The latest quicktoot on PDtoots channel shows different ways of achieving a fast zoom, based on a question posed here - https://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/37865.page#194768

It's not so clear in the tutorial because a very short sample clip was used, but using the frame advance buttons to move the timeline marker can give you greater accuracy for setting precise (fast) zooms and other motion.



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1pvHUK7rNQ[/youtube]

Happy editing from the PDtoots team.
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The PDtoots team has been busy creating custom motion templates from video clips and animations.

Here's the tutorial, made by PDtoots founder, Cranston, which shows the basic process used to extract frames and swap image file in PD's PiP Object template folders.



Many of the templates we've made are available on DirectorZone and some (the "Gold Collection") are only available to PDtoots YouTube subscribers as a giveaway.

Here's a sampler video showing the templates in use





Happy editing & template making from the PDtoots team.
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CP and TF ;

Guys, this is getting more and more “out there”!
What you are doing- and giving away FOR FREE is extraordinary.
We are not talking about swirling bubbles and hearts here, but stuff which bring
classy touches to a production.

CP; your latest tutorial here is professional, no less.
(If I make another tutorial I will have to take into account the high standard you set.)

the Gal

Just something.
https://www.petitpoisvideo.com

Merci pour ce travail gratuit

Fellow Forum Members -

Our PDtoots inbox is sometimes packed with questions about using PD. We generally, of course, refer them to this forum.

This "tutorial" (using the term loosely) is a part of a response to one of our subscriber's questions about flash & flareeffects, and a bit of a sequel to our recent custom PiP Objects toot. It shows Cranston (who made it & the flare effects) at his quirkiest best.

You'll see in the video that there are some flash/flare effects that have been uploaded to the DZ for sharing, along with matching sound effects. The links are in the video description.



Happy editing from the PDtoots team
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Hi, I have a question about PowerDirector.
I have a lot a photos on my time line and some videos in between.
I added dedicated music as background in the music channel.
When the videos appear on the time line, I phase out the background music and at the end of the video I would like to restore the music.
I did this manually. Ok fine.
But now I changed the time line by adding new photos and videos and as a consequence, the phase in and phase out of the background music is not synchronised anymore.

Is there an option that the background music automatically phases out to zero and returns automatically at the end of the video?

PS. I dont know where to address this question, I checked a lot of PDtoots videos, checked the manuals, help files etc...

Uncle Ben; Just start a new thread in the section of the forum dedicated to your version of Powerdirector. Use this as a guide so people won;t have to ask a lot of questions:

http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/7958.page .
.
BoilerPlate: To posters who ask for help -- it is nice to thank the volunteers who try to answer your questions !
Anything I post unless stated with a reference is my personal opinion.

Multi-Level Menus

Here's a PDtoots quick toot on how to create a multi-level (tiered) menu in PD. This is useful when the disc menu nneds to cater for sections, like chapters & sub-chapters, or separate titles each containing sub-sections... like a simplified folder/sub-folder system.

It starts by building a series of separately chaptered projects, which are combined into a single project for disc burning.



Cheers - Tony (for PDtoots)
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I have an idea for a toot.
Recently Idiscovered a different way to use the multi-cam designer.
Here's a scenario:
I have footage from four cameras that show the same action from different angles, and I have audio from a seperate audio recorder. I synch them all up with MCD, but instead of pressing record and then selecting from the different views on the fly and then taking the output all in one long sequence, I only want selected portions of the footage.
Here's what I do;
I scrub through the synched footage in MCD until I find a section that I want. I look at the different camera views and select the one I want. Then I press the record button and then stop when I've got the clip that I want. Then I scrub to the next section that I want in the output. This DOESN'T have to directly follow on from the previous clip. Then I select the view I want and press record again. Repeat for as many portions of the footage as I want. The clips don't have to be contiguous. When I'm finished, I will have only the shots that I want from the synched footage, synchronised with the audio.

As a follow on from this, I can render the MCD generated footage to a new file. Then, I use that file in a project and using the scene detection process, I can split this composite clip into the original clips, but arrange them on the timeline in a different order to what they were shot.

It would probably be easier to understand this process if it was demonstrated in a PD Toot, but I don't have the software tools to do this.

Scott Hendry
www.scotthendry.com
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCscotthendry

Removed by author
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Hats off to ScottFromOZ.

He's not only generated the idea, but gone ahead and built a tutorial which is posted on our PDtoots channel.

in the toot, Scott shows a couple of different ways he uses PD's MultiCam Designer - very inventive! There are so many ways to make use of PD's features when you put your mind to it.

This is not only Scott's first PDtoots tutorial - it's the first tutorial he's ever made! Congratulations Scott.



Happy editing from the PDtoots team
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Great Toot Scott - Well done
Happing editing

Best Regards

Neil
CubbyHouseFilms
My Youtube Channel
My Vimeo Channel
PD3.5, 5, 6 & 7. Computer: Dell Dimension 5150, Intel Pen. 2.80 GHz, 2GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT 256MB, Windows XP Pro!!
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This little toot is a demo response to a subscriber's question.

The technique of using a freeze frame is applicable in many circumstances... and that's effectively what this is. No biggie, just might help someone out (apart from the questioner).



Happy Editing - The PDtoots team
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Here's a little toot for Ian26, who posted a question here - http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/41450.page - about getting scrolling credits and images in sync.

Bit of a rushed job & complete with free spelling mistake. Didn't even see it till it got to YouTube.



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Recently added to our PDtoots QuickTips channel:

Using Graphics & Effects



Creating an Image Cycle



Chapters & Menu Structure



Custom Transitions Reveal



Custom Transitions



Happy editing from the PDtoots team


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Thanks for the Toots. They are always appreciated.

One question: On the Custom Transition Reveal video, what was the purpose of going to the Motion tab and selecting one? I simply created the keyframe at the appropriate spot, then went to the end keyframe and moved the first image up and out of view. Am I missing some benefit of the additional steps? Thanks.

Kevin

Hi Kevin -

You're absolutely right and you haven't missed a thing! Good thinking.

By default, PiP Designer sets the scale and position keyframes as the image/clip is. So - there is no need to go through the "set ist keframe, set last keyframe, add central keyframes" process that we like to promote.

In out toots, we try to follow a standard procedure with keyframe setting each time. It makes it easier for people who are just finding their way around PDR.

Cheers - Tony (for PDtoots)
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Hi, Tony. So, if I'm understanding you right, you selected the custom path, rather than skip that step as I did, because you like to be consistent about walking the viewer through the Motion tab step. Got it.

My follow-up would be, is there a situation where the custom path is advantageous? While we're at it, what is the point of there being a custom path, since all it means is that we keyframe the position, scale, etc., as we would by avoiding the Motion tab altogether?

In fact, messing around just now, I find a little oddity that comes up when going through the Motion tab and custom path. Line up two pictures as you did in the Custom Transition Reveal video, overlapping. Click on the first picture and go to PiP Designer. Skip the Motion tab step. Set the keyframes for scale, rotation, and motion. Now slide to the end of the clip and rotate the image 45 degrees to the right, shrink it to half size or less, and move it up and out of view to the upper right. It makes for a nice little transition.

Now, exit the PiP Designer without saving, then go back in and, this time, select the custom path, then follow my steps for scale, rotation, and motion. Tell me if this happens to you: When I play the clip within PiP Designer, it is rotated from the very beginning.

Kevin

Kevin64,

I’m sure Tony will give you more on this.
However- just to throw in a little comment on PiP Designer / keyframing;
Over the years, the PiP Designer and keyframing have presented so many
oddities it will take too long to give a summary!
The “speciality” I have encountered many times is that the keyframing section
may be living it’s own life and not consider what I have chosen for it.
I guess what Tony has landed on is the route he is following to be the best- or safest way
to go. If going in PiP Designer and just keyframe may work without choosing the
custom path, - but then again it may not work.

Nina
Just something.
https://www.petitpoisvideo.com

Hi Kevin & Nina -

Man - Kevin - you've given my little tree a bit of a shake!

I followed your steps as closely as I could & it did exactly what you said. I have some rethinking to do. It's very true that when you follow the same procedure repeatedly, you miss out on some things.

You're right about the rotation. Unless it's keyframed, it will rotate for the whole duration of the clip.

Anyway - here's a screen capture as a tribute to your powers of observation. Well done! Bravo!



P.S. Sorry about the little Video Crop glitch

Cheers - Tony
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Tony, I hope nothing I wrote was coming across as confrontational or in any way criticizing how you do things. I'd bet good money that people could watch my editing and question half the things I do. (They'd probably be right.)

I was sincerely trying to figure out if there are advantages to the custom path. Actually, one minor one I found is that it gives you the little green rotation dot in the middle of the screen, whereas in my suggestion the dot is too high to see and you have to drag the clip down.

Speaking of that dot, that is actually how I was rotating the picture. When you do it that way (going the custom path route), the image plays at 45 degrees from the start. Doing it your way, the image starts upright and immediately begins its rotation. In both cases, it is not what we wanted. But the difference is interesting.

Again, there was and is absolutely no disrespect intended. I admire all that you contribute here, and you have forgotten more about editing than I'll ever know.

Kevin