Copyright: Copyright (c), June 1997, Ulead Systems, Inc.


Timescale

This is the timescale for the work area. With the preview window open, dragging the cursor through this area shows an on-the-fly preview of the project.


Preview bar

The blue bar on the timeline is the preview area. This is useful when you only want to save a portion of your project for previewing or output.


Vertical Preview Line

Appears everytime you click at a point on the timescale. You can click and drag it along the timeline to play a preview. To hide it, click and drag it back to the zero timecode.


Track name

Identifies the track to the right. Clicking this button selects all clips on the track.


Filter icon

This indicates that one or more audio filters are applied to the sound clip.


Color clip

A color clip on a video track. These are solid, unchanging blocks of color that will appear in the video. You can use color clips as backgrounds, or to block out portions of the timeline for later use. Double clicking a color clip opens the Color Clip dialog box.

Note: The display mode for the clips shown in this image is filename.


Transition effect clip

Transition effects make the switch between clips in the Va and Vb tracks more smooth. Double clicking a transition effect opens its related dialog box.


Audio clip

Audio clips are used to add sound to your video. The line running through the clip is the mix level. Click it to add control points that you can drag to raise or lower the mix level for the audio clip. Double-clicking an audio clip opens the clip in an Audio Scratch Pad. Double-clicking an empty area in an audio track opens the Load Audio File dialog box.

Note: The display mode for the clips shown in this image is waveform.


Image clip

An image clip on a video track. Video Editor allows all data types except black and white to be used as image clips. Double-clicking an image clip opens that clip in an Image Scratch Pad.

Note: The display mode for the clips shown in this image is filename.


Video clip

A video clip on a video track. Double-clicking on a video clip opens that clip in a Video Scratch Pad.

Note: The display mode for the clips shown in this image is filename.


Title clip

A title clip on an overlay track. Use a title clip to add text to the video. By adding a moving path and overlay effects, the text can scroll over the rest of your video. Double-clicking on a title clip opens the Title Clip dialog box.

Note: The display mode for the clips shown in this image is filename.


Video track

This is a video track. You can place video, image, title, and color clips here. Double-clicking on an empty portion of a video track opens the Load Video dialog box, allowing you to select a video file to insert as a clip.


Audio cue

This is an audio cue that you can use for identifying important points in the sound clip for future reference. To place or edit an audio clip cue, use the Audio Scratch Pad.


Special effects indicator

They indicate that the clip has enhancements such as video filters, overlay effects, or a moving path applied. You can apply overlay, moving path, and up to twenty video filter effects on any video overlay track. The Va and Vb tracks only accept video filters and moving paths.


Transition track

This is the transition effects track. Double-clicking on an empty portion opens the transition effects window.


Project cue

This is a project cue that you can use for marking important spots in your project for quick reference. To create project cues, click View: Cue Manager.


Window splitter

Slide this up or down to show more video or audio tracks.


Video cue

This is a video clip cue that you can use for identifying on the video clip for future reference. To place or edit a video clip cue, use the Video Scratch Pad.


Stops the playback and returns the pointer to the first frame in the clip.


Plays the selected clip. Once pressed, the button changes to Pause. If you select the Pause button, the video clip stops at the current frame and the button returns to Play.


Sends the pointer to the first frame in the clip and displays it.


Displays the immediately preceding frame in the clip.


Displays the next frame in the clip.


Sends the pointer to the last frame of in the clip and displays it.


Causes playbacks to repeat in a continuous loop.


Selects the mark in frame for the clip in the timeline.


Selects the mark out frame for the clip in the timeline.


Add/Delete Clip Cue

Adds or removes a cue to the clip at the current slider location. When adding a cue, Video Editor automatically names it according to the frame timecode. You can change the name later by double-clicking on the cue.


Go to Clip Cue

Lists all cues in the current clip and allows you to select which one to move the slider to.


Fine Tune

Click to open the Audio Fine Tune Window for selecting a more precise mark in point where you can include or exclude contents of a frame and adjust the correct timing.


Shuttle Control

Allows you smoothly move forward and back through the clip at variable speeds. This is a useful way to find a frame you are looking for.

Note: The text box below the dial shows the speed that the clip is progressing at. The maximum speed is 2x, (or -2x if going backwards).


Slider bar

This shows the progress of a video clip or any selection area while it is playing. When not playing, you can position the slider to the frame you want to see.


Displays timeline or frame information about the clip.


Indicates that a cue exists in the clip at the current slider location. To change the timecode to a cue name, double-click on the yellow box with your left mouse button.


Shows the part of the clip that is selected to be included in the timeline


Zoom in/Zoom out

Allows you to zoom in or out on the sound clip displayed in the Scratch pad. After pressing this button, pressing the left mouse button zooms in; the right zooms out.


Shows the entire length of the waveform. The portion enclosed by a green box is what appears in the Scratch Pad.


Indicates the length of the clip in the timeline.


Stop

Stops the preview process.

(Shortcut key: Esc)


Play

Plays a preview of all the clips in the video project. If you have already created preview files, this is quick. If you have a number of applied effects and filters, this may take longer.

(Shortcut key: Shift+Enter)


Preview

Plays only the clips in the preview area.

(Shortcut key: Enter)


Previous cue

Sends the preview window back to a previous cue in the project or, if there are no cues, to the start of the project.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+Home)


Previous frame

Sends the preview window back one frame.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+Left Arrow)


Next frame

Sends the preview window forward one frame.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+Right Arrow)


Next cue

Sends the preview window forward to the next cue in the project or, if there are no cues, to the end of the project.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+End)


Repeat

When selected plays video continuously until you click stop or press ESC.


Add/Delete project cue

Click to place or remove a cue.

(Shortcut key: F5)


Mark In

Marks the beginning frame for a preview area.

(Shortcut key: F3)


Mark Out

Marks the last frame for a preview area.

(Shortcut key: F4)


Shuttle control

Use the slider to manually move through your video file. Drag left to view previous frames and drag right to view succeeding frames.


Status bar information

The first cell displays the timecode of the mouse pointer's current position. The second and third cells display the Start and End timecodes of the clip that is currently under the mouse pointer. And the last cell displays the Duration of the clip under the mouse pointer. It also displays processing status information when Video Editor is performing a task.


Thumbnail display mode

Toggles between displaying just the thumbnails or more information (any annotation) about them. It also provides space to add your own description or related information.


File directory

Lists the folders of available galleries. Right-click to create, rename, delete, copy, paste, save, or load folders. You can add personally designed filters to the Custom folder.


Thumbnail pane

Displays thumbnails contained in the selected folder that can be applied to the current file. Click and drag a thumbnail to add it to your current project. Right-click to change its properties.


Current folder

Displays the currently selected folder. Click to switch to other galleries.


Search

Searches through the selected folder to find a desired thumbnail.


Production Library Menu

Displays a pop-up menu for editing thumbnails, customizing the Production Library displays thumbnails or setting other properties.


Sort

Alphabetically sorts the thumbnails in the current folder using the selected key item.


New dialog box

Existing templates Displays all available project templates for creating a new project. The Default template is updated everytime to the current settings.

Properties Displays information about the currently selected template’s attributes.

Always show this dialog box Select to display the available project templates everytime you want to create a new project. Clear to open a new project in the workspace using the settings defined in the Preferences dialog box.

Delete Click to remove the currently selected template from the Project templates list.

Rename Click to change the name of the currently selected template.

Wizard Click to start the Project Creation Wizard to guide you in the process of creating a new template.

OK Click to open the currently selected template in the workspace.

  Using project templates

  Creating a new project

  Preferences dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Open dialog box

Look in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Identify the file selected for opening.

Files of type Choose between showing only digital video project files or all files in the current folder.

Subject Displays the subject information for the file, if any.

Description Displays description information for the file, if any.

Info Click to open a dialog box containing information about the selected file.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

  Opening a project

  Merging projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Save As dialog box

Save in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Initially shows the DVP extension; enter or select the file name you wish to save.

Save as type Lists the digital video project file format and its extension.

Subject Assign a subject to the file (optional) to give you an idea of the file’s purpose.

Description Type a description of the file contents (optional) to describe in more detailed the file’s purpose.

Select Click to display the Select Preview Image dialog box. Use this to choose a frame to represent the file whenever you select it from a dialog box that supports preview information.

Info Click to open a dialog box containing information about the selected file.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

  Saving a project

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Save Project Template dialog box

Template name Type a name for the template.

Existing templates Lists all existing project templates.

Description Type a description of the template’s purpose (optional).

  Using project templates

  Saving a project

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Proxy Manager dialog box

Files not in proxy mode Shows all clips in the project that have not been selected to have associated proxy files. An asterisk left of the file name indicates a proxy file already exists.

Files in proxy mode Shows all clips in the project chosen to have associated proxy files. An asterisk left of the file name indicates the proxy file already exists.

Add Click to move the selected file from the Files Not in Proxy Mode list to the Files in Proxy Mode list.

Remove Click to move the selected file from the Files in Proxy Mode list to the Files Not in Proxy Mode list.

Add All Click to move all files listed in the Files Not in Proxy Mode list to the Files in Proxy Mode list.

Remove All Click to move all files listed in the Files in Proxy Mode list to the Files Not in Proxy Mode list.

Info Shows file, video, and audio information about the selected original file.

Proxy Specify the proxy file name and location. You cannot save proxy files to the same location as the original clips.

Folder Find the desired folder for the proxy file.

File name Shows the name of the proxy file for the selected clip.

Browse Click to find files or folders.

Delete Click to permanently remove the proxy file associated with the selected clip from your system.

Info Click to display file, video, and audio information about the current proxy file.

Options Click to open the Proxy Options dialog box. This dialog box has two tabs for you to define proxy file characteristics.

Free disk space on drive X Shows available storage space in the drive where the proxy file will be or is saved to.

Estimated disk space required Shows an estimate of how much disk space Video Editor needs to create proxy files.

Estimated performance factor Shows the expected percentage change in time savings you will get by using proxy files.

Note: Video Editor creates and updates proxy files when you click OK to close the Proxy Manager dialog box.

  Working efficiently

  Creating proxy files

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Package dialog box

Folder Identify the folder to copy or move all files in the current project.

Drives Lists all available drives.

Method Select between moving or copying the files from the original folder to the target.

Packaging info Displays the required disk space for packaging the current available disk space.

Network Click to connect to a network (only available if you are running Windows for Workgroups).

  Managing your project

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


When transferring a video project file and its source files to another PC, use the same directory structure as the original to ensure the clips are correctly loaded.


Create Video/Audio File dialog box

Save in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Identify the file(s) selected for saving.

Save as type Lists all media file formats and their extensions.

Subject Assign a subject to the file (optional) to give you an idea of the file’s purpose.

Description Type a description of the file contents (optional) to describe in more detailed the file’s purpose.

Save to Production Library Select to save a file name entry to a library folder for better file management.

Folder Displays the currently selected library folder for saving.

Options Click to open the Save Options dialog box for available compression schemes as well as advanced saving commands.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

Select Click to display the Select Preview Image dialog box. Use this to choose a frame to represent the file whenever you select it from a dialog box that supports preview information.

Library Click to open the Add To Library dialog box. Choose or create a library folder where to place the link to the actual file for quick access and better file management.

  Creating your files

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Create Proxy File dialog box

Selected files Shows all files flagged for proxies.

Add Video Click to open the Add Video dialog box where you can select video files to add to the Proxy Files list.

Add Image Click to open the Add Image dialog box where you can select image files to add to the Proxy Files list.

Remove Click to delete the selected file from the Proxy Files list.

Remove All Click to delete all the files listed in the Proxy Files list and deletes the associations to original files.

Info Click to display file, video, and audio information about the selected original file or its proxy.

Proxy Specify the proxy file name and location.

Folder Type the location of the proxy file.

File name Shows the name of the proxy file for the selected clip.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

Options Click to open the Proxy Options dialog box. This dialog box has two tabs for you to define proxy file characteristics.

Available disk space in drive X Shows available storage space in the drive where the proxy file will be or is saved to.

Estimated disk space required Shows an estimate of how much disk space Video Editor needs to create proxy files.

Estimated improved performance factor Shows the expected percentage change in time savings you will get by using proxy files.

  Creating proxy files

  Working efficiently

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Create EDL File dialog box

Save in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Initially shows the EDL extension; if you know the path and name of the file you wish to create, enter it here or select it from the list.

Save as type Select a particular file format for saving.

Title Assign a name to the EDL that appears as a header on the top of the page.

Record in Define the starting point for the EDL.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

  Creating an EDL

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Select Video File dialog box

Look in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Identify the file(s) selected for converting.

Files of type Select the file format of source file you want to convert.

Subject Displays the subject assigned to the file, if any.

Description Displays the description of the file contents, if any.

Auto play Select to play the file immediately after selecting it from the file name list box.

Mute Select to silence the audio playback.

Preview Click to display the selected file contents in the preview window.

Play Click to play the selected file in the preview window.

Info Click to open a dialog box containing information about the selected file.

Library Click to open the Add To Library dialog box. Choose or create a library folder where to place the link to the actual file for quick access and better file management.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

  Converting file formats

  Working with video projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Select Destination Video File dialog box
Select Destination File dialog box

Save in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Identify the file(s) selected for saving.

Save as type Lists all media file formats and their extensions.

Subject Assign a subject to the file (optional) to give you an idea of the file’s purpose.

Description Type a description of the file contents (optional) to describe in more detailed the file’s purpose.

Save to Production Library Select to save a file name entry to a library folder for better file management.

Folder Displays the currently selected library folder for saving.

Preview window Displays a video frame that you can use as a thumbnail representation when selected in any file dialog boxes.

Options Click to open the Save Options dialog box for available compression schemes as well as advanced saving commands.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

Library Click to open the Add To Library dialog box. Choose or create a library folder where to place the link to the actual file for quick access and better file management.

  Converting file formats

  Working with video projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Convert Frame Rate dialog box

Original frame rate Displays the current frame rate for the selected video file.

New frame rate Type the desired frame rate for the video file.

  Converting file formats

  Working with video projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Play Full Screen dialog box

Look in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Identify the file(s) selected for converting.

Files of type Select the file format of source file you want to convert.

Subject Displays the subject assigned to the file, if any.

Description Displays the description of the file contents, if any.

Auto play Select to play the file immediately after selecting it from the file name list box.

Mute Select to silence the audio playback.

Preview Click to display the selected file contents in the preview window.

Play Click to play the selected file in the preview window.

Options Click to open a dialog box to define play options

Info Click to open a dialog box containing information about the selected file.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

  Playing a media file full screen

  Working with video projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Play Full Screen Options dialog box - Frame Size
Play Full Screen Options dialog box

  Frame Size	  Activation

Played by Select the driver to use when printing the video.

Frame size Specify the video dimensions.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the proportion of the original video dimension. If this is cleared, the width or height can be adjusted disproportionately.

  Playing a media file full screen

  Working with video projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Play Full Screen Options dialog box - Activation
Play Full Screen dialog box

  Frame Size	  Activation

Played by Select the driver to use when printing the video.

Delay Specify a delay time (in seconds) to give you time to start and stop your recording device.

Manually with keyboard or mouse Select whether to use the keyboard or mouse to start and stop the playback.

  Playing a media file full screen

  Working with video projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


The delay feature gives you time to start and stop your video recorder after pressing the OK button in the Play Full Screen dialog box. That way, you can be assured of recording only the video, and no other screen components, such as the Windows working environment.


Load Layout Templates dialog box

Existing layout templates Lists all available window layout templates.

Delete Click to delete a selected template from the list.

Rename Click to change the name of a selected template.

Preview Click to see how the selected template affects your window layout.

  Arranging the workspace

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Save Layout dialog box
Save Layout Templates dialog box

Type a name for the window layout template for future use. This dialog box also lists other templates you previously saved.

  Arranging the workspace

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Properties dialog box - Attributes
Properties dialog box

  Attributes	  Properties

TV standard Specify the video standard of the video clip.

Frame rate Specify the number of frames viewed per second.

Frame size Select the video dimension or specify your own size.

Proxy mode Select to turn the proxy mode on. Clear to turn it off.

Number of overlay tracks Specify the number of overlay tracks for the project. If reducing tracks will result in losing clip data, Video Editor prompts you to confirm or cancel the operation.

  Obtaining information

  Changing project properties

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


The video standard, NTSC, is used by the American television industry and produces 30 frames/second. PAL is the video standard used by the UK television and produces 25 frames/second. Film type produces 24 frames/second.


The frame rate determines the number of frames for any resulting video file. It does not affect the display of rames in the timeline as these take their reference from the television standard.


Properties dialog box - Properties
Properties dialog box

  Attributes	  Properties

Displays all the information about the current project. You can change them by clicking the Attributes tab to define new settings.

  Obtaining information

  Changing project properties

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preview Files Manager dialog box

Project file list Shows all the preview files you have created. (Preview files created and played using a controllable are not included in the list.)

System information Displays the current status of your system resources and how much is being used by your preview files.

Delete Click to delete the currently selected preview file to free some system resources.

Delete All Click to delete all the preview files you have created to free system resources.

  Working efficiently

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preferences dialog box - General
Preferences dialog box

  General	  Cache
  Edit	  Preview
  Associate

Enable undo Select to enable the Undo command on the Edit menu. Then specify the number of commands Video Editor should retain for undoing.

Number of recently opened files Specify the number of projects Video Editor lists under the File menu.

Return to the first frame after playing Select to return to the first frame after playback of any clip. Clear to freeze on the frame where it stopped.

Use temporary file when creating 8-bit optimized palette Select to speed up processing time for creating an optimized palette for Indexed Color video file.

Display Options dialog box Select to display the effect dialog box whenever you drag a new effect onto the timeline. Clear to continuously apply effects using the settings from the last time the dialog box was closed. You can always go back and edit settings later.

Display New dialog box Select to display the New dialog box for choosing a template in creating a project everytime you click File: New. Clear to automatically create a project based on the attributes defined in the Properties dialog box.

Automatic save every _ minutes Select to avoid losing all your work if any problems occur. You must still save the project when you finish working on it.

Default background color Click to open theUlead Color Picker to let you set the working area background color for any empty slots on the timeline.

Title safe area margin Specify a new title safe margin to change your video board default settings.

Default inserted clip duration Specify a default duration for those clips placed on the timeline that do not have a pre-defined duration.

Temporary folder Identify the temporary folder Video Editor uses for compiling, compressing, or decompressing files.

  Recovering from mistakes

  Using project templates

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


The Optimized option wil give the best results but the video will produce color shifts when played back on a 256 color display.


This list contains the path and filename of your most recently opened files. You can click a name from the list to reopen the file.


If you regularly use the same properties for a video project, you can hide the New dialog box each time you click New by clearing the Show this dialog box next time option. Any new projects will apply the properties set in the Preferences dialog box.


This is useful if you intend on sending your video back out to video tape or for broadcast because television has a different resolution to a computer monitor and edges which are viewable on screen may disappear. As a guideline for different devices, choose 12% for NTSC and 10% for PAL.


Video Editor allows you to set a value of up to 99 levels. As memory is allocated for each level of unde/redo, you may find that too high a level adversely affects performance. In such cases, restrict the level to 3-4 only. You can also choose to have no undo/redo to maximize performance, but any editing done is final.


Selecting speeds up the whole operation of creating videos in Video Editor especially when working on large files. This space will be kept as free as possible from any outside files and at the same time prevents Video Editor from using the default hard drive folder designated for other purposes that may cause interference with other processes your computer is running.


Preferences dialog box - Associate
Preferences dialog box

  General	  Cache
  Edit	  Preview
  Associate

File type Select the file format to associate with a program.

Associated program Specify the path and location of the program to open and edit the selected File type.

Browse Click to search for the program’s execution file.

Include trim information Select to allow any media files such as video or audio to open displaying any marked portions that you have created.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preferences dialog box - Edit
Preferences dialog box

  General	  Cache
  Edit	  Preview
  Associate

Apply color filter Select to configure Video Editor to confine its color palette to those visible in the NTSC or PAL filter color space to make sure that all the colors are valid. Clear if for monitor display only.

Frame type Select Frame-based if you intend to output your video file only to your computer monitor. If you intend to output the video file to a conventional television screen, check your capture board’s field order reading capability and select the appropriate one.

Double click on video track to insert Select and click the drop-down arrow to choose whether to automatically open the Insert Video File or Insert Image File dialog box when you double-click an empty time slot.

Resample quality Click the drop-down arrow to set the quality of any effects or filters. The Best quality takes longer time to process.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Select appropriate option if you plan on having your video played back over an NTSC or PAL device such as a television. Clear if designing only for monitor display.


Field-based videos, when viewed on the computer show unwanted horizontal lines. This is due to the interlacing of video for the TV screen. When the proper hardware is used, these horizontal lines disappear when shown on a television monitor.


A higher quality results in better video reproduction but takes longer to render. If you are using proxy files, leave this option at Good or Fair. If you are preparing for final output and are using the original source files, select Best.


Preferences dialog box - Cache
Preferences dialog box

  General	  Cache
  Edit	  Preview
  Associate

Cache RAM size Specify the portion of RAM to reserve as cache memory for video projects.

Cache disk size Specify the portion of your hard disk to reserve as cache memory for video projects.

Current free memory Shows the amount of available memory for assigning to the cache.

Disk cache folder Specify a folder to provide additional working space, (virtual memory).

Browse Click to find and select a drive and folder.

  Working efficiently

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


A Proxy file is a low resolution copy of an image or video file that requires fewer system resources to work with. Thus creating and editing video projects are faster. If selected, but you have no proxy files present, Video Editor uses the original source files. If you are preparing to output your final video clip, clear this option.


Setting aside a portion of memory to store your applied operations helps speed up your work especially if you apply the same command or perform the same operation in succession. As a guideline, devote one-third to one-half of your RAM space for cache memory. If you want additional cache memory but don’t have enough RAM, you can set aside additional space on your hard disk. You can devote up to 120 MB of RAM and disk space to cache memory.)


Preferences dialog box - Preview
Preferences dialog box

  General	  Cache
  Edit	  Preview
  Associate

Specify additional folders for preview files Specify folders for storing preview files. (Windows automatically determines the first folder.)

Hard disk Select the drive you wish to assign a folder to.

Limit hard disk usage to Select and specify a value to have Video Editor manage disk usage while running. This might be useful for preserving disk space for other files.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Paste Attributes dialog box

Video filters Select to paste the video filters from the clipboard into a video clip. Also, select the paste method.

Audio filters Select to paste the audio filters from the clipboard into an audio clip. Also, select the paste method.

Overlay options Select to paste the overlay options from the clipboard into the clip.

Moving path Select to paste the moving path effects from the clipboard into the clip.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Audio and Video filters can only be pasted into compatible tracks.


Delete Attributes dialog box

Video filters Select to delete the video filters applied on the selected area.

Audio filters Select to delete the audio filters applied on the selected area.

Overlay options Select to delete the overlay options applied on the selected area.

Moving path Select to delete the moving path effects applied on the selected area.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preview Range dialog box

Mark in / Mark out Specify the start and end  timecodes for a preview area.

  Previewing your work

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Time Selection dialog box

Mark in / Mark out Specify the start and end timecodes to use in selecting a specific portion of a project.

  Selecting clips

  Editing clips

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Video Preview Options dialog box
Options dialog box

Video Editor tab

Preview method Click the drop-down arrow to select a preview method.

Frame type Select Frame-based if you intend to output your video to your computer monitor. If you intend to use a conventional television screen, check your capture board’s field order reading capability and select the appropriate one.

Apply video filters Select to apply video filters to the previewed video.

  Working efficiently

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preview Methods

Playback by ActiveMovie player Compresses all the clips in a project into a new preview file. This offers the best quality playback but takes the most processing time and requires you to reserve enough disk space in the temp folder specified in the Preferences dialog box.

Best Creates multiple video/audio files without rendering all the segments to a file. Video/audio segments with different compressors, frame rate, or applied effects are the only ones rendered. This process still requires disk space but total file size may be less than the first method.

Optimal Renders only the modified video/audio segments to a file. Audio/video segments with applied effects are the only ones rendered and differences in compressor and frame rate have no effect. This method takes less time to prepare preview files and requires lesser disk space than the first two.

Instant Renders nothing to a file therefore the fastest method and uses no disk space. This method simply plays the clips in sequential order, even the altered portions as well as applied effects. However, you may not see the full performance of applied effects because it may drop many frames or editing is too complex.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Display Mode dialog box

Video Select how Video Editor displays video data on the timeline.

Audio Select how Video Editor displays audio data on the timeline.

  Arranging the workspace

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Clip Properties dialog box

Displays detailed information about the selected clip including its size, format, path, compression used, duration, and other useful data.

  Obtaining information

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Cue Manager dialog box

Cue Time / Cue Name Shows all cues in the project and their positions on the timeline.

Add Click to open the Add cue dialog box where you can name and place a new cue.

Delete Click to remove the selected cue from the timeline.

Delete All Click to remove all cues from the timeline.

Rename Click to open the Rename Cue dialog box where you can change the name of the selected cue.

Go To Click to move the Preview mark to the selected cue.

  Working with cues

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Toolbars & Panels dialog box

Determines how various Video Editor items appear in the workspace. Select each item you want to appear in the workspace. Clear each item you want to hide or disable.

  Arranging the workspace

  Quick Command Panel

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Go To dialog box

Position Specify a timecode to go directly to on the timeline.

Cue time / Cue name Lists all cues in the project. Select the one you want to go to on the timeline.

Go To Click to go the specified position or the selected cue on the timeline.

  Performing searches

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Go To dialog box

Cue time / Cue name Lists all cues in the clip. Select the one you want to go to on the clip.

Go To Click to go the selected cue and display that frame on the Scratch Pad.

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Find Clip dialog box

Start Time Shows the starting time of each clip in the project. Click the one you want to locate on the timeline and click OK.

Duration Shows the length of time of each clip in the project.

Track Shows the occupied track of each clip in the project.

Clip Name Shows the path and name of each clip in the project.

Annotation Shows a name assigned to a selected clip for easy recognition, if any.

  Performing searches

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Find Unlinked Clips dialog box

Start Time/Duration/Track/Clip Name Shows the clips in the project that are unlinked to their source files.

Annotation Shows a name assigned to a selected clip for easy recognition, if any.

Relink Click to open the Relink dialog box and locate the source file of the unlinked clip(s). This dialog box varies depending on file type.

Delete Click to remove the unlinked clip from the timeline.

Go To Click to go to the selected clip.

  Performing searches

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Find Empty Time Slots dialog box

Type Click the drop-down arrow to select what clips to perform the search on.

Start Time/Duration Shows the search results indicating where each empty slot begins and how long they last.

Go To Click to go to the selected empty time slot.

Add Cue Click to open the Add Cue dialog box and assign a cue to the beginning of the time slot so you can remember its location more easily.

Delete Click to remove the empty time slot from the timeline. This shortens the entire project by the amount deleted.

  Performing searches

  Editing clips

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Video/Audio File dialog box

Look in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Identify the file(s) selected for inserting or relinking.

Files of type Select the file format of the file you want to insert or relink.

Subject Displays the subject assigned to the file, if any.

Description Displays the description of the file contents, if any.

Auto play Select to play the file immediately after selecting it from the file name list box.

Mute Select to silence the audio playback.

Play Click to play the selected file in the preview window.

Preview Click to display the selected file contents in the preview window.

Duration Click to select only a portion of the file to insert on the timeline.

Info Click to open a dialog box containing information about the selected file.

Library Click to open the Add To Library dialog box. Choose or create a library folder where to place the link to the actual file for quick access and better file management.

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

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Image File dialog box

Look in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Identify the file(s) selected for inserting or relinking.

Files of type Select the file format of the file you want to insert or relink.

Duration Specify the time length to display the image on the timeline.

File properties Displays information about the selected file.

Preview window Displays a thumbnail representation of the selected file.

Options Click to display the open options dialog box for file formats that provide options. There are only few file formats that support open options.

Library Click to open the Add To Library dialog box. Choose or create a library folder where to place the link to the actual file for quick access and better file management. (Only available when inserting image files on the timeline.)

Browse Click to search for files or folders.

Preview Displays the selected file contents in the preview window.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

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Title Clip dialog box

New Click to clear the Title text window.

Load Click to use previously created text file (*.TXT file extension) for the Title text.

Save As Click to save as a text file for future use.

Title text window Type the text (maximum of 1023 characters) for the clip. Press Enter to start a new line.

Size Shows the size of the text block relative to the frame size.

Sample Displays a preview of the title text with specified options.

Enable rolling Select to apply the Rolling specifications on the Title clip. When selected, Shadow feature on the Font tab is disabled.

Font Specify the format for the title clip text. Settings here affects all the text in the Title text window.

Rolling Specify the position and movement for the title clip text.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Creating title clips

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Title Clip: Font dialog box

Font name & size Select face and size for the characters you want to place in the project.

Font style Click all the effects and styles to apply on the text.

Font alignment Select the alignment for the text.

Text transparency Specify how much of the underlying image should appear through text.

Anti-aliasing Select to smoothen the edges around curves in text so that they do not look pixelated.

Opaque text Select to change the title clip text color. Click Fill color square to open the Ulead Color Picker to use on the text or right-click for Windows Color Picker.

Outline Check to display the outline boundaries of the text.

Shadow Select to define the properties of a shadow for the Title Clip text.

Opaque background Select to make the part outside the text body nontransparent and click the Fill color square to choose a color. Clear to make it transparent.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Creating title clips

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Bold Click to make the characters a little thicker, giving them a stronger, darker look.

Italic Click to skew the characters slightly.

Underline Click to add a single line under the characters.

Strikethrough Click to add a single line that goes through the characters.


Left Click to format text so that it’s multiple lines all start from the same point on the left side.

Center Click to format the text so that multiple lines are centered relative to each other.

Right Click to format the text so that the ends of multiple lines all match up to the right edge.


Line color Click Line color square to open the Ulead Color Picker or right-click for Windows Color Picker for choosing the outline color

Line width Specify the thickness of the outline.


Shadow color Click shadow color square to open the Ulead Color Picker or right-click for Windows Color Picker for choosing the shadow color

3D shadow Select to link the shadow to the text creating a 3D effect. Clear to apply a drop shadow.

X & Y offset Set the size in pixels for the shadow.

Shadow transparency Set a high value to allow more of the image to show through the shadow.


Instead of using the Overlay options on Title clips, clear the Opaque background option and select Anti-aliasing for smoother Title overlays.


Title Clip: Rolling dialog box

Direction Select whether to roll the text vertically [image] or horizontally [image].

Place at Select whether to align the text left, center or right when rolling text vertically. When rolling text horizontally, select from top, center or bottom alignment.

Start/Stop Select the starting and ending position for the rolling text.

Speed Select the speed for the rolling text.

Repeat Specify how many time to roll the text across the screen. This affects the duration of the Title Clip.

Duration Displays time length of the Title clip.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Creating title clips

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Color Clip dialog box

Annotation Assign a name to the Color clip for easy recognition on the timeline.

Duration Specify the time length for the Color clip. The default duration is specified in the Preferences dialog box.

Color Click to change colors within the specified duration. This is enabled whenever you set a keyframe on the Keyframe controller.

Keyframe controller Set keyframes to produce color variations within the specified duration.

  Creating a color clip

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Using the Keyframe Controller

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Silence Clip dialog box

Annotation Assign a name to the Silence clip for easy recognition on the timeline.

Duration Set the time length for the Silence clip.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

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Video Filters dialog box

Available filters Lists video filters available in the selected Category for applying to a selected clip. Click one from the list to select it.

Applied filters Lists all video filters currently applied to the clip. Click one from the list if you want to remove it or edit its conditions.

Add Click to add the selected filter from the Available Filters list to the Applied Filters list box.

Remove Click to remove the selected filter from the clip.

Remove All Click to remove all the filters from the clip.

Category Select a folder from the drop-down list that determines the different filters to display in the Available filters list box.

Options Click to open the Options dialog box where you can set the selected filter’s conditions in different timecodes by setting keyframes.

Region Click to open the Region dialog box where you can isolate portions of the frame to apply the filter to.

  Applying filters

  All Video Filters

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Video Filters Options dialog box
Video Filter Options dialog box

The Video Filters Options dialog box varies according to the selected filter. All contain the following components. For details about the specifics of each filter, click the help button in the filter dialog box.

Original clip window Shows a frame from the selected clip before the filter is applied.

Preview window Shows a frame from the clip after the filter has been applied.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add the current effect settings to one of the Video Filter folders for quick access.

  Video Filters dialog box

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Region dialog box

Original clip window Shows a frame from the mask. Click on the window to select key color.

Preview window Shows a frame from the selected clip and the parts affected by the filter.

Type Select the key type to use in the Original window.

Mask Select from current clip, image, or video clip as the matte to use for selecting an area.

Threshold Drag to determine the sensitivity to bright and dark pixels. High is more sensitive to bright.

Invert region area Click to make all colors except the selected color the key color.

RGB Displays the RGB value of the current threshold setting.

Matte Click to open the Select Image Matte dialog box for choosing an image file or the Select Video Matte for choosing a video file to use as mask.

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Alpha Channel Select to key out the black areas of selected matte’s alpha channel and making the white areas of the alpha channel opaque.

Gray Key Select to use the selected matte’s grayscale values in choosing the transparent and opaque areas.


Audio Filters dialog box

Available filters Lists audio filters available for applying to a selected clip. Click one from the list to select it.

Applied filters Lists all audio filters currently applied to the clip. Click one from the list if you want to remove it or edit its conditions.

Add Click to add the selected filter from the Available Filters list to the Applied Filters list box.

Remove Click to remove the selected filter from the clip.

Remove All Click to remove all the filters from the clip.

Options Click to open the selected filter’s options dialog box for changing its settings. (Only available on audio filters which provide options.)

  Applying filters

  Adding sound effects

  All Audio Filters

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Each audio filter options dialog box has a help button explaining the controls and features in it.


Overlay Options dialog box

Overlay clip Shows a sample frame from the selected clip before applying the overlay settings. Buttons and a time indicator allow you to select which frame to view.

Type Specify what part of the image is transparent.

Mask Select whether to use a video or image file as the source for the overlay.

Color (R G B) Select a color from the image to make it transparent. You can also select the color by clicking the image on the Overlay clip window.

Overlay preview Shows a sample frame of the selected clip with the overlay applied. Buttons and a time indicator allow you to select which frame to view.

Preview as Select the type of display to show in the Overlay preview window.

Similarity Drag the slider to specify the range of key colors relative to the selected one for the overlay. The higher the percentage, the more colors are used as the overlay.

Invert overlay area Select to make all colors except the selected color the key color.

Advanced control window Displays a representation of the threshold, cutoff, max value, min value, and gamma value parameters. Click any of the parameter handle and drag to adjust.

Current parameter Drag to change the active parameter’s settings.

Blend/Opacity Specify which color components of the underlying clip are dominant.

Transparency Specify how clear the overlay appears.

Soft edge Select how strong to smooth out the edges between the two clips. Large results in a less pronounced transition.

Matte Click to load an image or video file when the Image Matte or Video Matte mask is selected.

  Adding a video overlay effect

  Performing video effects

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Result Displays the behavior of the overlay clip (the foreground) with the underlying one (the background).

FG Displays just the overlay clip (the foreground) with background (the underlying clip) using the default solid color set in the Preferences dialog box, Video Editor tab. This is helpful if the background clip contains similar colors to the overlay clip because you can set the similarity until you have accurately keyed-out the color you want to make transparent. Also, this is ideal for ovelay clips which have gradations of a solid color such as in blue screens.

Mask Displays a black and white preview of the current settings. The white areas are transparent and black ones opaque. This is helpful if you want to see the clearest view as to which parts of the overlaying and underlying clips are affected. Also, this is ideal for overlay clips which primarily have solid colors.


Threshold Adjusts the amount of shadow in an ovelay clip.

Cutoff Adjusts the shadow detail with the luminance and chroma keys.

Maximum/Minimum values Set the maximum/minimum values for the change you can make to the grays of the orginal clip.

Gamma value Sets the gray values apparent in color which contribute to the levels of highlight and shadow that appear on an image.


Key types

None Makes the entire image partially transparent without focusing on a particular area or color. This is only useful for adjusting transparency.

Color Key Makes the selected color in the clip transparent.

Luma Key Uses the brightness and contrast values of the selected color as the basis for the mask. This works well in conjunction with changing the clip’s transparency and is ideal for applying texture to the background of clips.

Chroma Key Uses the hue and saturation values of the selected color as the basis for the mask. This is the opposite of the Luma Key.

Alpha Channel Uses the alpha channel of the image as the basis for the mask. If no alpha channel exists, a black mask is used. Selecting this option for a clip that does not have an alpha channel has no effect.

Gray Key Places a midtone gray layer (R: 128 G:128 B: 128) over the overlay clip reducing the chroma and luma values by half. As the color approaches black, the color is less transparent. This is useful for any grayscale image or video mattes.

Multiply Multiplies the RGB values of the overlay clip with those of the underlying ones and then divides the result by 255 (rounding to the closest integer value for each color channel.) This is useful when you want to darken and highlight areas between clips where similar colors overlap.

Add Adds the RGB values of the overlay clip with those of the underlying clip to create a new color (Values greater than 255 are rounded to 255.). This is useful for lightening areas where frames overlap.

Subtract Substracts the RGB values of the overlay clip with those of the underlying clip to create a new color (Values less than 0 are rounded to 0.). This is useful for darkening areas where frames overlap.

Difference Uses the absolute value of the difference between the RGB values of the overlay and underlying clips. This is useful when comparing two clips with similar backgrounds. Areas with significant differences will appear clearer while similar ones will cancel themselves out to white.

Blue Screen Creates a mask using the blue screen technology. This is useful on images with a solid color as background. If this Blue Screen type does not produce the desired results, try the Chroma Key type.

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Overlay Clip Uses the selected clip as the source for creating the overlay.

Image Matte Uses a different image as the source for creating the overlay clip.

Video Matte Uses a different video file as the source for creating the overlay clip.


2D Basic Moving Path dialog box

Motion control window Initially shows two points marking the start and end positions for the clip and two rectangles representing the clip and the video frame. Drag the points to create the path.

Preview window Shows the current frame and how the moving path affects the clip.

Keyframe controller Specify the keyframes at which different moving path settings are applied on the clip.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.

Display buttons Click the buttons to adjust your Path window display.

Speed control Click to select the preview play speed.

Click to preview the moving path.

Width/Height Specify how to resize the clip to make it larger or smaller as it travels over time.

X/Y Specify the actual position of the clip within the frame box.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the relationship of height and width of the original clip when resizing.

Reference point box Specify the basis for the moving path. This is particularly useful if you want to move a clip completely off the screen.

Options Click to specify other moving path options.

Add Click to open the Add to Library dialog box to add the current moving settings to one of the Moving Path folders for quick access.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

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2D Advanced Moving Path dialog box

Motion control window Initially shows two points marking the start and end positions for the clip and two rectangles representing the clip and the video frame. Drag the points to create the path.

Preview window Shows the current frame and how the moving path affects the clip.

Keyframe controller Specify the keyframes at which different moving path settings are applied on the clip.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.

Display buttons Click the buttons to adjust your Path window display.

Speed control Click to select the preview play speed.

Click to preview the moving path.

Width/Height Specify how to resize the clip to make it larger or smaller as it travels over time.

X/Y Specify the actual position of the clip within the frame box.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the relationship of height and width of the original clip when resizing.

Distortion window Click and drag one of the green control points to change the dimensions or distort the image.

Wheel button Click and drag the red dot around to set the amount of rotation for the clip in the frame.

Rotate Type a value for the amount of rotation for the clip in the frame.

Reference point box Specify the basis for the moving path. This is particularly useful if you want to move a clip completely off the screen.

Options Click to specify other moving path options.

Add Click to open the Add to Library dialog box to add the current moving settings to one of the Moving Path folders for quick access.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

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3D Moving Path dialog box

Motion control window Initially shows two points marking the start and end positions for the clip and two rectangles representing the clip and the video frame. Drag the points to create the path.

Preview window Shows the current frame and how the moving path affects the clip.

Keyframe controller Specify the keyframes at which different moving path settings are applied on the clip.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.

Display buttons Click the buttons to adjust your Path window display.

Speed control Click to select the preview play speed.

Click to preview the moving path.

Width/Height Specify how to resize the clip to make it larger or smaller as it travels over time.

X/Y Specify the actual position of the clip within the frame box.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the relationship of height and width of the original clip when resizing.

Wheel button Click and drag the red dot to set the amount of rotation for the clip in the frame along the selected axis. A text box above the wheel shows the rotation numerically.

X Y Z options Select the axis affected by the wheel button.

X Y Z boxes Specify the rotation along each axis without using the wheel button

Order Select the order in which the rotation takes place.

Perspective Type a value that changes the perceived distance of the rotation axis. The higher the value, the closer the axis appears.

Reference point box Specify the basis for the moving path. This is particularly useful if you want to move a clip completely off the screen.

Options Click to specify other moving path options.

Add Click to open the Add to Library dialog box to add the current moving settings to one of the Moving Path folders for quick access.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

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3D Sphere Moving Path dialog box

Motion control window Initially shows two points marking the start and end positions for the clip and two rectangles representing the clip and the video frame. Drag the points to create the path.

Preview window Shows the current frame and how the moving path affects the clip.

Keyframe controller Specify the keyframes at which different moving path settings are applied on the clip.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.

Display buttons Click the buttons to adjust your Path window display.

Speed control Click to select the preview play speed.

Click to preview the moving path.

Width/Height Specify how to resize the clip to make it larger or smaller as it travels over time.

Rotate Specify the rotation of the clip in its plane.

Angle 1 Specify where to position the clip vertically (on the xy plane) on the sphere surface.

Angle 2 Specify where to position the clip horizontally (on the xz plane) on the sphere surface.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the relationship of height and width of the original clip when resizing.

Hide background Select to hide all the background clips that are on top of the current clip.

Adjust Select the category to adjust with the Wheel button.

Sphere: Radius Specify the sphere size. Value cannot exceed the layout window.

Sphere: Rotate Specify the degree of sphere rotation.

Sphere: X Specify the location of the sphere horizontally in the frame.

Sphere: Y Specify the location of the sphere vertically in the frame.

Perspective Type a value that changes the perceived distance of the rotation axis. The higher the value, the closer the axis appears.

Wheel button Click and drag the red dot to set the amount of rotation for the clip in the frame along the selected axis. A text box above the wheel shows the rotation numerically.

Options Click to specify other moving path options.

Add Click to open the Add to Library dialog box to add the current moving settings to one of the Moving Path folders for quick access.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

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3D Cylinder Moving Path dialog box

Motion control window Initially shows two points marking the start and end positions for the clip and two rectangles representing the clip and the video frame. Drag the points to create the path.

Preview window Shows the current frame and how the moving path affects the clip.

Keyframe controller Specify the keyframes at which different moving path settings are applied on the clip.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.

Display buttons Click the buttons to adjust your Path window display.

Speed control Click to select the preview play speed.

Click to preview the moving path.

Width/Height Specify how to resize the clip to make it larger or smaller as it travels over time.

Rotate Specify the rotation of the clip in its plane.

Angle Specify where to position the clip horizontally on the cylinder surface.

Y Specify where to position the clip vertically on the cylinder surface.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the relationship of height and width of the original clip when resizing.

Hide background Select to hide all the background clips that are on top of the current clip.

Adjust Select the category to adjust with the Wheel button.

Cylinder: Radius Specify the width for the cylinder.

Cylinder: Rotate Specify the cylinder rotation about the z axis.

Cylinder: X Specify the location of the cylinder horizontally in the frame.

Perspective Type a value that changes the perceived distance of the rotation axis. The higher the value, the closer the axis appears.

Wheel button Click and drag the red dot to set the amount of rotation for the clip in the frame along the selected axis. A text box above the wheel shows the rotation numerically.

Options Click to specify other moving path options.

Add Click to open the Add to Library dialog box to add the current moving settings to one of the Moving Path folders for quick access.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

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Transition Options dialog box

The Transition Options dialog boxes vary depending on the type of transition. They consist of some or all of the following items.

Transition Select where to start the transition.

Divide X/Y by Type a value to evenly divide the screen horizontally/vertically to produce duplicates of the transition effect.

Color square Specify color for the border. If the transition effect is Peel or Roll type, this color becomes the background. Click the color square to open the Ulead Color Picker or right-click to open a popup menu for changing color.

Border Specify the size for a border at the edges of the transition.

Soft edge Select how strong the transition is between tracks. Large results in a less pronounced transition. This option works well for irregular shapes and angles.

Direction buttons Click the desired movement of the effect. (Only applicable in some transition effects.)

Mask preview Shows a gray mask for the selected image mask. (Only for F/X: Mask transition effect.)

Click to open the Select Image dialog box for choosing a mask image.

Sample window Displays a preview of the selected transition effect.

Keyframe controller Specify the keyframes at which different settings are applied on the clip.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.

Speed control Click to select the preview play speed.

Click to display the actual video clip in the sample box. Selecting this slows down processing, but may offer a better idea of how the transition looks.

Click to preview the transition effect with its current settings.

Transition degree Specify the degree of completion for the transition effect at the current keyframe. If there is no added keyframe, interpolation degree value applies.

X, Y Specify the coordinates for the spot-position to indicate the starting point of the transition. (Only available on transition effects supporting spot-position.)

Reverse Select to change the direction of the transition. This does not alter the way each clip plays or their track assignments.

Add Click to open the Add to Library dialog box to add the current settings to one of the Transition effect folders for quick access.

  Adding a transition effect

  Performing video effects

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Whirlpool-3D dialog box

Divides a clip frame into units slowly showing another clip from a different video track.

Density Specify the amount of division to apply. Higher values divide the image at the starting point of transition into more division units.

Rotate Specify the percentage of rotation for each division unit as transition progresses. Higher values rotate units close to a 360 degree turn depending on the Variation settings.

Variation Specify how much change to apply on the division units as the transition progresses.

Overlay by color key Select if you want the underlying clip to show through portions that are keyed out using the color specified in the color square. You can set the range of similar pixel values to include as color keys. Higher values include more different shades of the current color key that can be keyed out.

Animation Select the type of movement for the division units.

Explore Select if you want the division units to move outward starting from the spot-position off the screen as the transition progresses.

Raise Select to move the division units as if they are being blown away from a flat surface and then disappearing from the screen as the transition progresses.

Twist Select to move the division units in a swirl like manner and making them disappear once they reach the spot-position as the transition progresses.

Mapping type Select Mirror if you want to display the same image in the background of each division unit as it rotates on the frames. Select Custom if you want to use a solid color as a background. This feature is only visible if you have specified a value in the Rotate spin box.

Shape Select the shape to use when dividing an image frame into units at the starting point of the transtion.


Depending on the video card installed in your system, you can have the following additional features available in some transition effects:

Direct Draw support Push: Side and Strips; Slide: Barn Door, Diagonal, Cross, Strips, & Side; Wipe: Barn Door, Wipe: Box, Circle, Diagonal, Cross, Diamond, Strips, Side, & Star; Clock: Quarter & Sweep.

Direct 3D support 3D: Flying Fold, Flip, Flying Board, Flying Cube, & Folding Box are added as 3D plug-ins.


Some combinations of directions and divisions may produce no apparent results. This is because the effect produce identical results in each division.


If the selected transition effect supports spot-position, then you can drag the control point to set where to start the transition effect. For every keyframe, you can set the Transition degree. For timecodes with no set keyframes, the Transition degree is interpolated.


Transition effects that support spot-position:

Wipe: Box	Wipe: Circle

Wipe: Diamond


Speed dialog box

Speed Specify how much to increase or decrease the selected clip’s speed.

Original clip duration Shows the length of the clip in the project before adjustment.

New clip duration Shows the length of the clip in the project after adjustment.

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Duration dialog box

Depending on whether the selected clip type, one of two Duration dialog boxes may appear.

For audio and video clips:

Mark in Specify the timecode where you want the clip to start in the project.

Mark out Specify the timecode where you want the clip to end in the project.

For image, title, color clip, and transition effect:

Duration Specify the new length for the clip.

  Changing clip length

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Annotate dialog box

Annotate Type a name to the clip for easy recognition on the timeline.

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Post Timecode dialog box

Reel name Type a name to the AVI that matches the original source reel.

Timecode Specify the time from the reel that corresponds to the mark-in time for that clip in the project.

  Posting a timecode

  Creating an EDL

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Freeze Frame dialog box

Preview window Displays a preview of the clip’s original file. Click and drag the slider to choose which frame to freeze.

Freeze before frame Select to freeze frames before the selected frame that is specified in the Timecode edit control.

Timecode edit control Specify the timecode of the frame to freeze for the Freeze before option.

Click to update the Timecode edit control to the current preview frame position.

Freeze after frame Select to freeze frames after the selected frame that is specified in the Timecode edit control. When selected, you can set a duration that exceeds the clip's original one.

Click to update the Timecode edit control to the current preview frame position.

Timecode edit control Specify the timecode of the frame to freeze for the Freeze after option.

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Field Options dialog box

Frame type Select the frame type of your source clip when it was captured or created.

Flicker reduction Select to minimize jitter playback of frames if you intend to create a field-based video out of the original frame-based type.

Deinterlace Select if you have a field-based source clip with lots of fast movements and applied effects, transitions and moving paths in it for a more synthesized and smoother motion when played back.

  Selecting the correct field mode

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Video Editor discards half of the field-based video data if a field-based video clip is incorrectly identified as frame-based. This could cause unsatisfatory results when you save your final video.


When adjusting color values, keep in mind the following:

Changing hue rotates the green lines on the vectorscope counter or counterclockwise depending on the degree of change.

Changing saturation affects the depth of the lines, with low saturation appearing closer to the center and a high saturation closer to the edges.

Changing brightness and contrast affects the waveform in different ways depending on your choice of options in the Display dialog box.


White squares Represent the six standard colors used as reference points when adjusting your color signals.

Green lines Indicates the video source’s color signals.


Composite Shows both the Chroma and Luma values at the same time.

Chroma Shows the source’s color values, indicated by green.

Luma Shows the source’s brightness values, indicated by white.

Parade Shows the combination of the three values; luminance, red value (minus) luminance, and blue value (minus) luminance.


Quick Command Options dialog box

Allows you to set the maximum size for the Quick Command panel.

Number of custom area commands Set the maximum number of commands you can assign to the Custom (upper) area of the Quick Command panel.

Number of cache area commands Set the maximum number of commands that can appear in the Cache (lower) area of the Quick Command panel. When the maximum number is reached, the oldest command will scroll out of the cache area as a new one is added.

Save when program closes Select to retain the settings when you end a Video Editor session.

  Quick Command Panel

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


To add commands to the custom area, from the Quick Command menu, click Modify.


Modify Custom Commands dialog box

Allows you to assign commands to the Custom area of the Quick Command panel.

Menu Select the menu that contains a command you wish to add.

Commands list Select the commands you wish to add. Drag or user the Ctrl or Shift keys to select several commands at one time.

Add Click to place all selected commands in the Commands list into the Added list.

Remove Click to remove all selected commands in the Added list from the list.

Remove All Click to empty the Added list.

Alias Assign your own name to the command to use when displayed in the Quick Command panel.

Added list Shows all commands currently installed in the Quick Command panel. To change the order of commands, click and drag a command from the Added list to the position you want.

  Quick Command Panel

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Audio Fine Tune Window

Displays timecodes of the mark in frame and the one preceding it. The red vertical line indicates the mark in position. Drag it to the left or right to adjust to the precise spot and obtain the correct timing in starting your audio playback. Position indicates the timecode of the current location of the mark in point.


Welcome to Video Editor Help
Welcome

Welcome to Video Editor help. In addition to this introduction, this document contains these sections to help you learn.

  Using Video Editor Offers instruction on completing single tasks.

  Reference Describes menu commands, the workspace, and dialog boxes. It also has an advice section.

  Contacting Ulead How to contact Ulead Systems when you need advice or have comments.


What is Video Editor?

Video Editor is a powerful and comprehensive timeline-based program which makes editing videos as easy as drag-and-drop. It allows you to work on your entire video at one time by offering a birds-eye view of all your media clips. This is where you begin to bring together all the different components of a video project, the sound, animation, titles and of course video, to create a production which can be saved as a file, distributed on a CD-ROM or sent back out to video tape. With its powerful tools, you can apply special effect filters as well as send your clips into the third dimension with a number of powerful moving paths. Video Editor is your virtual production studio offering the best quality and results, with a minimum of effort and sweat.


Reading this Help

This help contains several aids to make navigating through topics easier.
  Jumps to the shown topic.
  Pops up extra information to enhance understanding.
  Jumps to a topic describing the listed dialog box.
  Pops up tips or advice to help you work more efficiently.

You can also access the other helps included in your package by clicking Other Modules on any main page button bar.


Video Editor Basics

  Creating a new project
  Using project templates
  Opening a project
  Arranging the workspace
  Inserting clips onto the timeline
  Selecting clips
  Using the clipboard
  Performing searches
  Recovering from mistakes
  Converting file formats
  Creating your files
  Working efficiently
  Managing your project
  Creating an EDL
  Saving a project


Working With Clips

  Inserting a video clip
  Inserting an audio clip
  Inserting an image clip
  Creating a title clip
  Creating a color clip
  Inserting silence
  Changing clip length
  Merging projects
  Posting a timecode
  Working with audio
  Working with cues
  Performing searches
  Using the Scratch Pad
  Using the Trim Window


Special Effects

  Adding a transition effect
  Adding a video overlay effect
  Applying audio or video filters
  Creating a moving path
  Using the Keyframe Controller


File Management

  Converting file formats
  Creating video files
  Creating audio files
  Creating proxy files
  Creating an EDL
  Saving a project
  Using the Production Library


Project Management

  Managing your project
  Obtaining information
  Changing project properties
  Previewing your work
  Playing a media file full screen
  Closing project files
  Using the Production Library


Tips & Techniques

  Working with video projects
  Selecting the correct field mode
  Editing clips
  Performing video effects


Work Area

Timeline and ruler
Place video, audio, and other clips to compose your project on the timeline. It consists of two primary video and audio tracks, up to 3 video and audio overlay tracks, and a transition effects track. The ruler, above the timeline, shows the current time-scale for determining clip and project length. It also contains areas for conducting on-the-fly previews, setting preview areas, and placing project cues. Click the image to learn more about each item.


Standard Toolbar

The Standard Toolbar contains frequently needed commands and tools to make working with Video Editor faster and easier. You may dock it below the menu bar or the bottom of the workspace, or drag it anywhere on your desktop as a floating toolbar. Click above to find out more about each button.


Attribute Toolbar

The Attribute Toolbar contains frequently needed commands and tools to make working with your clips faster and easier. You may dock it along the edges of the workspace, or drag it anywhere on your desktop as a floating toolbar. Click above to find out more about each button.


Tool Panel

The Tool Panel contains icons for determining how to make selections and edit a project. You can float or dock the Tool Panel on any side of the workspace. Click the image to learn more about the the different icons.


Video Scratch Pad

The Video Scratch Pad allows you to view, create and edit cues, and set the mark in and mark out times for video clips. Double-click a clip on the timeline to open the corresponding Scratch Pad. For more information, click the appropriate area.


Audio Scratch Pad

The Audio Scratch Pad allows you to work with Video Editor audio cues and set audio mark in and mark out times. Double-click an audio clip on the timeline to open the corresponding Scratch Pad. For more information, click the appropriate area.


Image Scratch Pad

The Image Scratch Pad allows you to view and change the length of an image clip. Double-click an image clip on the timeline to open the corresponding Scratch Pad. For more information, click the appropriate area.


Navigator

The Navigator allows you to quickly preview your work as well as add cues to the project whenever you see something you would like to mark for future reference. Using this is like performing an instant preview where in all rendering is done in real time and no preview files are created. Click above to find out more.


Production Library

The Production Library works as a resource center that allows you to store regularly used clips. This also provides a convenient access point to the transition effects, audio and video filters, and moving paths. Fully customizable, you can group your clips into easily identifiable folders and even create story boards of existing video files before inserting them onto the timeline. For more information, click the image above.

  Using the Production Library


Quick Command Panel

The Quick Command Panel makes frequently needed commands easily accessible without requiring you to remember which menu bar they belong. You can customize the commands that appear in this panel, as well as move and resize the panel so that it is always close at hand. To display it, right-click on any toolbar and click Quick Command Panel or click View: Toolbars & Panels. It has two sections. The Custom section contains commands you want to always have available. To add and remove commands from this section, from the Quick Command Menu, click Modify to define your settings. The other section is the Cache section containing the most recently used commands. Its contents change each time you use another command. To determine how many commands appear in this section, from the Quick Command Menu, click Layout Options.

  Quick Command Options dialog box
  Modify Custom Command dialog box


File Menu - Contents
File Menu

  New	  Create
  Open	  Convert
  Restore	  Play Full Screen
  Close	  Layout
  Save	  Properties
  Save As	  Preview Files Manager
  Save Project Template	  Preferences
  Proxy Manager	  Recent Files
  Package	  Exit
  Media Player


Edit Menu - Contents
Edit Menu

  Undo	  Open in Associated Program
  Redo	  Select
  Clear Undo/Redo History	  Group
  Cut	  Preview Range
  Copy	  Time Selection
  Paste	  Snap
  Clear
  Paste Attributes 	  Trim Options
  Delete Attributes	  Scratch Pad


View Menu - Contents
View Menu

  Preview	  Scroll Lock
  Preview Options	  Clip Properties
  Cue Manager	  Toolbars & Panels
  Display Mode	  Play Clip
  Ruler Unit


Search Menu - Contents
Search Menu

  Go To	  Find Unlinked Clips
  Find Clip	  Find Empty Time Slots
  Find Next	  Locate in Production Library


Insert Menu - Contents
Insert Menu

  Video File	  Color Clip
  Audio File	  Silence Clip
  Image File	  Project File
  Title Clip


Clip Menu - Contents
Clip Menu

  Video Filters	  Freeze Frame
  Audio Filters	  Speed
  Overlay Options	  Reverse
  Moving Path Options	  Annotate
  Transition Options	  Post Timecode
  Title Options	  Replace With
  Color Options	  Split
  Duration	  Unite
  Field Options


Help Menu - Contents
Help Menu

  Video Editor Help	  About Video Editor
  About Ulead Products


Switch Menu - Contents
Switch Menu

The Switch menu opens a menu listing other Ulead programs for easy access. Click a name to invoke the corresponding program.


  Work Area

  Standard Toolbar

  Attribute Toolbar

  Tool Panel

  Scratch Pad
  Video Scratch Pad
  Audio Scratch Pad
  Image Scratch Pad

  Navigator

  Production Library

  Quick Command Panel


  File Menu

  Edit Menu

  View Menu

  Search Menu

  Insert Menu

  Clip Menu

  Help Menu

  Switch Menu


File Menu dialog boxes

  New	  Create: EDL File
  Open	  Convert: Video File
  Save As	  Convert: Frame Rate
  Save Project Template	  Play Full Screen
  Proxy Manager	  Layout: Load
  Package	  Layout: Save
  Create: Video File	  Properties
  Create: Audio File	  Preview Files Manager
  Create: Proxy File	  Preferences


Edit Menu dialog boxes

  Paste Attributes	  Preview Range
  Delete Attributes	  Time Selection


View Menu dialog boxes

  Preview Options	  Display Mode
  Cue Manager	  Toolbars & Panels


Search Menu dialog boxes

  Go To	  Find Unlinked Clips
  Find Clip	  Find Empty Time Slots


Insert Menu dialog boxes

  Video File	  Color Clip
  Audio File	  Silence Clip
  Image File	  Project File
  Title Clip


Clip Menu dialog boxes

  Video Filters	  Field Options
  Audio Filters	  Freeze Frame
  Overlay Options	  Speed
  Moving Path	  Annotate
       2D Basic	  Post Timecode
       2D Advanced	  Replace
       3D	  Video File
       3D Cylinder	  Audio File
       3D Sphere	  Image File
  Transitions Options	  Title Clip
  Title Options	  Color Clip
  Color Options	  Silence Clip
  Duration


Nested dialog boxes

  Add Cue	  Proxy Options - Video
  Add Image File	  Region
  Audio Save Options	  Rename Cue
  Load/Save	  Select Preview Image
  Moving Path Options	  Video Save Options
  Play Full Screen Options	       Cropping
  Proxy Options - Image	       Video Editor


  File Menu dialog boxes

  Edit Menu dialog boxes

  View Menu dialog boxes

  Search Menu dialog boxes

  Insert Menu dialog boxes

  Clip Menu dialog boxes

  Nested dialog boxes


Shortcuts

Video Editor has many shortcuts that allow you to access commands and open dialog boxes without having to go through the menus.

To print this topic, click

File Menu
Ctrl + N  --  Starts a new video project
Ctrl + O  --  Displays the Open dialog box
Ctrl + W  --  Closes the current project file without exiting Video Editor
Ctrl + S  --  Saves an existing document
Alt + Enter  --  Displays the Properties dialog box
F6  --  Displays the Preferences dialog box
Ctrl + Q  --  Exits Video Editor

Edit Menu
Ctrl + Z  --  Undoes the last command
Ctrl + Y  --  Reapplies the last undone command
Ctrl + X  --  Cuts the selection area onto the clipboard
Ctrl + C  --  Copies the selection area onto the clipboard
Ctrl + V  --  Pastes the clipboard contents
Del  --  Deletes the selected area
Ctrl + L  --  Selects the whole video clip
Ctrl + B  --  Deselects any selection area

View Menu
Enter  --  Plays the preview of the project or a preview range, if any.

Search Menu
Ctrl + G  --  Displays the Go To dialog box
Ctrl + F  --  Displays the Find Clip dialog box
F2  --  Repeats the last search

Clip Menu
Ctrl + D  --  Displays the Video Filters dialog box
Ctrl + A  --  Displays the Audio Filters dialog box
Ctrl + R  --  Displays the Overlay Options dialog box
Ctrl + M  --  Displays the Moving Path Options dialog box
F7  --  Invokes the selected clip’s associated program

Help Menu
F1  --  Starts the on-line help

Using the Shift key
Shift while inserting a clip in the
middle of another clip  --  Splits existing clip to make room
Shift while selecting clips  --  Allows you to select multiple clips in the same track
Shift + Enter  --  Plays the current project
Shift + F1  --  Invokes context sensitive help

Using the Ctrl key
Ctrl + Home  --  Displays the frame of the previous cue
Ctrl + Left Arrow  --  Displays the previous frame
Ctrl + Right Arrow  --  Displays the next frame
Ctrl + End  --  Displays the frame of the next cue

Double-clicking
Empty video track  --  Displays the Insert Video or Image File dialog box
Empty audio track  --  Displays the Insert Audio File dialog box
Empty F/X track  --  Switches the Production Library to the Transition effects gallery, when displayed
Title clip  --  Displays the Title Options dialog box
Project Cues  --  Displays the Rename Cue dialog box
Video, audio or image clip  --  Invokes the corresponding Scratch Pad
Video Editor Title bar  --  Maximizes or restores the active window
Other Title bars  --  Closes or hides the window
Info section in the Status bar  --  Displays the Preferences: Video Editor dialog box

Audio and Video Scratch Pads
Left & Right arrows  --  Goes back or forward in the clip by one frame
Shift + Home  --  Goes to the first frame in the clip
Shift + End  --  Goes to the last frame in the clip
Shift + Right (or Left) arrows  --  Create Mark In (or Mark Out)
Shift + R  --  Toggle Repeat button
Home  --  Go to first Frame or Mark In Time, whichever comes first
End  --  Go to last frame or Mark Out time, whichever comes first.
Shift - drag  --  Create new selection (Audio only)

Miscellaneous
up & down arrows  --  Adjusts the volume
Ctrl while dragging  --  Copies the selection to another place in the timeline
Esc  --  Closes dialog boxes without making changes
F3  --  Marks the beginning frame for a preview area
F4  --  Marks the last frame for a preview.
F5  --  Adds or deletes a cue


Video Editor has many shortcuts that allow you to access commands and open dialog boxes without having to go through the menus.

File Menu

Ctrl + N  --  Starts a new video project

Ctrl + O  --  Displays the Open dialog box

Ctrl + W  --  Closes the current project file without exiting Video Editor

Ctrl + S  --  Saves an existing document

Alt + Enter  --  Displays the Properties dialog box

F6  --  Displays the Preferences dialog box

Ctrl + Q  --  Exits Video Editor

Edit Menu

Ctrl + Z  --  Undoes the last command

Ctrl + Y  --  Reapplies the last undone command

Ctrl + X  --  Cuts the selection area onto the clipboard

Ctrl + C  --  Copies the selection area onto the clipboard

Ctrl + V  --  Pastes the clipboard contents

Del  --  Deletes the selected area

Ctrl + L  --  Selects the whole video clip

Ctrl + B  --  Deselects any selection area

View Menu

Enter  --  Plays the preview of the project or a preview range, if any.

Search Menu

Ctrl + G  --  Displays the Go To dialog box

Ctrl + F  --  Displays the Find Clip dialog box

F2  --  Repeats the last search

Clip Menu

Ctrl + D  --  Displays the Video Filters dialog box

Ctrl + A  --  Displays the Audio Filters dialog box

Ctrl + R  --  Displays the Overlay Options dialog box

Ctrl + M  --  Displays the Moving Path Options dialog box

F7  --  Invokes the selected clip’s associated program

Help Menu

F1  --  Starts the on-line help

Using the Shift key

Shift while inserting a clip in the
middle of another clip  --  Splits existing clip to make room

Shift while selecting clips  --  Allows you to select multiple clips in the same track

Shift + Enter  --  Plays the current project

Shift + F1  --  Invokes context sensitive help

Using the Ctrl key

Ctrl + Home  --  Displays the frame of the previous cue

Ctrl + Left Arrow  --  Displays the previous frame

Ctrl + Right Arrow  --  Displays the next frame

Ctrl + End  --  Displays the frame of the next cue

Double-clicking

Empty video track  --  Displays the Insert Video or Image File dialog box

Empty audio track  --  Displays the Insert Audio File dialog box

Empty F/X track  --  Switches the Production Library to the Transition effects gallery, when displayed

Title clip  --  Displays the Title Options dialog box

Project Cues  --  Displays the Rename Cue dialog box

Video, audio or image clip  --  Invokes the corresponding Scratch Pad

Video Editor Title bar  --  Maximizes or restores the active window

Other Title bars  --  Closes or hides the window

Info section in the Status bar  --  Displays the Preferences: Video Editor dialog box

Audio and Video Scratch Pads

Left & Right arrows  --  Goes back or forward in the clip by one frame

Shift + Home  --  Goes to the first frame in the clip

Shift + End  --  Goes to the last frame in the clip

Shift + Right (or Left) arrows  --  Create Mark In (or Mark Out)

Shift + R  --  Toggle Repeat button

Home  --  Go to first Frame or Mark In Time, whichever comes first

End  --  Go to last frame or Mark Out time, whichever comes first.

Shift - drag  --  Create new selection (Audio only)

Miscellaneous

up & down arrows  --  Adjusts the volume

Ctrl while dragging  --  Copies the selection to another place in the timeline

Esc  --  Closes dialog boxes without making changes

F3  --  Marks the beginning frame for a preview area

F4  --  Marks the last frame for a preview.

F5  --  Adds or deletes a cue


Select Preview Image dialog box

Clip Name and Path Lists the clips used in the current video project and also their location.

Preview Drag the slider to view the selected clip when choosing a frame for the preview image.

Load Click to open a dialog box for selecting an image file to use as the preview image instead of a frame from a clip. (May not be present depending on which dialog box this was called from.)

  Creating your files

  Saving a project

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Proxy Options dialog box -- Video
Proxy Options dialog box

  Video	  Image

Frame rate Specify the number of frames the proxy file plays back in one second.

Max width/Max height Specify the proxy file’s dimension limits when resizing the original source file.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the relationship between the width and height based on standard video frame sizes when defining your dimension limits.

Compression Click the drop-down arrow to list the available compression schemes. A no compression option is also available.

Data type Click the drop-down arrow to select whether to use an 8, 16, or 24-bit RGB data type for the proxy file.

  Working efficiently

  Creating proxy files

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Proxy Options dialog box -- Image
Proxy Options dialog box

  Video	  Image

Max width/Max height Specify the proxy file’s dimension limits when resizing the original source file.

Keep aspect ratio Select to maintain the relationship between the width and height based on standard video frame sizes when defining your dimension limits.

  Working efficiently

  Creating proxy files

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Audio Save Options dialog box
Options dialog box

Video Editor tab

Select whether to save all the frames of the entire file or only the selected portion from it. If you have not selected a preview range, the Preview range option is not available. Also, select Play after creation to play the video immediately after the process of saving.

For help on other Save Options, click the Help button in their respective dialog boxes.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Options dialog box

Video Editor tab

Put into project Select to be able to insert the video file into the timeline right after the process of conversion.

Reverse video sequence Select if you want to change the original order of frames by making the end frame the first one and then regressing frame by frame until it reaches the orginal first frame. (Only available if selected file does not contain an audio file.)

For help on other Save Options, click the Help button in their respective dialog boxes.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Video Save Options dialog box
Options dialog box

Video Editor tab

Entire project Select to save all the frames of the entire file.

Preview area Select to save a video file consisting only of clips in the preview area. (Only available if a preview area exists.)

Frame type Select Frame-based if you intend to output your video file only to your computer monitor. If you intend to output the video file to a conventional television screen, check your capture board’s field order reading capability and select the appropriate one.

Play after creating Select to watch the video immediately after Video Editor finishes saving.

Perform smart rendering Select to use pre-created file that Video Editor recognizes if contents are still avaiable for faster rendering process. (By default, checkbox is selected.)

Keyframe control Shows how to place keyframes for compression schemes that supports interframe compression for smoother playbacks and smaller file size.

Add keyframe at cue position Select to place keyframes wherever a cue appears in the timeline.

Add keyframe at clip edges Select to place keyframes where two clips join or overlap.

Browse Click to search for a previously saved key file.

For help on other Save Options, click the Help button in their respective dialog boxes.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Video Editor detects the differences between the orginal and the project file (you must select the same file name) by monitoring the changes made to the video project and matching those with the existing video file. If Video Editor cannot locate the original file, it prompts you to browse for it. In most cases, select this option because it shortens creation time a lot.


This allows you to arbitrarily place cues at points where large movements or shifts in color exists.


This is useful since the transition between clips often involves movement or significant color shifts.


Video Save Options dialog box
Options dialog box

Cropping  tab

Crop window Drag the borders of the frame to only capture a portion of the video image.

Keep original size Select to resize the image to its original frame dimensions after cropping.

Cropping area spin boxes Specify the amount of the frame to crop numerically.

Frame width/height Displays the original frame dimensions.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Add Image File dialog box

Look in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Type in a file name or select from the list of files displayed.

Files of type Select a particular file format for opening.

File properties Displays the file attributes of the currently selected file.

Preview Displays a thumbnail representation of the currently selected file.

Browse Click to find files or folders.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Load/Save dialog boxes

Look in/Save in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Type in a file name or select from the list of files displayed.

Files of type/Save as type Select a particular file format for opening or saving files.

Browse Click to find files or folders.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Add Cue dialog box

Cue name Type a name for the cue. (Video Editor uses a default name “&p” which takes the cues position in the timeline as its name.)

Timecode Specify the location in the timeline for the cue.

  Working with cues

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Rename Cue dialog box

Cue name Type a new name for the cue. (Video Editor uses a default name “&p” which takes the cues position in the timeline as its name.)

  Working with cues

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Moving Path Options dialog box

Border Click the color square to change the border color and specify the size for a border around the clip as it moves.

Soft edge Specify how pronounced the edges of the moving clip are against the background. Large is less obvious.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Browse dialog box

Folder Select the folder to start the search from.

Drives Select the drive where the folder you want to search is located.

Disk space available Displays how much space is free on your disk.

Network Click to access shared folders on other connected computers running Windows.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Change Clip Sequence dialog box

Clip file names Displays all the selected files in the order they are going to be inserted and how long the image is going to appear on the timeline. Click and drag any file to change the order of insertion.

Duration Specify how long you want the image clip to appear on the timeline.


Creating a new project

1.	Click File: New to start a new project. If you have selected to show the New dialog box from File: Preferences - General tab, this will open a dialog box listing all your existing project templates. Otherwise, Video Editor clears the workspace for the new project.

2.	In the Existing templates list, double-click a name that has similar settings with the one you want to create to open it in the workspace. You can rename the template for this project by clicking File: Save Project Template to make it more applicable to your work and easier identification.

To change the settings of an open project without changing the defaults, click File: Properties.

  New dialog box

  Preferences dialog box

  Save Project Template dialog box

  Properties dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


If you want to define new settings for your project, click the Wizard button to guide you through the process.

If you choose New when a modified project is open, Video Editor prompts you to save changes first.


Opening a project

1.	Click File: Open to open previously saved project files.

2.	Switch to the folder containing the project file you want to open by clicking the Look in drop-down arrow to display other drives and folders or click Browse to scan for files.

3.	Select the project file from the File names list box.

4.	Click Open. The dialog box closes and opens the selected project.

  Open dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


For quick access to recently visited files, click File and select a filename from the Recent Files List displayed before the Exit command.


Arranging the workspace -- Screen components
Arranging the workspace

  Screen components	  Zoom in/out
  Clips on timeline	  Scrolling

By setting how Video Editor displays its toolbars, panels, windows and other workspace items, you can find the best way to work efficiently. Here are some of the things you can do:

Hiding/showing toolbars and panels Right click on any toolbar or panel to open a popup menu for showing or hiding that and other toolbars or panels. You can also hide a panel by double-clicking its title bar.

Docked or floating Most items in the Video Editor workspace can be docked below the Menu bar or between the project window and the Status bar. You can also drag any toolbar from the side to be floating. (The Tool Panel can also be docked along the sides of the workspace.)

Window layout templates If you prefer certain positions for your windows on the workspace, you can save it so that you don’t have to move them everytime. Click File: Layout and click Load to open previously saved layout template or Save to save the current window layout settings.

  Toolbars & Panels dialog box

  Load Layout Templates dialog box

  Save dialog box


Arranging the workspace -- Clips on timeline
Arranging the workspace

  Screen components	  Zoom in/out
  Clips on timeline	  Scrolling

Click View: Display Mode to open the dialog box for changing how clips appear on the timeline. Select from displaying clips in filmstrip/ waveform, thumbnail or filename modes as well as specifying their display sizes. You can also select whether to show a cue bar that is useful for marking areas on a clip for future edits.

  Display Mode dialog box


Arranging the workspce -- Zoom in/out
Arranging the workspace

  Screen components	  Zoom in/out
  Clips on timeline	  Scrolling

By changing the ruler unit, you can view more or less of the project at one time.

Drag slider to the left to give you a more clear view of each frame, and is best suited for when you are trying to get the timing down for mixing clips and adding effects.

Drag slider to the right to get a general overview of the project.

Click View: Ruler Unit, then select from the submenu the desired scaling.


Arranging the workspace -- Scrolling
Arranging the workspace

  Screen components	  Zoom in/out
  Clips on timeline	  Scrolling

To scroll the video tracks up or down without scrolling the corresponding audio track or vice versa, click View: Scroll Lock to lock or unlock the two. You can also click [image] located at the upper right side of the workspace. When locked, all video and audio tracks are synchronized with each other.


Inserting clips onto the timeline -- Video/Audio/Image
Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Video/Audio/Image	  Title/Silence/Color
  Ulead project files

When inserting clips into empty spaces on the timeline, a green marker shows the time it will occupy. If the clip length is longer than the vacant space on the timeline, the insertion marker appears in red indicating that the clip will be truncated to fit. To insert the clip in the middle of another, press the Shift key and click the insertion point. Video Editor splices the clips at that point. A circle with a slash means the clip cannot be inserted in the current track.    Here are ways to insert a video, audio, or image clip on the timeline:

Click Insert and then select from inserting a video, audio or image file to open its corresponding dialog box.

Click [image] for video, [image] for audio, or [image] for image file on the Attribute toolbar.

Double-click an empty time portion of an audio track opens a dialog box for choosing a file to insert.

Double-click an empty time portion of video track opens either the Insert Video or Insert Image File dialog box depending on the settings in the Preferences dialog box, Edit tab.

From Windows Explorer, click a video, audio, or image file and then drag and drop it to the timeline.

  Insert Menu

  Editing Clips

  Video File dialog box

  Audio File dialog box

  Image File dialog box

  Preferences dialog box

  Video Editor Basics

  Working With Clips


Video Editor does not physically put video, audio, or image files into the project. Rather, it links them. This results in faster operation and protects original data from accidental changes.


Inserting clips onto the timeline -- Title/Silence/Color
Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Video/Audio/Image	  Title/Silence/Color
  Ulead project files

Title Click Insert: Title Clip to open a dialog box for defining its characteristics and effects to apply.

Silence Click Insert: Silence Clip to use this as a placeholder on the timeline if you are not yet ready with the final audio source file.

Color Click Insert: Color Clip to use this as a placeholder on the timeline if you are not yet ready with your final video source file.

  Title Clip dialog box

  Silence Clip dialog box

  Color Clip dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Inserting clips onto the timeline -- Ulead project files
Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Video/Audio/Image	  Title/Silence/Color
  Ulead project files

Click Insert: Video File and change the Files of type to Ulead Image Sequence (UIS), Ulead CG File (UCG), or Video Paint File (UVP) file format to display projects created using other MediaStudio Pro programs. Double-click the file name from the File name list box to insert that file on the timeline.

  Video File dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Selecting clips -- Clip Selection tool
Selecting clips

  Clip Selection tool	  Deselecting
  Time Selection tool

With the Clip Selection tool [image] active:

Click a clip on the timeline and with the Shift key and drag your mouse over all the clips you want to include.

Click the track’s button on the left side to select all the clips on that track.

Click Edit: Select All to select all the clips on the timeline.

  Video Editor Basics


You can select any number of clips even if their on different tracks as long as you include that clip area while you are dragging the mouse when you make the selection.


Selecting clips -- Time Selection tool
Selecting clips

  Clip Selection tool	  Deselecting
  Time Selection tool

With the Time Selection tool [image] active:

Drag your mouse on the timeline over the area you want to select. Using this method, you can select all the clips on multiple tracks that fall within that timecode.

Click Edit: Time Selection to select an area with high precision. In the dialog box, type the beginning and ending frames to select all the clips, (or portions of clips), in that time frame.

  Time Selection dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Selecting clips -- Deselecting
Selecting clips

  Clip Selection tool	  Deselecting
  Time Selection tool

Here are different ways to deselect clips:

Click outside a selected area.

Click another clip that is not selected.

Change to other tools.

Click Edit: Select None.

  Video Editor Basics


Using the clipboard -- Cut and Copy
Using the clipboard

  Cut and Copy	  Paste Attributes
  Paste

Click Edit: Cut or Copy to place data onto the clipboard. These commands are enabled when you have selected a media clip or time range. Copy places a duplicate of the selection onto the clipboard, whereas cut removes the selection and places it onto the clipboard.

  Video Editor Basics


Using the clipboard -- Paste
Using the clipboard

  Cut and Copy	  Paste Attributes
  Paste

Click Edit: Paste to place data from the clipboard onto a compatible track on the timeline. This command is disabled if the clipboard is empty. Video Editor places the entire contents of the clipboard, including video, audio, and effects onto the timeline.

  Video Editor Basics


You can also copy and paste by pressing the Ctrl key and dragging any clip to another track or dragging and dropping a clip’s file from Windows Explorer.


Using the clipboard -- Paste Attributes
Using the clipboard

  Cut and Copy	  Paste Attributes
  Paste

Click Edit: Paste Attributes to paste filters, effects, and other attributes when the clipboard excluding the actual clip data. The Paste Attributes dialog box opens for selecting the types of data to paste and how to paste them.

  Paste Attributes dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Recovering from mistakes

Undo Click Edit: Undo to recover up to 99 of the last commands you performed since opening the project. If after undoing a command, you would want to reapply it again, click Edit: Redo.

Restore If you have made many changes and are not sure exactly what commands you want to undo, you can return the project to the same condition it was in when you last saved it by clicking File: Restore. This command effectively closes the project without saving and then re-opens it again.

  Preferences dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


The number of steps you can undo can be set by clicking File: Preferences - General.


Converting file formats

1.	Click File: Convert - Video File to display the Select Source Video File dialog box.

2.	Select and preview the file you want to convert.

3.	Click Open. The dialog box closes and displays the Select Destination dialog box.

4.	 Define the properties of the new file.

5.	Type a new filename and select the file type for conversion. Depending on the selected file format, click Options to define advanced saving options.

6.	Click OK. The dialog box closes and returns you to the workspace.

  Select Source Video File dialog box

  Select Destination Video File dialog box

  Video Editor Basics

  File Management


You can convert AVI, MOV, MPG and animation files such as FLI, FLC, and FLX as well as Ulead’s own UCG, UIS, and UVP.


Creating your files -- Video/Audio
Creating your files

  Video/Audio	  Image sequence

1.	Click File: Create - Video/Audio File.

2.	Select the desired format and assign a destination and file name for the file to create.

3.	If you want, enter a subject, description, and assign the project to the Production Library.

4.	Click Options to view and change the properties as well as select whether to save only a portion or the entire project for the file to create.

5.	Click OK to close the Save Options dialog box.

6.	Click Select to choose an image to represent the file whenever selected in any open file dialog boxes. Click OK to close the dialog box.

7.	Click Save to create the file.

  Video File dialog box

  Audio File dialog box

  Select Preview Image dialog box

  Video Editor Basics

  File Management


Depending on the selected file type for saving, the Save Options dialog box varies. Here, you can review and change the compression, frame size and rate, and other settings.


If you only want to save a portion of your project, create a preview range in the Preview bar.


Creating your files -- Image sequence
Creating your files

  Video/Audio	  Image sequence

1.	Click File: Create - Video File.

2.	Select Ulead Image Sequence Files (UIS) from the Save as type drop-down list and assign a destination and file name for the video.

3.	If you want, enter a subject, description, and assign the project to the Production Library.

4.	Click Options to view and change the properties as well as select whether to save only a portion or the entire project for the image sequence file.

5.	Click OK to close the Video Save Options dialog box.

6.	Click Select to choose an image to represent the file whenever selected in any open file dialog boxes. Click OK to close the dialog box.

7.	Click Save to create the file.

  Video File dialog box

  Select Preview Image dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Working efficiently -- Memory management
Working efficiently

  Memory management	  Proxy files
  Setting preview options

Click File: Preferences - Cache. Reserve space in your hard disk and RAM as temporary memory. This allows Video Editor to maintain a cache of files thus making it easier to recall information quickly.

Click File: Preview Files Manager. Select from the list of preview files that can be deleted to free some of your system resources.

  Preferences dialog box

  Preview Files Manager dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Working efficiently -- Using proxy files
Working efficiently

  Memory management	  Proxy files
  Setting preview options

You can assign Video Editor to use proxy files to show preview information and other intermediate results. By using them in place of the larger originals, you can save large amounts of memory and work faster. When you finish your project, and want to save your final video, click File: Create and select from the submenu the file to create. Video Editor automatically replaces the proxy files with the original clips when creating the video file.

1.	Click File: Proxy Manager to open the Proxy Manager dialog box.

2.	Add any desired video or image files to the Files in Proxy Mode list.

3.	Click Options to define proxy file attributes.

4.	Click OK. The dialog box closes and Video Editor creates proxy files for all newly added files.

  Creating proxy files

  Proxy Manager dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Working efficiently -- Setting preview options
Working efficiently

  Memory management	  Proxy files
  Setting preview options

Click View: Preview Options - Video Editor. From the Preview method drop-down list, select Instant preview if you do not need to view the best quality playback of your project. However, once the preview is finished you cannot play it back again. If you need to see how compression and changes affect your video and time is of no concern, select the Best preview option, otherwise stay with the Playback by ActiveMovie player option.

  Video Preview Options dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


Managing your project

Video projects can get very complicated, consisting of several files, and numerous effects. To make keeping track of your work easier, Video Editor offers several ways to avoid confusion. To make file tracking easier, you can use the Browse function and Packaging commands. Cues, cue names, and file descriptions offer ways to remember where clips are in a project and what effects and filters are used.

Production Library Store your clips to save you the time and trouble of searching your system for files. You may create several different folders to group clips of a type together according to your needs.

Package Keep all files used in the project together. Click File: Package to copy or move all files in the current project to a folder you specify.

Cues Name and identify portions of your project and clips. For example, if you want to synchronize an audio, overlay, or special effect with another track, a cue can help line up all the clips properly. Also, they can mark a part of the project you want to come back to. After working with Video Editor for a while, you may discover other valuable uses for them.

File descriptions Assign subjects and descriptions to files when you save them. Take advantage of this feature to include key words and reminders about the file's content and use.

Browse Several dialog boxes contain a Browse button. This enables you to search your system for a file or files matching your search criteria. Once found, you can return to the original dialog box and complete your task.

  Package dialog box

  Video Editor Basics

  Project Management


Creating an EDL

Edit Decision Lists (EDLs) are "road maps" of a video project that describe how clips are used in the project. Post production houses use these as a guide when they record the final project. When you use Video Editor to create videos, a kind of EDL is electronically stored in the computer. But if, for example, you intend to use original video tapes and a mixer to do the final video of your work in Video Editor, you need to create an EDL.

1.	Click File: Create - EDL File to open the Create EDL File dialog box.

2.	Select General EDL files (EDL) and assign a destination and file name for the file to create.

3.	Assign a title and mark-in time for the EDL (optional).

4.	Click OK.

  Posting a timecode

  Create EDL File dialog box

  Video Editor Basics

  File Management


Posting a timecode

High end commercial videos have "stamps" on every frame that identify them with respect to the rest of the video, but video files don't. To cross reference a video file to its original video tape, you need to manually place a timecode.

1.	Using the Clip Selection tool, select the clip you need to cross reference.

2.	Find the frame on the original video tape from which the clip was captured and record the timecode and reel name.

3.	Click Clip: Post Timecode to open the Post Timecode dialog box.

4.	Type the name of the source tape in the Reel name text box and the timecode in the Timecode boxes.

5.	Click OK.

  Creating an EDL

  Post Timecode dialog box


Creating a title clip

1.	Click Insert: Title Clip to open the Insert Title Clip dialog box.

2.	Type the text for the clip in the Title Text box. To start a new line, press Enter. (You can have a maximum of 1023 characters.)

3.	Select Enable rolling if you want the text to move over the background clip.

4.	Specify the format for the text in the Font tab. (Settings here affect all the text in the Title text list box.) To change format for certain text, separate the title clip or use CG Infinity.

5.	Select Anti-aliasing for smooth text.

6.	Click the Rolling tab to specify how the text will move over any background clip.

7.	Click OK and then click the video track where you want to place the clip. (Green means the entire clip will fit without truncation, Red means the clip will be truncated, a circle with a slash means you may not insert the clip at that location.)

  Insert Title Clip dialog box

  Working With Clips


After typing your text, click the save button [image] for later editing or spell checking. You can also load previously saved text file (TXT) by clicking the load button [image].


Creating a color clip

Color clips are useful for providing a flat background upon which to show other clips.

1.	Click Insert: Color Clip to open the Insert Color Clip dialog box.

2.	Click the color square to select the clip color.

3.	Specify the length for the color clip.

4.	Click [image] on the Keyframe Controller to add a keyframe at certain timecodes so you can change the color at those points.

5.	Click OK to close the Insert Color Clip dialog box and click the video track where you want to place the clip. (Green means the entire clip will fit without truncation, Red means the clip will be truncated, a circle with a slash means you may not insert the clip at that location.)

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Insert Color Clip dialog box

  Working With Clips


Inserting silence

Silence clips block out space in your video where there will be no sound. It creates and inserts a block of silence into an audio track in the timeline. This command is also useful for creating audio place holders.

1.	Click Insert: Silence Clip to open the Insert Silence Clip dialog box.

2.	Type a name and length for the clip and click OK.

3.	Click either one of the Aa, Ab, or An track where you want to place the clip. (Green means the entire clip will fit without truncation, Red means the clip will be truncated, a circle with a slash means you may not insert the clip at that location.)

  Insert Silence Clip dialog box

  Working With Clips


Changing clip length

When changing the duration of an image, color title, or silence clip, the only limitation on length is the size and space on the timeline. For video and audio clips, you can make them as short as one frame, but not make them any longer than the total number of frames in the actual file.

Using the mouse Click the Clip Selection tool [image] and select the clip to change. Drag the clip’s border left or right. How other clips on the timeline are affected depends on the Trim options setting.

The Duration command Select the clip to change and click Clip: Duration if you need extreme precision for the clip length. In the Duration dialog box, type the desired length for the clip.

Using the Scratch Pad Select the clip to change and click Edit: Scratch Pad to open it on the Scratch Pad. You can place and review clip cues. For image clips, you can change the duration. When using the Scratch Pad, you can only extend a clip length to fit the available space before the next clip.

  Scratch Pad

  Duration dialog box

  Working With Clips


Merging projects

When merging two projects together and the project to insert is longer than the available space on the timeline, Video Editor truncates it to fit. However, the actual data in a truncated clip is not affected.

1.	Click Insert: Project File to open the Insert Project File dialog box.

2.	Select the project file to add and click OK.

3.	Click anywhere on the timeline where you want the project to begin. (Green means the entire clip will fit without truncation, Red means the clip will be truncated, a circle with a slash means you may not insert the clip at that location.) To insert the project instead of truncating it, press the Shift key as you click on the insertion point.

  Insert Project File dialog box

  Working With Clips


Working with audio -- Adjusting the mix
Working with audio

  Adjusting the mix	  Adding sound effects

When you load a sound clip into the timeline, Video Editor automatically sets the volume for it to 100 percent. That means the video file will reproduce the sound at the same level as the original clip. A straight line runs through the center of the clip to show the volume setting. To change the volume:

1.	Click the volume line at the point where you want to change. Video Editor places a control point on the line.

2.	Drag the line to the desired level. (All the way to the top doubles the volume; all the way down means no sound.) Video Editor creates a steady transition for the volume to change.

3.	Repeat this process for any other points in the clip.

  Working With Clips


Once a point is placed, you can drag it horizontally in the clip to change its position. To delete a control point, click and drag it to either the top or bottom clip border.


Working with audio -- Adding sound effects
Working with audio

  Adjusting the mix	  Adding sound effects

Video Editor offers fade, echo, pan, and several other audio effects. To apply a filter, select the audio clip and then click Clip: Audio Filters to open the Audio Filters dialog box. You can also right-click the selected clip to open a pop-up menu for the Audio Filters command and access the same dialog box. Select the filters to apply by clicking the Add button to move the selected filter to the Applied filters list. Once added, you can modify the setting by clicking Options.

  Audio Filters dialog box

  All Audio Filters

  Working With Clips


Working with cues

Cues mark timecodes in your project for future reference. Video Editor shows several types of cues.

Creating project cues Click View: Cue Manager then click the Add button to open the Add Cue dialog box. You can also click the cue portion of the ruler to add one. After creating a cue, a triangle appears on the ruler marking its location.

Deleting project cues Click and drag a cue off the left side of the timeline to remove it. If unsure which cue to delete, click View: Cue Manager to open the Cue Manager dialog box listing all cues in the project. Select the cue to remove and click the Delete button.

Modifying project cues Click and drag a cue to a new location on the timeline to move it. If you want to rename a cue, double-click it. To change its placement, click View: Cue Manager and select it from the list box. Click Add again to change its attributes.

Creating clip cues using the Scratch Pad Double-click a clip to open the file on the Scratch Pad. Click on the gray area below the control buttons to add cues or click [image] to add a cue at insertion point.

  Using the Scratch Pad

  Cue Manager dialog box

  Working With Clips


Performing search -- Specific time or cue
Performing searches

  Specific time or cue	  Unlinked clips
  Clip by name	  Empty time slots
  Repeating a search	  Finding files

1.	Click Search: Go To to display the Go To dialog box. When searching for a cue, click View: Cue Manager instead.

2.	Select a cue from the list box or type the SMPTE timecode (for Go To dialog box) you want to go to in the Position boxes.

3.	Click Go To and a yellow arrow points out the specified position.

4.	Click Close to close the dialog box and the Vertical Preview Line snaps to the specified position.

  Go To dialog box

  Cue Manager dialog box

  Working With Clips


Performing searches -- Clip by name
Performing searches

  Specific time or cue	  Unlinked clips
  Clip by name	  Empty time slots
  Repeating a search	  Finding files

1.	Click Search: Find Clip to display the Find Clip dialog box.

2.	Select the clip you are looking for from the Clip list box.

3.	Click OK to close the dialog box and a yellow arrow points out the specified position.

  Find Clip dialog box

  Working With Clips


Performing searches -- Repeating a search
Performing searches

  Specific time or cue	  Unlinked clips
  Clip by name	  Empty time slots
  Repeating a search	  Finding files

Click Search: Find Next or press F2 to find other clips in your project matching the last search criteria. Video Editor searches the project for another clip with the same name as the last search. If no previous search exists, Video Editor treats this command the same as the Find Clip command.

  Working With Clips


Performing searches -- Unlinked clips
Performing searches

  Specific time or cue	  Unlinked clips
  Clip by name	  Empty time slots
  Repeating a search	  Finding files

1.	Click Search: Find Unlinked Clips to check your project for clips whose links to their original source files are missing or broken. The Find Unlinked Files dialog box opens listing all clips with missing links.

2.	 Select a clip from the list and choose from deleting, relinking or going to it on the timeline.

3.	After deleting or relinking, click Close to close the dialog box.

  Find Unlinked Clips dialog box

  Working With Clips


Performing searches -- Empty time slots
Performing searches

  Specific time or cue	  Unlinked clips
  Clip by name	  Empty time slots
  Repeating a search	  Finding files

An empty time slot is an area where no clips exist anywhere in the timeline. If you play back a video clip with empty time slots, there will be a space between transitions in the clip. To delete these time slots or replace them with other clips:

1.	Click Search: Find Empty Slots to display the Find Empty Time Slots dialog box.

2.	Select from the Type drop-down list which track(s) to look for empty time slots. The dialog box lists the starting point and how long the empty slots are on the timeline.

3.	Select an empty slot from the list and click Go To button to get the yellow arrow point where it is. You can either delete or add a cue at that point for reference.

4.	Click Close to close the dialog box.

  Find Empty Slots dialog box

  Working With Clips


Performing searches -- Finding files
Performing searches

  Specific time or cue	  Unlinked clips
  Clip by name	  Empty time slot
  Repeating a search	  Finding files

If you do not remember where a file is on your hard disk or CD, the Browse button in several dialog boxes helps to find it.

1.	Click Browse to display the Browse dialog box.

2.	Select the drive and folder you want to search.

3.	Enter the path and filename or extension (*.ext) of the file(s) you want to find.

4.	Click Scan. All files matching your search appear in the Found list.

5.	Select the desired file by clicking on it.

6.	Click OK. The Browse dialog box closes and the selected file and path name appears in the filename text box of the previous dialog box

7.	 To access the file, click OK.

  Working With Clips


Using the Scratch Pad

To use the Scratch Pad for viewing, editing, or reviewing any audio, video, or image clips, double-click the clip and it opens the corresponding Scratch Pad.

Audio and Video clips These Scratch Pads contain several buttons to control playback, select the mark in and mark out frames, or edit cues. For more information about the function of each button, click Scratch Pad. Alternatively, you can use the slider to locate the first and last frames when working with video, or when working with audio, press the Shift key and drag the mouse over a selection.

Image clips The duration text box shows the current length. Enter a new value in it to change the length.

  Scratch Pad

  Working With Clips


To extend or reduce the selection area by single frames, hold down the Shift key and press the left or right arrow keys respectively.


Adding a transition effect

Transition effects are placed as clips in the F/X track and used to control how video clips in the Va and Vb tracks merge with each other. If there is no transition effect, clips in Vb play over Va.

1.	Click [image] on the Standard toolbar to open the Production Library. (Double-clicking a transition effect on the timeline opens its corresponding dialog box for changing attributes.)

2.	Click the drop-down arrow to select the Transition effect folder and display its gallery of effects. This displays an animated thumbnail of the effect for easier identification. Click each folder to browse for the desired transtion effect.

3.	Click the effect you want and drag-and-drop it onto the F/X track between two overlapping clips where you want to apply the effect.

4.	The Transition Options dialog box appears displaying a sample of the selected effect. Set the options for the selected effect. For more information on setting keyframes, click Keyframe Controller.

5.	Click OK to apply the transition. Double-click the clip if you want to change the settings.

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Transition Options dialog box

  Special Effects


Every transition effect clip placed on the F/X timeline contains a vertical “switch” which allows you to change the direction of the transition without having to open the Transition Effect dialog box. Click the switch one and it will invert to reflect the change in direction.


Adding a video overlay effect

An overlay effect makes part of one visual clip transparent so the clip below shows through. With Video Editor, you can control how much of each clip will be visible when they overlap. This effect is particularly useful when you want to insert text over a scene or create special effects such as "an invisible man." When performing this effect, always remember that the clip in the highest numbered overlay track is on top.

1.	Select the clip on the video overlay track that you want to perform the effect on.

2.	Click Clip: Overlay Options or click [image] to open the Overlay Options dialog box.

3.	Click the Type drop-down arrow and choose the desired key for basing the transparent color on. For help in deciding which key, see the dialog box help.

4.	Click the Overlay clip on a place that represents the color you want to be transparent.

5.	Set the Similarity (range of colors to be transparent) and Transparency (how strongly original image on the overlay region should appear). For more information on setting keyframes, click Keyframe Controller.

6.	Preview your settings by dragging the scroll bar on the Overlay preview window.

7.	Click OK. The dialog box closes and applies the effect. Right-click the clip and from the pop-up menu, click Overlay Options if you want to change the settings.

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Overlay Options dialog box

  Special Effects


You can only apply overlay effects to clips on the Overlay tracks (V1 to V3).


To view the effect of the overlay simultaneously while setting your options, click [image] to view it in the Overlay preview window.


Applying audio or video filters

Filters are special effects that alter the appearance or sound of a clip. In Video Editor, you can vary the intensity of a filter at the start, end, and intermediate stages of a clip. Each clip may have up to 20 filters applied at one time.

1.	Select the video or audio clip you want to apply the filter to.

2.	Depending on the selected clip, click Clip: Video Filters or Clip: Audio Filters to open the the Video or Audio Filters dialog box.

3.	From the list of available filters, click Add to include the selected filter to the Applied filters list.

4.	Click Options to set the starting and ending conditions for the selected video filter. For more information on setting keyframes, click Keyframe Controller.

5.	Click OK to accept the settings and close the filter's dialog box.

6.	Repeat steps 3 through 5 to add more filters. Each filter is applied in the order they appear in the Applied Filters list.

7.	Click OK to return to the workspace.

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Video Filters dialog box

  Audio Filters dialog box

  All Video Filters

  All Audio Filters

  Special Effects


Other ways to open the filters dialog box:

Right-click the clip and depending on the selected clip, click Video Filters or Audio Filters from the pop-up menu.

Click [image] for video filters or [image] for audio filters on the Attribute toolbar.

If you have the Production Library open, click the drop-down arrow to select the appropriate folder of filters to apply. To display the Production Library, click [image] on the Standard toolbar.


If you do not click on the Options button, Video Editor applies the filter with the current default settings.


To adjust the applied order, select the filter to move and press the Up or Down buttons.


When you apply a video filter, it affects the entire video clip. If you want to affect only a certain portion such as highlighted area or specific scene in the background, click Region to define it. This region applies to all filters added to the clip. (Not available for all filters.)


Creating a moving path

Specifying a path of a clip allows you to move it across the screen. In addition to this, you can also resize and crop the clips on the path. Moving paths can be applied to any clip in a video track and add tremendous flexibility to your project. One simple use is with title clips, especially when creating credits, enabling the text to scroll up during a video clip. Other uses include creating moving pictures from images, (for example, a picture of a boat moving across the screen), and producing multiple-image screens.

1.	Select the clip you want to move.

2.	Click [image] on the Standard toolbar to display the Production Library. Click the drop-down arrow and select Moving Path to display the gallery of moving paths available. The Production Library displays animation sample of each kind of moving path.

3.	Click and drag the desired moving path onto the clip to open its corresponding dialog box.

4.	Set the beginning and ending conditions for the path by dragging the scroll bar to each end and entering settings.

5.	To make a change to the path at an intermediate point drag the slider to the point in the clip where you want to make the change and click [image]. Then enter the desired settings. For more information on setting keyframes, click Keyframe Controller.

6.	Click [image] to preview the moving path. To reverse the sequence, click [image].

7.	Click OK. The dialog box closes and a moving path icon appears on the selected clip.

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  2D Basic Moving Path dialog box

  2D Advanced Moving Path dialog box

  3D Moving Path dialog box

  Sphere Moving Path dialog box

  Cylinder Moving Path dialog box

  Special Effects


Creating proxy files

Creating a substitute video file in a smaller format, lower resolution, and fewer colors, reduces demands on system resources. When ready for the final output, Video Editor uses the originals to create the video. You can create proxy files before or after inserting clips into a project.

Before Click File: Create - Proxy File to open the Create Proxy File dialog box for specifying files, folders, and file saving options.

After Click File: Proxy Manager to open the Proxy Manager dialog box showing all files in the project, whether they already have associated proxy files, and options for letting you change their status.

  Create Proxy File dialog box

  Proxy Manager

  File Management


When you are finished with your project, delete the proxy files associated with it to free up disk space.


Saving a project

Video Editor records the names and locations of each clip in the project and any effects and filters you applied. Any video, audio, and image files assigned to the project are unaffected by the saving process. If you delete, rename or change a linked file, Video Editor prompts you to relink it next time you open the project.

1.	Click File: Save As to display the Save As dialog box.

2.	Assign a destination and file name for the project.

3.	If you want, enter a subject, description, and assign the project to the Production Library.

4.	Click Select to choose a frame of any clip to be used as a sample preview image.

5.	Click OK. The dialog box closes and returns you to CG Infinity.

  Save As dialog box

  Select Preview Image dialog box

  Video Editor Basics

  File Management


If you previously saved the project and want to avoid the Save As dialog box, simply click File: Save [image] to update your file.


Obtaining information

To get a quick glimpse at information about your current project or a clip inside it, you can:

Clip information Displays information about a clip including file, size, format, path, and mark in and out data.

Select the clip of inquiry and right-click it. From the resulting pop-up menu, click Properties.

Select the clip of inquiry and click View: Clip Properties.

Right-click over a clip displays a pop-up window showing the clip’s properties.

Click [image] when the clip is opened on the Scratch Pad.

Click the Info button in any open file dialog boxes.

Project information Displays information about a project including file, size, description, and configuration data. It also lists all clips and other files used in the project

Click File: Properties.

Click the Info button in any open file dialog boxes.

  Properties dialog box

  Project Management


Changing project properties

Click File: Properties to change the current Video project file settings. The Properties dialog box opens where you can specify new project frame rate and size, turn proxy mode on or off, and limit the number of allowable overlay tracks.

  Properties dialog box

  Project Management


Previewing your work - Effects and filters
Previewing your work

  Effects and filters	  Preview area
  On-the-fly	  Navigator

You often have to make several decisions when applying transition effects, filters, or other special effects. By using the preview windows in their dialog boxes, you can get a good idea of how the final video will turn out. Then you can adjust the effects before placing them into the timeline. For moving path effects, you have the option of viewing a "frame" preview or an "image" preview. If your only concern is how the path looks, the frame preview will save time and system resources. If the actual appearance of the video is important, click [image].

  Project Management


Previewing your work -- On-the-fly
Previewing your work

  Effects and filters	  Preview area
  On-the-fly	  Navigator

If you want to see an individual frame, open the Preview window and select the frame you want to see from the work area. That frame appears in the preview window as it would in the final video.

Without any selected clips, click the timeline ruler and when the Vertical Preview Line appears, click and drag it to playback the frames in the Preview window.

  Work Area

  Project Management


The results of filters applied to clips only appear if the Include Filters in Preview option is selected in the Preview Options dialog box. While selecting this option adds to the accuracy of the preview, it also slows down system performance.


Previewing your work -- Preview area
Previewing your work

  Effects and filters	  Preview area
  On-the-fly	  Navigator

Video Editor allows you to see a portion of your video file without performing a full save. For best results, make sure you have optimized the process in the Preview Options dialog box. Depending on your options and the size of the preview area, previewing may take some time, but still less than a regular save.

1.	Move your mouse over the timeline ruler and when your pointer changes to [image], drag it over the preview bar to select a preview area. To define a precise preview area, click Edit: Preview Range. A blue bar indicates the period for preview.

2.	Click View: Preview or press Enter. A video window appears showing the saving process. Once completed, click [image] on the Navigator to playback the preview video clip.

  Preview Range dialog box

  Video Preview Options dialog box

  Project Management


Previewing your work -- Navigator
Previewing your work

  Effects and filters	  Preview area
  On-the-fly	  Navigator

The Navigator offers buttons that allow you to quickly preview your works as well as add cues to the project whenever you see something you want to mark for future reference. All rendering is done in real time and no preview files are created. For more information on each button’s function, click Navigator.

  Project Management


Playing a media file full screen

Allows you to prepare media files for output to video tape. To do this you need a VGA to TV converter (or similar device) and, for best results, a controllable and compatible video recorder or camcorder.

1.	Click File: Play Full Screen to open the Play Full Screen dialog box for choosing the media file to play.

2.	Switch to the folder containing the media file you want to play by clicking the Look in drop-down arrow to display other drives and folders or click Browse to scan for files.

3.	Select the media file from the File names list box.

4.	Click Open. The dialog box closes and opens the selected project.

5.	Click Options to set or check the frame dimensions and playback options. Select the Delay option to play the file automatically or the Keyboard or Mouse option to control the file manually.

6.	Click OK. The dialog box closes and returns to the Play Full Screen dialog box.

7.	Click OK. Your screen blanks and the video file plays, either immediately, or after the specified delay. If you selected the Keyboard or Mouse option in step 5, press a key or click your mouse to play the file.

  Play Full Screen dialog box

  Play Full Screen Options dialog box

  Project Management


If you do not have these accessories, use this command to display a video full screen against a black background.


Closing project files

If you have any unsaved changes, Video Editor prompts you to save the file first before closing it.

Click File: Close.

Double-click the program window's control menu box or the title bar.

Click Close from the program window's control menu.

Click File: Exit. This also ends the Video Editor session.

  Project Management


Working with video projects

When working on large projects, consider separating the project into several more manageable files using the Preview Range option in the Save As dialog box. This can help speed up your work as well as make it easier to focus on the scene at hand.

To line up clips with each other or a specific timecode, turn snap mode on by clicking Edit: Snap.

When you want to show a video, play the file by clicking File: Play Full Screen. This allows you to set a delay as well as removing any background windows and programs from your screen.

Double-click an empty track opens its default Load Clip dialog box.

If you transfer your video project from one machine to another, create the same directory structure for the project on both machines for easier use.

For best results, all video files used as clips in a project should have the same attributes such as frame size, frame rate, and compression scheme. Click File: Convert to change the attributes of one file to match others, if necessary.

Different video files may require different compression settings to produce the best output. When deciding upon the key frame settings, consider the types of images in the video. For rapidly changing scenes, keep the number low to ensure more accurate reproduction. For a slow-moving or consistent scenery, setting a lower number achieves better compression with negligible results on the picture.

  Play Full Screen dialog box

  Select Source File dialog box

  Convert Frame Rate dialog box

  Tips & Techniques


Editing clips

To select a specific period of time, click Edit: Time Selection.

Press Home or End keys to go to the start and end of the selected clip or duration respectively.

Before creating your final video file, make sure to remove all empty time slots by clicking Search: Find Empty Time Slots.

  Time Selection dialog box

  Find Empty Time Slots dialog box

  Tips & Techniques


Performing video effects

To quickly create a video in video effect, place a transition effect clip along the entire length of the two clips to be worked with, and in the Transition Effect Clip dialog box, set the Start and End Transition sliders to the same value, e.g. 50%.

If you want to overlay a clip, try first replacing the area to be overlaid with a solid color using an image editing program. This will make it easier to identify and control the area to overlay.

To create the impression of a camera zooming in on a clip, place the clip in the overlay track and access the Moving Path dialog box. Leave the start and end control points as they are, but make the dimensions of the end control point greater than the start control point. When you perform the animation, the clip will appear to zoom in as it goes from the start to end control points.

To add slow or fast motion to a clip, experiment with creating a moving path and positioning control points at various places along the path. In general, the closer you are to the start control point the slower the motion, to the end control point the faster.

  Transition Options dialog box

  Overlay Options dialog box

  Tips & Techniques


Using project templates

Project templates are useful when you often create projects using the same settings everytime. By creating them and selecting in your Preferences dialog box, the option to open the New dialog box everytime you invoke the New command, you will be able to access previously saved project templates to save time in defining the project’s attributes.

1.	Click File: New to open the New dialog box. Video Editor prompts you to save any open projects on the workspace before opening or creating another one.

2.	Click Wizard if you want to create and define settings for a new project template.   or click a project template from the list box and click OK to open it on the workspace.

3.	If you want to rename your selected template after opening it on the workspace to a more applicable one, click File: Save Project Template. This opens the Save Project Template dialog box for assigning a Template name and giving it some description of its purpose. Click OK to close the dialog box.

  Save Project Template dialog box

  Preferences dialog box

  Video Editor Basics


This Wizard will guide you through the process and provide additional information on how to set your options.


Using the Keyframe Controller

Keyframes are control points that allow you to specify the behavior of an effect at each and every frame in the clip rather than just the first and last frames. The Keyframe Controller is located below an original clip’s preview window in a dialog box. In an effect dialog box, the gray diamonds [image] at the start and end points on the Control bar indicate that control point exists. A red diamond [image] on the other hand, indicates an active keyframe and you are currently at that point. To assign keyframes at certain timecodes:

1.	 Click Play [image] or drag the preview slider to locate a timecode in the clip to apply a control point.

2.	Click [image] to place a control point on the Control bar.

3.	At that active keyframe, set the attributes of the effect to apply. (You can click a gray diamond to make it an active keyframe.)

4.	Repeat steps 1 through 3 to add more control points.

5.	To move a keyframe, make it active by clicking it and then [image]. Move to the new location and click [image].

6.	 Click Play [image] to preview the effect.

  Special Effects


In general, the closer you are to the start control point the slower the motion, to the end control point the faster.


Using the Production Library

To organize your project and for quick access to files, effects, or filters, the Production Library offers the following:

To place any clip, effects, or filters onto the timeline, click it from the Production Library and drag-and-drop onto the appropriate track.

To place a clip to the Production Library, select it and drag-and-drop it over the Production Library. The clip is automatically placed in the Media Clip gallery. (To place it into a specific folder, select the folder first.)

To search for thumbnails, click [image] to open the Search dialog box and specifying what to search for.

To display more information about items in the Thumbnail Pane, click [image] for any annotation.

To edit a thumbnail’s property, select it and click [image]. From the pop-up menu, click Edit.

To customize the Production Library’s layout, click [image] and from the pop-up menu, click Preferences.

To sort thumbnails, click [image].

  Production Library

  File Management

  Project Management


You can also add files to the Production Library by selecting the Save to Production Library option in any save dialog boxes.


Selecting the correct field mode

To avoid producing videos with jerky sequences and transitions, it is important to select the correct field mode. Listed are information on how fields affect video and getting best results:

Select the frame type that is the same as to how the clip was captured or created when setting your field mode.

Select field-based when capturing to produce better quality videos if you intend to output your file on a TV screen and not just your computer monitor.

Check if your input file is field-based and set the field options correctly before you start editing. This ensures that when you create your output file in field mode, you can produce smoother transitions and moving paths.

  Field Options dialog box

  Tips & Techniques


Using the Trim Window

To find the exact frame for trimming, the Trim Window can display the preceding and following frames at the position of your pointer on the timeline.

1.	Click View: Toolbars & Panels and in the dialog box, select Trim Window. You can also right-click any toolbar to open a pop-up menu and you can select Trim Window to display it.

2.	Select the clip you want to trim.

3.	Drag either one of the borders of the clip (start or end) inwards to display the preceding and following frames at certain timecodes.

4.	When you have located the frame you want to trim to, release the mouse button.

  Working With Clips


If you have the Stitch trim option selected, only the previous frame is displayed whenever you use the Trim Window.

The Trim Window has no effect if you are using the Time Selection Tool.


Switch Menu

Opens a menu listing other Ulead programs for easy access.


Technical Support

Please prepare the following information before contacting us so we can offer you the best possible support:
  The program name and serial number.
  Nature of the problem.
  Any error messages or dialog boxes that appear when the problem occurs.
  System information including CPU, operating system, and any other programs running when the problem occurs.
If you write or fax us, please add printouts of the following:
  AUTOEXEC.BAT
  CONFIG.SYS
  WIN.INI
  ULEAD32.INI
Note: You can open most of these files at once by running SYSEDIT.EXE, found in your Windows program directory.


How To Contact Us

Click below for more information on contacting us.

     North and South America	          International

Phone
Fax
Mail
BBS
E-Mail

Or visit our web site at www.ulead.com and check out our new releases.


Give us a call at

+886-2-764-8599


Send a fax to

+886-2-764-9599


Write us a letter at

Ulead Systems, Inc.
10F, 111 Tung Hsing Rd.,
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.


Dial up the Ulead BBS at

+886-2-764-7585 19200 bps (N,8,1)

Compuserve

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Give us a call at

+1-310-523-9393


Send a fax to

+1-310-523-9399


Send a letter to us at

Ulead Systems, Inc.
970 West 190th Street, Suite 520
Torrance, CA 90502


Dial up the Ulead BBS at

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E-Mail to Internet account

info@ulead.com


Field-based videos, when viewed on the computer show unwanted horizontal lines. This is due to the interlacing of video for the TV screen. When the proper hardware is used, these horizontal lines disappear when shown on a television monitor.


This is the Glossary Help included in your package for better understanding of terms used in the help topics and also other related words. Click  [image]  to display the terms.

You can also access this help by clicking Glossary on any program’s main page button bar.


Glossary

To find out the definition of a term used in this help, click the appropriate button.

  4:4:4 Sampling	  Bit	  Color Model

  ADPCM	  Bitmap	  Color Table

  Aliasing	  Black and White	  Complimentary Color

  Alpha Channel	  Blue Screen	  Component Video

  Amplitude	  Brightness	  Composite Image

  Analog	  Burn	  Composite Video

  Animation	  Channel	  Compression

  Anti-aliasing	  Chroma	  Contrast

  Aspect Ratio	  Chroma Subsampling	  Control Line

  Averaging	  Clip	  Control Point

  AVI	  Clipboard	  Cropping

  Background Matte	  Cloning	  Curved Segment

  Bandwidth	  CMYK	  Cusp Node

  Bins	  Color Channel


Glossary

To find out the definition of a term used in this help, click the appropriate button.

  Data Type	  Fade	  Gamma

  Dedicated System	  File Format	  Garbage Matte

  Digital	  Filter	  Graphics Files

  Digitizing	  Final Cut	  Grayscale

  Dissolve	  Flash Converter	  Halftoning

  Dithering	  Flatbed	  HiColor

  DNLE	  Flick	  HSB

  Dodge	  Floating Selection	  Hue

  DPI	  Footage	  Image

  Edit Window	  Frame	  Import

  EDL	  Frame Rate	  Indexed Color

  Effects Animation	  Frame Size	  Interleave

  Envelope	  Frames Per Second


Glossary

To find out the definition of a term used in this help, click the appropriate button.

  Jaggies	  Marquee	  On-line

  Jog Control	  Mask	  Overlay

  Key Color	  Matte	  PAL

  Key Frame	  MCI	  Parade

  Linear Editing	  MIDI	  Pixel

  Linear Segment	  MPEG	  Playlist

  Link	  Node	  Plug-in

  Lossless Compression	  Noise	  Posterization

  Lossy Compression	  Non-Linear Editing	  PPI

  Luminance	  NTSC	  Prime Colors

  Macro	  Off-line	  Proxy File

  Mark In/Mark Out	  Onionskin	  QuickTime


Glossary

To find out the definition of a term used in this help, click the appropriate button.

  Raster	  SECAM	  Subsampling

  Reel Name	  Sequence	  Symmetric Node

  Render	  Shuttle Control	  Synthespians

  Resolution	  Smooth Node	  Textures

  RGB	  SMPTE	  Thumbnail

  Rotoscoping	  Sound Sweetening	  Timecode

  Rough Cut	  Source	  Transition Effect

  Sample Rate	  Storyboards	  Traveling Matte

  Sample Size	  Stretching Frames	  True Color

  Saturation


Glossary

To find out the definition of a term used in this help, click the appropriate button.

  Vector Graphics	  VLAN	  Wild Sound

  VGA	  Volume	  Waveform

  Virtual Environment	  VTR	  Wireframe

  Virtual Sets	  Warping	  Wire Removal

  VISCA


4:4:4 Sampling

One of the various ratios of sampling frequencies used to digitize the luminance and color difference components (Y, B-Y, R-Y) or the RGB components of a video signal. In this particular ratio, there are always an equal number of samples of all components. RGB 4:4:4 is commonly used in standard platform computer-based equipment. TV recording and transmission systems are generally based on 4:2:2 or 4:2:0 sampling so the gains are minimal and could even be negated by the double conversion between sampling systems. Another variation is 4:4:4:4 sampling where a key signal sampled at 13.5 MHz is added.

(See also: Subsampling)


ADPCM

Adaptive Delta Pulse Code Modulation is a compression method used to compress audio files.


Aliasing

Jagged edges or “stepped” changes along the edges of curved or angled shapes due to the inability of a printer, screen display, or other output device to adequately reproduce the actual shape. This problem can be corrected through a process called anti-aliasing, where pixels along the edges of the shape are averaged with the background color to blend more smoothly into the image. The image on the upper left shows an example of aliasing.

(See also: Anti-aliasing)


Alpha Channel

A grayscale layer in some image or video files that serves to help isolate portions of the image or video for editing and enhancing. In digital video editing, the alpha channel is primarily used for overlays and mattes.

(See also: 4:4:4:4, Blue Screen, Keying, Overlays, Mattes)


Amplitude

The strength of a sound signal at a particular time. Amplitude ranges from -100% to 100%. An amplitude of 0 represents complete silence while the two extremes represent the strongest signal that can be reproduced without introducing unwanted distortion into the sound. The best recordings are those whose loudest sounds have amplitudes of exactly 100% (or -100%).


Analog

Wave signals carried over the air or recorded onto a magnetic tape that represent information, such as sound or pictures. The various peaks and troughs of this wave as well as the frequency or speed at which it travels account for the type of information it represents. An analog device can interpret or reproduce infinite differences in the signal it receives and is only limited by its ability to duplicate the information accurately. This contrasts with digital information which explicitly defines the characteristics of a signal with a specific and predefined numerical value.


Animation

The simulation of movement produced by rapidly displaying a series of sequential images.


Anti-aliasing

The process of removing jagged edges from a curved or angled shapes in images or text. This is averaging the pixels around the edges of shapes so that their colors are more similar to the background. For example, in this image, the letter on the left is aliased while the one on the right is anti-aliased.


Aspect Ratio

The relationship of width to height for a given image or graphic. Keeping or maintaining the aspect ratio refers to the process of maintaining size relationships when either the width or height of an image or graphic is changed.


Averaging

A filtering process which takes the gray/color value of each pixel and averages it with the values of surrounding pixels. The value of each pixel is then replaced with the averaged value.


AVI

Audio-Video Interleave is a digital video file format designed specifically for the Microsoft Windows environment.


Background Matte

An image or group of images that serves as a backdrop for other images or animations in a video.

(See also: Garbage Matte)


Bandwidth

The maximum amount of data (information) transferred from one location to another in a specified period of time The higher the bandwidth, the greater the amount of information being transferred. Controlling bandwidth is one of the biggest issues associated with creating digital video as the speed of the hardware is not always fast enough to transfer the large amount of data required for reproducing smooth and accurate animation and sound.

(See also: Data Transfer Rate)


Bins

A term used in conventional video and film making for the storage locations of recorded footage.


Bit

The unit of measure for the smallest element of a computer’s memory. In terms of multimedia, bits define the maximum number of divisions possible for storing different levels of information for every pixel or moment in an image, video, or sound file.

1-bit Only two divisions are possible. For images or video, each pixel can be either black or white. For sound, it can either be on or off.

8-bit 256 different levels of color or sound are possible.

16-bit 65,536 different levels of color or sound are possible.

24-bit Over 16-million different levels of color or sound are possible.


Bitmap

An image made up of a pattern of different colored dots or “pixels.” Also referred to as “Raster.”

(See also: Vector)


Black and White

The simplest kind of image data type, consisting of only black or white pixels. Shades of gray can be simulated through a process called dithering.

(See also: Dithering , Data Type)


Blue Screen

A technique by which selected colors (usually shades of blue or green) are removed or filtered from a video or image to allow an image on a layer below the blue-screened image to show through. Blue screen techniques are valuable for removing unwanted details from a completed video or to create virtual sets. Viewing a weather map behind the weather man on the evening news is one common use of a blue screen. Also referred to as Chroma Keying and Overlaying.

(See also: Overlay, Virtual Sets)


Brightness

A description of how much light appears to emanate from an image; also referred to as luminance. The two extremes of brightness are black (no light) and white (all light): black represents 0% brightness, while white represents 100% brightness.

(See also: Color Model, HSB)


Burn

A term from photography that refers to the process of making areas in a photograph that are too light darker.


Channel

One component of an audio, video, or image file that, when combined with others creates the desired image or sound produced by the computer. For example, most image files consist of three color channels, red, green, and blue. By varying the intensities of each of these channels and combining them, other colors can be produced.


Chroma/Chrominance

The color value of a video signal that represents the combined hue and saturation values of the shown colors. For NTSC and PAL signals the chrominance combines with luminance (brightness) to control the colors shown on screen.


Chroma Subsampling

A method of interpreting image data to compression by grouping and averaging color data over a block of pixels.


Clip

Anything placed or intended to be placed into a video timeline as part of a larger project.


Clipboard

A temporary storage area shared by all Windows programs used to hold data during cut, copy, and paste operations. Whenever you place new data onto the clipboard, it immediately replaces the existing data.


Cloning

Replicating part of an image within the same image, or between different images.


CMYK

A popular color model for post-process printing. It uses subtractive colors (Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow) to create all the other colors. A fourth channel, Black is added to create varying shades of gray and black.

(See also: Color Model, RGB, HSB)


Color Channel

Refers to one of the components of a color model. Different color models use different components to represent image colors. The RGB color model uses red, green and blue color component channels. The HSB color model uses hue, saturation and brightness color component channels. (Grayscale images can be thought of as single-channel images.)


Color Model

A method of describing the colors that can be shown in an image. Three of the most popular color models are RGB which combines red, green, and blue to form other colors, CMYK, which combines cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and HSB, which combines hue, saturation, and brightness.

(See also: CMYK, HSB, RGB)


Color Table / Color Palette

For indexed color images, the color table (or palette) lists and arranges all the available colors for that image as a reference. All pixels in the image refer to this list to determine how they appear.


Complimentary Color

The color that, when mixed with its opposite, will combine to create white. For example, the complimentary color to red is cyan.


Component Video

A video signal which separates luminance and chrominance into different parts. Betacam video employs a component video signal.


Composite Image

An image created by combining two or more images into one.


Composite Video

A video signal that combines luminance and chrominance. NTSC and PAL are examples of composite video.


Compression

A method of reducing file size for storage by finding or creating patterns of data that can be easily classified. There are two general categories of compression: “Lossless” and “Lossy.” Lossless compression reduces file size without any data loss. Lossy compression, on the other hand, discards data during compression, and may result in noticeable file degradation.


Contrast

The difference between light and dark values in an image. High contrast results in sharp transitions from light to dark, while lower contrast allows for more subtle transitions.


Control Line

A line connecting two control points when creating or editing a shape for an image’s outline or path for an animated sequence to follow.

(See also: Control Point)


Control Point

A point on the outline of a shape or path that can be dragged to another location to change the shape or orientation of the shape or path.


Cropping

A method trimming away unwanted image data by selecting only that portion you wish to retain and then deleting the remainder, resizing the image’s dimensions accordingly.


Curved Segment

A junction with a rounded edge, or from which the segments extending from it are rounded or curved.

(See also: Linear Segment)


Cusp Node

A node where you can move one control handle at a time to change the curve of a path on one side without affecting other.

(See also: Symmetric Node, Smooth Node)


Data Type

A digital representation used by computers to describe the amount of color information (in bits) contained in an image. The data type of an image controls the amount of information that the image can retain and therefore its displayed appearance.

(See also: Bit)


Dedicated System

Hardware and software built for a specific task and not for general purpose. This becomes very important in high-end editing to improve processing speeds as demands increase heavily.


Digital

A data storage method where audio or image information is converted into a series of numerical values. These values, in turn, can be read by computers and reproduced on a computer monitor or over speakers.

(See also: Analog)


Digitizing

The process of converting analog input to a digital form so that it can be used by the computer.


Dissolve

A type of video transition effect where a clip on one video track (Va) gradually disappears to reveal a video clip on another track (Vb).

(See also: Transition Effect)


Dithering

Method of making images with limited colors available appear to contain more. Most notably for making Black & White images appear to contain near-continuous changes in tone (gray shades). By arranging pixels of different colors close together, dithering can simulate colors not directly supported by an image data type. The various dithering techniques differ in the way they calculate and arrange new pixel values.


DNLE

Digital Non-Linear Editing is a method of combining and editing multiple video clips to produce a finished product. DNLE offers random access to all source materials and all portions on the master tape at all times during the editing process.


Dodge

A term from photography that refers to the process of making areas in a photograph that are too dark lighter.


DPI

Dots Per Inch is a measure of screen, image and printer resolution that is expressed as the number of dots that a device can print or display per linear inch.

(See also: Resolution)


EDL

Edit Decision List is a list of all clips, effects, and transitions in a video project included in a video project. The EDL clearly states the sources for all the clips, which portions of the clips are to be used, where in the final project they are to be used, and any transitions or other effects that will be applied. Many professional mixing consoles accept specially formatted EDLs to automate the final mix for a completed video project.


Edit Window

The window in the workspace where you can perform changes to an open file.


Effects Animation

Effects that have been painted on frames of video to create the illusion of interaction with the live-action elements, such as lasers, lighting, or ionization.


Envelope

A closed path that encloses the selection to which it belongs. Directly adjusting the envelope of a selection results in that selection being distorted accordingly to fit its boundaries.


Fade

A transition effect where the clip gradually disappears or appears. In video, the picture would gradually change to or from a solid color; for audio, the transition would be from full volume to complete silence or vice-versa.

(See also: Dissolve)


File Format

A file structure which defines the way information is stored. File formats can be as simple as an ASCII text or can be quite complicated such as TIFF and EPS.


Filter

An effect applied to an image or video, or sound that changes its appearance by altering the color pixel formation or sound quality.


Final Cut

The point at which the picture portion of the editing is complete. After the final cut, the only remaining task is to record the finished video to an output medium such as video tape or the hard disk.


Flash Converter

A device used to convert analog signals to digital signals. Through the flash converter, it is possible to convert frame(s) of video into data that can then be interpreted by computers.


Flatbed

A machine that is used to play films. With flatbeds modified to include a CCD (charged couple device) video camera, the film is played and then transformed into electrical signals that can be digitized directly to computer disk.


Flick

A fast preview where each frame is displayed sequentially without actually viewing them in the conventional manner.

(See also: Shuttle)


Floating Selection

A selected group of pixels that floats above the image until deselected and dropped onto the desired position on the image.


Footage

A length of recorded film intended for use in a larger project.


Frame

A single image in a video or animation sequence.


Frame Rate

The number of frames captured or displayed in one second of a video or animation sequence.

(See also: Frame)


Frame Size

The size of displayed images in video or animation sequences. If an image intended for the sequence is larger or smaller than the current frame size, it must be resized or cropped.

(See also: Cropping, Frame)


Frames Per Second (FPS)

The number of frames captured or displayed per second in video or animation sequences.


Gamma

The method of determining how the range of possible colors is portrayed on a screen.


Garbage Matte

Animated mattes that block out unwanted objects captured during the original photography.

(See also: Background Matte)


Graphics Files

A file whose data is composed largely of vector graphics. Vector graphics do not have a basic component, like a pixel, but are defined as lines between points, and fills between lines.


Grayscale

An image data type containing a maximum of 256 different shades of gray. This normally means 254 different grays plus black and white.

(See also: Data Type)


Halftoning

A common form of dithering that uses patterns of black and white pixels to produce what appears to be shades of gray.

(See also: Dithering)


HiColor

A 16-bit image data type that can contain up to 65,536 colors. The TGA file format supports images of this type. Other file formats require prior conversion of a HiColor image into True Color. For displays, HiColor normally refers to 15-bit (5-5-5) display adapters that can display up to 32,768 colors.

(See also: Data Type, True Color)


HSB

A color model that specifies colors in a way that is easier for people to visualize than the RGB model. H represents the hue or basic color; S represents the saturation or purity of the color; and B represents the Brightness or amount of light the color appears to emit.

(See also: Brightness, CMYK, Color Model, Hue, Saturation; RGB)


Hue

The quality of a color that sets it apart from other colors with the same base. For example, yellow and orange are different hues.


Image

A digital picture shown as a collection of dots or pixels arranged on a page or screen.

(See also: Bitmap)


Import

The process of bringing data into one program from another. Once imported, the data may be altered to accommodate the new program without affecting the original file.


Indexed Color

A data type that includes a set or index of unique values assigned to each color or shade allowed in an image.

(See also Data Type)


Interleave

A process of arranging audio and video data during compression used to obtain smoother playback and synchronization.


Jaggies

Undesired jagged edges that appear around the edge of bitmapped objects and text; also referred to as “aliasing.”

(See also: Aliasing, Anti-aliasing)


Jog Control

(See Shuttle Control)


Keyframe

A specific frame in a clip that is flagged for special editing or other activities in order to control the flow, playback or other characteristics of the completed animation. For example, when creating a moving path, assigning a keyframe controls the movement of the object(s) along a path. When creating a video, assigning keyframes on parts where there are high data transfer requirements helps control how smoothly the video plays back.


Key Color

A color or range of colors in an image made transparent during an overlay effect to allow another image or clip to show through.

(See also: Blue Screen, Chroma Key, Overlay)


Linear Editing

Traditional editing done on a flatbed where the source film is fed in one side, marked, cut, and spliced, and then fed out the other end. It’s called linear because tape must be edited in the order it’s presented (as opposed to non-linear editing).

(See also: DNLE)


Linear Segment

A junction with a straight edge or from which the segments extending from it are straight.

(See also: Curved Segment)


Link

A method of storing previously saved information in another program without significantly affecting the size of the resulting file. Linking offers another advantage in that the original file can be modified in its original program and the changes will automatically be reflected in the program where it is linked.


Lossless Compression

A method of reducing file size without changing any data when the file is reopened.

(See also: Lossy Compression)


Lossy Compression

A method of reducing file size by selectively discarding nonessential data. The resulting files are smaller than those using lossless compression, but some information is permanently lost even after the file is reopened.

(See also: Lossless Compression)


Luminance

(See Brightness)


Macro

A tool for recording and automating repeated actions that you frequently perform. In Video Paint, macros are essential elements in creating sophisticated animations.


Mark In / Mark Out

The start and end timecodes that identify the portions of clips to be included in a video project.

(See also: Clip)


Marquee

An outline that identifies the edges of a selection area. Also referred to as “Bounding box.”


Mask

A selection area used to isolate a portion of an image while editing. By using a mask, you can protect parts of an image from unwanted changes.

(See also: Matte)


Matte

Opaque images that prevent exposure in a particular area of film and allow the blacked-out space to be filled in with another image or color.


MCI

Media Controller Interface is a software driver designed by Microsoft to allow audio and video files to be played in Windows. MCI devices also allow you to control compatible VCRs and Laser disk players using controls on your computer.


MIDI

Musical Instrument Device Interface is an industry standard file format for both hardware and software which allows musical instruments, synthesizers, and components to be linked together.


MPEG

Moving Picture Experts Group is an organization involved with defining standards for compressing video data for use on the PC. Also refers to the file format that utilizes the compression standards defined by this group.


Node

A point where two line segments meet. In MediaStudio Pro, nodes determine specific points where images and paths can be reshaped, resized, or rotated.


Noise

Small audible or visual discrepancies that adversely affect audio and video files which have been recorded or captured incorrectly or with faulty equipment.


Non-linear Editing

(See DNLE.)


NTSC

National Television Standards Committee is an organization that defines the standards for television used in North America and Japan characterized by 30 frames per second and 525 scan lines per frame. This standard include restrictions on the range of colors available for displaying on television.


Off-line

Term used to refer to editing video away from the source material. Video Editor is an example of an off-line video editor.


Onionskin

Term used in rotoscoping (video painting) whereby layers are created to appear over a video. You can “peel” these layers away to reveal more layers or the underlying video. This is useful for obtaining a good idea of how an animation is progressing by viewing a series of still images laid over each other.


On-line

Term used to refer to editing directly with the source material in real-time. On-line editors generally consist of several tape machines which pass through a controlling device and the resulting video is output to another tape.


Overlay

The process of rendering part of one image transparent to allow a second image to appear through this transparent area.

(See also: Blue Screen, Chroma Key, Key Color)


PAL

Phase Alternation Line is the television standard used in Europe, Africa, and South America characterized by 25 frames per second and 625 scan lines per frame. This standard includes restrictions on the range of colors available for displaying on television.


Parade

Form of color model used by the Perception video capture board which defines color as Y, R-Y and B-Y (luminance, red minus luminance and blue minus luminance).


Pixel (or Pel)

The smallest component that makes up an image. Computer images are made up of rows of pixels, each of which can be a different color. This is usually used as the unit of measurement for an image. The term is derived from the shortening of the words “picture element” or “picture cell.”


Playlist

A list of items to be played back in a certain order.

(See also: EDL)


Plug-in

Plug-ins are additions to the program that are not part of the standard package. They add to the tools, filters, or effects to enhance or expand the image editing options available.


Posterization

An image filter which reduces the number of colors in an image to produce a flat poster-like effect.


PPI

Pixels Per Inch is a unit of measure for determining the density of pixels in a bitmap image. For printing and displaying, this also determines the physical size of the image.


Prime Colors

The colors that are the basis of the RGB color model: red, green, and blue. By varying how these colors are blended, it is possible to create any other color.


Proxy File

A low-resolution copy of a video or image file that reduces system demands while performing previews of your video project in Video Editor.


QuickTime

A compression scheme developed by Apple Computer which allows you to compress video files. QuickTime files are referred to as movies and have an MOV extension.


Raster

(See Bitmap.)


Resolution

The resolution of an image determines the size of the individual pixels in an image, and thus the size of the whole image when printed or displayed. Resolution is shown in pixels per inch (PPI) or dots per inch (DPI).

(See also: DPI, PPI)


Reel Name

A name assigned to source video that aids in recalling where captured video clips came from. This information is particularly useful when doing batch capturing or referring to an EDL.


Render

The process of combining source information into a single file after applying transitions and other effects for output.


RGB

The model used in televisions and computer monitors to display color. By mixing varying amounts of red, green, and blue you can create other colors in the spectrum.

(See also: CMYK, Color Model, HSB)


Rotoscoping

Painting over a sequence of existing frames, one at a time, to create artificial effects.

(See also: Effects Animation)


Rough Cut

The initial edit of a video. Usually the rough cut is prepared quickly to offer an idea of how the finished project will appear.


Sample Rate

The number of audio samples recorded per second (measures in megahertz). Generally there are three rates: 11,025 MHz, (microphone quality) 22,050 MHz (radio quality) and 44,100 MHz (CD quality).


Sample Size

The amount of memory allocated to record audio data. You can choose between two types: 8-bit or 16-bit. 16-bit produces better quality but at twice the file size as 8-bit.


Saturation

The degree of a color’s purity. A color that is highly saturated will be more pure and appear stronger. Increasing a color’s saturation makes it appear quite vivid while reducing saturation makes the color seem washed out.


SECAM

Systém Électronic Pour Coleur Avec Mémoire. The television standard used in France, Russia, and Africa characterized by 25 frames per second and 625 scan lines per frame.


Sequence

Use Clip instead.


Shuttle Control

A control used to manually move backward and forward through a video or audio file.

(See also: Flick)


Smooth Node

A node where you can move the control handles independently from each other and still remain on a linear path when changing the curve of a path.

(See also: Cusp Node, Symmetric Node)


SMPTE

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers is an organization based in the United States that makes recommendations for video standards to be adopted by the industry.


Sound Sweetening

Enhancing sound, for example by removing noise.


Source

Original data imported into another program as the basis for further editing or modification.


Storyboards

Graphic representations of shots done during pre-production or before filming to help the director and / or crew visualize how a shot is laid out.


Stretching Frames

A technique of enhancing action and excitement in a video sequence with slow-motion.


Subsampling

A method of interpreting image data to enhance compression by grouping and averaging color data over a block of pixels. Think of your image as groups of pixels arranged into blocks. Each square block contains four pixels. Without subsampling, each block requires twelve entries (12 bytes) to describe it, (three for each pixel). If we subsample using the 4-1-1 method, each pixel keeps its own brightness (H) value, but the color values (Cb and Cy) are each summed and then averaged. Each pixel in the block then uses this value, so the number of required entries for the block drops to six, (four brightness values and two color values.) The 4-2-2 subsampling method is a compromise between None and 4-1-1 and consists of eight entries, (four brightness, two for the first color channel, and two for the second color channel).


Symmetric Node

A node where you can move the control handles while keeping a fixed linear path and equal length for the preceding and succeeding nodes when changing the curve of a path.

(See also: Cusp Node, Smooth Node)


Synthespians

The contemporary slang term for unreal “actors.” Synthespians are entirely computer generated, though voice characterization may be done by real actors on a separate sound track.


Textures

Uniquely patterned bitmaps that can seamlessly be tiled together in an image to serve as a background or fill.


Thumbnail

A small, low resolution representation of an image.


Timecode

A method of identifying a specific frame’s location relative to other frames in a video. Its standard form is Hours:Minutes:Seconds: Frames.


Transition Effect

A process in which one video clip replaces another.


Traveling Matte

An animated shape that protects an area of each frame in a sequence from being changed while a special effect or transition progresses over the rest of the frame.


True Color

A graphics file format containing 24 bits of color information, yielding 16.7 million possible colors, or photographic quality.

(See also: File Format)


Vector Graphics

Images created based on actual shapes rather than individual pixels.

(See also: Graphics Files)


VGA

Video Graphics Array is a type of display card that provides a standard resolution of 640x480 supporting 16 colors.


Virtual Environment

A setting used in a video project that does not actually exist in the real world. By using images and photographs instead of building large and complex sets, you can save a lot of money and time. Also referred to as “Virtual Space.”


Virtual Sets

Term for movie sets that have a photorealistic quality but exist solely within a digital environment. Digitally created background mattes are a good example of virtual sets.


VISCA

A standard protocol used to control external video sources from a computer.


VLAN

An industry standard set of controls and or devices that allows you to connect video playback, recording, and other devices to a PC for performing linear or non-linear digital video editing.


Volume

How loud a sound seems. When the sound is very loud, the volume is considered to be high.


VTR

Video Tape Recorder is a device capable of recording visual information onto magnetic tape so that it can be played back and shown on a television display.


Warping

A method of distorting an image by moving control points on a grid from their original positions to a new position, thus causing distortion in the image.

(See also: Control Point)


Waveform

A visual representation of sound used to enhance editing in a digital environment.


Wild Sound

Sound clips intended for use with video that do not already have video to accompany them. This could, for example, include the sound of a train approaching that was recorded independently from the actual filming of the train or sound effects, such as thunder and lightning that cannot be planned and timed during the actual filming and must be added later.


Wipe

A video transition where the new picture appears to progressively slide over the original.


Wireframe

A shape or object that appears as a single or multiple lines that show its outline.


Wire Removal

The process of digitally removing wires, props, and other undesirable elements from a scene. Wire removal software has superseded the “garbage matte” process of conventional optics.


Preview window

Click to return the display to the first frame in the clip.

Click to change the display by one frame in the direction of the arrow.

Click and drag to select intermediate frames to view.

Click to change the display by one frame in the direction of the arrow.

Moves the pointer to the last frame in the selected clip.

Play Click to play the clip with effects applied on it.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.


Original clip window

Keyframe controller Set keyframes for the different effects settings.

Speed control Click to select the preview play speed.

Lock Click to toggle from playing the original and preview windows simultaneously or separately whenever you click the play button.

Play Click to play the clip without any effects applied on it.

Timecode Shows the current frame timecode on the timeline.


Normal Plays all the frames in the clip for preview.

Fast Plays every other frame in the clip for preview.

Faster Plays every other two frames in the clip for preview.

Fastest Plays every other three frames in the clip for preview.


Zoom Click to zoom in or out for better viewing. Click the path to zoom in or right-click to zoom out.

Restore Click to restore the clip's dimensions to its original size one it has been changed.

Actual Image Click to replace the place holders in the preview window with the actual images. This gives you a better idea of how the moving path will look, but may slow down the system.

Title Safe Area Click to show the portion of the frame that would appear on a television screen.

Show Background Click to display the background clip in the frame window.


Add Click to add a keyframe at the current timecode. By adding a keyframe, you can set a different filter settings at that timecode.

Delete Click to remove the existing keyframe at the current timecode. This is only available when a keyframe already exists at the timecode.

Transpose Reverse the order of all the keyframes in the path.

Back one frame Click to move the selected keyframe back one frame.

Forward one frame Click to move the selected keyframe forward one frame.

Inactive keyframe Indicates that a keyframe exists at this timecode.

Active keyframe You can change the filter settings when a keyframe is active.


Add To Library dialog box

Folder Displays the appropriate library folder for adding. Right-click to create, rename or delete a folder.

Thumbnail Displays the image representation of the file in the Production Library’s Thumbnail pane. Type a name for the thumbnail.

Annotation Type additional information about the file’s purpose.


This help file contains topics about the dialog boxes found in the Production Library. To access these topics, click the help button in the dialog box that opens when you select a command.


Preferences dialog box - Production Library
Preferences dialog box

Thumbnail size Select the frame size to use in displaying the visual sample of all the contents inside a selected folder.

Show item name Select to display the name assigned to a thumbnail for easy identification.

Show border Select to place a border around the thumbnails to give some space between them. Clear if you want to save space in the display window and be able to see more thumbnails at one time.

Font Click to open the Font dialog box for specifying the type, style, size, and script of font to use in the Production Library's Thumbnail pane.


Sort dialog box - Production Library
Sort dialog box

Sort key order Select from the list box the item to use as basis in sorting the thumbnails in the folder.


Search dialog box - Production Library
Search dialog box

Find what Type a name to match in the search.

Direction Select whether to go down or up the list of thumbnails in the folder from the current position.

Find next Click to continue the search through the list to find the next match.


Load/Save dialog box - Production Library
Load/Save dialog box

Look in Find the desired folder.

View the contents of the next higher folder in your system.

Create a new folder.

View files as icons.

View files by names with statistics.

File name Type in a file name or select from the list of files displayed.

Files of type Select a particular file format for opening palette files.

Subject Displays a pre-defined subject of the selected file.

Description Displays a brief description of the selected file.


Show/Hide Production Library

Shows or hides the Production Library in the workspace. The Production Library contains preset tools and options that you can apply to your projects for faster results.

  Production Library


All Audio Filters

  Amplify	  Normalize	  Resonance

  Echo	  Pan	  Reverse

  Fade	  Pitch	  Stadium

  Long Echo	  Quantize

  Long Repeat	  Remove Noise


Pan dialog box

Left channel Specify the amount to fade in or out the left channel.

Right channel Specify the amount to fade in or out the right channel.

Transformation curve Select whether to use linear, exponential or logarithmic transformation.

Play Click to listen how the selected filter affects your audio.

Stop Click to stop audio playback.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Audio Filters Gallery.


For complete silence, set the start and end levels to 0%. Setting the start and end levels to 100% leaves the output unchanged.


Linear fade Causes the sound level to change at a constant rate over time. Choose this if you want do a gradual fade.

Exponential fade-in Causes sound levels to start out slowly and end very quickly, while an exponential fade-out causes sound levels to start out fast and end very slowly.

Logarithmic fade-in Starts quickly and then levels out slowly, while a logarithmic fade-out starts very slowly and then drops suddenly.


Echo dialog box

Echo effects From the drop-down list, choose the type of echo effect to apply.

Echo characteristics Adjust the delay, decay and bound parameters. Delay defines the time separating each echo. Decay specifies the level to which sound fades away and Bound defines the minimum level of decayed sound that can be discarded. The lower the bound, the more resonance is created.

Play Click to listen how the selected filter affects your audio.

Stop Click to stop audio playback.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Audio Filters Gallery.


Amplify dialog box

Ratio Specify the amount of increase or decrease in the amplification.

Play Click to listen how the selected filter affects your audio.

Stop Click to stop audio playback.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Audio Filters Gallery.


If the audio file’s amplitude is too loud or quiet, changing its amplification produces just the right sound. But, if you increase the amplitude too much, you will introduce distortion of the file, (where the waveform exceeds the ±100% level). To avoid possible distortion, try the Normalize effect first to adjust the waveform only until the highest peak in the waveform reaches ±100% level.


An increase of 200% doubles the current amplitude, 50% halves it, and 100% produces no change.


Quantize dialog box

Level Changes the number of bits used in a waveform. Reducing the number of bits results in data loss and therefore, produces lower quality sound. For 8-bit files, you can specify a quantize level from 1 to 7 bits. For 16-bit files, specify the quantize level from 1 to 15 bits.

Play Click to listen how the selected filter affects your audio.

Stop Click to stop audio playback.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Audio Filters Gallery.


Remove Noise dialog box

Threshold Specify the range of background noise to remove.

Play Click to listen how the selected filter affects your audio.

Stop Click to stop audio playback.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Audio Filters Gallery.


Noise usually appears at very low amplitudes and in most cases a 5% to 10% selection proves adequate. Specifying too high a threshold may erase necessary data.


Pitch dialog box

Change pitch Adjust the pitch slider to make the current waveform sound higher or lower.

Play Click to listen how the selected filter affects your audio.

Stop Click to stop audio playback.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Audio Filters Gallery.


For best results, try experimenting with various levels and playing back the results.


Fade dialog box

Fade control Specify the amount of fade in or out for a specified time period.

Fade effects Select the type of fade effect from the drop-down list that you want to create.

Transformation curve Select whether to use linear, exponential or logarithmic transformation.

Play Click to listen how the selected filter affects your audio.

Stop Click to stop audio playback.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Audio Filters Gallery.


Amplify

Adjusts the amplification of a selected area or the current waveform affecting the output volume.

  Amplify dialog box


Normalize

Evaluates and adjusts a selected area or the current waveform so that the highest peak reaches 100% amplitude, correcting the rest accordingly.


Quantize

Changes the number of bits used in a selected area or the current waveform. Reducing the quantize level (in bits) results in data loss and gives you a poor quality sound, but reduces file size.

Note: Increasing the quantize level does not have any effect on sound quality.

  Quantize dialog box


Remove Noise

Removes the background noise from a selected area or the current waveform.

  Remove Noise dialog box


Reverse

Flips a selected area or the current waveform so that when played, it sounds as though it is being played backwards.


Pitch

Makes a selected area or the current waveform sound higher or lower. High pitch may sound very shrill, like a whistle and a low pitch is deep, like a fog horn.

  Pitch dialog box


Fade

Fades a selected area or the current waveform in or out. This allows you to create smooth start and end segments of a waveform.

  Fade dialog box


Pan

Independently fades the left and right channels of a stereo file in or out. By fading out one channel while fading in the other you can make sound appear to shift from one channel to the other as it plays creating a “surround sound”.

  Pan dialog box


Echo

Defines and applies an echo effect to a selected area or the current waveform.

  Echo dialog box


Long Echo

Applies a predefined echo to a selected area or the current waveform to produce an echo with a long delay that decays quickly.


Long Repeat

Applies a predefined echo to a selected area or the current waveform. This effect is somewhat similar to the Long Echo command but the repeats are louder and last longer.


Resonance

Applies a predefined echo to a selected area or the current waveform to produce a robot-like sound.


Stadium

Applies a predefined echo to a selected area or the current waveform to give an effect similar to that produced in a large auditorium.


All Video Filters

  Add Noise	  Mosaic

  Average	  Motion Blur

  Blur	  Pinch

  Brightness & Contrast	  Posterize

  Emboss	  Punch

  Emphasize Edges	  Ripple

  Find Edges	  Sharpen

  Fish Eye	  Threshold

  Hue & Saturation	  Watercolor

  Invert	  Whirlpool

  Monochrome	  Wind


Add Noise

Randomly inserts pixels into the clip producing a speckled effect similar to a TV set with static.

  Add Noise dialog box


Average

Gives the clip a softer look by evaluating the color values of all pixels and moving them toward the average pixel value.

  Average dialog box


Blur

Produces an out-of-focus effect for the clip. It reduces the contrast of pixel values to create softer appearance.

  Blur dialog box


Brightness & Contrast

Makes the clip lighter or darker and allows you to make parts of it stand out or blend in more. It calculates the difference between the areas of light and dark colors in the images and adjusts the lightness and darkness of the clip.

  Brightness & Contrast dialog box


Emboss

Displays the outline of the images in the clip against a solid background color. The outline then appears either raised above the surface or stamped into it.

  Emboss dialog box


Emphasize Edges

Increases contrast between objects in the clip, making edges more distinct. The filter creates outlines where significant changes in colors occur, and effectively increases the contrast along them by making them harder and more sharply defined.

  Emphasize Edges dialog box


Find Edges

Displays the clip with outlines around the edges of objects, defined by strong differences in pixel color values.

  Find Edges dialog box


Fish Eye

Gives the clip a wide-angle camera lens effect.

  Fish Eye dialog box


Hue & Saturation

Controls the balance and intensity of colors in the clip.

  Hue & Saturation dialog box


Invert

Converts the clip to its complimentary colors, similar to looking at a film negative.

  Invert dialog box


Monochrome

Converts pixels in a clip to shades of the Monochrome color.

Note: Use hue and saturation values when selecting a custom clip color. Using RGB values may produce unexpected results.

  Monochrome dialog box


Mosaic

Breaks each frame into blocks closely matching the average values of all pixels in those blocks. This filter is commonly used to obscure the faces of people appearing on TV, or in print, who wish to remain anonymous.

Note: If you specify a block size that does not divide the frame by a whole number, Video Editor crops the frame from the lower-right.

  Mosaic dialog box


Motion Blur

Blurs the clip with an effect similar to when a subject moves during the taking of a photograph.

  Motion Blur dialog box


Pinch

Displays the clip with its edges squeezed towards the center. The higher the Pinch Factor, the tighter the squeeze.

  Pinch dialog box


Posterize

Reduces the number of color levels in the clip, making color differences appear more distinct. This filter is useful for creating surreal effects or you need to limit the number of displayable colors because of hardware limitations.

  Posterize dialog box


Punch

Displays the clip as if its center was pushed out. The higher the Punch Factor, the larger the impact.

  Punch dialog box


Ripple

Displays the clip as if viewed through water or wind blowing across a pond.

  Ripple dialog box


Sharpen

Displays the clip with sharper boundaries between objects. It increases the amount of contrast between light and dark pixels useful for cleaning up images.

  Sharpen dialog box


Threshold

Limits the range of colors in the clip by removing those whose pixel values fall below the specified number.

  Threshold dialog box


Watercolor

Displays the clip as if painted with watercolors.

  Watercolor dialog box


Whirlpool

Creates a whirlpool pattern by swirling the images in the clip around their centers.

  Whirlpool dialog box


Wind

Gives the clip a wind-blown effect.

  Wind dialog box


Add Noise dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Distribution Select how to determine the colors of inserted pixels. Select Uniform to use a standard value or Varied to use a distribution curve for the clip's colors.

Level Drag the slider to determine how much static effect to apply. Specify a high value to generate more "noise" or a low value for lesser effect.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Add Noise

  All Video Filters


Average dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Cell size Specify the number of pixels with which each pixel is averaged. The larger the cell size, the greater the similarity between pixels resulting in a softer picture with smother transitions in color.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Average

  All Video Filters


Blur dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Level Specify how much blurring to apply. Higher values produce a more blurred effect.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Blur

  All Video Filters


Brightness & Contrast
Brightness & Contrast dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Channel Select which color channel to adjust.

Brightness Drag the slider to control the lightness or darkness of the clip. Higher values produce a brighter clip.

Contrast Drag the slider to control the difference between light and dark pixels. Higher values make the midtone colors standout.

Gamma Drag the slider to control how clips appear when working in different display environments.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Brightness & Contrast

  All Video Filters


Emboss dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Coating color Displays the current the base color for the clip. Click the color square to change it.

Light direction Select the direction of the shadow effect.

Depth Specify how the clip will be embossed. Positive values make details in the clip appear raised above the background while negative values make the details on the clip appear sunken.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Emboss

  All Video Filters


Emphasize Edges dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Level Drag the slider to determine the contrast along the edges. High values produce a clip with harder, more sharply-defined edges.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Emphasize Edges

  All Video Filters


Find Edges dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Direction Select whether edges are determined horizontally, vertically, or in both directions.

Invert Select to change the color of the objects in the clip to their complimentary colors.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Find Edges

  All Video Filters


Fish Eye dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Light direction Select the position of the light source.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Fish Eye

  All Video Filters


Hue & Saturation dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Hue Drag the slider to adjust the color balance of the clip.

Saturation Drag the slider to adjust the intensity of the color.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Hue & Saturation

  All Video Filters


Invert dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Invert

  All Video Filters


Monochrome dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Monochrome color Displays the starting and ending clip shades. Click the color square to change it.

Note: Use hue and saturation values when selecting a custom clip color. Using RGB values may produce unexpected results.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Monochrome

  All Video Filters


Mosaic dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Square Select to make the block width and height equal.

Width/Height Specify the block’s size.

Note: If you specify a block size that does not divide the frame by a whole number, Video Editor crops the frame from the lower-right.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Mosaic

  All Video Filters


Motion Blur dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Light source Select the type of movement producing the blur.

Camera Select to simulate camera movement.

Natural Select to simulate light source movement.

Object Select to simulate subject movement.

Length Specify the degree of movement

Angle Specify the direction of the motion.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Motion Blur

  All Video Filters


Pinch dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Factor Specify the intensity of the effect. High values give a more pronounced distortion.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Pinch

  All Video Filters


Posterize dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Channel Specify which color channel to posterize.

Level Specify the number of gray-color values. Higher settings result in more levels and more colors.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Posterize

  All Video Filters


Punch dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Factor Specify the intensity of the effect. High values give a more pronounced distortion.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Punch

  All Video Filters


Ripple dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Direction Select whether to create a ripple from the center or the edge.

Frequency Select the tightness of the distortion.

Level Specify the height of the ripple effect.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Ripple

  All Video Filters


Sharpen dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Level Specify the amount of contrast between pixels. Higher values generate a more noticeable effect than lower values.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Sharpen

  All Video Filters


Threshold dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Channel Select the color channel to which the Threshold level is applied.

Threshold level Specify the range of color values to restrict. Higher values restrict more dark colors, lower values restrict more light colors.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Threshold

  All Video Filters


Watercolor dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Stroke size Select whether to apply large or small strokes.

Moisture level Specify the amount of water mixed with the color. Higher levels make the edges of each stroke darker.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Watercolor

  All Video Filters


Whirlpool dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Direction Select whether to twist the frame clockwise or counterclockwise from the center.

Twist Specify the degree of rotation for the center of the frame. Greater angles produce a stronger effect.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Whirlpool

  All Video Filters


Wind dialog box

Original clip window Displays the clip at the current timecode. Use the Keyframe Controller below the window to apply different levels of effects at different timecodes. Click [image] to play the clip in the Preview simultaneously with the Original clip window.

Preview window Displays a preview of the applied effect on the clip. Drag the slider below the window to view certain frames.

Direction Select the source of the wind.

Mode Select whether to apply a windy or blast effect by moving the brighter pixels horizontally. In windy, the wind trail gradually fades away, in blast it is more prominent.

Level Specify the length of the wind trail. Higher values produce a longer effect.

Add Click to open the Add To Library dialog box to add it to your Video Filters Gallery.

  Wind

  All Video Filters


New

Creates a new Video Editor project file. This clears the existing Video Editor workspace and opens a new one depending on your settings in the Preferences dialog box invoked from the File menu. If you selected the option to show the New dialog box everytime you start a new project, you can retrieve existing templates or create a new one using the Project Creation Wizard.

If you have an unsaved project opened in the workspace when you click File: New, Video Editor prompts you to save the changes first.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+N)

  Creating a new project

  Using project templates

  New dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Open

Opens a dialog box for selecting a video project file to open in the workspace.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+O)

  Opening a project

  Open dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Restore

Returns the project back to the same condition it was in when you last saved it. This closes the project without saving the most recent changes and then reopens last saved version.

  Recovering from mistakes

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Close

Closes the current file without ending the program. If you have any unsaved changes, Video Editor prompts you to save them.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+W)

  Closing project files

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Save

Saves changes made to the current file since the previously saved version. If the file is untitled, Video Editor prompts you to give it a name.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+S)

  Saving a project

  Save As dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Save As

Saves a new file or rename a previously saved file. Video Editor records the name and location of each clip in the project and also the effects and filters applied. Any video, audio, and image files assigned to the project are unaffected by the saving process. If you delete, rename or change a linked file, Video Editor prompts you to relink it the next time you open the project.

  Saving a project

  Save As dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Save Project Template

Saves the current file as a template with detailed description of its main purpose when specified. With previously saved project templates, you can save time in creating projects that have similar settings to the ones you have done before. You just have to open the template again and you can start working right away.

  Using project templates

  Save Project Template dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Proxy Manager

Allows you to create, modify, and track proxy files associated with the current project. Video Editor uses the proxy files to show preview information and other intermediate results. Using them in place of the larger originals saves large amounts of memory and allows you to work faster. When you are finished editing your project, click File: Create to save your final output. Video Editor automatically replaces the proxy files with the original sources when creating the video file.

  Creating proxy files

  Working efficiently

  Proxy Manager dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Package

Copies or moves all files in the current project to a specified folder. A dialog box allows you to assign the folder where to move or copy the files used in the project. By packaging your files, you can have better management of all related files in keeping them together.

  Managing your project

  Package dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


This is useful if you want to backup your work or for transporting your files to another computer for editing.


Create

Displays a submenu with commands for creating media files from the current project. You can choose from the different types of media files listed below:

  Video File	  Proxy File

  Audio File	  EDL File

  Creating your files

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Create: Video File
Video File

Creates AVI, Quick Time, or animation files from the project. You can either create a video file using the entire project or select only a portion of it by clicking Edit: Preview Range.

  Creating your files

  Video File dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Create: Audio File
Audio File

Creates an audio file of the soundtracks in the project. You can either create an audio file using the entire project or select only a portion of it by clicking Edit: Preview Range.

  Creating your files

  Audio File dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Create: Proxy File
Proxy Manager

Creates a substitute video file in a smaller format with lower resolution, fewer colors and reduces demands on system resources. Once you are finished with the project, Video Editor uses the originals to create the video.

  Creating proxy files

  Working efficiently

  Proxy Manager dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Create: EDL File
EDL File

Creates an Edit Decision List file of your project. A typical EDL created by Video Editor is a text-based file with an EDL extension listing all clips, effects, and transitions with their mark in and mark out times.

  Creating an EDL

  Create EDL File dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


When preparing an EDL for NTSC playback, use the drop-frame standard of 19.97 to ensure correct timing.

Post a timecode onto each of your clips in the project before creating an EDL. To do this, you first need to have captured the video from a controllable source with timecode capabilities.


Convert

Displays a submenu with commands for changing files to other media types.

Video File Converts an AVI, MOV, DVM, MPG, or animation file such as FLI, FLC, and FLX to another format. You can also convert Ulead’s own UCG, UIS, and UVP.

Frame Rate Changes the frame rate of an existing video file without requiring you to open or load it in Video Editor.

  Select Source Video File dialog box

  Frame Rate dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Media Player

Plays an existing media file. Video Editor opens the appropriate playing device.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Play Full Screen

Prepares video files for output to video tape. To do this you need a VGA to TV converter (or similar device) and, for best results, a controllable and compatible video recorder or camcorder. If you do not have these accessories, use this command to display a video full screen against a black background.

  Playing a media file full screen

  Working with video projects

  Play Full Screen dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Layout Template

Load Allows you to select a window layout template.

Save Allows you to assign a template name to the current file.

  Arranging the workspace

  Load dialog box

  Save dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Properties

Changes the current project's settings such as the TV standard, project frame rate and size, proxy mode settings, and number of overlay tracks. You can also view information about the currently opened project in the workspace by clicking the Properties tab.

(Shortcut key: Alt+Enter)

  Obtaining information

  Changing project properties

  Properties dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preview Files Manager

Opens the Preview Files Manager dialog box listing all the preview files created in the project. You can select the preview files to delete to free some of your system resources.

  Working efficiently

  Preview Files Manager dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preferences

Customizes the Video Editor and MediaStudio working environment. The Preferences dialog box opens where you can define how Video Editor manages your system resources, select filter options, specify associated programs for different file formats, and other general settings.

(Shortcut key: F6)

  Recovering from mistakes

  Using project templates

  Preferences dialog box

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Working efficiently

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Exit

Closes the program. If you have any unsaved changes, Video Editor prompts you to save them.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+Q)

  Closing project files

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Recent Files

Lists the most recently opened video files. You can set the maximum number of files to show here by clicking File: Preferences - General tab. Clicking a name in this list opens it in the workspace.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Undo

Lets you recover up to 99 of the last commands you performed since opening the project. If, after undoing a command you wish to redo it, click Edit: Redo. The number of steps you can undo depends on the settings you make by clicking File: Preferences - General tab.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+Z)

  Recovering from mistakes

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Redo

Allows you to reverse up to 99 of the last undo commands you executed since opening the project. The number of steps you can redo depends on the settings you make by clicking File: Preferences - General tab.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+Y)

  Recovering from mistakes

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Clear Undo/Redo History

Deletes all previous Undo/Redo commands made in the current project.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Cut

Removes a selected clip from the timeline and places it on the clipboard.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+X)

  Using the clipboard

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Copy

Duplicates a selected clip and places it on the clipboard.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+C)

  Using the clipboard

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Paste

Inserts the clipboard contents into the timeline.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+V)

  Using the clipboard

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Clear

Permanently removes the selected clip from the project. To recover the deleted clip, click Edit: Undo and to place the clip in a different track, click Edit: Paste.

(Shortcut key: Del)

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Paste Attributes

Inserts filters, effects, and other attributes from the clip on the clipboard to the project without pasting the actual clip data. Clicking Edit: Paste Attributes opens the Paste Attributes dialog box where you can choose which attributes to paste.

  Using the clipboard3

  Paste Attributes dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Delete Attributes

Removes filters, effects, and other attributes from the clip without affecting the actual clip data. Clicking Edit: Delete Attributes opens the Delete Attributes dialog box where you can choose which attributes to remove.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Select

All Selects all clips and effects in the project. (Shortcut key: Ctrl+L)

None Deselects any currently selected clips. (Shortcut key: Ctrl+B)

  Selecting clips

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Group/Ungroup

Allows you to group clips that are related to each other together so that you can manage them easily. This is useful if you want the position relationship between the clips unchanged while you perform editing operations. You can separate the grouped clips by clicking Edit: Ungroup.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preview Range

Creates a precise preview selection. The Preview Range dialog box opens where you can specify the starting and ending timecodes for the desired section. A blue area appears in the preview bar showing the selected area when the dialog box closes.

  Previewing your work

  Preview Range dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Time Selection

Selects an area with high precision according to the location on the timeline. This command is only available when the Time Selection tool is active.

  Selecting clips

  Editing clips

  Time Selection dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Snap

Toggles Snap mode on and off. A check mark indicates Snap mode is on. In this mode, Video Editor aligns the first or last frame of any clip placed on the timeline to the nearest project cue or other clip edge. This is a useful way of making sure your project has no empty time-slots and the clips line up properly.

  Working with video projects

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Trim Options

Contains commands for setting the trim method. You can also change the it by clicking the Trim mode drop down combo box on the Attribute toolbar.

  Normal	  Stitch

  Overwrite

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Trim Options -- Normal
Normal

Sets the trim mode to normal. In this mode, any changes to the clip length only affect that clip. You can only extend a clip to the beginning of the next clip in the same track. This is useful when there are few clips on the timeline or when you want to maintain the time positions and content of any following clips.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Trim Options -- Overwrite
Overwrite

Sets the trim mode to overwrite. In this mode, extending a clip length beyond the edge of an adjacent clip truncates the adjacent clip accordingly. If no clip is in contact, changing length is the same as in the Normal mode. This is useful when you want to replace portions of a following clip or to paste a clip over another.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Trim Options -- Stitch
Stitch

Sets the trim mode to stitch. In this mode, the combined length of two adjacent clips remains constant. By moving the inner edge of the selected clip, both clips are truncated or expanded accordingly. If the two clips are not adjacent, you can only trim the active clip to the duration of the clip slot. This is useful if you want to merge two clips together and need to see the frames of each clip in the Trim window.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


You can change the trim mode by clicking Edit: Trim Options or click the Trim Mode drop down combo box on the Attribute toolbar.


Preview

Displays how your project is developing without performing video file saves.

(Shortcut key: Enter)

  Previewing your work

  Preview Range dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Preview Options

Defines how Video Editor displays video and audio files on preview. This opens the Video Preview Options dialog box for specifying the preview method, frame rate, frame size, data type, compressor, and other settings for the preview. By properly setting these parameters, you can operate more quickly and efficiently.

  Working efficiently

  Video Preview Options dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Cue Manager

Opens the Cue Manager dialog box where you can create, modify, and delete cues in the current project.

  Working with cues

  Cue Manager dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Display Mode

Changes how clips appear on the timeline. The Display Mode dialog box opens where you can choose how to portray clip information, whether to show the cue bar and what size each clip bar should be.

  Arranging the workspace

  Display Mode dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Ruler Unit

Selects the unit of measurement to use for the timeline. You can drag the slider in the Ruler Unit Panel to adjust the view.

  Work Area

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Scroll Lock

Toggles the scroll lock feature on and off. When on, scrolling the video or audio track results in the other scrolling as well. When off, they scroll independently.

  Work Area

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Clip Properties

Displays information about the active clip including file, size, format, path, and mark in and out data.

  Obtaining information

  Clip Properties dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Toolbars & Panels

Opens a dialog box for choosing the tools to show in the workspace for easy access to various commands and help you work more efficiently. You can also choose between small and large icons for the toolbars, and decide which toolbars and panels appear.

  Arranging the workspace

  Quick Command Panel

  Toolbars & Panels dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Go To

Moves to a particular time in the project. You can use this command to find a location according to its Video Editor timecode or cue id.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+G)

  Performing searches

  Go To dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Find Clip

Searches for and goes to a specific clip in your project.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+F)

  Performing searches

  Find Clip dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Find Next

Locates the clip following the previous clip that was used in the Find Clip command.

(Shortcut key: F2)

  Performing searches

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Find Unlinked Clips

Checks the project for clips with missing links. The Find Unlinked Clips dialog box lists all clips with missing links. You can then select a clip to delete, re-link, or go to.

  Performing searches

  Find Unlinked Clips dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Find Empty Time Slots

Allows you to select multiple empty time slots and delete them.

  Performing searches

  Editing clips

  Find Empty Time Slots dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Video File

Loads a video clip into the timeline. Once inserted, you may use the scratch pad or trim tools for editing.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Video File dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Audio File

Loads an audio file into the timeline. The file may be a compressed (ADPCM) or non-compressed (PCM) wave file. Once inserted, you may use the scratch pad or trim tools for editing.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Audio File dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Image File

Loads an image file into the timeline. Once inserted, you may use the scratch pad or trim tools to edit the length. Pressing the Shift key as you place the clip inserts it and moves other clips in the track to the right. If you place the clip in an already occupied spot in the track while pressing the Shift key, Video Editor cuts the existing clip placing the inserted one in the middle.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Image File dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Title Clip

Creates and inserts a title clip into the timeline. The Create Title dialog box opens where you can type the text and specify its characteristics.

  Creating title clips

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Insert Title Clip dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Color Clip

Provides a flat background upon which to show other clips. The Color Clip dialog box opens where you can specify the duration, color(s) to use within the specified duration, and other details about the inserted clip.

  Creating a color clip

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Color Clip dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Silence Clip

Blocks out a space in your video where there will be no sound. It creates and inserts a block of silence into an audio track on the timeline. This command is also useful for creating audio place holders.

  Inserting clips onto the timeline

  Silence Clip dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Project File

Merges two projects together. If the inserted project is longer than the available space on the timeline, Video Editor truncates it to fit.

  Merging projects

  Project File dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Video Filters

Allows you to select and define video filter options for a clip. You may add up to 22 different filters to a single clip from the Video Filters dialog box. The order in which each filter is applied corresponds to that of the Applied filters list.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+D)

  Applying filters

  All Video Filters

  Video Filters dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Audio Filters

Allows you to select and define audio filter options for an audio clip. You may add several filters to a single clip from the Audio Filters dialog box. The order in which each filter is applied corresponds to that of the Applied filters list.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+A)

  Applying filters

  Adding sound effects

  All Audio Filters

  Audio Filters dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Overlay Options

Controls how much of each clip will be visible when they overlap. An overlay effect makes part of one visual clip transparent so that the clip below shows through. This effect is particularly useful when you want to insert text over a scene or create special effects such as "an invisible man." When performing this effect, always remember that the clip in the highest numbered overlay track is on top.

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+R)

  Adding a video overlay effect

  Performing video effects

  Overlay Options dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Moving Path
Moving Path Options

Allows you to specify the path of a clip. In addition to moving a clip across the screen, these commands can resize and crop the clips in the path. Moving paths can be applied to any clip in a video track and add tremendous flexibility to your project.

  2D Basic 	  3D Sphere

  2D Advanced 	  3D Cylinder

  3D

(Shortcut key: Ctrl+M)

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


2D Basic

Creates a simple two-dimensional path for video clips where you can also resize and reshape the clip.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  2D Basic dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


2D Advanced

Creates a two-dimensional path for video clips where you can also rotate the clip in its plane. While specifying the path you can also resize, reshape, and distort the clip.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  2D Advanced dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


3D

Creates a three-dimensional moving path for video clips where you can rotate the clip along any combination of its axes as it moves linearly about the frame. While specifying the path you can also resize the clip.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  3D dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


3D Sphere

Creates a three-dimensional moving path for video clips where the clip can rotate about a sphere as the sphere moves and spins. While specifying the path you can also resize the clip.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  3D Sphere dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


3D Cylinder

Creates a three-dimensional moving path for video clips where the clip can rotate about a cylinder as the cylinder moves and spins. While specifying the path you can also resize the clip.

  Creating a moving path

  Performing video effects

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  3D Cylinder dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Transition Options

Modifies the settings for a selected transition effect. This determines how overlapping clips on different video tracks are played from one track to the other.

  Adding a transition effect

  Performing video effects

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Transition Options dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Title Options

Allows you to edit and change the settings and text in the selected title clip. Double-click on a title clip on the timeline to open its dialog box for editing.

  Title Options dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Color Options

Allows you to edit the selected color clip. Double-click on a color clip on the timeline to open its dialog box for editing.

  Using the Keyframe Controller

  Color Options dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Speed

Changes the speed of a clip such as for slow or fast motion effects. This does not affect the actual speed of the original file.

  Speed dialog box

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Reverse

Reverses the selected video or audio clip so that it plays backwards. This does not affect original clip data.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Duration

Changes the selected clip’s length on the timeline. When changing the duration of video and audio clips, a dialog box opens for identifying the mark in and mark out times. For other clips, a dialog box opens for specifying the total length.

  Changing clip length

  Duration dialog box

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Annotate

Assigns a name to a clip for easy identification. Clips that already have a subject string in them initially use it as annotation. Changing the name in Video Editor does not change the original subject.

  Annotate dialog box

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Post Timecode

Cross references clips used in Video Editor with their original video sources. May also be used for generating EDLs (Edit Decision Lists) or for finding original data for later use.

  Posting a timecode

  Creating an EDL

  Post Timecode dialog box

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Freeze Frame

Allows you to select one or two frames to freeze on the clip while previewing.

  Freeze Frame dialog box

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Field Options

Opens the Field Options dialog box where you can specify whether the selected video clip is a field-based or frame-based video file. Video Editor discards half of the field-based video data if a field-based video clip is incorrectly identified as frame-based. This could cause unsatisfatory results when you save your final video.

  Selecting the correct field mode

  Field Options dialog box

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Scratch Pad

Opens a Scratch Pad Window with the selected clip for specifying the part of the clip that you want to retain after applying the command. Use the Mark In and Mark Out buttons on the toolbar to specify the duration of the clip to keep.

  Changing clip length

  Scratch Pad Window

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Play Clip

Plays the selected video or audio clip.

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Open in Associated Program

Opens associated application to edit the selected clip. You can specify the program for certain file formats by clicking File: Preference - Associate tab.

(Shortcut key: F7)

  Preferences dialog box

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Locate in Production Library

Locates the selected clip in the Production Library. If the Production Library is not currently displayed, Video Editor opens it showing the project’s folder and the selected clip’s information.

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Replace With

Contains a submenu to let you quickly replace clips on the timeline. You can choose from the following:

  Video File	  Title Clip

  Audio File	  Color Clip

  Image File	  Silence Clip

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Split

Separates the audio track from a video clip containing audio data for independent editing. Splitting a clip in Video Editor does not affect the actual file.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Unite

Rejoins video and audio data separated by the Split command. This can only be used when the clips occupy the same numbered tracks and have the same time in and time out settings. For example, if the video clip is in V1, starting at 1:01:05:15, and ending at 1:02:00:00, the audio clip must be in A1, starting at 1:01:05:15, and ending at 1:02:00:00.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Expand

Rejoins video and audio data separated by the Split command. The Expand command replaces the Unite one when either one of the clips has moved tracks or is missing, expanding allows you to create duplicates of the missing clip.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Video Editor Help

Starts the on-line help.You can also access help topics by:

Clicking the help button and then clicking the item of interest.

Placing the mouse over an item of interest and pressing F1.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


About Ulead Products

Displays information about other products from Ulead Systems.

(Shortcut key: Shift+F10)

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


About Video Editor

Displays the Video Editor product information box.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Clip Selection Tool

Selects clips that appear on the timeline. To select several clips in a track, click on the first clip and with the Shift key held down, drag the pointer over all you want to select.

  Tool Panel

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Scissors Tool

Cuts a selected clip at the pointer position creating two separate clips on the timeline. You can attach previously cut clips together again by placing them back in their original positions and clicking over the cut time. (You must still have the Scissors Tool selected.)

  Tool Panel

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Zoom Tool

Adjusts the unit of measurement. Click once to change to a smaller unit; hold the Shift key and click on the timeline to change to a higher unit.

  Tool Panel

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Time Selection Tool

Selects clips that appear within a specified period of time by dragging the mouse over the clips.

  Tool Panel

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Preview Window

Shows or hides the Preview window.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Trim Window

Shows the end frame and the adjacent one for the currently selected clip. By dragging the end point of a clip, you can visually choose the frame you want to make as the start or end frame. This is ideal when you are at lower magnifications and you want to finde the exact frame you want to trim from the clip.

  Using the Trim Window

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Preview Window

Shows how the current frame would appear in a compiled video file.

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Find Clip

Finds the opened clip in the Scratch Pad on the timeline.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Toolbars & Panels Popup Menu

Displays a list of all the toolbars and panels available in Video Editor. A check mark to the left of a toolbar or panel indicates that it’s currently displayed on the workspace. Select one from the list to show or hide it.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help


Quick Command Panel Menu

Besides the standard windows commands for window management, the Quick Command Panel Menu contains these commands:

Layout Options Determine how many commands occupy the Quick Command Panel in each section.

Modify Add and remove commands from the Custom section.

Load Load a previously saved Quick Command Panel into the workspace.

Save As Save the current Quick Command Panel for future use.

Recent files Shows Quick command files you have opened previously according to the settings in the Layout Options dialog box.

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MediaStudio Pro Video Edition

Please upgrade to the full version.

  Welcome to Video Editor Help