Road Map to QuickTime 4
This chapter introduces you to QuickTime video effects. You can use transition effects to control the visual transition between two sources. Sources can be tracks in a QuickTime movie, or they can be graphics worlds. You can use filter effects to visually alter a single source, such as applying a blur or ripple. You can also use free-standing effects, such as a cloud or fire effect, that do not require a source (though they can be composited with other video).
Because visual effects are calculated and executed at runtime, they typically result in a much smaller file than a pre-rendered version of the same effect.
Effects tracks can be created, edited, and used in essentially the same manner as other video tracks. You can "stack" effects by using one effects track as the source for another effect. You can also use an effect as the source for a sprite track, making the fire effect into a sprite, for example.
QuickTime includes over 145 effects, and QuickTime's extensible architecture allows you to create additional effects of your own.
You need to read this chapter if you are writing an application that creates QuickTime movies and you want to add video effects to those movies, or if you want to use video effects on graphics worlds without creating a QuickTime movie, or if you want to create new video effects of your own.
Introduction to QuickTime Video EffectsQuickTime 4 Reference describes QuickTime video effect components and how they are used, both in QuickTime movies and in GWorlds (outside of QuickTime movies).
Adding Video Effects to a QuickTime MovieQuickTime 4 Reference explains how to add video effects to a QuickTime movie, and how to build effect descriptions and sample descriptions for use outside of QuickTime movies.
QuickTime 4 Reference describes a standard dialog box you can create to allow users to select effects and set effect parameters. This is also a useful way to build an effect description.
QuickTime 4 Reference describes how to use QuickTime effects on images that exist outside of QuickTime movies. This can be used to create a transition between two GWorlds, for example.
Creating New Video EffectsQuickTime 4 Reference gives a detailed description of the process of creating a new effects component. You will need to read this section only if you plan to add new types of effects to QuickTime.
QuickTime 4 Reference describes the parameter description data structure, which describes the parameter atoms a particular effect uses. This description is used by the Standard Parameters Dialog Box to present the user with an appropriate interface for setting each atom, such as a pull-down list or a slider. Effect components must provide descriptions of their parameter atoms so that applications can set the parameters and build effect descriptions without any advance knowledge of the effect.
QuickTime 4 Reference describes the video effects built into QuickTime, including the standard SMPTE effects and several effects from Apple Computer.
QuickTime 4 Reference describes the constants defined in QuickTime to support video effects.
QuickTime 4 Reference describes the data types defined in QuickTime to support video effects.
QuickTime 4 Reference defines the functions supported by effects components. Applications developers will typically call the high-level functions directly.
QuickTime 4 Reference defines the effect-specific functions that you may supply in your effect components. This section is only of interest to developers who are creating their own effects components.