View Full Version : [done] Overlay text upgrade
Here is my first request for something better.
I watch Leo Laporte over at TWiT Live (http://live.twit.tv/) a lot.
He uses a Newtec tricaster and has some nice overlay lower thirds.
His lower thirds allow him to input TWO lines of text. (see attached image below)
1. I would like that feature with VB Studio at least.
2. I would also like the ability to change text size. I output at 640X480 and the text size that I enter is same size as lower resolutions. Shouldn't it scale up and down with screen resolution?
Laportes broadcast has his overlays made by a volunteer graphic artist. Then Leo is able to change the text lines on the fly. Both lines.
Mike can you try this?
I will thank you ahead of time for all you great work and GREAT product!
He LIVES!
I invite others to provide feedback on this. Do you too need two lines? Or should there be a full screen text editor instead (more flexible, but more work for just 2 lines)? Obviously that would also require a larger module.
The only easy way I see to add 2 lines support (i.e. without complicating the UI) is to support a newline character (e.g. \n). To enter two lines, you would type "line 1 here\nline 2 here". Editing would be a bit more complicated due to the limited size of the edit field. But for the example shown here, a title, I guess you would type it once and never need to edit anyway.
Mike
For my needs 2 lines would work. But, I would like to be able to change text size and maybe even the font. so maybe a whole module would work. I noticed that text size stays the same no matter what resolution you select. On 640x480 or larger, the text is at very bottom and relatively small.
I plan on making my lower thirds 50-60 pixels high and would like to put text 1st line on top half and second line on lower half.
I don't know how tricastster does this. But Leo loads them quickly and is able to change both lines of text on the fly.
I might be interested in being able to insert text on an overlay anywhere on the screen if that option was available.
Question. Can I load more than one overlay module and switch between them? That might solve my problem on the fly if I could pre-load 2 or 3 overlays and switch them. I think that may be what Leo does.
In v0.47 I added a dialog so you can set the font name, size, colour and type. I will wait for your (and other's) reply regarding the extra line(s).
In v0.47 I added a dialog so you can set the font name, size, colour and type. I will wait for your (and other's) reply regarding the extra line(s).
Thanks Mike
I will try it and let you know.
Product is awesome!
Nice! Maybe it would be nice if it was possible to change the location of the text. It could be just like the updated PIP I guess, so that you can drag the text to another place.
Actually that's not the same, as the text is not in the image. I could display the text in the preview image of the overlay so you can grab it? But it would be very small...
Having a built in character generator would be nice but since its not in the foreseeable future the next best thing would be to import them from photoshop or the free app gimp.
In these apps you can do almost anything with all the tools required except maybe animation (I am not to sure about this because cs3 and 4 have an animation tool) and the expot them via usb or c5 and have the operator add them. It would be great if the mixer opertaor coud at least nudge the file in the overlay.
Cheers
Ric Marty
P.S. I am searching for an app like vidblaster studio for use in taping for broadcast on air,cable,web.
In v0.47 I added a dialog so you can set the font name, size, colour and type. I will wait for your (and other's) reply regarding the extra line(s).
Thanks Mike
I will try it and let you know.
Works good Mike! I think this will work for my needs. Thanks alot! ;D ;D
rvonhogen
19 May 2009, 18:48
It would be nice to be able to select outlining as well; it's always centered currently, but sometimes you want the text to be on the left or on the right.
Also, would it be possible to make the text anti-aliased? That would look so much better than the somewhat computer-like output you get at present.
Assume you mean aligning? Working on that..
Text is displayed anti-aliased, are you sure yours is not? Note not all fonts and size support this.. Can you attach a screen shot of a the standard VidBlaster text overlay with "Abc" in Arial size 72?
Alignment is available in v1.01.
What about the auto width setting? It is now set to use the space available in the VidBlaster text overlay graphic, something like 60% of the total width.
1. I could remove it, and let you use spaces and alignment and font size setting to position the text.
2. Or I could make a Width setting (not sure if that's the right word) in pixels, or percentage?
3. Anyone has a better more intuitive idea?
HawkMultimedia
13 Sep 2009, 20:22
Alignment is available in v1.01.
What about the auto width setting? It is now set to use the space available in the VidBlaster text overlay graphic, something like 60% of the total width.
1. I could remove it, and let you use spaces and alignment and font size setting to position the text.
2. Or I could make a Width setting (not sure if that's the right word) in pixels, or percentage?
3. Anyone has a better more intuitive idea?
I like the width setting with an Auto and specific percentage(s) options. I would also LOVE multiple lines by using /n. Not sure how the height would play out, as I'm guessing you'd end up with the same positioning and spacing hurdles. You could similarly use a height setting based on the video resolution or overlay graphic, but would also need to specify height or spacing between multiple lines.
Instead of a Width setting I could also leave it out and let you use spaces? Or I could add Left Margin and Right Margin settings? Not sure how far to take this..
HawkMultimedia
18 Sep 2009, 07:23
Space sizes will vary depending on the font size and text scaling (could/should the scaling be optional?). Margins in pixels would be super! That way, we could use both margins and spaces for precise placement. :o
I added a Margin | Left and | Right. It's obvious what will happen when you choose left and right alignment, but what do you expect when you choose centered?
HawkMultimedia
18 Sep 2009, 15:16
If you define the margins as being the distance from the edges of the display, then I would expect it to center from the margin(s) rather than a marginal off-put of the centered or scaled text.
Okay, that'll be available in v1.08.
Multi-line support will also be available from v1.08. I wanted to attach a sample picture but attachments is not working, I'll have to ask Barry to look into that.
Barry came into action (even though he's on some remote island for his work) and fixed the forum. Here's the image that shows the new feature.
Sinc747
24 Sep 2009, 02:07
Very cool! Can't wait.
HawkMultimedia
30 Sep 2009, 05:23
Yes, very exciting! I can't wait, either!!
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