Creating your own templates?

Can-Dive wrote on 4/17/2025, 2:03 AM

In a previous post called Website Observation (which is now closed), there was an interesting discussion regarding the Movie and Editing templates available in MMS/VPX. @browj2 indicated that it's possible to make your own templates;

You can also make your own templates, zip them up, add to the menu, and use them the same way. This is something for someone who needs to do something the same way each time, like vlogging or something, with time constraints, or to just get out some footage shot without having to do much work. Just follow the recipe.

I was wondering how you can do this?

In VPX16 the only way I was able to make a "template" was to use the icon pictures located in the Public folder;

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MAGIX\Common\Videocontent\Video Pro X\MovieTemplates\PlaceholderPictures

and save the project as a movie (.mvd). Is there another method as described above?

Comments

browj2 wrote on 4/17/2025, 9:17 AM

@Can-Dive

Hi,

This was discussed way back when I asked the same question. I was wondering how to get the same template interface and how to get the .mis file. @johnebaker mentioned that the mis file is just a zipped file with the extension changed to mis. I didn't try it then, but did so today and have not successfully been able to get my template to open in the template interface. I just get the mvp or movie on the timeline.

@johnebaker - any idea how to get this to open in the Movie Template interface?

Here is what I did.

1. I loaded Film Template Basic - Ice Cubes in VPX. This creates a folder under:

B:\Documents\MAGIX\Video Pro X\Projects\2014_Bright

with the following files:

2014_Bright.ini
2014_Bright.MVP
2014_Bright_HD_ani.m2v
2014_Bright_Song_1.ogg
business_refl_alpha.jpg
ph.jpg

So, opening a template creates the above folder. However, not everything that is in the template file is there.

2. I copied the mis file from the following folder:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MAGIX\Common\Videocontent\Video Pro X\MovieTemplates

to a working folder and used winzip to unzip it. This gave me:

FOLDER - 2014_Bright
task.ini

Under the folder:

2014_Bright.ini
2014_Bright.MVP
2014_Bright_HD_ani.m2v
2014_Bright_Song_1.ogg
business_refl_alpha.jpg
ph.jpg

Note that there are 2 ini files that will need to be changed.

3. I opened the MVP file separately and it created the main movie plus 4 more - Insert_1 to _4. I have no idea what to do with these, so I deleted them, and saved the MVP with a new name - 2014_Bright_Test.MVP. Before saving, I modified the first title slightly to reflect my test file.

4. I removed the old mvp, replacing it with my new 2014_Bright_Test.MVP.

5. I modified the ini to 2014_Bright_Test.ini. I did not see anything in this file that needed to be changed. Note that near the beginning is:

[MAIN] ; global arrangement settings
IsMovieTemplate=1
MovieTemplateType=heroslide

So, I presume that this is what tells VPX that this is a template.

6. I modified the task.ini file changing:

value=2014_Bright to value=2014_Bright_Test

value=2014_Bright.MVP to value=2014_Bright_Test.MVP

each time they appeared.

7. I zipped up this with the same structure but with my new name ..._Test and changed the extension zip to mis.

8. I copied this to:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MAGIX\Common\Videocontent\Video Pro X\MovieTemplates

9. In the above folder, I changed:

Translation_EN.ini - adding in

[2014_Bright_Test]
name=Ice Cubes Test

ias_config.ini - adding in 2014_Bright_Test.mis; just after the existing 2014_Bright.mis;

10. Under:

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MAGIX\Common\Videocontent\Video Pro X\MovieTemplates\Icons

I copied/pasted 2014_Bright.jpg with the new name 2014_Bright_Test.jpg

C:\Users\Public\Documents\MAGIX\Common\Videocontent\Video Pro X\MovieTemplates\Preview

I copied/pasted

2014_Bright.ogg
2014_Bright.wmv

using

2014_Bright_Test.ogg
2014_Bright_Test.wmv

11. Tested in VPX. The Ice Cubes Test entry shows up under Film Templates Basic. However, applying this just opens it on the normal timeline, not as a template.

The 2014_Bright_Test folder was created under Projects with the same files as the original.

So, I did something is wrong somewhere, but what?

John CB

Gid wrote on 4/18/2025, 11:01 AM

@Can-Dive @browj2 Hi, I prob would have used templates more if it was easy to create your own or adjust an existing one & save it.. or as in the other post there was a simple Replace/Swap option so saved projects could be used instead.

I think this would be a good feature for all future creators, load the template, All their overlays, icons, intros etc would be in place already, just add (swap) n edit your media, that's pretty much job done.

Can-Dive wrote on 4/21/2025, 7:23 PM

@browj2

Thanks for taking the time to do a deep dive into templates to try and create one. Again I've learned something new about program.

So, I did something is wrong somewhere, but what?

I think you answered your own question...

3. I opened the MVP file separately and it created the main movie plus 4 more - Insert_1 to _4. I have no idea what to do with these, so I deleted them, and saved the MVP with a new name - 2014_Bright_Test.MVP.

I too unzipped a couple of templates and noticed the additional movies. Obviously, they are critical to the process. How it all works, I'm not sure and I appreciate the effort you made in trying to solve it but suffice to say the system isn't configured to allow users to develop their own templates. Pinnacle Studio had a function that could take any project and convert it into a template allowing the user to pre-select video/photo/sound objects and automatically convert them into template place holders. This may be a future enhancement for the Magix development team so that users can easily create their own templates without going through your 10-step process.

I agree with @Gid that an enhancement to the Swap command would be useful. The effects on the timeline object should be retained when the swap occurs and also there should be an option to auto-trim the source media if it is longer in duration than the timeline object.

While others refrain from using templates and enjoy creating projects from scratch, I like having templates as an option for the following 3 reasons;

1. It's an easy way to create/initiate a project if you are stretched for time.
2. If your videos are typically the same format, such as a vlog, templates can be a time saver.
3. Professionally created templates can be used as a learning tool to understand how particular effects were created so you can incorporate that knowledge into future projects.

Finally, while you can certainly purchase more templates from the Magix store, I would like to see the store merged with the HUB so users can use their annual credits to obtain these templates as well as other items on offer in the store.

johnebaker wrote on 4/22/2025, 3:45 PM

@Can-Dive, @browj2

. . . . I too unzipped a couple of templates and noticed the additional movies. Obviously, they are critical to the process. . . . .

You should fine where there a multiple MVPs there is one for each of the movie length settings offered, their name includes the length.

Rather than create different templates I use different 'master files, saved as ither MVP or MVD and import them into a project.

John EB
Forum Moderator