Chroma Key pictures with green and blue - backgrounds reappear every time upon clicking any Video Effect

ripwinkle wrote on 10/18/2012, 11:42 AM

I have been using the Magix Video Programs for many years.  Versions 15, 16, 17, 18, all let you use and blue and green imported JPG or BMP picture files to be adjusted with video effects after clicking chroma keying.  Well, MX 2013 Plus sort of works.  After you click to eliminate the blue or green background and click on any of the video effects the blue or green background reappears in the picture every time.  You have to re-click the chroma keying to get rid of the background for readjustment every time!  Since I do a lot of overlay pictures this problem in MX 2013 Plus makes it almost impossible to adjust the picture with brightness, contrast, sharpness or any other video effect to match my background picture.  It requires enormous guesswork and is extremely irritating.  However, the chroma keying does work like the older programs with any video files that have a blue or green background.  Only chroma keying pictures are affected.  (Both .JPG and .BMP)

Anyone else have this problem?  Looks like I'll be returning to MX-Plus 18. All previous MEP programs still function right!  Any help would be appreciated. (The older programs are still installed and work correctly - but not MX 2013 Plus)

(Also for your information - no change in my computer hardware of software configuration! - Vista is stable)

Thanks for any help!

 

Comments

terrypin wrote on 10/18/2012, 1:57 PM

Hi,

I can reproduce that. I reckon it's a serious bug and have reported it.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 10/18/2012, 1:57 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

cpc000cpc wrote on 10/18/2012, 5:34 PM

I don't see the problem here when adding an effect to either the green screen image or the background. Below is preview image with whirlpool applied to my standard color test card and sand applied to the footy stars:

My setup is MEP MX Premium under Windows 7

ADDED: So, I'm OK because whirlpool and sand don't change the colors. Away from my editing machine but will test John's hypothesis a.s.a.p. I certainly agree with his logic!

johnebaker wrote on 10/18/2012, 6:10 PM

Hi

I too do not think this is a problem for a different reason:-

If you apply any effect or video effect which is likely to upset the chroma key then I would expect the chroma key to be turned off again.

For example:

If I chroma key a blue sky using the Color option and then change the saturation or contrast then the blue that I originally selected will have changed, the original colour code is no longer valid so the chroma key is now wrong.

Rather than display a wrong chroma key I think it would be perfectly normal to do a reset.

For me Chroma key should be treated like sharpening - it is the very last thing you apply an image or video after adding any other effects you need.

John

 

Last changed by johnebaker on 10/18/2012, 6:10 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

terrypin wrote on 10/19/2012, 2:26 AM

Very pleased to report that this bug was fixed in the MEP 2013 12.0.1.14 patch, which I (and presumably you, ripwinkle) had not installed. I have done so now and confirm that MEP 2013 now behaves correctly like previous versions. IOW it now doesn't change the chosen background when using an effect like Brightness, etc. Good news!

It's a separate issue, but shouldn't MEP 2013 be giving us automatic announcements when patch updates are released? I'm sure that I used to get these? Anyway, from now on I'll make a point of checking Help > Online Update regularly.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 10/19/2012, 2:26 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

terrypin wrote on 10/19/2012, 2:37 AM

Hi John,

But in practice it seems that MEP is smart enough to avoid that!

For example, if I use Video Effects > Art Filter > Substitution on a JPG with a green background and Chromakey set to Green, I can drag its slider anywhere without any effect on the background.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 10/19/2012, 3:00 AM, changed a total of 2 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

ripwinkle wrote on 10/19/2012, 1:31 PM

Thanks terrypin!

However, the MEP 2013 12.0.1.14 patch cannot be found from my MEP program nor can I find it online from Magix.

I'm in the USA - does that make a difference?  I did notify Magix of the problem finding the patch and left an explanation of the problem. Perhaps you have a link?

Question: is the USA verson same as the UK version?

I have Version 12.0.0.30 (UDC1) - (Installed from Disk) - (No updates available for my program)

Just tried again - Nope, no updates!

Thanks again

terrypin wrote on 10/20/2012, 3:08 AM

Hi ripwinkle,

Can't help you there, sorry. I've always been confused by the variations of Magix products; different release dates, different names, different regions, download versus boxed, etc. Maybe one of the USA users will be able to help. I've also emailed Support and I'll report back with any useful info.

BTW, on several occasions over the last few years the update feature in MEP has incorrectly reported that I'm up-to-date, so that's a possibility in your case. But I've then always been able to get the download from the support site, which it appears you can't do. The implication seems to be that yours is up-to-date, or (hopefully) awaiting a patch equivalent to 12.0.1.14

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 10/20/2012, 3:08 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

Scenestealer wrote on 10/21/2012, 5:23 AM

Isn't that 12.0.1.4 Terry? I think you have too many 1's in there.

The patch is on the (US) Magix support site here: https://support2.magix.com/customer/en/node/207447

Cheers

Peter

Last changed by Scenestealer on 10/21/2012, 5:23 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

System Specs: Intel 6th Gen i7 6700K 4Ghz O.C.4.6GHz, Asus Z170 Pro Gaming MoBo, 16GB DDR4 2133Mhz RAM, Samsung 850 EVO 512GB SSD system disc WD Black 4TB HDD Video Storage, Nvidia GTX1060 OC 6GB, Win10 Pro 2004, MEP2016, 2022 (V21.0.1.92) Premium and prior, VPX7, VPX12 (V18.0.1.85). Microsoft Surface Pro3 i5 4300U 1.9GHz Max 2.6Ghz, HDGraphics 4400, 4GB Ram 128GB SSD + 64GB Strontium Micro SD card, Win 10Pro 2004, MEP2015 Premium.

terrypin wrote on 10/21/2012, 10:01 AM

Thanks Peter, you're right, my careless typo.

@ripwinkle: Sorry for that - small wonder you couldn't find it! Hope you have it installed now and the bug is fixed?

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 10/21/2012, 10:01 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

ripwinkle wrote on 10/24/2012, 9:29 PM

Terry, thank you very so much for your input.  I used your URL and downloaded the update patch 12.0.1.4. Unfortunately, it said I needed to install the "Premium Version" before I could install the update.  I have the "Plus" version of 2013 installed.  To make a long story short --> I sent a ticket to Magix and ask them for the patch for the "Plus Version!"

They sent me a new URL:  http://download.magix.net/support2/vdlx2013_plus_update_12.0.1.4_msi.exe

Yes, it works and I'm again a "Happy Camper."

I just wish Magix could somehow, through a software upgrade, instruct my installed Video program to recognize patches and updates that become available.  My Video program does search for online updates, but never finds any!  What we need is a "patch for the patches."  LOL

Again, thanks Terry, John, cpc000cpc, and Peter.  You guys are true GURUS of this forum.

PS - Question:
Is it just me or does it take a lot longer to open up 18 and 2013 than the old versions 15, 16, and 17 from the desktop?  I went from 17 seconds to 80 seconds.
Not really a big problem but it reminds me of the old days using Premier. (took forever)

Thanks again,

Ross

terrypin wrote on 10/25/2012, 5:51 AM

Hi Ross,

Thanks for reporting back and well done on persevering to a happy ending!

--------------------

Re MEP startup times, my own tests this morning bear out your impression. Mind you, I can't say I'm surprised that each newer version, with its greater functionality, gets progressively longer to start.

And there is, of course, a big difference between the first startup and the following ones, presumably due to some sort of 'prefetch'. Here are my results. All tests one after the other, with nothing else particularly active but I always have many programs and services resident, such as my Firefox browser, text editor, capture program, smartphone syncing, anti-virus, Outlook, Macro Express, etc. Total 'PF Usage' in XP's Task manager was 1.2 GB, and I'm guessing these times might be affected a bit by that.

All times in seconds. I stopped when I got two identical results in succession.

MEP 14 Plus: 17, 7.6, 6

MEP 15 Plus: 20, 8, 8

MEP 16 Plus: 22, 9, 9

MEP 17 Plus: 24, 15, 15

MEP MX Premium: 28, 16, 16

MEP 2013 Premium: 30, 17, 17

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

 

Last changed by terrypin on 10/25/2012, 5:51 AM, changed a total of 1 times.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK. PC: i7 6700K, 4.0 GHz, 32GB with Win 10 pro. Used many earlier versions of MEPP, currently mainly MEPP 2016 & 2017 (Using scores of macro scripts to add functionality, tailored to these versions.)

ripwinkle wrote on 10/25/2012, 12:51 PM

Thanks Terry,


My earlier versions 15, 16, 17 were fast openers.  (15 - 17 seconds) - Initial opening times.  I guess I'm getting older and slower like my computer because when version 18 came out I thought the ads reported the opening times were sped up.  I naïvely assumed that they were talking about initial start up from the desktop.  Apparently they were talking about importing HD files.  (Which works great!)

I also had the previous versions installed on a faster internal drive than my C: drive. Versions 18 and 2013 are installed on my C: drive and hence are inherently slower opening up.

I try to keep my computer cleaned up and error free, but as you are aware Windows loads up over time with junk and slows down. But everything on my computer is functioning so well that I don't want to upset anything!  I probably should reformat and reinstall my programs but was just too much work.  I will endure slow bootup times from Windows to desktop.  I will endure slow opening times for 2013.

It's such a small trade off for using such a great program.

--------

Thanks again,
Ross