Particle Effects and Expanding Vid clip in PD 9

Mamakin4

Newbie Location: Portland, Maine Joined: May 05, 2011 16:16 Messages: 7 Offline

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Jul 22, 2011 10:53

Lots 'o trouble getting hang of PD 9. Want to use particle effect (universe and twinkling stars) as background for first part of video.....but insert into vid track 2 and "it" becomes the only vid I can see. Understand that PE effect vids/pics above its track but can't figure out how to "see" vid in first track.

Also, I recall other versions allowing me to lengthen vid clip already in track by just dragging end.... and other vids after it just move over. Having trouble doing this except for moving it to another track, expanding it, dragging back to original track and choosing insert. Seems like a rather complicated workaround.

I've watched at least 50 tutorial on PD 9....many very, very helpful. Have also printed and read ENTIRE manual (eeks!) and searched/read forums. Hoping that with practice, the new features i.e. added key frame stuff, will become clearer.

I'm sure the answer is like that can of soup in the store that is right in front of you but you can't see it.

Can you tell me how to use a PE in track 2 and still be able to see the video behind it in track 1? And can I lengthen an already inserted vid just by dragging the end, with everything to the right of it just moving over?[i]

Thanks as always,

Melissa in Maine
PS: Didn't list out computer/graphic specs as new Toshiba laptop has had no trouble with PD 9 performance. Will if you want me too. Thanks again.

ClancM

Senior Member Location: New York Joined: May 26, 2011 22:19 Messages: 175 Offline

Jul 22, 2011 11:00

When you put a video/ particle effect etc. in a higher number track the lower numbers wont show. Unless you either resize the item on the higher track or lower the opacity so it's partially see through. You can also use a mask.
All of these items are available in the PIP editor which you can acses by clicking on the clip then clicking modify.

As for lengthening a clip by dragging, you can lengthen the duration of pictures and effects but not videos.

Best of luck!

BarryTheCrab

Senior Contributor Location: USA Joined: Nov 06, 2008 22:18 Messages: 6240 Offline

Jul 22, 2011 11:05

I think perhaps the effect has an image for a background, so it is blocking your video.
If you remove the background and just leave the particles, you'll see the video "behind" it.
If you want a starry background you'll have to put stars into a transparent file (PNG). HP Envy Phoenix/4thGen i7-4770(4@3.4GHz~turbo>3.9)
Nvidia GTX 960(4GB)/16GB DDR3/
Canon Vixia HV30/HF-M40/HF-M41/HF-G20/Olympus E-PL5.
Tape capture using 6 VCR, TBC-1000, Elite BVP4+, Sony D8 camcorder with TBC.
https://www.facebook.com/BarryAFTT

Mamakin4

Newbie Location: Portland, Maine Joined: May 05, 2011 16:16 Messages: 7 Offline

Jul 22, 2011 11:14

Thanks for quick reply. Bummer about not being able to lengthen inserted clip.

Moved main vid to track 2 and the downloaded universe/stars PE to track 1. Can see PE only on left and right edges while main vid (a moon that rotates and then leaves screen)appears in the square in the center. Experimented with little floating hearts, remembered in PD 8 they just float down over vid. Not now: only see the hearts on left/right edges of viewer. Ideas?

Thanks again

BarryTheCrab

Senior Contributor Location: USA Joined: Nov 06, 2008 22:18 Messages: 6240 Offline

Jul 22, 2011 11:22

As for dragging a video clip to lengthen it...this is one of the places where a "junk" track comes in handy.
Add an A/V track somewhere. This track will NOT be used for actually making the video, it is an extra empty track where you can easily pluck items out of your timelines, place them into the junk track, adjust the length as needed, then put the item back where you want it.
When you pluck out a file that way, placing it into the junk track, the other files don't move!
However, when you put that file back, the different length you chose may make it necessary to move other files.
You'll get the hang of it.

You've got 2 totally unrelated questions in this thread, we try to keep things seperate to allow others to get better results in a search. Did you try a search?

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Jul 22. 2011 11:24

HP Envy Phoenix/4thGen i7-4770(4@3.4GHz~turbo>3.9)
Nvidia GTX 960(4GB)/16GB DDR3/
Canon Vixia HV30/HF-M40/HF-M41/HF-G20/Olympus E-PL5.
Tape capture using 6 VCR, TBC-1000, Elite BVP4+, Sony D8 camcorder with TBC.
https://www.facebook.com/BarryAFTT

Mamakin4

Newbie Location: Portland, Maine Joined: May 05, 2011 16:16 Messages: 7 Offline

Jul 22, 2011 11:27

Yes, did search in forums and tutorials and utube. Sorry 'bout the mixed questions. Should I repost JUST the basic PE question?