Thanks @CubeAce When I try to save the image, it says it only will save as a .pjg file I see from your video, the in and out of the fish..or whatever it is! I also notice that your graphic box has a pink color to it. Does that mean anything? screen shot attached.

You have to assume that I am a complete nubie! Thanks

@Richard-DeVito

Hi Richard.

I can confirm that my PNG file above entitled 'Or Is It', once downloaded and saved as a png does import with transparency with no additional actions needed once placed on a lower track. Do click on it first to enlarge it before saving or you will not be able to download it as a png file as the thumbnail showing is a jpg.

Ray.

@Richard-DeVito

Hi Richard.

The colour of any object can be changed and I change the objects to group them so it is visually easier for me to keep track of various objects when I make complex projects. Other than that the colours have no other meaning.

Without doing that some of my projects would end up looking like this.

The PNG file in my other post when enlarged should be able to be saved as a png file.

I don't know if your browser allows this or not. I use Firefox and have downloaded it as a png file and placed it in a different project.

Ray.

@Richard-DeVito

Hi,

I'm a little lost with why it doesn't work and why you are using transparency, etc. I am assuming that you want a red box for just the text. If so, then see below.

You have a video on track 1 (presumably with audio on track 2 - recommended).

Create your text - size and location. Move it to track 4.

You put a red colour patch (should be available under Templates, Image objects, Test objects), onto track 3 below the video, above the text. Change the size to what you want using Size/Position/Rotation effect (uncheck Combine input fields) and place it where you want - behind the text.

Done.

If you are trying to put a red background on text that is in your video, then that is something else.

John CB

Thanks John. Sure, that could be used too. The reality is that I wanted the overlay so that I had the exact position of the box over a complex page. Bottom line is that your text box would work. But, I should be able to drop a transparent PNG file on top of a video and have it lay on top... I think!

@Richard-DeVito

Hi,

The red box is not a text box, it's just a red jpg file, resized and positioned to be between the text and the video.

Look at my timeline and the Effects window. The image can be anywhere, any size. Do you know how to use the Size/Position/Rotation effect?

I don't understand why you need a transparent PNG image. Just a solid red image resized does the job.

John CB

Thanks. I did the red box trick and it worked. I am still concerned as to why transparent png files don't work. We have lots of logos that have transparent backgrounds and this was a simple test. QUESTION: Does the older version (CS5.5 of photoshop save transparency properly (or as expected in this program)? We have never had a problem with transparent pngs from photoshop in Wordpress. Thanks again to all who stepped up to help!

I am still concerned as to why transparent png files don't work

@Richard-DeVito They do work. Can you put your png on Google Drive, share the link on here & well try it ?

@Richard-DeVito

Hi.

I have CS6 and you must use the 'export png for web' option and have the transparency box ticked as I told you earlier. Using the normal export of just selecting to save as a png file does not allow for a transparent background.

My PNG example was exported as the image below the PNG file in my previous reply showed. It also downloads as a transparent PNG file if you click on it first to enlarge it. The thumbnail that shows in my reply is actually a jpg image the site uses as a placeholder.

You could also export as a PSD file with all layers as movie studio can handle Photoshop PSD files.

Ray.

Brilliant. Thanks. This explains the insanity..but why would the save as and export handle transparency differently? And why would the transparency hold up in indesign and quark?

One other sound related question please. Does this program have an echo filter/canceller? This would be to remove short echo/reverb when someone is not mic'd well or in a reflective room? Thanks!

@Richard-DeVito

Hi.

I have no idea about the other two programs regarding the PNG files as I have never used those programs.

Any form of noise reduction will adversely affect the sound quality as it will remove similar frequencies you need as well. How bad that happens depends on the severity of the problem, the adjustments made, and the tolerance of the person listening.

If you are determined to try, quickly double left click any audio in the project to bring up the various available sound shaping tools to try out.

I have better sound separation tools in other dedicated sound editing programs (DAWS) that cannot be used in MMS or VPX and the results still suck to my ears depending on what sounds I'm trying to hear and remove.

Regarding the idea others have put forward using a jpeg and using size position rotation instead is a good alternative in this instance of use and once the method is mastered can be very quick and precise.

Ray.

@Richard-DeVito

Hi

. . . . I did the red box trick and it worked. . . .

Assuming you mean the method @browj2 gave you, this is the simplest method for what you are trying to achieve.

. . . . I am still concerned as to why transparent png files don't work. . . . .

Looking at your image you posted of the timeline the PNG file has no transparent areas, the preview icon shows it has a white background and text from the slide - see image below.

It looks as though that particular slide has been exported as an image, the text warning and red box added in an image editor and exported as a png file then re-imported as 'an overlay'.

If this is the case then the initial premise of how to achieve the desired result is 'over complicated'.

John EB
Forum Moderator

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. The final result is that the .png file was not transparent even though it was transparent in photoshop. The issue was that I did a save as .png versus export and click transparency. Ultimately the text box and red background are much simpler. I did have an error in the program in that the text block became corrupted. It was in a strange place (upper right corner) in a bit mapped drop shadow. There was no way to fix it and ultimately I had to delete the text box and start from scratch. Is it possible this program acts weird when it runs short on memory? This is a win 10 pro 64 bit with 16gb of ram and plenty of hard drive. Thanks again!

@Richard-DeVito

Hi Richard.

Normally I would say 16GB of ram should be sufficient but because of the lack of a usable GPU and you are basically relying on the software and your CPU to perform alone, I'm not sure.

I would suggest opening Task Manager and see if any component is close to maxing out. (within 5 to 7%) or if the memory commit charge exceeds the total amount of physical ram. Try with the effects and without.

The base program itself does not use a great deal of ram but once you start adding effects ram usage can climb quite high quite quickly.

Ray.