What file format is the animated wipe? If I remember correctly, PD only accepts alpha channel in .mov format. Intel i7 4770k, 16GB, GTX1060 3GB, Two 240GB SSD, 4TB HD, Sony HDR-TD20V 3D camcorder, Sony SLT-A65VK for still images, Windows 10 Pro, 64bit
Gary Russell -- TN USA

Quote What file format is the animated wipe? If I remember correctly, PD only accepts alpha channel in .mov format.

Both the wipe effect and the matte happen to be .MOV (Quicktime) formats.

Hi Ross -

I'm chiming in here with no experience of using mattes in either Premiere Pro or Video Studio, aside from watching various tutorials on the subject.

PDR is compatible with alpha channel videos in QuickTime MOV format, but it does not have the same (or even similar) functions used by some other NLEs. Attached is a partial screenshot from an After Effects tutorial, showing the different modes that can be applied. PDR doesn't have anything like this facility for compositing tracks.

I've played around in PDR trying to find a way to trick it into achieving the effect you've described, but (thus far) I've failed.

With a static image it can be accomplished with masking, but as far as I have found not with an alpha channel motion video (like the attached example).

I'd be very happy if other members could educate me in this, or confirm that PDR is not equipped to do this particular job.

Cheers - Tony
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Quote Hi Ross -

I'm chiming in here with no experience of using mattes in either Premiere Pro or Video Studio, aside from watching various tutorials on the subject.

PDR is compatible with alpha channel videos in QuickTime MOV format, but it does not have the same (or even similar) functions used by some other NLEs. Attached is a partial screenshot from an After Effects tutorial, showing the different modes that can be applied. PDR doesn't have anything like this facility for compositing tracks.

I've played around in PDR trying to find a way to trick it into achieving the effect you've described, but (thus far) I've failed.

With a static image it can be accomplished with masking, but as far as I have found not with an alpha channel motion video (like the attached example).

I'd be very happy if other members could educate me in this, or confirm that PDR is not equipped to do this particular job.

Cheers - Tony

Tony, thanks very much for your insight, and you are absolutely correct with what I'm attempting to accomplish. Interesting that PD doesn't have a similar method of compositing a video (versus a static) matte (or mask using the PD taxonomy). It's too bad because I actually like PD a lot better than some of the other "prosumer" NLEs...

Maybe there's something we're both missing and someone else can chime in... I might open an incident with CyberLink support and see if they have an answer...

Anyone...ANYONE have some additional feedback?

Quote

Quote Hi Ross -

I'm chiming in here with no experience of using mattes in either Premiere Pro or Video Studio, aside from watching various tutorials on the subject.

PDR is compatible with alpha channel videos in QuickTime MOV format, but it does not have the same (or even similar) functions used by some other NLEs. Attached is a partial screenshot from an After Effects tutorial, showing the different modes that can be applied. PDR doesn't have anything like this facility for compositing tracks.

I've played around in PDR trying to find a way to trick it into achieving the effect you've described, but (thus far) I've failed.

With a static image it can be accomplished with masking, but as far as I have found not with an alpha channel motion video (like the attached example).

I'd be very happy if other members could educate me in this, or confirm that PDR is not equipped to do this particular job.

Cheers - Tony

Tony, thanks very much for your insight, and you are absolutely correct with what I'm attempting to accomplish. Interesting that PD doesn't have a similar method of compositing a video (versus a static) matte (or mask using the PD taxonomy). It's too bad because I actually like PD a lot better than some of the other "prosumer" NLEs...

Maybe there's something we're both missing and someone else can chime in... I might open an incident with CyberLink support and see if they have an answer...

Anyone...ANYONE have some additional feedback?

Just got a reply back from Support... The ability to apply a video mask does not exist in PowerDirector 15...

Wow... I think that's unbelievable... I've asked for a refund of PD15. Maybe they'll put that in as a future 'feature.'

Best of luck to everyone, thanks for the support.

Quote Just got a reply back from Support... The ability to apply a video mask does not exist in PowerDirector 15...

Wow... I think that's unbelievable... I've asked for a refund of PD15. Maybe they'll put that in as a future 'feature.'

Best of luck to everyone, thanks for the support.

I have been struggling with this for about a week too. No luck. I'm amazed that PowerDirector lacks this very simple functionality (especially when blending is so close in concept and execution). I've said before that PD is a very nice tool to with so many appendages that take you from start to finish better than most pro-sumer NLEs. It's this puzzling lack of the simple things that should definitely be part the basic functionality that's got me. Real keyers are NOT hard to code at all! Neither are adjustable gamma curves nor are very basic audio functions to deal with stereo, mono mix-downs, and channel panning. I just shake my head when I hear about all the plugins available to "fix" editing problems when having the ability to do it right from the basic editor itself would solve so many issues.

The only reason I still use PD is its suitability for good work flow and the ability to do an entire project all the way to DVD burning without having to call upon several different software packages. I just hold out hopes that Cyberlink will decide that real power is a matter of simplicity and built-in function, not glitzy add-ons.

Len

Quote Real keyers are NOT hard to code at all!

I wonder what does "Real keyers" mean? Current chroma key is not a real one? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PowerDirector 365

"Real keyers" has me beat too, Len.

The OP's question & resultant discussion & response from CL Support has me a bit puzzled. I'd welcome fellow members chiming in to help clarify, if that's possible.

I believe that something like "luma mattes" are already used in parts of PDR (just not in the Edit module). The recent discussion prompted by Barry about menu music had us digging around in the template folders...

If you preview the "TravelMap" menu template, you are seeing some form of matte in operation. In C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\templates\Creative Design Pack\Travel Pack 2012\Menus\Travelmap\LayerTemplate\LayerTemplate1 there's a WMV file called "chapter_mask" which is a simple motion mask in video format. That mask video works in conjunction with the "chapter" videos in the same folder, allowing the user's thumbnail video to be viewed.

Now - in PDR15 we can keyframe masks in Mask Designer, so that same simple motion can be replicated - but not as a video, which was the OP's question. Screenshot of mask keyframes attached.

So, to my way of thinking, the notion of using video mattes in PDR isn't too far off... especially if "Real keyers are NOT hard to code at all!", as stated above

Cheers - Tony
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Quote "Real keyers" has me beat too, Len.

Yes, differing lingo from the different disciplines can annoy all of us.

On production switchers, a keyer is a device that takes a fill (AKA video) and matte (AKA alpha or key) as inputs and produces a layer on top of the background video. The fill signal is cut out as defined by the matte just as we see with files like .PNGs that have an alpha channel defined. The fill can also be the matte (for what's called "self keying"). Chroma key simply derives a matte based on a selected color. Critical, however, is the ability to vary clip (threshold) and gain (sensitivity). Keyers have many useful modifiers such as inverse mode (where the key is reversed), shaping, and masking. ALL of these are exsecises in very simple logic and very easy if one was to program them in an NLE because they had their roots in actual electronic circuits which have to work in real time.

Keyers, while very simple, are the building blocks of a wide array of cool effects and processes. Complicated live television broadcasts make heavy use of keyers to deliver all kinds of magic to the screen. I have successfully created an effect on a couple switchers that produces a functioning (and very accurate) waveform monitor using keyers and a couple other basic features.

So while PD-15 has a lot of tools available, none are nearly as good in terms of power and simplicity as the keyers found on switchers. Clip blending is close, but lacks the important things like clip and gain functions, inverse, and the ability to choose mattes independently. What's more, using the ancillary tools to try and acheive the same results can be ridiculously time consuming if possible at all.

If someone writing an NLE wanted to create something with stunning power, fast performance, and ease of use right in the basic editor, they would do well to take a look at production switchers.

Len