Can you add a solid block of colour behind a title?

PF_01 wrote on 3/1/2016, 12:31 PM

Basic question, but I can't find a tutorial that seems to cover it.

I'm looking to add a green "bar" near the bottom of my video, and add a caption (via the "Title" tool) on top of it. So you've got the video in the background, then the green bar on a layer above that (with most of the video still visible), then the caption on top of the green bar.

I've looked through the site without any joy... the nearest I can find is to use some kind of "effects mask"... but I don't want an "effect", I just want a solid strip of colour to fade in and then fade out again for a few seconds. It doesn't have to change position or "follow" something in the video. It just has to appear and disappear. I've tried importing a ".png" image to act as the "title" but that doesn't seem to work either.

Not sure if this comes under the heading of "so simple, nobody's bothered to write down how to do it" or if I'm just searching for the wrong terminology (which is very confusing to a newcomer). In any case, I can't find an answer online and would be grateful once again for any help you can give me. Thanks!

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 3/1/2016, 1:22 PM

You can add any background you want behind the text - the only stipulation is that the background should be on a lower track number than the title.

There are some solid colours available in MEP as shown below

or you can use any image you like jpg or png - then use View/Animation, Size/Position to adjust the image to achieve what you want below is an example

the settings used for the green image

and the timeline order

HTH

John EB

browj2 wrote on 3/1/2016, 1:56 PM

Hi,

You didn't mention which version of MEP that you are using.

Further to what John EB mentioned, did you take a look at the lower thirds under Title, Templates, Captions?

I picked Expedition Centered, ungrouped it, applied a colour change under Effects, Color correction.

EDIT - I posted the wrong screen shot. Below is the correct one showing the colour change.

Or if you happen to have proDAD Heroglyph (under the titles tab), then you can also make a lower third and change the colour within Heroglyph.

PF_01 wrote on 3/1/2016, 2:37 PM

Exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for the help!

browj2 wrote on 3/1/2016, 8:52 PM

I edited my previous answer because I posted the wrong second image.

There are also 3 free lower templates that are just simple overlays available at:

http://bluefx.net/after-effects-templates/free-lower-third-template/

The problem is that once you sign up, they keep sending you emails and they have nothing to offer unless you have AfterEffects.

The 3 templates are generic and you superimpose your own title and make your own animations.