Adding subtitles in Mediastudio Pro?

[cyberhof]

Hi there!
Im trying to edit a movie I and my friends have done and evrything is going great untill I came to the point when I were to put in a few subtitles (sci-fi movie when aliens are talking) .
I was in the Video Editor and I tryed the "insert title clip" but I can only choose transparent text not background?

Does anyone have a clue how to solve this little problem?

Thank's

Regards

Cyberhof

[fluggo99]

"Transparent text not background?" Let's take this step-by-step.

I'll create a new project and insert a color clip on the Va track. The default settings (in MSP 6.0) are fine, since the clip fades from black to white and we can test whether the title's background is truly transparent.

Next, I create a title clip. I'll enter some text and turn the rolling feature off (it's on by default). Other defaults include the fact that "opaque background" is off and that the text's default color is black. These are all fine; you should see at least some of the text in the preview box.

Clicking OK, we choose where to put this clip. We'll of course place it at the same time as the color clip, except in one of the overlay tracks (V1, for instance) since transparency of clips is ignored in tracks Va and Vb. In fact, that's why we call V1-V99 "overlay tracks."

Then, scrubbing over this region, I see the text, with the color changing behind it. Mission accomplished.

--fluggo99

[Dr Mordrid]

Hmm....do you mean just some static text at the bottom of the frame, as with typical subtitles?

Some might suggest using CGInfinity for this, but unless you already know how to use it (in which case you wouldn't have asked this question) this technique is faster/easier;

Create each title as a 24 bit *.tga with transparancy the same size as your video frame settings. Use the image editors text tool to enter text of the size, font, color and style you deem proper at the bottom of the frame.

The text should be about 15-20% up from the bottom of the frame, otherwise it could end up in the overscan area and get cut off on the TV screen.

Now load this image file into V1 at the desired location and set its duration to what you think is the proper on-screen time.

Now set the Overlay Options for this file to key the alpha channel. The background will now key out leaving just the text overlaid on the bottom of the video frame. Adjust the transparancy setting if you want the title semi-transparent.

Repeat for each subtitle.

Dr. Mordrid


[This message has been edited by Dr Mordrid (edited 31 October 2000).]

[fluggo99]

Come to think of it, Doc, that's the way I prefer it, too, because then I have more control about where the title appears.

[Dr Mordrid]

Yup. It works great.

Another trick can be to also apply a 2D moving path. Now you can set the Moving Path options to stationary (same start & end points) or set the title to scroll in any direction you desire. You can even scale its size and set its X/Y location.

Dr. Mordrid

[cyberhof]

Thank's allot bouth of you
I'll try this righ away!!!

Regards

Cyberhof