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Sounds like a very good idea!
Did you also submit the suggestion through the suggestions panel in PD in the file menu?
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My suggestion would be that you completely uninstall PD20 using the Windows installation screen. Just to be sure that it has completely gone, You can check the program files / cyberlink to check whether pd20 folder is not there anymore.
Then just to be safe, do a restart and then using the application manager, run install again.
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If it is just to reuse the text box, or title again and again with the same settings, why don't you make it a custom title? That preserves the settings and can be used again and again? And the text can be changed.
if you need to reuse that text as created, why not put this text in front of a green color board and make a snapshot. The shot can be used again and again, even in front of a clip, by removing the green?
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I had the same problem after reinstallation of my Windows system. For PD 20 apparently the proper order is: move all the title stuff in the folders mentioned and then install PD 20. I had to go as far as to uninstall PD and then install it again, but after that I got all the custom stuff back.
I think that with the changed approach where items can be downloaded directly from PD rooms, has also impacted the making inventory of the items from earlier versions, and impacted the time of getting all items loaded as mentioned.
Please let us know where the above works for you as it did for me?
And... maybe it helps if you also put in a suggestion or problem report to CL.
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The following applies to Windows. It may be different on the Mac.
For each version of PowerDirector there is a separate folder in your documents folder:
c:\Users\%username%\Documents\CyberLink\PowerDirector\ with the version number.
So, if you had version 19 and have moved to 20, you will find in the above mentioned folder the folders \19.0 and \20.0.
Within each of these folders, PD stores all your customized items, including titles, which can be found in the folder MyTitles. The first title that you save in a version will be stored in a folder called Title_000, the next in Title_001 etc.
The titles you have made and saved in version 19 will be in the folder \19.0\MyTitles\ and have the sequence numbers _000, _001 etc.
The first thing PD does when it is started, is looking for all items, like titles, Masks, Transitions, Pips etc. and through all versions it can find in the above-mentioned folder, but also in a number of other folders such as the Program Files folder.
The collection of all items takes currently about 1-1,5 minutes depending on the speeds of your system and disk, and the number of versions and items you may have. (there is hope that this will become faster in the next installment).
Should you change system, or reinstall the operating systems, and you want your old items, you have to copy the above Cyberlink folder from the old to the new system. You must either reinstate the version folders, but you can also combine them into one folder (e.g. the latest version), however in that case you have to renumber all items so to make sure that there are no duplicate numbers which causes items to be overwritten. I think that because there may be items that have version dependent features, it is best to leave the version structure as is, so that PD can keep track if need be.
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Today, I received a very elaborate reaction from CL customer support on the above, which I have submitted to them integrally.
The reaction shows that CL is really appreciating our input and makes a real effort to listen. Customer support writes that it has forwarded the suggestions and recommendations to the product team. Maybe they will take some of this on board or already have and improve.
As we surmised, CL acknowledges that it always reads the feedback on the forum, but still they prefer users to directly contact them in case of problems, so that they can provide exclusive support for each user. Which we fully respect.
This reaction was much appreciated, it helps me to keep using this software and invest time in it.
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Admittingly, the setup, with potential downloads and the organization of transitions in the transition room are currently not optimal. The search option will help and bit. Let’s hope that in the next release this will improve.
Some of the standard transitions you mention are in the transitions room under General: The Fade you mention when applied between two clips fades the first out and the second in. But notice that when you select the transition in the timeline, above the timeline a "modify" button appears. Clicking on that will enable you to change some of the behavior of the transition, including cross or overlap, and (depending on the transition) whether it goes up or down, right or left. If you put the transition at the start or the end of a clip, without letting it overlap the adjacent clip, it will fade in, out etc. without showing the adjacent clip but (mostly) black instead.
I also cannot find a plain diagonal transition. There are some that look like page turning or sliding diagonally, but that is likely not what you are looking for?
The previously available 3rd party software (Adorage) that could help you out, is not there anymore.
There might be some (but not too many) transitions in the various creative packs that can be downloaded and you can also try to find the transition you need via the Free Templates button that directs you to the Director zone.
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Quote
the statements are valid as there are NO additional files being stored - just the PDS. given the action being chosen was "packed materials" i assumed it was compressing them and storing them together but alas there is no other files just the one small pds file.
From the above story I get the feeling that there is still room for mis-interpretation: saving, packing and loading and file sizes....... and the usage of the proper project file...
the steps should be:
1) go to the menu FILE and select PACK PROJECT MATERIALS
2) a SELECT FOLDER menu is opend and only a the name of a folder is a valid entry here (often you create a new fresh folder, to ensure that it will only contain the material of the project... (if this folder already contains a project file, you get a warning; If the folder contains files, without a project name you dont get a warning).
2a) left next to the SELECT Folder button below is a tick box that when ticked allows not used material present in the media room, to be copied to the packed folder too. By ticking this, really all material is copied, even in case the timeline is empty).
3) the packing will happen, well actually all materials used in the project, the media room, the stuff in the timeline, and even the customized titles and other customized material used in the timeline is COPIED into the selected folder. It is not packed in computer terms, like ZIPped, but only moved together so that is a contained paked with the project material.
3a) in this folder also a version of the PROJECT files (.PDS) is saved along with the project materials.
3b) principle is, that whereever this complete folder with material goes (even when the name of the folder and/or the drive is changed), as long as it is complete including the project file: .PDS) PD will recognize and use the material in this same folder, as long as the project file (.PDS) in this folder is used to open the project.
3c) The original material that was used in the project and copied to the packed folder, remains untouched in their original place(s). It can even be moved or deleted, the material in the packed folder is in principle the complete set of material.
4) So: Reloading the packed project goes by using / opening the project file that is in the packed material folder. Not a project (with the same name) that happens to be stored in the (standard) project folder....
4a) when loading PD looks in the packed material folder for the files used in the project. If one is missing, PD warns and gives the option to ignore or the browse.
If THIS is how you work with packed material, and it does not work for you as it is described, then something is wrong with your installation and it would be good to see a screen recording, so that we can help you out:![]()
Hope this helps.
Warry
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Hi,
I did test this just now and it works fine for me. Uploading and downloading project files etc.
I assume that you have filled in the (correct) useridand password e.g. in the preferences/DirectorZone.
Warry
I am using: Windows 11 21H2 build 22000.675
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Because it is always easy to have complaints about software bugs and failures, or should I say development and testing failures, with this submission of positive feedback, I hope to contribute to very desirable improvements to PowerDirector 365 version 20.4 as it stands today.
I am a long-time PD user and have been working with the many versions. I got very familiar with the functional approach CL has taken towards PD with all its changes, some for the better and some that did not work out so well.
In many ways PD is clear and intuitive enough for many, to get things done without to many problems. Besides that, we see that next to what CL delivers, there are a few very good tutors who submit excellent tutorials on YouTube which certainly help many users getting the things done. We also see that many established magazines publish reviews with good to high scores for PD.
However, over the past few years, we see by extensively using the PD software, but also from what is being written in the forum, that users seem to have more and more questions about dis-functioning of the software than about how to approach specific editing work. We spot that a number of very experienced PD users, who are always active in the forum to kindly help others, also have difficulties getting past the sometimes very awkward and disturbing software failures. It also looks like CL submits new versions of the software without adequate testing, but worse is that decisions are being made on functional behavior that bring the software away from being intuitive, making it harder to get things done. I would argue that it takes far less time to more thoroughly test before submissions, than having to hasten, repair and submit patches.
We also see that every month more and more stuff is being added, bells and whistles I like to call them, that might make PowerDirector sexier to have, than they make PD better to use to get things done swiftly and without any interruptions. Don’t get me wrong: I understand how difficult it is to make subscription software attractive, and I like and sometimes use the new additions. But balance I would rather like to have an editor that always works, is reliable, is crash-free, does not hinder me doing the job by taking it’s sweat time ploughing through features, or even produces output that is bad.
What I like is:
- PD comes with a good manual and a number of languages. That is properly kept up to date and clearly displays the changes that come with new versions. Sometime a bit later than the software but nevertheless.
- There are very good tutorials (and tutors), a good website, good information available, that make it easier for new and experienced users to get things done.
- Most of the video editing functions do work properly, are easy to apply, to understand and they perform good.
- The various “rooms” make a valuable tool box that contain a plethora of good stuff This forum on course is a very good source for exchange of information.
What I suggest is:
- Please do test more thoroughly any software before it is submitted to the public. Better a late submission than a wrong submission. Don’t waste the time of your valued users.
- Do what others do: engage a selection of users to help finding errors in a beta-version (maybe this is already in place?)
- Make sure that the software works on a fair variety of hardware and at least on all platforms that comply with the minimum specifications
- When looking at the Windows version and the behavior of PD, one can immediately see, that the software does not comfortably “sits” into the Operating system. E.g. dragging to change the size of the timeline or the preview windows clearly result in a sort of rebuild of the windows, whereas with most other (complex) software that kind of dragging happens seamlessly. Is there room for improvement in the way the software or the development environment and tools have been set up. Maybe changing that will already dramatically improve the user experience.
- Define what performance means and check during testing whether there is a breach in performance introduced by the new version.
- Various rooms contain too much “features” apparently for the software to decently handle. Most of these features will not be used by serious editors anyway. Consider repealing from combining features in rooms, and make distinction between fun-stuff and essential stuff, or even better let the user make that distinction (a bit like the favorites, or like is done in the designer screens: essential and advanced?)
- I must admit that the combining of features in rooms and diminishing the number of menus gives a cleaner and less overwhelming editor desktop, but makes it harder to find and use the various options. Don’t overdo the combining and/or enable users to customize the menu ribbons?
- Consider changing the way downloadable features are presented in the room, clicking on them will immediately invoke a (sometimes unwanted) download process
- Focus on the main purpose of the video editor: always properly handle input formats as should, and deliver output flawlessly and of (very) good quality. Keep up with the (ever evolving) video formats, device- and platform technologies. Make them seamless, so that the support department does not have to suggest to not run software in parallel, use administrator mode etc.
- Make sure that the CL sales and development people (and management?) regularly read the forum entries. Maybe they already do, and I can understand why you want users to submit a formal request in case of a problem rather than hoping that CL will pickup everything that is written on the forum. But from following the forum they get a sense of what is important for the users. (and if they already do they may recognize that some of the above has been written here before by others and I😉)
Others may want to chime in.
I hope this helps a bit. I think that CL already does a good job, but it can do better. We all like PowerDirector and want to use it a bit longer…..
Kind regards
Warry
(I have submitted this story directly to customer support too.)
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I share the response from CL Product Support here below, so that more can learn.
I appreciate it very much that the reaction comes within 24 hours of the submission of the request. Good show!
It so happens that I have the most recent versions of all software mentioned.
The reaction below is a standard support reaction that does not tell us much, although perhaps the remark on the large amount memory space that is required (they refer to the drive in terms of memory space, I guess that does not say anything about the RAM-memory. (Nor the speed of the disks applied. I have fast ssd disks).
I would argue that
- previous versions of PD showed more responsiveness than I noticed and reported
- I am not the only user seeing this problem in this recent version
- any other software runs well on my system, including other Video Editors
- I DID try to close down and strip my computer of all parallel running software and the problem persists. Although....
- my system lives well within the specification and minimum requirements for PD365/20
So I hope and trust that will really look at and improve PD software soon.
Dear Customer,
Thank you for contacting CyberLink Technical Support.
We understand that you have concern with your PowerDirector 365 about the program being slow when loading Title effects. We are more than willing to assist you.
With reference to your query, please try the following steps then check the condition.
1. Update your PowerDirector 365 through the CyberLink Application Manager.
2. Update graphics card driver to the latest. You can download the latest driver from the AMD or NVIDIA or Intel’s website listed below. If you have any problem installing graphics card drivers, please contact your computer manufacturer or the manufacturer of the display and sound cards for the latest drivers.
AMD: http://support.amd.com/en-us/download
NVIDIA: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
Intel: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/
3. Restart the computer after installing the GPU update.
4. Check whether the installed drive has enough space on it. This is because a large amount of memory space is required for buffering. Close other applications while PowerDirector 365 is running.
5. Make sure you are logged in as an Administrator. If you lack administrator access privileges, the CyberLink application might be unable to access the necessary files it needs.
If the concern persists, kindly provide us the following information in order to further check on this:
1. DxDiag
etc. etc.
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Thanks for the tips, Tomasc!
I am aware of this user you mention. Perhaps he can enlighten us.
Going back to a previous version, is what I have considered doing. It blurs the situation and my system probably even more.
For the really critical projects I am now using another video editor which is more stable.
We repeat writing: PowerDirector is a good and very worthy Video Editor. It would be good that the sales team and the development team concentrate on stability, reliability (got two crashes while editing a title today) and swiftness for a while, after having had a close look at what has been reported in this forum. I would also recommend a good team of testers, who use a variation of hardware setups, to ensure that new versions are still stable and workable. Recognizing that many customers not only use their software for fun....
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I have now removed (uninstalled) the large majority of packs from PD to make editing with PD 365 at least a bit doable.
Given that CL is adding so much "fun" stuff every month, (+ the change in approach to enable downloading directly from PD), the handling of all that stuff appears to be too much for PD.
I hope that Cyberlink is correcting this as soon as possible. Otherwise we have to look for other Video Editing Software... Alas
Please anyone, let me know whether there are options to improve this situation!
(I have summited a request: CS002504680)
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Indeed the release 2829. I noticed that when adding a custom title, It WAS listed the next time. Swapping this title for an old one did not work, the 1 custom title was simply ignored. Restating the 1 title again and after restart of PD it was available again. So there is some cashing list that is maintained by PD. but when and how?
I have many custom titles from many PD versions and recently had to reinstall windows. The titles I added after the installation of PD. So what I did was:
- uninstall PD
- restart windows (11, maby that is also a factor??)
- put the custom titles etc. in the document/cyberlink/powerdirector folder
- reinstalled PD
and then the titles where back again.
So that problem is sort of solved.
Now w.r.t. the loading of titles and other stuff. Like Optodata writes: during the loading (or making inventory you can also call it) PD is very very busy. Better not start editing but best wait until the loading is done. I guess that the Search library is also blocked by this everything consuming loading process. E.g. when trying to view a clip, when the title room is open and titles are being added, the viewing stalls.
I see that the downloaded entry in each of the rooms is full with entries that where otherwise classified separately, try the transition room: under both Downloaded and under basic shapes one can find a series of basic shapes. They are listed twice. Which from functional perpective may be the right thing to do, but not when this is one of the reasons why PD cannot be used after start for a while because it has to load all the additional stuff...
I also guess that the new policy to download (individual) items from the rooms, means that the potential items have to be found and listed too. This all will add up to the anoying loading (by lack of a better word) process, which makes PD not so fun to use anymore.
Switching between the various rooms is also a problem. You can see that PD has a problem getting rid of the items from the old room and showing the items for the newly selected room....
Using the title editor made PD crash. After about 3 minutes it was still loading titles, effects etc......
The list of problems gets too long, Cyberlink!
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After loading PD (365) it takes many many minutes on my (fast Windows 11) PC to list all Titles, Effects, Transitions, etc.
This no doubt has to do with all the potentially downloadable stuff. But this kind of slowness is not acceptable.
Also my Custom titles are not listed at all.
Does anyone have similar problems and is there something I can do to get my custom titles back ?
thanks
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Can you elaborate a bit please?
Is it the Crop/Zoom/Pan tool in PowerDirector (20/365 or other version?) (Windows/Mac?) you are referring to?
Do you have a clip on the timeline you try to crop?
Maybe show us a screenshot of what you see when it is empty?
Thanks
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Please help us a bit:
What are the format specifications of the Canon 4K files you used as input,
What are the project specifications you used like the timeline frame rate, timeline preview color etc. (they may have nothing to do with the problem but might give an indication why preview went ok and the final result not),
what are the DVD specifications you used?
Did you create the DVD with PD or did you use another tool, if so what where the file specifications used?
Did you try the DVD with computer software and/or did you use a DVD player, if so, anything different like between PAL and NTSC.
Where the input files 16:9 and was the DVD too.
Did you use the hardware acceleration and/or enable hardware decoding, which GPU was used?
Etc. Screen shots will also help.
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Since some time, in addition to filters for size and quality, more Getty content is listed. It includes the premium stock that is not for free in the CL365 subscription. The not-free content can be recognized by the $ sign in the thumbnail. This is something one should keep in mind when selecting stock.
Also see the manual:
https://help.cyberlink.com/stat/help/powerdirector/20/win/enu/05_02_02_download_gi.html
I believe that all Shutterstock material listed can be freely download as part of the CL365 subscription.
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Only a few questions at this stage.
- Is the program PD 365 listed as one of the programs downloadable by (and in your) application manager (CAM)?
- Is the program (still) listed as one of the programs installed by/in Windows looking in the windows apps list (Assuming you use Windows). If it is still there,suggest to de-install it manaually.
- Also suggest to clean your diskrunning a disk cleanup. This removes all temp files, hopefully incluidng the once that CAM might have used and may be confusing.
- Do you have any other CL programs listed by the CAM? Do they still work?
- I am sure that you have entered the correct userid/pw
- Suggest to also check your subscription data online. What does CL say about the status.
If nothing is wrong, then file a support request.
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Yes it is all legitimate software (obviously) that I once bought from Cyberlink.
CAM lists for me and includes: PD 12, PD 14 (the correct versions), director suite 5 and 6 etc.
I have downloaded and installed an older version for one of my grand children and it works.
(If it is not supposed to, please dont tell. I am very happy with this service!)
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After a fresh Windows installation, I had to reinstall all Cyberlink software and packages through the Cyberlink Application Manager (CAM).
I have some remarks and suggestions (that I have submitted to CL separately too). Maybe the forum members have the same observations or more to add:
- In general, the CAM works fine. It knows what software the user is entitled to download, both software and packages, even the (much) older versions of the software and suites.
- The downloading and installation also go well in general. But as soon as there is an issue (any kind including network congestion, blockades with installations, long queues), the CAM information and the CAM interface is (far) less clear, hence cumbersome to work with.
- If the user selects multiple packages (say more than 2) to download and install, packages (obviously) of different sizes, the interface is not very friendly is showing any progress. The user has to scroll through the available entries to search for any downloading activity and in the end, it is either waiting long enough and assuming that CAM is ready, or keep monitoring to see where CAM shows activities.
- If the selection is to show not installed, then the installed pack disappears from the list after installation. This is of course precisely according to the selection, but one would want to get some signal that the installation has happened (and ended without errors)
- The solution is: the user to select only 1 or 2 to download and install at the time. And monitor to see whether they are finished, so that CAM can be closed, or a subsequent selection can happen. Or
- Cyberlink to provide some sort of handy overview of the status, progress and successful installation of the selected software.
I guess that the latter would be the good and nice-to-have solution for first time users and for all others who need to install a series of software and packs.
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