Photo editing software is probably the easiest way PNG files with transparent backgrounds. .
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Anything I post unless stated with a reference is my personal opinion.

Hi android123 -

You could use graphics software, as Steve has suggested, but basic things can be done easily in PD.

For your translucent rectangle example, with the transparent background, you can just use PD's colour boards. In PiP Designer just uncheck "Maintain Aspect Ratio" and set the opacity as you wish.



With 2D snapshots set to .PNG, transparency will be maintained... PD snapshot (including title) attached.

Cheers - Tony
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Thanks guys. That'd be nice if drawing shapes could be added sometime.

Hi, sorry about dragging up a somewhat old post.

I would also like to add shapes; specifically I would like to draw a rectangle or perhaps a quadrilateral to highlight a portion of a video. I would like this to have straight sides. Is it possible to draw straight lines in the PIP drawing mode?



Also, somewhat related. I would further like to "highlight" this portion of the video with a rectanlge around it, or perhaps make the rest of the video a bit darker, just for a second or two. Is that possible?

Thanks

Quote: Hi, sorry about dragging up a somewhat old post.

I would also like to add shapes; specifically I would like to draw a rectangle or perhaps a quadrilateral to highlight a portion of a video. I would like this to have straight sides. Is it possible to draw straight lines in the PIP drawing mode?



Also, somewhat related. I would further like to "highlight" this portion of the video with a rectanlge around it, or perhaps make the rest of the video a bit darker, just for a second or two. Is that possible?

Thanks

It is an old post, the drawing in photo editing software, saving as a PNG imge is the easy way.

Paint.net is a great free photo editor. There is a tutorial on using Paint.net for transparency and shapes.

See Through (transparent .png images)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OLKfRILqBM Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

Great thanks for the response. Yes I believe I saw a youtube clip about it and considered that option.

However the object I would like to draw a rectangle around is rather oddly shaped hence I would prefer to draw directly in PowerDirector, otherwise it would be tough getting the dimensions correct.

Also is it possible to highlight a certain area of a clip and darken the rest?
Thanks



EDIT: I guess I'll draw the rectangle on a screenshot if there's no way to draw lines within PD.