio button is enabled.

4. To set the number of loops, simply grab one end of the clip on the

timeline using your mouse and drag it outwards, making the clip

longer. If dragging the right-edge, the clip will begin "playing" again

after its original end point. If dragging the left-edge, the clip will end

and restart at its original start point.

As your clip is extended, you will see small yellow markers along the

bottom of the clip; these indicate the repetitions or loops. In the audio

sample below, we've stretched the right edge of an audio clip until it is

looped and will play fully five times.

114 Editing in Timeline mode

For looped video clips, black triangles along the top of the clip will indicate

the position of the "poster frame" previews.

If you want to trim a "looping" clip, the looping frames will update to

reflect the new In or Out point after retrimming.

Looping with trimmed clips

To gain a direct appreciation of the length of the clip on the timeline, the

clip's "trimmed" In and Out points, and what portion of the clip is being

repeated, you can reveal the clip's strip by clicking In/Out Points on the

clip's Attributes menu (select on a clip).

In the example above, the displayed strip allows for some fine editing. The

audio clip has been trimmed in length by dragging both the left and right

edges inwards (see Trimming on the timeline for more details). The section

labelled "Trimmed clip" represents the duration of the trimmed media—the

Editing in Timeline mode 115

shaded regions left and right of the trim region represent unwanted original

audio. The right-edge of the trimmed clip was then dragged to the right after

Enable Clip Extending was set to Loop.

You do not need to reveal the strip to be able to perform the loop operation,

but it may help you see which section of a trimmed clip is being repeated

when working with trimmed clips.

Time shifting

You can change which section of your original video clip is being played

within the trimmed region, without altering the position of your trimmed

clip on the timeline, by dragging the hand cursor left or right in the Trimmed

clip's region. You can imagine that the trimmed region is a small window

that can only "see" a small region of the landscape of your video. The drag

we've described means you can move left or right to change your view,

leaving the window where it is; this has the effect of shifting the trimmed

video's in- and out-points relative to the original video clip.

Static extensions

Also called freeze-frame, a static extension is a useful way to begin or end a

trimmed or untrimmed clip. A static extension of the first frame could allow

for a fade in or other transition, a zoom to give the subject emphasis, or a

background against which titles can be overlaid. A static extension at the end

of a clip similarly allows time for a transition, a background for credits, etc.

If you're using a trimmed video clip, the currently set In or Out point will be

used as the static extension.

To apply a static extension:

1. Select an audio or video clip.

2. (Optional) For precise extensions, set the time indicator's position on

the timeline beyond the end of the clip end.

116 Editing in Timeline mode

3. From the Properties pane, check Enable Clip Extending and ensure

the Static radio button is enabled.

4. Hover over either end of you clip until you see a

cursor, then drag your clip's end outwards to make it longer. If

dragging the right edge, the clip will "freeze" the final frame. If

dragging the left edge, the clip will freeze the first frame.

As your clip is extended, you will see a small yellow marker under the clip

(circled below) indicating the original start or end point of your clip before

your static extension was applied. The black triangles along the top of the clip

merely indicate the position of the "poster frame" previews.

Slowing down and speeding up

Video clips can be slowed down (slow motion) or speeded up by decreasing

or increasing the Play speed on the clip's Properties pane. You'll see the

duration change on the chosen clip as you adjust this value—when a video

plays slower or faster, it has a longer or shorter duration, respectively. Image

or Text clip cannot have their Play speed adjusted.

Video overlays

You can "layer" all sorts of different kinds of clips on top of existing video or

image clips—this flexibility opens up a world of possibilities in your video

production.

Overlays, in basic terms, are two or more clips being displayed at once, one

on top of the other—they would be layered on multiple video tracks. For the

bottom clip to still be visible despite having another clip on top of it, the top

clip needs to:

Editing in Timeline mode 117

be smaller than the bottom clip.

have transparent regions.

have reduced opacity.

The principle can be understood with a festive example of a image overlay

over a video clip.

What is on display underneath your overlay depends on the structure of your

timeline. The example above shows a two-track project. The Christmas

overlay graphic exists on top of the underlying video clip for as long as the

image overlay exists above the lower clip.

118 Editing in Timeline mode

Top clip made smaller

When you add an opaque clip to the upper track so that it is displayed on top

of other clips, it is likely to occlude them completely or almost completely,

blocking out the clip below so all you can see is the content of the top-most

track. To resize your top clip so you can see "around it" to underlying clips,

use a Transform envelope on the upper clip or track. You can also reshape

your clip, deform with perspective (as shown above) and you can even

animate the resizing/reshaping process. See Introducing Transforms to learn

more.

Top clip has transparent regions

Overlaid STV video

Serif ImpactPlus or DrawPlus can be used to export as Serif Transparent

Video (stv) , creating animations that make for compelling effects in your

movies, including smoke, fire, ethereal mists, sparkling fireworks (for

ImpactPlus) and impressive Flash-based designs (for DrawPlus; export as

keyframe animation). If you own either Serif product see its online Help for

information about exporting; remember to choose the STV format if you

want your export to have a transparent background!

When you add a STV video file to a track above existing video or images, you

do not need to take any further action, MoviePlus will smoothly overlay the

STV on top of the video, colour or image on the lower track, revealing

underlying clips through the video's transparent region.

Overlaid images

Images overlaid on tracks above other images or video can make for some

fun projects (like the Christmas example above). If the image on the top track

has built-in transparency you will automatically be able to see through the

transparent region to the underlying clips.

There may be more than one way you can achieve your effect—e.g., a picture

of a billboard advertising poster displaying your video within the billboard

area can be achieved by either placing your video above a billboard image

Editing in Timeline mode 119

and shaping the video to match the billboard area using a transform

envelope, or you can also cut out the billboard region of the image using a

photo-editing program such as Serif's PhotoPlus (exported as a 32-bit PNG

to maintain transparency) and place it on top of your video, perhaps shaping

your underlying video to approximately match the billboard region, again

using a Transform envelope. Both methods would have similar results; the

second would allow some foreground objects in the image, such as a street

sign, to sit in front of the billboard (see below).

120 Editing in Timeline mode

Top clip with reduced opacity

There are a number of ways to reduce opacity of upper clips to partially

reveal underlying clips—the quickest is to adjust overall track opacity using

the Opacity slider in the selected Video track's Properties pane.

You can also adjust the opacity of a track (or even the clip itself) over time by

manipulating its Opacity envelope and associated keyframes. See Using

envelopes and

Adjusting keyframes to learn how to modify envelopes by

making keyframe adjustments.

Effects

122 Effects

Effects 123

Applying video effects

Effects can add variety and visual excitement to a video (or image) clip. Some

effects, like Brightness/Contrast or Gamma, are designed to correct the

original image; others, like Filter Effects, Mosaic or Diffuse Glow, are

simply special effects.

The supported special effects are described as follows (See also effects for

colour correction on p. 134):

Chroma Key - A method of removing a colour (or a colour range)

from one video to reveal another video or image behind it. The

"removed" colour becomes transparent.

Colourize - Offers an easy way to apply a colour tint/wash.

Diffuse Glow - This broadens highlights in the video by brightening

gradually outward from existing highlights.

Emboss - The Emboss effect remaps contours to simulate a bas-relief

effect. This creates a convex rounded edge and shadow effect.

Filter Effects - Filter Effects encompass Shadows, Glows, Bevels,

Emboss, Colour fills and 3D special effects. Apply individually or in

combination in a highly configurable design environment.

Gaussian Blur - The Gaussian Blur effect smoothes the image or video

by averaging pixels. It's especially useful for removing a moiré

(interference) pattern from scanned images and can help regions of

visual interference from fine patterns.

Gradient Map - The Gradient Map adjustment is for remapping

lightness information in the clip to a new colour range. It makes for

great "posterized" effects and is a quick substitute where a pop-art feel

is being sought.

124 Effects

Greyscale - This effect creates shades of grey; monotones ranging

from black through to white.

Invert - This effect inverts the colours, in the same way that a photo

and its negative are opposites of each other.

Mask - The Mask effect is a useful way to convert a clip into a more

suitable mask by adjusting its lightness or other tonal values.

Mosaic - The Mosaic effect creates blocks of uniform colour for a tiled

appearance.

Motion Blur - Exaggerate motion in your video clip, by blurring

object movement.

Noise - The Noise effect adds graininess.

Old Film - Use the effect to simulate vintage movies; control ageing

and movie quality.

Solarize - The Solarize effect is similar to a Negative Image function,

but lets you set the threshold value above which colours can be

inverted. (Solarization is a darkroom technique in which a partially

developed image is re-exposed to light, producing dramatic changes in

mid-tone regions).

Threshold - The Threshold effect creates a harsh duo-tone black and

white image, with no blend through shades of grey.

Unsharp Mask - Unlike many sharpening tools that affect the entire

clip, the Unsharp Mask effect works mainly at edges. It's excellent for

improving clip quality.

Audio special effects (see p. 135) can also be applied to audio clips.

Effects 125

Individual or cumulative effects can be managed from an Effects tab. They

can be added, replaced, deleted, and rearranged all from this tab. Applied

effects are shown in an effect list; effects at the top of the list are applied to

the clip first. When selected, effects' properties can be adjusted directly in the

pane. Any modified effect can be saved for future use.

Applying effects

To apply an effect:

1. Select the clip on the storyboard (or timeline).

2. Click the

button on the context toolbar.

3. From the Properties pane (Effects tab), click the

button.

4. From the dialog, choose a category (see explanations above) from the

upper window. In the lower window, review the presets available

(especially their names, which indicate their intended function). Select

a preset.

126 Effects

5. Click OK. The effect is added to the Effects tab's effects list.

In Storyboard mode, a clip's thumbnail with an effect applied will

show a symbol. Click the symbol to view applied effects.

For a quick way to apply effects, open the Galleries pane, select the

Effects button, then drag and drop a chosen preset onto your clip.

Any effect added to your project will have its own set of properties associated

with it. The effect's properties can be altered in the Properties pane (Effects

tab).

To modify an effect:

1. Select the clip.

2. From the Properties pane (Effects tab), choose the effect to be edited

from the effects list.

3. Alter the effects' properties at the bottom of the tab.

Effects 127

To save a modified effect to a new name:

Click the button in the Properties pane (Effects tab). Once

named, the effect appears as a new preset (in the Choose Effect dialog)

next time you want to apply an effect.

128 Effects

2D filter effects

MoviePlus provides a variety of filter effects that you can use to transform

any clip.

"3D" filter effects let you create the impression of a textured surface

and are covered elsewhere (see p.

130). Here we'll look at 2D filter effects

exclusively. The following examples show each 2D filter effect when applied

to the letter "A."

Drop Shadow Inner Shadow Outer Glow Inner Glow

Inner Bevel Outer Bevel Emboss Pillow Emboss

Gaussian Blur Zoom Blur Radial Blur Motion Blur

Colour Fill Feather Outline

Effects 129

To apply 2D filter effects:

1. Select a video or image clip and click the

button on the

context toolbar, then from the Properties pane (Effects tab), click the

Add Effect... button.

2. From the Choose Effect dialog, select the Filter Effects category and

choose a preset from the lower window.

3. Click OK.

To edit a filter effect:

1. From the Properties pane (Effects tab), select "Filter Effects" in the

effects list and click the Edit Effects... button. The Filter Effects dialog

is displayed.

2. (Optional) If needed, expand the preview pane by clicking the

Show/Hide Preview button. When expanded, the effects are applied

only in the preview window. While the pane is collapsed (click the

button again), filter effects are applied directly to the clip.

3. To apply a particular effect, check its box in the list at left.

4. To adjust the properties of a specific effect, select its name and vary the

dialog controls. Adjust the sliders or enter specific values to vary the

combined effect. (You can also select a slider and use the keyboard

arrows.) Options differ from one effect to another.

5. Click OK to apply the effect or Cancel to abandon changes.

Creating outlines

MoviePlus lets you create a coloured outline around objects, especially text

and shapes (as a filter effect). For any outline, you can set the outline width,

colour fill, transparency, and blend mode. The outline can also take a

gradient fill, a unique contour fill (fill runs from the inner to outer edge of

130 Effects

the outline width), or pattern fill and can also sit inside, outside, or be

centred on the object edge.

As with all effects you can switch the outline effect on and off. You'll be able

to apply a combination of 2D or 3D filter effects along with your outline, by

checking other options in the Filter Effects dialog.

Blur

Various blur effects can be applied to MoviePlus objects. The types of blur

include:

Gaussian: the effect smoothes by averaging pixels using a weighted

curve.

Zoom: applies converging streaks to the image to simulate a zoom

lens.

Radial: applies concentric streaks to the object to simulate a rotating

camera or subject.

Motion: applies straight streaks to the object to simulate the effect of

camera or subject movement.

3D filter effects

3D filter effects create the impression of a textured surface on the clip, track

or group itself. You can apply one or more effects to the same clip—

Bump Map,

3D Pattern Map, and 3D Lighting are all available. Some

impressive effects can be achieved on a whole range of objects, particularly

Text, Background and QuickShape clips.

Effects 131

Overview

To apply 3D filter effects:

1. Select a video or image clip and click the

button on the

context toolbar, then from the Properties pane (Effects tab), click the

Add Effect... button.

2. From the Choose Effect dialog, select the Filter Effects category and

choose a 3D preset from the lower window.

3. Click OK.

To edit a filter effect:

1. From the Properties pane (Effects tab), select "Filter Effects" in the

effects list and click the Edit Effects... button. The Filter Effects dialog

is displayed.

2. (Optional) If needed, expand the preview pane by clicking the

Show/Hide Preview button. When expanded, the effects are applied

only in the preview window. While the pane is collapsed (click the

button again), filter effects are applied directly to the clip.

132 Effects

3. Check the 3D Effects box in the list (unless you've already selected a

3D preset). The 3D Lighting box is checked by default.

3D Effects is a master switch for this group,

and its settings of Blur and Depth make a

great difference; you can click the "+" button to

unlink them for independent adjustment.

3D Lighting provides a "light source" without

which any depth information in the effect

wouldn't be visible. The lighting settings let

you illuminate your 3D landscape and vary its

reflective properties.

4. Once 3D Effects is enabled (see

Overview), adjust the "master control"

sliders here to vary the overall properties of any individual 3D effects you

select, i.e.

• Blur specifies the amount of smoothing applied. Larger blur sizes give the

impression of broader, more gradual changes in height.

• Depth specifies how steep the changes in depth appear.

• The

button is normally down, which links the two sliders so that

sharp changes in Depth are smoothed out by the Blur parameter. To adjust

the sliders independently, click the button so it's up.

Effects 133

You can combine multiple 3D filter effects, as in the illustration above. The

effects are applied cumulatively.

The procedures for applying 3D Filter Effects are covered in the MoviePlus

Help but here's a quick review of each effect type.

3D bump map

The 3D Bump Map effect creates the impression of a textured surface by

applying a mathematical function you select to add depth information, for a

peak-and-valley effect. You can use 3D Bump Map in conjunction with one

or more additional 3D filter effects.

3D pattern map

The 3D Pattern Map effect creates the impression of a textured surface by

applying a mathematical function you select to introduce colour variations.

You can use 3D Pattern Map in conjunction with one or more other 3D filter

effects.

Transparency

The uniform transparency of a clip can be controlled via the Opacity setting

in the clip's properties. However, for more sophisticated transparency

control, especially for simulating reflective lighting effects, transparency

settings can instead be set within the 3D filter effects dialog (check the

Transparency option). Transparency can be adjusted independently for both

non-reflective surfaces (typically a clip's edge shadows shown when side-lit)

and top-lit surfaces.

3D reflection map

The 3D Reflection Map effect is used to simulate mirrored surfaces by

selection of a pattern (i.e., a bitmap which possesses a shiny surface) which

"wraps around" a selected clip. Patterns which simulate various realistic

134 Effects

indoor and outdoor environments can be adopted, with optional use of 3D

lighting to further reflect off the clips' edges.

3D lighting

The 3D Lighting effect works in conjunction with other 3D effects to let you

vary the surface illumination and reflective properties.

Colour correction

MoviePlus offers a wide variety of colour adjustment presets that you can

apply to clips. These adjustments—to brightness, contrast, hue, and so on—

are normally carried out on clips, as most deficiencies will be inherited from

the recording of the clip (e.g., over-exposure, poor weather conditions, etc.).

Colour correction effects are applied and managed in the same way as for any

other effect, i.e. go to the Properties pane (Effects tab), choose Add Effect,

then choose a category then effect from the effects gallery. Use the effect's

Properties pane to alter the adjustment settings. See

Applying Effect on p.

125 for more information.

Let's take a look at the colour adjustment effect categories in turn.

Adjust

HSL

Hue, Saturation, and Lightness (HSL) are components

of a standard colour model that's used to identify

colours. Generally speaking, Hue refers to the colour's

tint—what most of us think of as rainbow or spectrum

colours with name associations, like "blue" or

"magenta." Saturation describes the colour's purity—a

totally unsaturated video has only greys. Lightness is

what we intuitively understand as relative darkness or

lightness—ranging from full black at one end to full

white at the other. Adjust HSL lets you alter these

components independently.

Brightness

/ Contrast

Brightness refers to overall lightness or darkness, while

contrast describes the tonal range, or spread between

Effects 135

lightest and darkest values. This is a "quick and dirty"

way of correcting a clip, for example one that was over-

exposed or under-exposed.

Channel

Mixer

The Channel Mixer adjustment lets you adjust each

separate colour channel (Red, Green, or Blue) using a

mix of all the current colour channels.

Colour

Balance

The Colour Balance adjustment lets you adjust colour

balance for general colour correction in the clip.

Combinations of Cyan/Red, Magenta/Green and

Yellow/Blue can be adjusted to lower or raise each

colour mix.

Curves

The Curves adjustment lets you correct the tonal range

of a clip—the spread of lightness values through

shadow, midtone, and highlight regions—and control

individual colour components.

Gamma

The Gamma adjustment lets you adjust the amount of

mid-tone brightness in your clip. Think of midtones as

the grey shading that lie between shadows and

highlights present throughout your clip.

Levels

The Levels adjustment lets you emphasize mid-tone

lightness regions in each or all of the three primary

video colours, red, green, and blue.

Applying audio effects

In the same way that you can apply video effects to video clips, you can apply

audio effects to audio clips also. In fact the process of applying and editing

effects is identical for both—MoviePlus treats them equally.

Audio effects range from more commonly encountered effects such as Bass

and Reverb, to more technical effects such as Low, High Pass, Compressor,

Expander, and many more.

136 Effects

Whichever effect you want to apply you'll need to have recorded, captured,

or imported your audio file in advance; the file must also be present as a clip

on your storyboard or timeline. Once present, the clip can have an effect

applied.

Individual or cumulative audio effects can be managed from an Effects tab on

the Properties pane. They can be added, replaced, deleted, and rearranged all

from this tab. Applied effects are shown in an effect list; effects at the top of

the list are applied to the clip first. When selected, an effects' properties can

be adjusted directly in the pane. Any modified effect can be saved for future

use.

In Timeline mode, an audio effect can be equally applied to an audio

track or group, as well as an audio clip. This will influence the audio of a

clip on the same track or group.

Effects 137

Applying audio effects

To apply an effect:

1. Select the audio clip on the storyboard (or clip, track, or group on the

timeline).

2. Click the button on the context toolbar.

3. From the Properties pane (Effects tab), click the

button.

4. From the dialog, choose a category from the upper window. In the

lower window, review any presets available (especially their names,

which indicate their intended function). Select a preset.

5. Click OK. The effect is added to the Effects tab's effects list.

For a quick way to apply audio effects, open the Galleries pane,

select the Audio Effects button, then drag and drop a chosen preset

onto your audio. The folder names indicate the type of audio effect

available.

Any effect added to your project will have its own set of properties associated

with it. The effect's properties can be altered in the Properties pane (Effects

tab).

To modify an audio effect:

1. Select the audio clip, track or group which has the effect applied.

2. From the Properties pane (Effects tab), choose the effect to be edited

from the effects list.

3. Alter the effects' properties at the bottom of the tab.

138 Effects

To save a modified effect to a new name:

Click the button in the Properties pane (Effects tab). Once

named, the effect appears as a new preset (in the Choose Effect dialog)

next time you want to apply an effect.

Using third-party effects

While MoviePlus is packed with a range of preset audio effects you can also

adopt third-party plug-in VST effects (up to V2.4). If you've already

downloaded such effects independently of MoviePlus you can make them

appear in your Galleries pane by copying them to the MoviePlus install sub-

folder called "VST". You'll need to do this before running MoviePlus. By

default, this folder will be C:\Program Files\Serif\MoviePlus\X3\VST\.

The installed VST effects can be applied in exactly the same way as

MoviePlus's audio effects—you can adjust their properties in the Properties

pane (Effects tab). Note that some more advanced VST effects (ANWIDA

Reverb) can be modified with a VST Properties button (in the same pane).

You can optionally store your VST effect plug-ins in a folder of your choice,

but you'll have to point to this folder via Tools>Options (Folders tab) for the

effects to show in the Galleries pane.

Installed VST effects are shown in the Effects Gallery in folders named

with a [VST] suffix.

Audio

140 Audio

Audio 141

Introducing audio

In MoviePlus, it's possible to use audio clips which have been collected by a

variety of methods, i.e.

Capturing audio: The capture process is capable of capturing just the

audio element from a camcorder's combined video/audio input or

audio from a microphone (see Capturing video on p. 31).

Importing audio files: You can make use of audio files already on

your computer by simply importing them into your project.

Recording Narration: Narrate commentary via microphone as you

playback your movie. Narration can play back over existing audio

(e.g., a soundtrack).

CD Ripping: Digital ripping of music CDs means that you can adopt

your favourite songs as supporting soundtracks in your movie.

142 Audio

Whichever method you choose, audio files will be added to your Media pane.

Narration files are also added to the storyboard or timeline automatically (at

the time indicator position at which you started recording).

In many instances, the

capture or import of a video file to your project will

introduce accompanying audio along with your video clip automatically. For

instance, capturing via a tape-based camcorder will create an avi file which

will contain separate but linked video and audio streams. When you

introduce the media file to the storyboard or timeline, the associated audio

will follow.

Audio editing

Audio can play an essential part in any movie, and creative audio editing is

an art in itself. Standard ingredients of audio might include:

Production sound as originally recorded (and later captured) “in sync”

along with the video, e.g. camcorder footage of your last holiday

Narration (or voice-over passages) which serves as a commentary or a

bridge between sections of your movie.

Theme music or background sound from a variety of clips, often

added as one or more longer clips that run “under” audio narration.

Sound effects or single-shot audio events, perhaps added for emphasis

(“sweetening”) or comic relief

If you would like your movie to include more than basic production sound,

allow yourself some time to do it right! Skilful sound editing is a combination

of technique and judgment. Fortunately, MoviePlus makes the technical part

straightforward. Getting sound to coincide properly with the visual track, to

come in on cue and end (or fade out) at just the right moment, to blend well

with other audio... all are easily accomplished in the Timeline mode.

Audio 143

Adding and replacing audio

Audio files can be added to your Media pane in

various ways (see Introducing audio on p. 141)

and will always show with an audio icon as a

thumbnail. If capturing, the default prefix is

"Capture".

Once in your project you'll want to add one or more audio files them to

either your storyboard or timeline. One exception is when you're recording

narration as the narration clip will be added automatically to storyboard or

timeline.

Use the Trim button on the media pane to trim your audio file in

the same way as a video file.

Adding audio to the storyboard

If the storyboard is empty, drag your audio clips so

that they snap onto horizontal audio or narration

strips at the bottom of the storyboard.

You'll see a green strip appear under the

thumbnails which indicates the audio clip. The

audio clip snaps to the start of any clip.

The clip is selectable and as such has its own properties (i.e., Gain and Pan)

which can be adjusted (via the Properties pane). See Volume and pan on p.

147.

Further audio clips can be added by drag and drop between other video or

image clips.

144 Audio

Adding audio to the timeline

Whenever you add a video clip with an audio component to the timeline, e.g.

an AVI file, the audio portion (if present) is automatically added to an

available audio track underneath the video track. These two clips maintain a

linkage by default, as shown when you select either clip—a strong blue

border indicates the current selection, while a paler blue border indicates the

linked accompanying clip.

However, when you add a standalone audio file (AVI, WAV, WMA) it can

be dragged onto a new or existing audio track.

Audio tracks are managed in much the same way as video tracks, and by the

same token, audio clips are managed as for video clips. Please see Adding and

arranging tracks and

Arranging clips on p. 73 and p. 80, respectively, for

more information.

In terms of playback, the audio clip is treated as for a video clip—seek

controls can be used, along with trick play and scrubbing.

Audio 145

Audio waveform displays

An audio clip differs from a video clip on the timeline as it doesn't have any

poster thumbnails to display. However, the audio clip will display an Audio

Waveform Display of the audio clip—in other words a visual indication of

the audio's dynamic range along the clip's length. The display makes it easy

to spot cues and any unforeseen audio events.

Note that the waveform display does not reflect the audio volume, as volume

and dynamic range represent two different elements of audio. If you increase

the volume the dynamic range does not change (and vice versa).

The above example shows a stereo waveform display. For a mono waveform

display, only a single waveform (channel) is shown.

The waveform display can be hidden by minimizing the audio track—

simply click the Minimize/Restore button in the track header. Alternatively,

switch off the waveform in Tools>Options>General. Switch on at any point

by right-clicking on the clip and checking Show Audio Waveforms.

Audio fading

In a similar way to video in/out transitions, any audio clip can have an audio

transition. By default, when overlapping audio clips have been placed on the

timeline (normally as a result of adding multiple video clips with

accompanying audio clips) an automatic transition of type "Fade" is

produced between overlapping audio clips. The transition smoothly blends

146 Audio

the first clip's audio with the second clip's audio while maintaining the same

audio levels throughout the transition's duration.

For non-overlapping audio clips, perhaps at the start or end of the timeline,

an manual transition can be applied—this fades-in or fades-out an audio clip

at the start or end of that clip, respectively. To apply, simply drag the blue

triangular handle to the left (shown below) or right to produce the Fade

transition. The length of the transition dictates the duration of the fade-

in/out.

The duration of any manual Fade transition can be changed by dragging its

handles or changing the Duration value in the transition's Properties pane.

An automatic transition's duration can only be changed by moving either

clip in relation to the other (the automatic overlap defines the duration).

For automatic or manual transitions, you can adjust the Interpolation in the

same pane—this alters the rate of change for the progression of the whole

transition. The default is Linear, but other settings offer slow and/or fast

beginnings and/or ends to the change.

Audio 147

Volume and pan

The Video Preview pane can be used to study project-wide

volume and pan settings, and to help you to attain optimum

volume and pan—this is just as essential to a well-designed

movie project as hours devoted to video editing.

The pane hosts two meters which shows the entire project's

audio levels. The left and right meters represent the left and

right stereo channels, respectively, and report the audio levels

in decibels (dB).

The meter levels will increase and decrease according to the

volume level at that point in the project's playback.

The concept of the Levels meter is straightforward—the levels will peak and

dip according to currently played audio levels. You may have experienced

this on music systems while recording.

At some point, the pane may indicate that excessive volume levels are being

experienced, i.e. the levels go above 0 on any meter. This is known as digital

clipping (also known as square wave clipping). It is vital that such clipping

does not occur in your project, so you have you set the loudest part of your

audio clip to peak below 0 dB (or face audio distortion).

How do you know when clipping occurs? At the top of the example meters

opposite, you'll notice two numbers at the top of each meter. The values

represent the maximum level or "high-watermark" for each channel if

clipping occurs during the current playback. Again using the example, the

left channel has at some point during playback peaked at +2.3 dB, while the

right channel has peaked at +2.6 dB. You can leave your project to play, then

return to check for clipping—if no values appear in red then no clipping has

occurred. This saves you from having to watch the entire project's playback!

These values are always reset when playback is restarted.

148 Audio

The pane only gives an accurate indication of incorrectly set audio clips or

tracks—whether high or low. The prime objective is therefore to resolve

unacceptable volume levels which we'll look at next.

Adjusting volume

Volume adjustment of clips

The volume adjustment on any selected audio clip (or even video clip with

audio stream) can be made by altering Gain in the object's Properties pane

(shown under the Audio section). For example, the Gain can be reduced by

dragging the slider to the left (from its default 0.0 dB position).

Muting

You don’t have to delete an audio clip to exclude it from playback.

As muting is a property of the clip you can switch Mute on and off in the

clip's Properties pane. Muting is useful when you might want to temporarily

preview your movie without narration, a soundtrack, or a "special effects"

audio clip.

Adjusting pan

Adjusting the pan follows the same principles as adjusting volume. The

adjustment can be made by altering Pan in the object's Properties pane

(shown under the Audio section). For example, the Pan can be reduced by

dragging the slider to the left (from its default "Centre" position).

Audio 149

Adding narration

Narration means a passage of speech, normally an accompanying story (or a

set of instructions), used to support the visual imagery of a movie.

In MoviePlus, narration (voice-overs) is possible in either Storyboard or

Timeline mode, by choosing the point from which to start recording your

narration clip (set your time indicator first). As you play back your movie,

you record your narration in real-time, then stop recording. The clip is

automatically added to the storyboard or timeline, and is also added to the

Media pane (for possible saving to your library).

On the storyboard, the narration clip

appears under the clip(s) as a purple

coloured strip after you've stopped

recording.

On the timeline, the narration clip is

added from the set time indicator on

a Narration track; the track is added

automatically.

Setting up your microphone

Two microphone setups are likely: either a separate microphone and stereo

headphones, or an integrated microphone in headphones. Devices may

connect either via USB or via your computer's sound card (sometimes

indirectly from your computer's front panel). Connected devices should be

plug-and-play so don't need to be set up manually.

Most headphones are generally equipped with 3.5 mm jack

plugs. Check the symbols on the jack plug then match these

up with the same symbols on your computer's input sockets.

150 Audio

Consult your microphone documentation and Microsoft Windows for

details on how to set up your audio device on your computer.

Recording

The Record Narration dialog lets you alter your recording setup (e.g.,

microphone clip) and start (and stop) the recording. During recording, a

Levels meter indicates the current audio level.

Before recording your narration it's a great idea to bear in mind some useful

tips, i.e.

If you're recording a narration for a specific clip, check the clip's

duration in the Properties pane. This will guide you as to how long

your narration should last.

Script what you plan to say, and rehearse your lines! Getting an idea

about how long the passage of text is and how it fits in with your

movie clip. Be prepared for multiple takes until you're happy.

Anticipate then remove any possible clips of background noise (dog's

barking, traffic noise, TV, radio, etc.)

You can record more audio than you need to then trim the clip using

audio trimming (see p.

37).

Check your sound levels set in Windows Vista, especially Microphone

Boost (shown under Control Panel>Hardware and Sound; Manage

audio devices>Recording>Properties>Levels).

Audio 151

To record a narration:

1. Move the time indicator in the Video Preview pane to a chosen

recording start point (or select a clip on the storyboard to record from

the beginning of that clip).

2. Click the

button on the Storyboard or

Timeline toolbar.

3. From the Record Narration dialog, optionally choose a different

Source if you have multiple audio input devices, an Input (e.g.,

"Microphone"), or a different audio Format.

4. Speak into your microphone to check levels. If the volume is excessive,

the Levels meter will show clipping (red areas showing at the top of

each meter). To rectify, lower the

Master Volume slider until

clipping no longer occurs.

5. Uncheck Mute audio when recording if you want existing audio to be

played through your computer speakers (and picked up via

microphone) as you record. Normally, you'll want to keep this checked

to mute your audio as you record (or use headphones), to avoid

"echoing".

Another source of echoing is when the Windows Volume Control

outputs the microphone audio through the speakers, so it gets picked up

by the microphone again (feedback). Avoid echoing in this case by use of

headphones or by muting the microphone output.

6. To start recording, click the Record button and begin your narration.

Click Stop button when you've finished speaking. If the end of the

project is reached the recording will stop automatically. Your

narration shows on your storyboard or timeline when you stop

recording.

152 Audio

In Timeline mode, the narration clip will shows on a separate audio track,

which can be manipulated as for any audio track. See

Volume and pan on p.

147.

Click the Windows Mixer button if you need to adjust MoviePlus volume

levels from Windows.

Ripping audio CDs

There may be occasion when you may want to adopt some of your favourite

audio for use in your MoviePlus project, whether as a complete song, piece,

narration, or as a smaller excerpt. If located on an audio CD, MoviePlus can

use ripping to capture each audio track sequentially; each track shows in your

Media pane after audio ripping. By default, tracks are saved as compressed

wma files.

Audio 153

The dialog shows in-progress track-by-track digital ripping from an audio

CD. Track 1 is being ripped from the audio disc in drive F (and saved in

c:\musicroom\).

To rip an audio CD:

1. Click the

button on the Media pane.

2. From the flyout, select the button.

3. From the dialog, choose a Device from the drop-down list; this is the disc

drive currently containing your audio CD.

4. (Optional) Use the playback controls under the track list to review tracks

still on CD, e.g. use the button to play a selected track. A bar under

the play control buttons indicates the audio playback progress. For ripping

selected track only, uncheck unwanted tracks from the list. Otherwise, all

tracks are ripped.

5. Use the Browse... button to specify a location that the audio files will be

ripped to (they'll still show in the Media pane).

6. (Optional) Instead of a file name Prefix of "Capture" enter your own prefix.

MoviePlus will name each captured file with an incremented number suffix.

7. (Optional) Enable the "WAV (uncompressed)" option, if you want

uncompressed larger files. For wav rips, a typical 4 minute audio track will

occupy about 40MB of hard drive space (typically 700MB per audio CD).

Otherwise, keep the "WMA" option enabled to create smaller file sizes.

8. Click the Rip CD button to start ripping your checked audio tracks. A

currently ripped track will show a

symbol next to it; a green progress bar

indicates that ripping of that track is in progress. You'll notice that ripped

audio files will appear in your Media pane (in the root of your Project tab).

154 Audio

When you've finished capturing your audio, click the Close button to return

to MoviePlus.

Text

156 Text

Text 157

Adding text

MoviePlus provides a high level of support for managing text in your project.

Typically, text within MoviePlus can be used for titles, captions, or credits.

Example Text use

Titles

No movie is complete without

initial titling to introduce the

movie's name to the viewer.

Captions

Captions are always overlaid over

an existing video or image clip, and

display for that clip's duration.

They are used to explain and

provide context to the clip

currently being displayed.

Credits

Credits tend to be closing credits,

i.e. appearing at the end of your

project, where you may want to

acknowledge actors, and copyright

information.

Whether you're creating titles, captions, or credits, MoviePlus offers identical

text controls for each individual text object that appears. A text object is a

single instance of text which can be modified independently of other text

objects you've added. Text controls are hosted on separate tabs on the object's

Properties pane, i.e.

158 Text

Formatting: Apply font type, font size, attributes, alignment, filter

effects, and text styles.

Properties: Control scrolling, playback and opacity.

Animation: Make your titles and credits come to life—apply Blinds,

Fly, Slide, Spin, and more.

Effects: Include eye-catching special effects.

You'll see the above presented as separate tabs in the Properties pane

whenever you've selected a text clip.

Text clips or overlays?

One of the first decisions you'll have to make with text is if your text is to be a

separate text clip or an overlay over an existing clip. This decision depends

on the intended text use (i.e., a title, caption or credit) as described above.

Titles

Titles are typically presented at the very beginning of your project. They tend

to be a single word or at best only a few words long, but are usually shown in

a large font size. MoviePlus's default behaviour is to create large text, which is

ideal for titling. In fact, you'll see a default text of "My Title" when you add a

Text Clip.

Text 159

To add a title:

1. On the storyboard, select a clip (usually the first).

On the timeline, set your time indicator's position.

2. Select from the context toolbar.

3. Type directly into the text box selected in the Video Preview pane.

4. Drag over the text to highlight and choose a preset text style from the

Properties pane (Format tab) or choose your font type, font size, text

alignment, font colour, transparency, line style and whether text is to

be bold, italic and/or underlined. See

Formatting text on p. 165.

Captions

Captions are added in front of an existing clip either to provide a description

of the underlying clip (even use one as an overlaid title at the start of your

project. A typical use would be for image clips, where you could describe

each photo's location, subjects in shot, etc. Whatever their use they should

always be succinct and informative.

To add a caption:

1. Select an existing video or image clip on your storyboard.

2. Click

from the Video Preview pane. You'll see text

added in front of the image.

3. Edit the caption as described above.

A caption can be displayed for a duration independent of the clip's duration

by unchecking Match clip duration in the text object's Properties pane. The

Duration can then be decreased, allowing the text to show only for that

chosen time at the start of the clip.

160 Text

In Timeline mode, the Add Caption button is not displayed when selecting

clips. Instead, overlaid captions are possible by inserting a text clip (on a

created upper track) above the video or image clip (appearing on a lower

track)—the "My Title" text object is created automatically.

Credits

Credits are used to acknowledge cast and crew, as well as copyrights. They

usually close a movie and tend to be presented on a neutral background

(typically black). As a result, in MoviePlus it's best to present credits on their

own text clip rather than as an overlay. This stops the viewer from being

distracted by the underlying video clip.

A possible requirement when adding credits is the ability to display more

than one frames worth of text (you may have a long list of cast, crew, and

rolling credits—the credits are made to move up, down, left, or right.

To add credits:

1. Deselect all clips on the storyboard (or move the time indicator to the

end of the last clip on your timeline).

2. Select from the context toolbar.

3. Type directly into the text box selected in the Video Preview pane.

4. Edit the credits as described above.

5. (Optional) To scroll overflowing credit text, set Scrolling in the text

clip's Properties pane—choose from Up, Down, Left, or Right. Set the

Duration of the text clip to a value which allows credits to be read

comfortably (the greater the duration the slower the credits).

To import text from other Word processing packages, cut and paste

directly into the Video Preview pane. For paragraphs, you'll need to add

your own line breaks to set line lengths before copying.

Text 161

Adding more text

It’s easy to add a single passage of text by clicking and

typing. However, MoviePlus can include more text via the Add more text

button, in addition to the initial text associated with the text clip. More text

lets you build up additional subtitles, captions, or credits. Each text object is

independent of each other and can therefore adopt its own format,

properties, animation, or effect properties. The example below shows a title

and subtitle, each possessing very different styles.

To add more text:

1. Select an existing text clip or video/image clip with overlaid text.

2. Click from the Video Preview pane. An additional

text box appears which can be edited as before.

Manipulating text

You can edit, position, resize, rotate, and transform text all from within the

Video Preview pane. Manipulation is possible only once text is selected—

corner or edge control handles on the selected text's bounding box can be

used for different operations.

162 Text

Selecting text

For any text clip, click on the

text you want to edit. A

bounding box appears around

the text once selected.

Click in the bounding box

once to select all text.

Click again for a insertion

point where you can add

additional text at that point.

To select only part of your

text, drag over part of your

text to select. Typing will

replace the selected character.

If you need to reselect text objects, use the Select button on the top

of the Video Preview pane.

Text 163

Editing text

To edit text:

1. Click on text in the Video Preview pane to select the text object.

2. Click again and type to replace all text (selected in blue).

Drag over characters or words then type to replace highlighted text

only (again shown in blue).

Use the Edit menu or keyboard shortcuts to access text editing

operations such as Cut, Copy, and Paste.

You can format text from the Properties pane (Format tab).

To add a line break:

1. Click for an insertion point at the position where you want the line to

break.

2. Press the Return key and continue typing.

Manipulating text

Positioning

Drag a selected text object

around the pane into your

ideal position.

164 Text

Scaling

Scale text by dragging a corner

handle (this maintains aspect

ratio). Drag with Shift key

pressed for unconstrained

scaling. By default, scaling is

made in relation to the

opposite corner (or edge)

handle. Instead, to scale from

the origin point (

), use the

Alt key as you drag. Drag edge

handles to stretch and shrink.

Rotating

Hover over a corner—when

the cursor changes to a Rotate

cursor (opposite) drag to

rotate text.

To rotate about a custom

origin point, press the Ctrl

key before dragging to move

the origin point ( ) to a new

position.

Shearing

With the Ctrl key pressed,

drag an edge handle to shear.

Text 165

Skew

Drag a corner handle with the

Ctrl key pressed.

Formatting text

MoviePlus lets you apply typical text formatting functions such as:

Text formatting (font type, font size, attributes, alignment)

Colour fill (solid and gradient) and transparency.

Line weight and colour.

Filter effects, such as drop shadow, glow, emboss, outlines, etc.

The Video Preview pane is used to

select text objects (or highlighted text

within) as well as add text objects. However, when used along with the

Properties pane (Format tab) the above formatting is possible on selected

text.

Instead of designing text styles

from scratch you can adopt a text

style preset from the Properties

pane's Format tab instead. If

needed, you can then customize

text further by using the settings

above the text style gallery.

166 Text

To format text:

1. Select a text clip (or highlighted text) in the Video Preview pane.

2. From the Format tab, you can alter (or apply):

Font (typeface), font size, text attributes (bold, italic, underline).

Paragraph alignment (left/centre/right).

Fill (solid or gradient colour). The swatch, when clicked, lets you

apply a different preset fill (or edit a fill of your own). The swatch

changes to reflect the text's current colour setting.

Transparency (solid or gradient). The swatch, when clicked, lets

you apply a different Transparency preset (or a edit a

transparency of your own). The swatch changes to reflect the

clip's current transparency setting.

Line. When clicked, displays a Line Style dialog so that line

weight and fill can be applied.

Effects. When clicked, a dialog for applying multiple 2D and 3D

filter effects is displayed. 2D effects include shadows, glow,

outline, bevel, emboss, colour fill, and feathering.

Changing the line style:

To adjust the currently selected text's line weight either drag the slider

to the right or enter a point size value in the input box.

For changes to Line fill, click the Line fill swatch to apply a different

fill (or edit a fill of your own).

Uncheck Behind Fill if you want the line fill to show over the top of

your colour fill rather than behind it.

Text 167

Animating text

Animation brings your text to life, creating titles, captions, or credits of great

visual appeal. MoviePlus not only offers some familiar animations such as

Zoom&Fade, Fly, Slide, Spin, and Explode but controls whether the

animation is applied at the start or end of your text (or both). These are

called In Animations and Out Animations and are key to understanding

how to get the best out of your animations. As an example, the Out

animation called Explode can be applied to the text clip containing the text

"Animate".

With MoviePlus, animation is easy as animation presets for in and Out

animations can be applied from the context toolbar or from the Galleries

pane. This saves you from having to create your own animation, although

you're able to customize any presets and save the resulting animation for

future use.

For more than one text object in the same text clip, the same animation can

be applied to all text objects in a text clip (if all objects are deselected). For

individual text objects you can apply transitions independent of each other

(if the text object is selected).

To apply an animation:

1. Select a text clip (or text object).

2. Click

on the context toolbar.

3. From the drop-down list, pick either Set In Animation... or Set Out

Animation... from the list (for a respective In or Out animation).

168 Text

4. From the Choose Animation dialog, choose an animation category

from the upper window. In the lower window, review the presets

available for that category (especially their names, which indicate their

intended function). Select a preset, e.g. Blinds.

5. Click OK.

If you've already applied an In or Out animation, repeat the above procedure

to apply the complementary Out or In animation, respectively.

For a quick way to apply an animation, open the Galleries pane,

select the Animations button, then drag and drop a chosen preset onto

your text clip (or object). A dialog lets you choose whether to add an In

or Out animation.

Hover over any preset to get a preview of how your animation will look!

Once you've applied animation, you can edit animation properties in the text

object's Properties. As well as being able to check which animation is applied

(and it settings), you can swap out one animation for another, alter its

duration, and animation-specific properties.

Text 169

To edit an animation:

1. Select a text clip (or text object).

2. Choose Edit Animations from the

drop-down list.

3. From the Animation tab on the text clip's Properties pane.

To delete an animation:

Select a text clip (or object) with the animation applied.

From the text clip's Properties pane (Animation tab), press

for the In or Out animation you want to delete.

To save your animation:

Change the clip’s name, then click the button

at the top of the clip's Properties pane. The animation will appear in

the Media pane's currently selected tab.

170 Text

Exporting

172 Exporting

Exporting 173

Exporting movies

There are a number of ways you can export your movie once you've edited it

with MoviePlus... the project might look fantastic in your Video Preview

pane, but there's likely to be an upper limit to how many people can crowd

around your monitor and watch your preview, so you'll need to export your

movie in a standard distributable format to allow others to share!

The considerations you'll face when deciding how to export your MoviePlus

creations are the same for all video editors—the most important is "what

device will the video be watched on and how am I going to deliver the video

to the intended viewers?" This double-barrelled question, once answered, will

help determine how you should export your movie for best results.

export to:

You'll need

to:

How to do it:

create a DVD

Exporting movies via disc

(see p. 174)

TV (with

DVD) or

computer

create a Video CD

(VCD)

Exporting movies via disc

(see p. 174)

iPod

Add to iTunes (for

sync with iPod)

Exporting via iPod

(see p. 188)

PSP

upload to PSP

device

Exporting via PSP

(see p. 188)

YouTube

upload to

YouTube

Exporting via YouTube

(see p. 191)

Internet

standalone file Exporting as a file

(see p. 187)

Requires DVD Writer/Rewriter or CD Writer.

Requires a USB-connected PSP (set to USB mode).

Requires a valid YouTube account.

174 Exporting

Exporting movies to disc

MoviePlus can export your project directly to disc, producing a movie which

will play on your TV, computer, or other DVD-equipped device. You can

create your own easy-to-navigate disc menus based on one of an impressive

array of templates—all easily modifiable to suit your taste.

By default, MoviePlus will use your project settings for export, although you

can switch to an Advanced mode to alter these settings specifically for export.

For DVD export, Dolby® Digital is used for audio encoding.

Disc settings

For some projects, discs can be created using settings which match your

MoviePlus project settings directly (i.e., PAL DVD and their variants).

However, some projects do not write transparently because their project

settings (e.g., frame height, frame rate and/or pixel aspect ratio) are

incompatible with MoviePlus's intended disc settings. These include not only

DV projects, but custom projects possessing unusual dimensions or other

characteristics. As a result, MoviePlus will determine the most appropriate

disc settings from the project settings to "massage" the project into an export

format suitable for disc creation. This best-matching process is done

automatically. You can make alterations to the disc setting, such as the

swapping the video standard or media type if necessary.

Exporting 175

Altering disc settings does not affect your MoviePlus project settings, but

instead keeps settings solely for the disc creation process.

Several stages make up the disc creation process:

Chapter point set up. If you want a menu on your disc, chapter points

define locations in your project from which menu chapter thumbnails,

when clicked, will begin playing the relevant video—much the same as

the initial menu shown on any Movie DVD from your local movie

store. See Using markers and chapter points on p. 109.

2. Disc Setup. To setup basic and advanced disc settings. Includes Menu

Designer, a template-driven tool to easily create optional disc menus.

3. Write Project. To initialize and create the disc.

The user is led through each stage seamlessly, culminating in the completion

of your MoviePlus project.

176 Exporting

To create a disc (using DVD project settings):

1. Select the

button on the Tasks toolbar.

2. From the dialog, choose for DVD creation.

3. If you haven't already created a disc menu you'll be asked if you want

to create one. If so, select Yes and the Menu Designer is launched.

Otherwise, the Disc settings dialog is displayed (i.e., your disc will be

menuless).

4. From the Disc Settings dialog, you can:

Review whether a Disc menu is required (check or uncheck

as needed), and if necessary click the Edit... button to edit

your menu in Menu Designer (see p. 177). The preview

shows your currently selected menu.

Verify the video standard for your disc. Choose PAL or

NTSC, and check Widescreen if required.

Use the Disc Type drop-down list to check that your project

will fit intended blank media (e.g., DVD 4.7GB). Click

Detect... to discover your writable disc drive(s).

5. Click the Finish button.

6. From the Write Disc dialog, choose a write Speed and Drive where

your target media is located. Your completed disc will be ejected once

the process is completed.

For subsequent disc creation, caching technology is used to speed up the

process.

Exporting 177

For VCD creation, pick the equivalent VCD option from the

Export button on the Tasks toolbar.

MoviePlus lets you create either an iso disc image or a DVD folder (great

for viewing DVD projects without writing to disc). For iso images, you can

write a disc from image instead of immediately committing to physical

media at a later date (see MoviePlus help).

PAL vs. NTSC Video Standards

Whether you choose a PAL or NTSC template should depend on whether

you intend for the video to be viewed in a PAL region or NTSC region. NTSC

is the broadcast and recording standard used mainly in North and South

American continents, plus parts of eastern Asia including Japan and South

Korea. PAL is used widely throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia,

and Oceania.

Using Menu Designer

The Menu Designer is used for designing an optional disc menu, a

navigational aid to easily access key points in your movie called chapters. Its

user interface lets you design either your own menus from scratch or adopt a

professional-looking template preset—choose either according to the extent

of your design ability! Once your menu is complete, you can create your

DVD or VCD directly from Menu Designer.

The interface can be used to access template galleries, backgrounds, layout

options, and much more, from a single Menu Bar. When selected, each bar's

option offers a host of context-sensitive design elements appropriate to that

option chosen.

178 Exporting

For movies with multi-page menus, typically for projects with many

chapters, all pages can adopt the same design or each page can be designed

differently.

Once the disc is created the menu will display when the disc is loaded,

allowing easy access to important parts of your movie. When viewing the

movie on computer, simply navigate via mouse; for TV, use the remote

control's navigation buttons to jump between disc menu's chapters and

pages.

To launch Menu Designer:

Click on the Tasks toolbar.

You can also access Menu Designer during Disc setup (see p.

174), accessed via the Export button (pick the DVD or VCD option).

Exporting 179

Galleries

To make life as simple as possible you can adopt one of a series of "themed"

templates, stored in galleries such as Modern, Seasons, Funky and Moods,

amongst many others.

Click the Gallery button to display an upper menu

above a gallery of template presets for a selected

menu item (as shown in example above). Choose a

menu item, navigate the gallery, click a thumbnail of

your chosen template, and then view your design.

Double-click on "Click to change title" and type your

disc's title, then either close Menu Designer or, more

typically, customize your template further.

Customizing a template

The Background, Layout, Title, Thumbnails, Buttons, and Labels buttons can

all be used to modify your chosen template. By clicking any one of these

options along the top bar the user interface refreshes to display an

appropriate menu and accompanying gallery on the right-hand side of the

Menu Designer workspace. For example, if you click Title, then a text-related

menu will be shown above a gallery of title presets. Try it out by clicking on

each button on the Menu Bar!

Click the button to display an upper menu of

background types above a series of gallery

thumbnails for the selected menu item. You

can choose from a gallery of solid or gradient

colours, or from a range of artistic background

images.

To import your own image or video for use as

a background, click My Image or Video, then

click the Add button. From the Open dialog,

choose a media file to add to the background

180 Exporting

gallery—click the media file to apply it as a

background.

To animate a movie background, click

Page Setup on the Menu Bar, and check

Animate Background.

Pick an accompanying layout which will house

thumbnails for all chapters, either on a single

or multiple pages. Thumbnails are arranged in

rows, columns or in more artistic patterns. For

example, a page layout with eight thumbnails

would match perfectly with a movie with eight

chapters.

If you choose a layout option with less chapter

thumbnails than the number of chapters in

your project you automatically create a multi-

page disc menu. For example, a "4 Per Page"

layout would create a two-page disc menu for a

MoviePlus project with 8 chapters.

If you want to change the attributes of your

current title, click this button. The gallery will

show a range of preset titles with various

effects applied—some relatively modest, some

downright flashy! Select a preset closest to the

one you want to use. The titling will update on

your main page to reflect the change.

If you want to then edit your title, use the

menu to change the Font, Effects, Colour and

Opacity of all your title characters.

The Menu Designer supports in-place text

editing, which means direct editing of title text

Exporting 181

is possible. Either click on the title and type to

replace the title text or type at a insertion point

to add more text. You can perform all the

common text editing functions such as copy

(Ctrl+C), paste (Ctrl+V), and delete; you can

also add a soft carriage return with Ctrl-

Return.

Select this button then choose a category (e.g.,

Ellipse, Star, Diamond, amongst others) from

the upper menu then pick a preset from the

lower gallery—a whole range of thumbnail

shapes and styles are available. Once applied,

change the thumbnail style from the upper

menu with respect to border effects (e.g.,

shadows), colour, and opacity.

Chapter thumbnail labels can be modified as

described above for Titles. Note that the

change affects all labels and not an individual

label.

In-place text editing is supported.

For VCD menus, the labels will be prefixed

with a number, which can be pressed from

your remote control.

Navigation buttons are used to navigate

between multi-page disc menus. You can swap

out the current buttons, especially if a colour

clash occurs with your background (preset or

imported). Click the button to reveal a gallery

of buttons. Pick a button style, then select your

chosen button colour from the menu above the

button gallery.

182 Exporting

For multi-page menus, changes are made

across all pages by default. If the button is

disabled, changes are made to the current page

only.

Click this button to view how your project will

look like on your TV without the need to

create a disc. Preview, adjust your page design,

then preview again until your menu is to your

satisfaction. Use the accompanying buttons to

simulate your DVD player's remote control for

testing purposes.

Editing chapter properties

When you launch Menu Designer, you'll see either:

a single thumbnail called "My Movie" appear in your menu workspace.

This occurs if you haven't inserted chapter points on your timeline. To

add chapter points, see Using markers and chapter points for more

information.

If you have inserted chapter points onto your storyboard or timeline

(as part of video editing), a series of thumbnails are shown which

represent the chapter at which you added a chapter point.

Once chapters are present, their properties can be edited or viewed, i.e. you

can:

preview the content of each chapter by playback.

zoom in/out of individual frames to inspect the chapter.

Exporting 183

swap to a different thumbnail (taken directly from the frame at the

chapter point position), e.g. a frame which typifies a chapter much

more than any other.

change the chapter name, i.e. the label shown next to the thumbnail.

change chapter end action, i.e. the action expected once the chapter

has finished playing in your DVD player. The usual action is to

Progress to next chapter, but it is also possible to Return to title

page.

To view chapters:

Double-click a chapter thumbnail in the menu workspace.

In the Chapter Properties dialog, the video frames displayed for a chapter are

those spanning between the selected and the next chapter point on the

timeline (if no chapter point exists after the current one the remainder of the

movie is shown).

The following navigation controls assist with the inspection, viewing and

editing of the chapter.

On the Seek bar you can drag your Current time indicator (a vertical

line which represents your current location) to any point in the video

(between the current and the next chapter point).

The Go to Start or Go to End button lets you send your

Current time indicator to the start or end of your chapter, respectively.

Use the Previous Frame and Next Frame buttons to fine

tuning the position of the Current time indicator.

184 Exporting

Click the Play button to start previewing the video between

chapter points. The preview will begin from your current time

indicator position.

Use the Zoom In and Zoom Out buttons to locate specific

frames more easily. For longer chapters, picking the correct frame may

be more difficult as the entire chapter is made to fit the window.

To use a different frame as thumbnail:

In Chapter properties, use the navigation controls to navigate

then pick the right frame. Once you're happy with the thumbnail

shown in the preview window, click the Jump to Caret button (this

aligns the red Image indicator under the Current time indicator

position). On exit, this thumbnail will now be shown to represent your

chapter.

Drag the red indicator, which realigns then synchronizes the Current

time indicator to it. This automatic alignment provides a simple

method for alternative thumbnail selection (avoiding the Jump to

Caret operation).

Changing the thumbnail picture does not affect the chapter point

positions on the timeline. However, moving chapter points on the

timeline will reposition your modified thumbnail, so remember to always

check thumbnails are correctly set.

To rename your chapter:

In Chapter properties, enter a new Name (or edit the existing name).

Exporting 185

Disc options

The Disc Options button on the Menu Bar (or Options menu), when

clicked, shows a dialog which lets you play the initial chapter before showing

the disc menu. Optionally, all the thumbnails can be hidden with the Show

chapter thumbnails option.

Setting background music

By default, no background music is played when your disc menu is displayed

on your TV/PC screen. However, it's often a nice finishing touch to

complement your menu design with supporting audio—use it for

instructional reasons or to simply play background music. The audio stream

of a video file can also be used as a background music.

If you've used a background video on your page, you can use its audio as

a menu soundtrack.

The same music can be applied to all pages or you can apply different music

to the current page only.

To enable background music:

1. Click the

Page Setup button on the Menu Bar.

2. From the dialog, pick an option from the Music section. Either:

For music from a saved audio or video file:

Click the second radio button, and either type the path to the

media file or click the Browse button to navigate to the file.

For the latter, navigate and select a media file (video file must

contain audio) from the dialog. Common Audio files such as

.MP3, .WAV, and .WMA are supported, as well as video files

such as .AVI, .MPG, .MOV, .WMV and .ASF.

186 Exporting

For music from the page's background video:

Enable the Use soundtrack from background video button. You

must have previously set a video as the Custom Background from

the same dialog.

3. Click OK.

Writing project

The Menu Bar hosts a button which displays a drop-down menu with

the following options:

Write DVD. Displays disc settings. Once set, you can initiate the

physical DVD writing process (via a Write Disc dialog).

Write VCD. As for Write DVD, but the VCD writing process is used

instead.

Animating your menu

If your menu needs some extra visual appeal it's possible to animate your

thumbnails or background, or both. This will automatically play movie

chapters within their thumbnail preview, or play any currently configured

video background.

To animate thumbnails and/or video backgrounds:

In Page Setup, check either Animate Thumbnails or Animate

Background, or both. A slider sets the time the thumbnails or

background will animate for before the animation loops and plays

again.

Exporting 187

Closing Menu Designer

Choose Exit Menu Designer in the Options menu or click the

Close button. You will be prompted to save your project if it is

currently unsaved. Your updated template will be shown by default the

next time you load the Menu Designer.

Exporting as a file

There are many different reasons for exporting your movie as a file, but they

all share the need or wish to get other people viewing your video masterpiece.

Crowds around your own computer screen using the MoviePlus Video

Preview pane to watch your video just aren't practical! Whether your driving

force is to attain a small file size to share a little video by email or over the

Internet, MoviePlus can export your projects in a suitable file format to help

you achieve your goal.

To export as a file:

1. Select the

button on the Tasks toolbar.

2. From the dialog, choose .

3. Select your chosen file type from the list according to intended use,

then click Next>.

4. From the Export Settings dialog, several options are available:

(Optional) Select a preset export template (choose from Normal

or Widescreen templates). Click Customize... to create your own

export template if necessary.

188 Exporting

(Optional) Change render quality (between Draft and Best

quality). Set Draft if you're testing your export. The Render

Quality setting controls the level of video and audio processing

carried out during export—affecting the visual quality of effects

and transitions applied to clips in your project. A Best render

quality means a longer export time compared to Draft, but this

gives high-quality effects and transitions. To save time, use the

latter when testing your export.

(Optional; timeline mode only) (Optional; timeline mode only) If

you're exporting just part of your project, the Export selected

range option can be checked to limit the export; you need to

place selection markers on your timeline first

Click Finish.

5. To save the file, locate a target folder and specify a name for your file

in the File name box, then click the Save button. Your project will

then be composed and converted into the specified format and you

will be shown a progress bar during this process.

6. On completion, the file can be opened with the Open button (to play

the resulting video in your default media player software), you can

explore the file's folder with Open Folder or just Close the dialog and

return to MoviePlus.

You can click Cancel to abort the export process (you'll be prompted to

confirm this in case of an accidental key press and be offered to delete

the file).

Exporting to iPod/PSP

As more and more entertainment platforms vie for worldwide dominance,

the more the opportunity exists to share your movies on a range of modern

devices. Two of the most successful platforms are the Apple iPod (for music

and video) and the Sony PSP (gaming, music and video).

Exporting 189

MoviePlus makes sharing with such devices straightforward, with respective

exporting to iTunes and uploading to PSP possible.

iPod

Exporting your movie via a video-capable Apple iPods is carried out in two

stages—exporting the movie to iTunes and subsequently syncing the movie

to your iPod. MoviePlus takes care of the first stage, but you'll need to sync

your movie to iPod as you would for any other movie file.

To export to iPod:

1. Select the

button on the Tasks toolbar.

2. From the dialog, choose .

3. From the iPod/PSP dialog, select device type, standard, and quality

setting as follows:

Pick your target device. Enable iPod for Apple iPods.

Choose your video standard: PAL for Europe, Africa, the Middle

East, most of Asia, and Oceania; NTSC for North and South

American continents, plus parts of eastern Asia including Japan

and South Korea.

Select a video Quality. For testing, Low quality will create a lower

quality movie by reducing the Video bit rate on export.

Uncheck the Add exported file to iTunes option if you just want

to export the movie file, rather than add the file to iTunes library

automatically. The option changes depending on whether iPod or

PSP is enabled as an option.

190 Exporting

4. From the Save As dialog, locate a target folder and specify a name for

your mp4 video file in the File name box, then click the Save button.

Your project will then be composed and converted into the specified

format; you will be shown a progress bar during this process.

You can click Cancel to abort the export process (you'll be prompted to

confirm this in case of an accidental key press and be offered to delete

the file).

5. On completion, the file can be opened with the Open button (to play

the resulting video in your default media player software) or you can

explore the file's folder with Open Folder (or just Close the dialog and

return to MoviePlus).

6. Click Continue to launch iTunes automatically. Your movie will

already be added to your iTunes library (under Movies).

The next time you connect your iPod to your computer your movie will

synchronize with the iPod.

via PSP

If you're an electronic-games player and happen to own a Sony PSP, you can

export your movie easily. In USB mode, your PSP is seen as any other

removable storage device—as such your movie is uploaded onto the device

with the minimum of fuss.

To upload, your PSP must be in USB mode.

To export to PSP:

1. As for exporting via iPod (above) but instead of the Device Type being

iPod choose PSP. Instead of clicking Finish to save to a file, you can

upload to the connected device directly if Upload exported file to PSP

remains checked (otherwise only the movie is exported). Click Next>.

Exporting 191

2. From the Upload to PSP dialog, give the movie a title and select the

PSP device from the drop-down menu. This should show the PSP as a

removable storage device, i.e.

3. (Optional) Check Keep a local copy... to save the exported movie for

use again (leads to quicker exports for unchanged projects).

4. Click Finish. The project will then be composed and converted into

the specified format and you will be shown a progress bar during this

process.

You can click Cancel to abort the export process (you'll be prompted to

confirm this in case of an accidental key press and be offered to delete

the file).

7. Click Continue to upload the local movie up to the PSP.

Exporting to YouTube

You may have been aware of the mass popularity of video hosting sites,

notably YouTube, in recent years. Placing a movie on YouTube means that

you can share a short movie worldwide without writing to media or

uploading to your own web site. The two-stage process involves exporting a

file optimized for upload (i.e., wmv) then upload of the file to the YouTube

website.

A working YouTube login is required to upload your movie. If you don't

have a login, visit www.youtube.com and register!

192 Exporting

To export to YouTube:

1. Select the

button on the Tasks toolbar.

2. From the dialog, choose .

3. From the Export Settings dialog, select a video Quality. For testing,

Low quality will create a lower quality movie by reducing the Video bit

rate on export. Click Next>.

4. From the Save As dialog, locate a target folder and specify a name for

your wmv video file in the File name box, then click the Save button.

Your project will then be composed and converted into the specified

format and you will be shown a progress bar during this process.

You can click Cancel to abort the export process (you'll be prompted to

confirm this in case of an accidental key press and be offered to delete

the file).

5. On completion, the file can be opened with the Open button to check

before YouTube upload (this plays your video in your default media

player software) or you can explore the file's folder with Open Folder

(or just Close the dialog and return to MoviePlus).

6. Click Continue to launch the YouTube Upload dialog. Add your

YouTube login details (UserID and Password), movie Title and

Description, a YouTube Video Category, and some keywords (Tags)

for users to search for.

Exporting 193

Instead, you can upload by using valid Google account details (but

you'll still need a valid YouTube UserID also).

7. Click Finish to begin the file upload. A progress bar is shown during

upload.

Archiving to camcorder (Print to Tape)

The DV or HDV video format is used extensively by digital tape-based

camcorders, so many video clips exist in this format before being edited.

Although MoviePlus can export your project to many types of video format,

you can choose to either export your project to a connected camcorder or to

a file for writing to a camcorder at a later date. Either way, this is an

important feature if you want to archive your completed movie to tape.

Exporting directly to your camcorder is a two-step process as MoviePlus first

creates a file before transferring it to your camcorder. However, if you

already have an exported file that you want to archive you can initiate the

second step by using the Write file to DV/HDV Camcorder... on the Tools

menu, choosing the correct file type from the resulting dialog's file type drop-

down list, then selecting the target file.

194 Exporting

To write to DV or HDV camcorder (also called print to tape):

1. Select the

button on the Tasks toolbar.

2. From the dialog, choose either

for DV or HDV camcorders, respectively.

3. Check that your DV or HDV template from the Export Settings list is

correct. If not, choose a different setting. For information about

choosing PAL or NTSC menu options, please see

NTSC vs. PAL on p.

??.

4. (Optional) Change render quality (between Draft and Best quality).

Set Draft if you're testing your export. The Render Quality setting

controls the level of video and audio processing carried out during

export—affecting the visual quality of effects and transitions applied to

clips in your project. A Best render quality means a longer export time

compared to Draft, but this gives high-quality effects and transitions.

To save time, use the latter when testing.

5. (Optional) Uncheck Keep export file, to always recreate the export file

(avoiding file caching).

6. Click Finish.

7. To save the file, locate a target folder and specify a name for your avi

(for DV) or m2t file (for HDV) in the File name box, then click the

Save button. Your project will then be composed and converted into

the specified format and you will be shown a progress bar during this

process.

Once the first stage of exporting is complete, you'll need to have your

camcorder connected and set to Record mode before continuing.

Exporting 195

Step two

1. Click the Export Complete dialog's Continue button.

2. To view the movie as it will play back on your camcorder, select the

Preview on Device tab.

3. On the Write to Device tab, use the control buttons to locate a suitable

in-point on the tape. Place your camcorder in Stop mode.

4. Adjust the Write Delay value if necessary to insert a timed pause

before MoviePlus begins feeding data to the camcorder. The target

camcorder may be digital, but it's also mechanical and different

transport mechanisms have different response times. A few tests will

establish exactly how long your camcorder takes to start recording

once it's activated. (When in doubt, it's better to set the delay slightly

too long than too short.)

5. To begin recording, click Write to Device.

196 Exporting

Exporting 197

Index

198 Index

Index 199

2D filter effects, 128

3D filter effects, 130

animation (text), 167

archiving, 193

Attributes menu (timeline), 68, 72,

audio, 141

adding, 143

adjusting pan in, 148

adjusting volume in, 148

capturing, 31

clips, 143

editing, 142

effects, 135

applying, 137

VST, 138

fading (timeline), 145

levels, 43, 147

ripping, 28, 152

waveform (timeline), 145

background clips, 60

camcorder

capture from, 31

Export to DV/HDV, 193

captions, 49, 157, 159

capturing (video), 31

chapter points, 109, 111

editing, 182

on storyboard, 49

on timeline, 71

clipping (audio), 147

clips, 68

arranging (on storyboard), 52

arranging (on timeline), 80

audio, 143

background, 60

Computer Generated (CG), 60

linking (on timeline), 82

QuickShape, 63

resizing, 53

selecting (on storyboard), 51

selecting (on timeline), 75

splitting (timeline), 89

storyboard, 49

text, 49, 165

timeline, 69

trimming, 37

colour correcting, 134

Computer Generated (CG) clips,

background, 60

QuickShapes, 63

Context toolbar, 21, 22

counter (timeline), 68, 72

credits, 157, 160

crop envelope (timeline), 90, 92

cropping, 53

timeline, 90

detecting

scenes, 35

Dolby Digital, 174

DVD writing, 174

Menu Designer for, 177

effects

2D filter, 128

3D filter, 130

audio, 135

applying, 137

VST, 138

blur, 130

on storyboard, 50

outline, 129

video, 123, 125

envelopes (timeline), 68, 70, 92

exporting, 173

as file, 187

to camcorder, 193

to DVD/VCD, 174

to iPod/PSP, 188

to YouTube, 191

200 Index

fading

in audio (timeline), 145

features

established, 8

new, 4

unlocking, 10

filter effects, 128, 130

freeze-frame, 115

Galleries pane, 21, 22

getting started, 24

groups (timeline), 68, 70, 86

audio, 88

master, 88

video, 86

header (timeline), 68, 69

How To pane, 21, 22

installation, 11

iPod export, 189

keyframes (timeline), 68, 70, 96

adding, 98

affecting change over time

with, 101

mode for, 102

scaling, 102

selecting, 99

view, 68, 70

levels (audio), 147

looping (timeline), 113

markers (timeline), 68, 71, 109

chapter points as, 111

navigating, 110

selection, 71, 112

masks

cropping with, 91

master groups (timeline), 88

media

adding

to project, 27

to storyboard, 50

to timeline, 74

capturing, 28, 31

downloading, 28

importing, 27

rotating, 29

Media pane, 21, 22, 29

Menu bar, 21

Menu Designer (for DVD/VCD),

177

MoviePlus

Welcome to, 3

muting, 148

muting (timeline), 68, 72

narration, 149

on storyboard, 49

on timeline, 70

recording, 150

NTSC, 25, 177

opacity envelope (timeline), 92

overlays (timeline), 116

PAL, 25, 177

pan (audio), 147

pan and zoom, 58

pan envelope (timeline), 92

pane

Galleries, 21, 22

How To, 21, 22

Media, 21, 22, 29

Properties, 21, 22

Video Preview, 21, 22

panning, 148

playback, 39

pre-rendering, 6

preview, 39

Print to Tape, 193

project

settings, 25

customizing, 26

starting a new, 24

Properties pane, 21, 22

PSP export, 190

QuickShapes (CG clip), 60

ripping (of audio CDs), 152

rippling (timeline), 84

rotating (media files), 29

Index 201

ruler (timeline), 68, 71

safe borders (TV), 42

scene detection, 35

sensitivity, 37

scene splitting, 33

scrolling (timeline), 79

scrubbing (timeline), 80

seeking (timeline), 80

selection markers, 71, 109, 112

Serif Transparent Video, 118

slow motion, 116

snapping, 85

speeding up, 116

splitting

clips (timeline), 89

scenes, 33

Standard toolbar, 21, 22

Startup Wizard, 24

static extensions, 115

Status bar, 21, 23

storyboard, 21, 23

adding audio to, 143

adding media to, 50

arranging clips on, 52

basics, 47

resizing clips on, 53

selecting clips on, 51

Storyboard toolbar, 21, 22

strips (timeline), 68, 69

stv, 118

Switch to storyboard, 47

Switch to timeline, 67

system requirements, 11

Tasks toolbar, 21, 22

text, 157

adding more, 161

animating, 167

editing, 163

formatting, 165

manipulating, 163

object, 157

text clips, 49

time indicator, 68, 71

moving the, 80

timeline, 21, 23, 68

adding audio to, 144

adding media to, 74

arranging clips on, 80

basics, 67

scrolling the, 79

scrubbing the, 80

selecting clips on, 75

zooming the, 79

Timeline toolbar, 21, 22

titles, 157, 158

toolbar

Context, 21, 22

Standard, 21, 22

Storyboard, 21, 22

Tasks, 21, 22

Timeline, 21, 22

tracks (timeline), 68, 69

adding and arranging, 73

transform envelope (timeline), 92

transitions

storyboard, 49, 55

timeline, 70, 103

modifying, 106

replacing, 105

transitions (timeline), 68

trick play, 41

trimming, 37

TV safe borders, 42

unlocking features, 10

VCD writing, 174

Menu Designer for, 177

video

capturing, 31

effects, 123

previewing, 39

Video Preview pane, 21, 22

Video standards, 25

NTSC, 177

PAL, 177

202 Index

Visual Reference, 21

volume, 147

volume envelope (timeline), 92

VST audio effects, 138

waveform display (audio), 145

welcome, 3

what’s new?, 4

YouTube videos, 191

zoom and pan, 58

zooming (timeline), 79

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Serif MoviePlus X3 Manual

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