Pixelization Effect(ish)/Cookie Cutter Question

JonM wrote on 1/16/2023, 9:06 AM

Hello! So I'm playing around with Magix Movie Studio, coming from Vegas Movie Studio. I am set in my ways with Vegas but trying to exit my comfort zone for the next "upgrade", and am looking into alternatives by trying to execute certain things with different software. I generally edit dash cam videos and one of the things I do is block license plates. This is done in Vegas by copying the current video and layering it underneath the original. Apply an effect (like Pixelate) to the lower track and using cookie cutter to edge out what you want pixelated. I understand that the layering structure is opposite from Vegas; this doesn't bother me.

You are thinking about the cookie cutter the wrong way around. Main clip on the track above those clips you wish to apply the cookie cutter to. Apply the cookie cutter to the clips underneath that you wish to show in the main clip.

Then you have one instance of the cookie cutter per video clip (object).

Ray.

I think I did a bad job of explaining, in this I'd like to apply the above effect to multiple plates at a time. There seems to be no help topic on this feature in the software instructions :( . Of course if there's an alternative method for accomplishing this, I'm open to that as well.

As it stands, it appears that there's no way to apply more than one cookie cutter effect at a time (i.e. "cut away section" creating two or more pixelated rectangles), and the interface leaves a little to be desired with moving the one cookie cutter effect around. I did watch a video that @browj2 posted and learned that you can drag your mouse up/down after clicking a box to adjust its value. This is a great feature in general! But not as handy as dragging the actual effect around on the preview window.

Comments

browj2 wrote on 1/16/2023, 9:52 AM

@JonM

Hi,

There are a couple of ways to do this. First, the Cookie Cutter is not appropriate for this.

For only one mask with one or more effects, it's quite simple and is done with only one object on the timeline (track 1) and selecting a mask that goes onto track 2, resizing and moving it, keyframing it if there is movement. The effect(s) is applied to the main object, the mask limits the effect to one part or the other of a black and white (or grey scale) mask depending on the direction of the alpha mask. This is like parent/child in Vegas but you can toggle/invert the effect.

Watch this:

For more than one mask, you need to do it differently. The base is by duplicating the object (tracks 1 and 3) and putting the mask in between. Either 1 or 3 gets the effect and the mask needs Chromakey Alpah to be applied and can be resized and moved. For more, duplicate the main object onto track 5 and add a mask on track 4. Apply an effect to the object on track 5, adjust the mask on track 4. Rinse and repeat for more masks.

Masks that come with the program are under Templates, Image Objects, Layer Masks and Chromakey Alpha is automatically applied when you put one on the timeline. If you use your own mask, make sure it's a png file and add Chromakey Alpha yourself.

See this tutorial which is like the above one, but shows another way to do things.

There is another way, using Xara Designer Pro X or Xara Photo & Graphics Designer, in which you can create multiple masks of any shape and animate them to follow the motion in the video. Unfortunately, Magix has broken this. It works, but the effect is cleaned out upon reopening the project. Most annoying, as this is one feature that puts Magix MS/VPX way beyond the competition. I don't understand why they don't fix this as it's supposed to work and is documented in the manual. I have tutorials showing how to create static and animated masks and graphics using Xara directly from the video editor.

John CB

JonM wrote on 1/16/2023, 10:50 AM

@browj2 As before, thank you. I did play with object motion tracking but more times than not it seemed to track off anyway.

Is it normal for the mask to persist after the clip it's applied to ends? In my testing, it goes full screen and full-screen distorts the next clip in the timeline.

CubeAce wrote on 1/16/2023, 11:01 AM

@JonM

Hi.

I used a similar method to the one @browj2 describes in the video below. You get a reasonable idea from 31 minutes onward in the video for a minute or two in the video. Auto tracking in the the latest releases of Movie Studio or VPX is far from brilliant and manual tracking is advised if you need to alter the size of the mask as it travels across the frame. I would imaging something traveling in a more predictable motion than my example will be easier to apply but it is a pain to do for any amount of time. I my opinion, Movie Edit Pro 2021 and VPX 11 were much better than the present programs for this.

Ray.

browj2 wrote on 1/16/2023, 11:12 AM

@JonM

Hi,

Can you post a screen shot?

Remember, the effect is applied to the clip, not the mask. When the mask ends, whatever is on the higher numbered track is what you'll see. In my example, the effect is on the clip on track 5. If I shorten the masks, I'll see the mosaic effect full-screen, because the clip has that effect on it. The mask just limits the part that you see to the white part of the mask (depending on the direction of the alpha arrow).

A BW mask on track 2 between two clips 1 and 3 - the white part protects or makes opaque, meaning it shows what is on the higher numbered track 3 in the white part. The black part makes that part of track 3 transparent so you see track 1.

Above, you see the part of the clip on track 4 due to the white part of the mask.

If I click on the arrow at the left end of the mask, it inverts the mask making black white and white black even though it doesn't show on the thumbnail. Below, you now see the clip on track 4 where there is black in the mask because of the direction of the arrow.

Try doing what I show above to get a good feel for the masks and inverting them.

JonM wrote on 1/16/2023, 11:39 AM

@JonM

Hi.

I used a similar method to the one @browj2 describes in the video below. You get a reasonable idea from 31 minutes onward in the video for a minute or two in the video. Auto tracking in the the latest releases of Movie Studio or VPX is far from brilliant and manual tracking is advised if you need to alter the size of the mask as it travels across the frame. I would imaging something traveling in a more predictable motion than my example will be easier to apply but it is a pain to do for any amount of time. I my opinion, Movie Edit Pro 2021 and VPX 11 were much better than the present programs for this.

Ray.

That is some great face blocking!

Hi,
Can you post a screen shot?

Remember, the effect is applied to the clip, not the mask. When the mask ends, whatever is on the higher numbered track is what you'll see. In my example, the effect is on the clip on track 5. If I shorten the masks, I'll see the mosaic effect full-screen, because the clip has that effect on it. The mask just limits the part that you see to the white part of the mask (depending on the direction of the alpha arrow).

A BW mask on track 2 between two clips 1 and 3 - the white part protects or makes opaque, meaning it shows what is on the higher numbered track 3 in the white part. The black part makes that part of track 3 transparent so you see track 1.

Above, you see the part of the clip on track 4 due to the white part of the mask.

If I click on the arrow at the left end of the mask, it inverts the mask making black white and white black even though it doesn't show on the thumbnail. Below, you now see the clip on track 4 where there is black in the mask because of the direction of the arrow.

.

Try doing what I show above to get a good feel for the masks and inverting them.

Below is an attached screenshot but I found the solution within it! I can simply uncheck the sand effect on the 2nd clip. With the mask I used size/positioning to move it around and scale it, so when the clip ended there was no timeline for the mask in the effects panel. Sort of felt like I was on a bus where the driver fell asleep.

browj2 wrote on 1/16/2023, 1:56 PM

@JonM

Hi,

You used the basic method. The mask is attached/grouped to the clip and takes the length of the clip. That is why you see (belongs to...) in the clip description at the top of the clip. In your image, you have a second clip with no mask.

I rarely use this method preferring the sandwich method - duplicating the object with a mask in between.

John CB