Thanks for your reply.

I don't understand what that feature is that you mentioned. I'm after a color background that I can put other images or clips over the top of. I don't want the background linked to a specific image or video clip. Out of interest, I tried what you suggested and got this result:

I tried to make the background white and all it did was make a pixel-thin strip of white on the right-hand side of the green image. I don't know what it's doing. I thought perhaps this feature is used to change the background of transparent images or something, but it seemed to have no effect on those images either. Either way, it's not what I'm after.

The first 30 seconds of this video will show you how it's done in Premiere Pro:


For black backgrounds, I don't like to rely on empty space in the timeline to create black. I find that a bit sloppy. If there's just empty space between clips it makes it easier to accidentally erase your empty space by dragging a clip. It also takes longer to calculate the length of black space. It's easier just to click on a black background clip and see how long it is (depends on the NLE though).

I use a white color matte as a flash effect at times, and occasionally I use a solid color background when creating slideshow-type videos.

Now, the design elements, I wasn't aware I had to download more features after installing the trial. I tried the Free Download option, and got this window:

It seemed to just give me an option to download videos.

I was sure I've created color mattes before in an older version of Magix. Maybe it's part of whatever else is missing in this trial version.

Well, I don't know how to explain it more simply than I did, sorry!

I can't follow that Premiere Pro video; its resolution is too low, there's no narrative or text, and I've never used that program. But it does seem ponderous for such a simple operation as this.

If you want a universal background and you don't have the Background folder installed (perhaps it's not available with the trial version?) then just drag a suitably coloured rectangle onto track 1 and place your video material in track 2!

"...a pixel-thin strip of white..."
It sounds suspiciously like you didn't reduce the size of your green foreground image. Obviously a background cannot be seen if the foreground covers it!

Or are we at cross-purposes and you actually want to change the colour of the timeline itself? If so, that's not possible.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hi

. . . . I don't like to rely on empty space in the timeline to create black. I find that a bit sloppy. If there's just empty space between clips it makes it easier to accidentally erase your empty space by dragging a clip . . .

I agree with you here - I created a basic set of colour jpg images 1920 * 1080 pixels for inserting in the gaps where appropriate - I mainly use a black image for this.

. . . . a pixel-thin strip of white . . . .

I agree with Terry the green image is masking the rest of the background.

. . . . I tried the Free Download option, and got this window . . . .

That would suggest the software is not registered and extended the trial period properly.  You should get this when you go to free downloads

HTH

John

Hi,

Further to Terry's explanation, you only get the downloads after purchasing the program. See the image below.

Below is what will show up under Effects, Test images.

Below is what will show up under Effects, Backgrounds.

These are all just jpg images and you can use your own, as Terry said.

Terry described two methods for backgrounds. I will try to explain in even more detail.

The first method, and the one that you tried adds a coloured background to the image, either from the palette or from a background image that you import. You will only see the background if the main image does not cover the entire screen. Your green image covers the entire screen, or almost, which is why you do not see it. Reduce the size of your green image by clicking on it, going to Effects, Movement effects, and dragging the Zoom slider to the left or by dragging the handles on the image to move or reduce it. You will immediately see your background.

See the image below to see the screen in which the main image is smaller than the screen. I made the background white. You can see the background to the left and right of my racing car image.

I reduced the size of my image in the following screen and you will more clearly see the white background.

Method 2 - and the one that you want in order to have a background image where you would have a blank space in the timeline. You are correct in that you should not have a blank space and the program will advise you of this when you try to export or burn. Thus you have to insert an image into the blank space.

In MEP, whatever is on an upper track (track 1 being the highest on your screen) will be covered by whatever is on the lower tracks, unless you use the chroma key. I put the background image on track 1, and moved my next image to track 2 to show what happens if you want the background for longer than just the blank space. You can see that when the playback marker gets to my next image, the orange background is still there, but only in the space outside of the area covered by the image on track 2. If you want the background throughout the video, put it on track 1 and everything else on tracks 2 and lower. Drag the size handle of the background image to the right to extend the length that you want.

The next image shows the orange background image where there is nothing else on the timeline.

The next image shows the orange background where it extends behind the next image.

This is all really very simple.

Lastly, MEP2015 is now out in Germany and will soon be available in English. You may want to wait. I suggest that you buy the Plus or Premium version and not the regular version, as there are too many good things missing from the regular version. The additional plugins of the Premium version are probably well worth the money and you could not buy them for anything close to the price.

HTH

John EB got his answer in while I was making up mine. I didn't notice until I posted.

Thanks a lot for the replies, everyone. As indicated in browj2's pic, I'm looking for Design Elements -> Test Images -> User-defined. I did extend my trial by 30 days, but as pointed out, it seems I'd have to buy the program before I can use the color matte option.

September is generally 'new version time' for many video editing programs, and yes I did notice that MEP 2015 was advertised on the german Magix site. So I'll have to check out a few trials of the new versions. At least I've got 30 days to play a bit more with MEP 2014.

thanks