Comments

TeeJay wrote on 9/4/2006, 1:01 AM
Here's some steps that i have done for convincing reflections.

1/ Duplicate your text on a track above your original.
2/ Go into the Pan/Crop window on the duplicated track and right click and select 'flip vertically'
3/ Make the duplicated track a 3d Alpha track by clicking the compositing mode button.
4/ Open the Track Motion window and set the X orientation to -75 (you may alter this depending on the surface angle)
5/ Reduce the opacity of the duplicated track for your 'reflection' 50 may work for you.
6/ Keyframe both tracks for movement!
bStro wrote on 9/4/2006, 2:03 AM
Someone just recently posted a tutorial with screencaps on how to do something very similar.

Rob
fixler wrote on 9/4/2006, 3:22 AM
Thanks guys. How would I go about applying a gradient fill to that text?
JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/4/2006, 6:18 AM
> How would I go about applying a gradient fill to that text?

Make the text white. Then place a Generated Media Color Gradient on the track below it and composite the color gradient track as a child track. Finally, change the compositing mode to Multiply (Mask). The color gradient will show through the text.

~jr
grh wrote on 9/4/2006, 6:25 AM
FWIW, VASST has another tutorial with an effect applied to the reflection. Find it here.

That said, to apply a gradient to your text, you'll have to use the text event as a mask. Quick outline:

1) Drop a text event onto a video track. Use the default text event which appears as white text on a transparent background. Enter your text, choose your font, etc.

2) Create another vide track just below that one. Drop a Color Gradient event onto that track. Adjust the gradient to select your desired colors, angle, etc.

3) Make the gradient track a child of the text track. This is necessary to keep the transparent parts transparent, allowing lower tracks to show through.

4) Set the compositing mode of the text track (the top one) to "Multiply (Mask)".

You should now see gradient filled-text. I put together a quick example of this which you can download here.
fixler wrote on 9/4/2006, 4:33 PM
Thanks a heap guys, that is looking just how I wanted.

I was using it to create a graphic/ad to play at the end of my work...

I have uploaded it here-I'd love to know what you think, b/c I'm not 100% happy. I wanted something really sleek, and minimal.

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=763A963D413F6548

Thanks again. fixler.
TeeJay wrote on 9/5/2006, 3:49 AM
I think it looks very slick! Excellent work.
Dono wrote on 9/5/2006, 9:04 AM
fixler-
Awesome! Clean and sleek, quick and upbeat. Very professional-looking.
fixler wrote on 9/5/2006, 3:01 PM
Thanks guys. Much appreciated.
fixler wrote on 9/6/2006, 6:41 PM
Guys, how would i go about creating that gradient on a video event?

Thanks again.
grh wrote on 9/7/2006, 4:55 AM
What kind of video event? The gradient is available as a generated media in Vegas; you just drag, drop, and edit.

More detail about what you would like to accomplish would help us provide useful pointers.
fixler wrote on 9/7/2006, 6:26 AM
GRH, sorry for being vague. I was actually refering to a DV event (captured). Id like to have the top fade away like a gradient. I thought it might be best just to apply a gradient above the event that is the same colour as the background...?

Any better ideas? Thanks.
bStro wrote on 9/7/2006, 8:42 AM
Will this work?

Track 1: A linear color gradient. Top color is transparent, bottom color is white. Change the track's compositing mode to Multiply.

Track 2: Your main event, the one you want to have a faded top. Make it a child of Track 1 by clicking the down arrow that's on the right side of the Track 2's header.

Track 3: Background. Nothing more to do here.

Depending on your situation, you might have to use black instead of transparent for the top area of the color gradient. If you do, you MUST also add a mask generator FX to the color gradient. Use the luminance present.

Edit: Actually, an even simpler way would be to use Bezier masking on the main event to "cut out" the top. Set the feathering really high for that faded look. This approach would also lead to less (probably no) issues down the line.

Edit 2: Hey, I found another way. Drag one of the fade offsets on the top event all the way over to the opposite side and change it to a linear wipe with a soft edge. Then insert a transition progress envelope. Set both of the initial points of the line to the same level (doesn't matter what percentage), and then drag the line up and down to your liking. And for a wonky moving fade, add a bunch of points and move 'em around.

Isn't Vegas neat?

Rob
grh wrote on 9/8/2006, 6:02 AM
There are lots of options. If you want to keep it simply, use bezier masks on a specific clip. I took the faded_top example from above and modified it to remove the extra media track (before bothering to read all of the above post... *sigh*), then used a feathered mask to fade out the top. Then I moved the mask so the fade travels down the frame.

The only annoying thing I discovered is that if your bezier mask area is outside of the visible area, the feathering disappears completely. So I set the end of the movement to the bottom of the frame and added a fade to the event. Lots of different choices here.