Hi GarrettTexas128 ,

I'm not sure if I have grasp exactly what you want. Have you unchecked the "Maintain mask aspect ratio"?

Dafydd

Yes. I have.

However, the problem remains in that when I try and resize the mask, the entire layer resizes...not the mask ON the layer.

I would link an image for you to see, but I don't have a place to host the image to link to. It doesn't seem to let me upload one.

NOTE: I don't have a problem with resizing the mask when I am doing this on the MAIN layer (aka Track 1), just on subsequent layers (ex. an image on track 2).

Unlocking the aspect ratio allows me to stretch the mask over a larger area (within the total possible size of the layer..not larger...which isn't what I want anyway). But it doesn't let me SHRINK the mask on the layer at all.

Hi Garrett,
To upload an image simply click "Post Reply" and then select the Attachment button. You'll then see a browse option.

Your image will help.

You must select the media in the track and then select modify. Only the media selected will change/is changeable.

I've added an additional image above to show you the mask hasn't changed even when i altered the item in track 1.

Dafydd

In short I'm trying to do the following:

1. I want a simple static background image.
2. I want to add a black layer above that image (effectively blacking it out).
3. I want to have a transparant hole in the black layer so I can see only a small portion of the image behind that.
4. I want to add motion to the black layer (recogizing that to keep the entire background image covered the top layer must be larger) so that the "hole" can be over different parts of the background image without exposing the rest of that background image.

Think of it as looking through the scope on a rifle. I'm trying to move the site.

However, in the above screen capture, you will see that my "site" is the entire size of the black layer. I want it smaller. But when I try and make the mask smaller...it shrinks the ENTIRE black image. I just want the mask smaller. Not the image I'm masking.

Hi,
If I am reading things right you are trying to have a PIP object overlay Your Picture, not a mask. Create your 'background image' the size you want, with a hole in it. Import that image as a PIP object and select the hole to be transparent (when you create the background image set the area you wish transparent a different color (not contained in the whole image) and import to PIP module and set the transparency color.
Now in the timelines place your 'video/image' on timeline 1...your PiP object on track 2 (this overlays track 1)...now select track 1 image/video and scale to fit the transparent area on track 2 (pip object).
Jim
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James,

I think the problem we're having is vocabulary.

Timeline 1 I have an image.

I want to move the hole from the Mask around so I'm seeing only parts of the image. I assume I do this by applying the mask to an image on Track 2. However, the hole I'm getting is too big. I want to make it smaller without shrinking the image I've applyed the mask to.

I can make the hole BIGGER (up to the maximum size based on unchecking the "maintain aspect ratio"). But I can't seem to make it smaller. I click and drag on the white dots and they can only range between the original size/aspect ratio to the maximum. Not DOWN in size.

What am I doing wrong? I have seen tutorials on Youtube for PowerDirector 10 where you can do this. Why can't I do it in 11?

See the attached Youtube Tutorial at 9:01 - 9:11. It shows him Unable to make it bigger than the layer (which I'm fine with) but does show him making it smaller without shrinking the layer. I just want to do that and unclicking "maintain aspect ratio" is not doing this for me in PowerDirector 11.

Hi,
Ok revised scenerio, from more experiments...insert your material as per your project..go to modify...pick your mask..then exit back to main module... select the track with overlay and re size as you wish. Within the 'Modify..mask module' the mask doesn't seem to be adjustable to an extent..but in the main module it can be.
Jim
Intel i7-2600@3.4Gz Geforce 560ti-1GB Graphic accelerator, windows 7 Premium 12GB memory

Visit GranPapa64's channel for your YouTube experience of the day!

To be straight, I was doing it to experiment with the technique, not to complete a specific project.

1. I took any of the stock images from opening a PowerDirector 11 Ultra project.
2. I applied that image to Track 1.
3. I created an all black image in MS Paint and moved the file to PowerDirector.
4. I placed the all black image on Track 2.
5. I expanded the all black image to be larger than the Track 1 image.*
* This was to allow me to add motion to the image on Track 2 so that the hole I would have from the mask would move across various parts of Track 1's image much like a scope on a rifle.
6. I opened Track 2 and applied a mask to create a hole in the center**.
** The hole is too big as it attempts to place the hole over the entire size of the layer/image on Track 2. I simply want to shrink the hole by grabbing the white nubs and dragging them smaller.

Attached are the black image, use a stock image from PD11Ultra at your discretion. See the attached image with the red arrow to reflect where I am grabbing and trying to drag to make the mask smaller.

Problem is when I do what I'm proposing, the entire Track 2 image gets smaller. I don't want it to...just the area being cut out from it.

Hi Garrett -

James' initial suggestion that you need to use a PiP overlay, not a mask, is correct.

A mask applied to an image or video will take on the same properties i.e. it will remain stuck to the object. The mask will move & resize with the image/video.

If I understand you correctly, you want the image to remain still & the "view hole" to shift independently.

Because the search feature doesn't work for the PD9 (& earlier) forum, I can't locate the thread where this was discussed, so I'll attach the PiP overlay I used to make this video - http://youtu.be/kWAwctqW7Cg

The overlay is oversized 4096x2304 so it can be enlarged beyond the screen edges to allow motion.

If I'm barking up the wrong tree, just say.

Cheers - Tony
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This video is actually what started my efforts.

However, I see in this video - http://youtu.be/7cmR5AI-NMU at 9:01 to 9:11 you see he actually shrinks the mask without shrinking the image on it.

What you did is EXACTLY what I'm aiming for. It just seems to me like an unneeded step of having to create the seperate image with the transparancy rather than add the transparency by using a mask.

Clarification "YOUR video is what started my efforts"

The attached video shows another way to do it without readjusting size of the image...just the mask.

EDIT: However, what he does in that 10 second period of time doesn't seem to work for me despite unchecking "maintain aspect ratio". What gets adjusted - were I to be using the bicycalist in the video - would be the bicycalist along with the mask...instead of JUST the mask size over the bicyclist.

Garrett -

A mask can be resized or reshaped, but it will stay like that for the duration of the image or clip - "stuck" to its parent. A mask cannot be moved independently of the image or video.

That's why I think the overlay idea James suggested is right for you. If you come up with a different approach, post it here. It sounds like you're exploring lots of possibilities.

Cheers - Tony
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Well I have been read this and started playing with PD. GarrettTexas128 I think JAMES1 and Tony has the right idea making a effect like that. Here is what I played with to night not that good at it yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To30CsqViRQ&list=UUzDcl9HECTxu2mNPgXJUfeA&index=1&feature=plcp Intel i7 5960X overclock to 4 Ghz 16 GB of ram.
GoPro 4
Canon VIXIA HF G10
Canon EOS Rebel T3
Canon EOS 70D
My Vimeo Channel http://vimeo.com/user3339631/videos

Hi,
Micheal8511,
Yes that is the idea th OP wants but I was under the impression (after I submitted my procedure) and his response thet he want just the trandparent area to expand as it traversed along a path. Not sure tho' I asked OP to attach his images he wanted to use but he attached something compltetely different.
Jim\James1 Intel i7-2600@3.4Gz Geforce 560ti-1GB Graphic accelerator, windows 7 Premium 12GB memory

Visit GranPapa64's channel for your YouTube experience of the day!

I played with mask deal I can resize the mask. I can put motion to it. But it keeps the same subject in it. Like I can lay two pictures in the timeline one in video track one the other in track 2. Then I can put a mask the picture in track two then resize the mask put motion to it but the same subject just moves over the picture in track 1.
A link use mask with one picture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfWCtQp0QcQ&list=UUzDcl9HECTxu2mNPgXJUfeA&index=2&feature=plcp

A link with two pictures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lOsFZ7cECQ&list=UUzDcl9HECTxu2mNPgXJUfeA&index=1&feature=plcp

I'm learning and trying to see if this helps GarrettTexas128 any. Intel i7 5960X overclock to 4 Ghz 16 GB of ram.
GoPro 4
Canon VIXIA HF G10
Canon EOS Rebel T3
Canon EOS 70D
My Vimeo Channel http://vimeo.com/user3339631/videos