Tracking or Kerning Text in MEP2013

LJ123 wrote on 2/27/2013, 9:21 AM

Does anyone know how or is it possible to track or kern text in title editor?


I typed some text into title editor using outline, shadow and 3D and I would like to track or kern out the text to make each letter of text further apart,  I have noticed that the letters I typed are too close to each other and are slightly merging together, in other words I want each letter to be further apart.


Lenny

Comments

terrypin wrote on 2/27/2013, 10:41 AM

Hi Lenny,

There is no direct kerning facility. Streching the text in Size/Position might give some improvement although the text as well as the space gets stretched too. One work-around is to insert suitably narrow blanks between each character, taking advantage of the flexibility of MEP's Title Editor. For one or two small sections of text this wouldn't take too long. I reckon these 26 characters (excluding original and added spaces) took me about 10 minutes.

Or for better quality: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MEP2013-StretchedText.jpg

External tools can also add this as an effect. Or, of course, you could use the kerning feature in the text creation area of most good image editors and import your text to MEP as a bitmap image.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 2/27/2013, 10:49 AM, changed a total of 4 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.)

LJ123 wrote on 3/1/2013, 9:52 AM

Hi Terry,

Thanks for getting back to me, I will try waht you said latter but I have one other question, I noticed in your attached pic you have one extra button (X3D) is this an addon or should I have this in my MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 2013 Premium programe?

Lenny, S.E. London.

terrypin wrote on 3/1/2013, 10:15 AM

Hi Len,

That's odd. AFAiK I've always had that , so it's puzzling you don't?

Anyone else?

Terry, East Grinstead, UK 

Last changed by terrypin on 3/1/2013, 10:15 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.)

johnebaker wrote on 3/1/2013, 11:24 AM

Hi Lenny

Which version of MEP 2013 do you have Basic, Plus or Premium?

@ Terry - do you have Xara 3D installed - I to do not have the X3D button and I do not have Xara 3D installed.

John

Last changed by johnebaker on 3/1/2013, 11:26 AM, changed a total of 2 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.

emmrecs wrote on 3/1/2013, 2:09 PM

 

Hi Lenny

Which version of MEP 2013 do you have Basic, Plus or Premium?

@ Terry - do you have Xara 3D installed - I to do not have the X3D button and I do not have Xara 3D installed.

John

Hi John, Terry and Lenny.

Don't want to hijack this thread but John's post about that X3D button made me look again at the various MAGIX programs installed on my main computer.  I checked VPX 3, 4 and 5 along with MEP MX Premium and none of them has that X3D button, but I DO have XARA 3D version 7!

What I will check, when I have a few minutes, is whether selecting to edit a 3D title opens the full XARA program, which I think it does.

Edit/Update with correction: when I insert a title object and then select the Title>General tab, behold the X3D button appears as if by magic!  As a quick test I deleted the object on the timeline and the button also disappeared.  With the title object on the timeline, clicking the X3D button opens "MAGIX 3D Maker", which, by the look of it, is based on the full XARA 3D program!

Confused, or what?

Jeff

Last changed by emmrecs on 3/1/2013, 2:09 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

Win 11 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 14700, 16 GB RAM, NVidia RTX 4060 and Intel UHD770 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

terrypin wrote on 3/2/2013, 1:03 AM

Hi guys,

Behaviour here in MEP 2013 Premium is identical to Peter's.

I don't have the full Xara 3D Maker installed. Seem to recall it's pretty expensive? And I guess I've used only about 1% of the built-in ('embedded') version anyway.

 

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 3/2/2013, 1:03 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.)

johnebaker wrote on 3/2/2013, 3:54 AM

Hi Everyone

MEP 17, MX and 2013 behaviour as I originally described.

VPX4 behaviour as Peter and Terry and edfinitely no Xara 3D Maker installed.

Odd, weird, confusing - take your pick

John

Last changed by johnebaker on 3/2/2013, 3:54 AM, 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.

LJ123 wrote on 3/2/2013, 10:21 AM

 

Hi Lenny

Which version of MEP 2013 do you have Basic, Plus or Premium?

@ Terry - do you have Xara 3D installed - I to do not have the X3D button and I do not have Xara 3D installed.

John

Hi John, Terry and Lenny.

Don't want to hijack this thread but John's post about that X3D button made me look again at the various MAGIX programs installed on my main computer.  I checked VPX 3, 4 and 5 along with MEP MX Premium and none of them has that X3D button, but I DO have XARA 3D version 7!

What I will check, when I have a few minutes, is whether selecting to edit a 3D title opens the full XARA program, which I think it does.

Edit/Update with correction: when I insert a title object and then select the Title>General tab, behold the X3D button appears as if by magic!  As a quick test I deleted the object on the timeline and the button also disappeared.  With the title object on the timeline, clicking the X3D button opens "MAGIX 3D Maker", which, by the look of it, is based on the full XARA 3D program!

Confused, or what?

Jeff

Hi John, Jeff, Terry

I have MEP 2013 Premium boxed version.
I have tried what you did in your above post and nothing, I tried many different 3d objects and all I get is this every time, see pic below.

 

Lenny.

Update:
I have just downloaded the demo of Xara 3d Maker7, I installed it, opened MEP2013 up and the X3d button has now appeared, so the only thing I can think of is some of you who have installed a previous version of MEP may have had xara 3d maker bundled with your programmes.

Scenestealer wrote on 3/2/2013, 3:30 PM

Hi Guys

We have discussed this here

 

Hi

This was explained here to some degree: http://www.magix.info/us/importing-3d-titles-from-xara.knowledge.782382.html

My input copied here:-

"As far as I know - if you have Xara 3D trial installed you should have access from the timeline direct to the program. If you place an MEP Xara default title on the timeline then double click it, it will open the main program where you modify it using all the options available in the main Xara program. To save changes back to the timeline just close Xara but make sure if there is animation that you close Xara whilst the animation is playing, not stopped. No need to export as AVI, etc.

This works permanently with the trial version of Xara once installed.

My only problem is that this works 80% of the time but now and again after reopening MEP the title reverts totally to a animated default that is not even the preset default you loaded from MEP's selection. Usually with any luck I can load one of the automatic project backup's and all is well."

Plus and Premium versions should have Xara 3D embedded versions when the main program installs. Downloading the trial version of Xara 3D (full version) adds further functionality without buying the program. This is why I andTerry have access to it (see his explorer screen shot).

What is further confusing me is that I do not seem to be able to use any Xara 3D at all in MEP2013 Premium at present. The X3d button disappears if I click on it in the Standard title editor and dragging a preset from the media pool brings up a "File can not be read......" error message as described in this recent post: http://www.magix.info/us/title-animations.forum.921737.html. This works OK in MEP MX.

Peter

 


 

Last changed by Scenestealer on 3/2/2013, 3:30 PM, 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.

johnebaker wrote on 3/3/2013, 3:40 AM

Hi Everyone

I have installed the trial version of Xara 3D and the button does appear in MEP 2013.

@Peter - did you install Xara 3D before MEP 2013?

I hav tried several different titles from each of the categories and the X3D button appears every time and allows them to be edited in Xara 3D.

The odd thing is if the animation in Xara 3D is not playing I get the original title replaced with a static 3D title.

John

Last changed by johnebaker on 3/3/2013, 3:40 AM, 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 3/3/2013, 9:39 AM

 

 

The odd thing is if the animation in Xara 3D is not playing I get the original title replaced with a static 3D title.

 

Hi John,

As Peter pointed out in his post last June, that's by design. Quite useful I find. Ctrl + Space immediately stops the animation, helpfully always at the end of its cycle.

One of several remaining difficulties I have with 3D Maker is understanding how its text sizing works. No matter what point size I set, the text remains the same size when I close the dialog. The only factor affecting it appears to be the number of characters. It's as if  it's always set to 'Set to width'. So I then have to use Position/Size, and that's not precise enough to quickly set multiple lines to the same size. Do you get same behaviour?

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 3/3/2013, 9:39 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 3/3/2013, 9:47 AM

Hi Peter,

Thanks for posting that link. I was on holiday briefly on those dates last year and missed that useful discussion, even after my return.

Any thoughts about my text sizing problem, described in my post to John?

Your issue with 2013 is puzzling. Can't think of a likely cause, sorry.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK 

Last changed by terrypin on 3/3/2013, 9:47 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.)

LJ123 wrote on 3/3/2013, 10:56 AM

 

 

The odd thing is if the animation in Xara 3D is not playing I get the original title replaced with a static 3D title.

 

Hi John,

As Peter pointed out in his post last June, that's by design. Quite useful I find. Ctrl + Space immediately stops the animation, helpfully always at the end of its cycle.

One of several remaining difficulties I have with 3D Maker is understanding how its text sizing works. No matter what point size I set, the text remains the same size when I close the dialog. The only factor affecting it appears to be the number of characters. It's as if  it's always set to 'Set to width'. So I then have to use Position/Size, and that's not precise enough to quickly set multiple lines to the same size. Do you get same behaviour?

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hi Terry,

I don't know if you have seen the online tutorial for magix 3d maker, here is the link:

http://www.xara.com/uk/products/xara3d/tutorials-demos/

or you can view the tutorial buy going to the help section in 3d maker.

Also I have looked for 3d maker (embedded) on my pc and the install dvd of mep2013 premium and it is nowhere to be found.

Lenny.

terrypin wrote on 3/3/2013, 1:22 PM

Hi Terry,

I don't know if you have seen the online tutorial for magix 3d maker, here is the link:

http://www.xara.com/uk/products/xara3d/tutorials-demos/

or you can view the tutorial buy going to the help section in 3d maker.

Thanks Lenny, I had seen that but it doesn't cover the text sizing topic.

Also I have looked for 3d maker (embedded) on my pc and the install dvd of mep2013 premium and it is nowhere to be found.

Maybe I misunderstood, but from your earlier post I thought you'd now accessed the 3D features?

With  a new project open, if you use Title > Standard > 3D Animated do you see templates like this?

Or for better quality: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MEP2013-Opening3D.jpg

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 3/3/2013, 1:22 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.)

Scenestealer wrote on 3/4/2013, 12:00 AM

Hi John

I had installed Xara3D V6 Trial back in MEP17 or earlier days and have just installed Ver7 as I see the embedded version number is now 7.0.0.540 and wondered if it needed the latest version of the full program but no luck - I still can not use any template which appears in MEP2013's Titler.

Lenny

Did you look in Program files\Magix\Common\3DMaker embedded? This is where mine is but interestingly the windows search function could not locate it there...??

Terry

Yes that text size thing annoys me too. It may be meant to be taken care of by the size (resolution) of the document or AVI that you export to if you are doing an export but when it is integrated with MEP the only way is to increase by using the "size / position" effect. Hardly ideal as you say. 

Peter

Last changed by Scenestealer on 3/4/2013, 12:00 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 3/4/2013, 4:21 AM

Hi Peter,

See my PM.

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 3/4/2013, 4:21 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 3/5/2013, 12:32 AM

Hi Terry

I got your PM. Thanks for your help there - it is much appreciated. I have installed both Ver6 and 7 but to no avail.

Pleased to report though after much trolling through folder locations and Windows permissions etc., I have finally got it working by "Resetting Program Defaults" in MEP. I know this is often suggested by the German members as a "Fix all" and I should have tried it sooner as it also appears to have fixed another problem I was having with the  "colour correction" effect where it would not select the colour for the mask.

Now......if it has also fixed a third problem where trying to "Display Audio Tracks" for surround sound would cause MEP to stop responding..........!

Thanks all for your help.

Peter

Last changed by Scenestealer on 3/5/2013, 12:32 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 3/5/2013, 12:29 PM

Hi Peter,

Great - pleased to hear 3D Maker working for you now.

I often postpone Reset to defaults too, worried that I'll have to reconfigure too much. Sometimes I use a recent back up of video deluxe.ini instead.

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 3/5/2013, 12:29 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.)

johnebaker wrote on 3/5/2013, 2:53 PM

Hi Everyone

. . . . Sometimes I use a recent back up of video deluxe.ini instead . . . .

On this score I made a backup copy of the ini file after first installation and setting up the folderpaths, options etc in the programs settings.

I also created a small command file to automatically replace the current ini file with a copy of the original.

Instant reset !!  

We appear to have drifted very OT 

John

Last changed by johnebaker on 3/5/2013, 2:55 PM, changed a total of 3 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.

Scenestealer wrote on 3/5/2013, 4:09 PM

OT.......a little maybe, but we are trying to suggest a way which LJ123 can achieve kerning via the embeded version of Xara 3d and it should work without the full Xara program. The program reset to defaults is a possible solution to his (and maybe others) initial malfunction or absence of the embeded effects without resorting to additional program installs.

Peter

Last changed by Scenestealer on 3/5/2013, 4:09 PM, 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.

LJ123 wrote on 3/6/2013, 12:41 PM

Hi Terry,

I don't know if you have seen the online tutorial for magix 3d maker, here is the link:

http://www.xara.com/uk/products/xara3d/tutorials-demos/

or you can view the tutorial buy going to the help section in 3d maker.

Thanks Lenny, I had seen that but it doesn't cover the text sizing topic.

Also I have looked for 3d maker (embedded) on my pc and the install dvd of mep2013 premium and it is nowhere to be found.

Maybe I misunderstood, but from your earlier post I thought you'd now accessed the 3D features?

Sorry if I did not make myself clear, what I did was download the demo version of Xara 3DMaker and installed it then I got the X3D button in MEP2013.

With a new project open, if you use Title > Standard > 3D Animated do you see templates like this?

Or for better quality: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MEP2013-Opening3D.jpg

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Yes I do see these templates.

LJ123 wrote on 3/6/2013, 12:43 PM

Hi John,

I looked in all the Magix and Common folders on my PC and did not find 3DMaker embedded anywhere.

Lenny.

terrypin wrote on 3/6/2013, 12:52 PM

Lenny,

So are you now able to use 3D Maker, in particular to experiment with the kerning options as a much faster alternative to the method I described?

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Last changed by terrypin on 3/6/2013, 12:52 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.)

LJ123 wrote on 3/6/2013, 1:06 PM

Lenny,

So are you now able to use 3D Maker, in particular to experiment with the kerning options as a much faster alternative to the method I described?

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Hi Terry,

Yes 3D maker works very well, I also use Avid Studio and that can do kerning from the main programme but I do prefer to use MEP2013 as it is such a more powerful programme and it lets me bring my video files in from my camera to which avid studio does not.


Lenny