Accomplishing "Video in a Window" effects in PhotoMorph 2 is done through the use of Alpha Channels, Warping, and multiple filters. The attached VIDWIN.PMP was done in the following manner:
Step One: Define your Alpha Channel.
Using Paintbrush (or equivalent) create a white image that has a 2 pixel wide black boarder. This image should be the same size as the video clips being used. We'll be using this image to define the transparency areas in our video. [See MASK.BMP for the image used in VIDWIN.PMP]
Step Two: Warp the inset video to the desired size.
Enter PhotoMorph 2. Load the start window with the .AVI that is to be inset. If necessary, adjust the Video Editing Options to sample the desired portion of the video clip. Press the Options button. In the lower left had corner, Alpha Masks are specified. Use the load file button for the start mask to load the desired mask. This prepares us for the warp. Exit from the Options screen by pressing OK.
For the filter type, choose Warp and press Edit. In VIDWIN.PMP the desired effect is to start with the first frame of the video CHRIS.AVI, inset it into the upper right hand corner of EDIE.AVI, play the two videos, and leave just the last frame of EDIE.AVI. We'll use Warp to create the size and shape of the inset. In the start window, place 4 points, one in each corner of the window. In the end window, move the points so that they shape the size and location of the desired inset. For VIDWIN we've chosen to place the video in the upper right hand corner. Thus, the points in the end window have been evenly placed near the upper right hand corner. OK.
Because we've specified a boarder as a mask, the transparent boarder will stretch to cover the distorted portion of the warp. It is through this area that we will place the EDIE.AVI clip.
Step Three: Overlay the main video.
Press [123]. This advances us to the next layered filter. In this case, a Warp is occurring in Filter 1. This will be our Start image. For our end image chose the video the inset is to occur on. In this example, EDIE.AVI. After adjusting any necessary Video Editing Options, choose Filter type to be Overlay and press Edit. Choose Alpha from the Overlay type list. Note the preview: as the Warp occurs, the transparency changes to the desired shape, and EDIE comes through. OK.
Step Four: Hold the Warp constant.
Now that we've distorted our source material to be the right size and shape, we want to hold it to that shape as the video plays. Open the Storyboard. Copy clip one and Paste it back. Double click on the second clip to load it into the Project Editor. Since we want the Warp to be held constant, press Options and for Filter Percentage, choose Constant, 100%. This will hold the warp at full. In the VIDWIN example, we want the video to move at this point, so the Video Editing Options need to be adjusted in both filters. Now the video will move as the inset remains constant in the upper right hand corner. Clip 2 is done.
Step Five: Remove the Inset.
In our example, we want to leave the last frame of the full screen video [EDIE.AVI] while we scoot the inset off the screen. This will take three filters: one each for the warp (create the inset), the transition (move the inset off the screen), and the overlay (superimpose the full screen video).
In the storyboard, do another copy and paste. Then double click on the third clip to make it current. For the first filter, all we need to do is to reset the Video Editing Options to grab the last frame and ensure the warp will be held constant at 100%. Press [123] to advance to Filter 2 and choose Transition for the type. In this case we don't need (or want) an End image so choose <<No Image>> from the drop down list under the End window. Press Edit and create the desired transition. For VIDWIN, a slide in the upper right was selected with a solid fader. Press OK. Now the warped image will be removed from the scene.
Press [123] to advance to filter 3. Lastly, we need to overlay the last frame of the full screen video clip. Under the End image, choose EDIE.AVI. Adjust the Video Editing Options so that we sample only the last frame. Chose type to be Overlay, press Edit, and select Alpha. Note in the preview, the inset slides away, leaving only the full size video. OK. Create the animation to view the finished product.
Other Ideas:
We did a simple warp with only four points; nothing is stopping us from contorting the inset to be any size or shape that we desire! We started with the clip that became the inset; we could have chosen to leave one video the same size throughout, and transitioned the warped inset (always held at 100% constant) in and out. We only used a single frame while the action occurred; the video could have been moving. The possibilities are startling - this is the power of PhotoMorph 2.
This Document (c) 1994 Andover Advanced Technologies. This document is provided for the use of PhotoMorph 2 users only. Any republication of this document is prohibited without the written consent of Andover Advanced Technologies.
