Sony Vegas 6 Manual

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Using generated media
Generated media plug-ins are a special class of plug-
in that creates virtual media files contained in 
events on the timeline. These virtual files are stored 
in the Project Media window, where their properties 
can be viewed and modified.
Generated media provide an easy way to add text, 
backgrounds, or test patterns to your project. You 
can view the generators by choosing 
Media 
Generators 
from the View menu to display the Media 
Generators window.
Generated media events can be animated using 
keyframes. For more information, see Using keyframe 
animation on page 273 and Animating generated text on 
page 280.
Adding a generated media event
You can add a generated media event by choosing Generated Media from the Insert menu. This adds the 
event at the cursor position in the selected track. However, perhaps the simplest way to add generated media 
is through drag-and-drop.
1.From the View menu, choose Media Generators. The Media Generators window displays.
2.Drag a generator from the Media Generators window to the project. The mouse cursor changes to indicate 
when you can drop the generator.
3.Modify the generator in the Video FX window and close the window when 
you are finished. To modify settings at a later time, click the 
Generated Media 
button (
) on the event. For help on the different controls in the Video FX 
window, click the 
Plug-In Help button () to access online help.
Tip: A generated media event is ten seconds long as a 
default. However, you can trim the event to any length. For 
more information, see Trimming an event on page 103.
Generated mediaDescription
CheckerboardCreates checked and striped patterns.
Color gradientCreates gradient colored events to be used behind overlays, as 
masks, or for fades.
Credit rollCreates events that format your text into credits. Text can be 
formatted within the Video Event FX dialog in Vegas software, or 
pasted into this dialog from a word processing processing 
program.
Noise textureCreates realistic-looking textures.
Solid colorCreates solid colored events to be used behind overlays or for 
fades.
Test patternCreates standard test patterns that can be used to calibrate your 
video output stream. Many studios and broadcast facilities require 
a color bar pattern at the beginning of your video so that 
engineers can calibrate their equipment. 
Te x tCreates events containing text for titles or simple credits. Text can 
be formatted with color, shadows, and other effects.
Generated
Media
button 
						

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Duplicating a generated media event
Once you have added a generated media event and modified its settings, you can duplicate it. For more 
information, see Duplicating events on page 103. 
When you duplicate a generated media event, you have two options: 
 Select the Create a new copy of the source media radio button if 
you want the new event to be modified on its own. The new 
event is completely independent of the original event.
 Select the Create a reference to the original media radio button 
to keep the new event linked to the original generated media 
event. Any change to either event is mirrored in the other.
Compositing
Compositing is the process of mixing visual elements together into a final output. In Vegas software, this 
means mixing tracks together vertically. Masks, generated text, and chroma keying all involve compositing. 
Understanding how compositing works is important to understanding these and many other video track 
mixing techniques.
Understanding the parent/child track relationship
The key to understanding overlays, masks, transparency, and compositing is to 
understand the parent/child
 relationship between tracks. In general terms, the 
parent track is the highest track in a group of tracks (often only two) and the 
behavior of the child tracks (i.e., how they are composited together) is 
determined by the parent track. 
You can also produce complex compositing by creating nested parent/child 
groups with compositing parents and children at various levels.
When you have multiple levels of parent and child tracks, clicking the Make 
Compositing Child
 button () moves the track in one level and clicking the 
Make Compositing Parent button () moves out one level.
Hold  while clicking the Make Compositing Child button to move a track 
and all its child tracks in one level.
The following three examples demonstrate different compositing relationships.
The first example shows two independent tracks. The top track contains a 
generated text event that has a transparent background. The second track 
therefore shows through the transparent areas in the Video Preview window. 
Since the second track does not have any transparent areas, any tracks below it 
would be completely obscured.
Ctrl 
						

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In the second example, track two is the child track of track one (the parent track), and the compositing 
mode of track one is set to 
Mask. This parent/child relationship was set up by clicking the Make Compositing 
Child
 button () in the track list for track two. This makes the text in track one act as a mask over track two, 
allowing the fire to show through the mask (i.e., the text). The region outside of the text is still transparent, 
but there is nothing below these tracks, so it appears black.
In the third example, a generated media event was added to the track below the first two tracks, which are 
already paired in a parent/child relationship. The color gradient event in track three shows through the 
transparent area of the top two paired tracks. 
Selecting compositing modes
The Compositing Mode button () determines how the 
transparency in a video track is generated. Since lower tracks 
show through higher tracks, it is the compositing mode of the 
higher track that determines how much of the lower track shows 
though. 
Note: The compositing mode of the lowest video track is a 
special case. Selecting a mode for the lowest track affects its 
transparency against a black background.
To select a compositing mode, click the Compositing Mode button and choose a mode from the menu that 
appears, or choose 
Custom to customize compositing with a 2-to-1 transform plug-in.
Custom compositing modes are available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Make Compositing
Child buttonParent track
Child track
Click to choose a compositing mode 
						

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The sample below uses a generated text event that is partially transparent. For more information, see Using 
generated media on page 247.
The following table shows how these two sample tracks are blended using each of the compositing modes. 
Compositing modeSampleDescription
AddAdds the overlay color values to the background. Available only in the 
full version of Vegas software.
SubtractSubtracts the overlay color values from the background. Available only in 
the full version of Vegas software.
Multiply (Mask)Multiplies the overlay color values by the background color values. This 
makes overlay colors stronger and more present and results in a darker 
video image. The opposite of this mode is Screen.
Source AlphaUses the alpha channel to determine transparency in the overlay.
This compositing mode is based on the alpha channel characteristics of an 
event or media file. If no alpha channel is present in the overlay, the Source 
Alpha compositing mode has no effect.
CutCuts out the overlay color values from the background. Available only in 
the full version of Vegas software.
ScreenMultiplies the inverse of the overlay color values with the background color 
values. This makes overlay colors weaker and less present and results in a 
lighter video image. The opposite of this mode is Multiply. Available only 
in the full version of Vegas software.
Set compositingmode for 
overlay track
Overlay track
Background track 
						

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Adjusting opacity with the composite level slider
You can precisely control the transparency or blending of the overlay with the 
composite level slider. Left is transparent and right is 100% opaque. You can 
also double-click the current value to enter a specific numeric percentage.
OverlayHeightens contrast by using Multiply mode on darker colors and Screen 
mode on lighter colors. Available only in the full version of Vegas 
software.
Hard LightAdds overlay colors as if the overlay were lit by a bright, focused spotlight. 
Available only in the full version of Vegas software.
DodgeBrightens the background based on the overlay color values. Available 
only in the full version of Vegas software.
BurnDarkens the background based on the overlay color values. Available only 
in the full version of Vegas software.
DarkenCompares the overlay and background pixel by pixel and selects the darker 
color value for each pixel. Available only in the full version of Vegas 
software.
LightenCompares the overlay and background pixel by pixel and selects the lighter 
color value for each pixel. Available only in the full version of Vegas 
software.
DifferenceCompares the overlay and background pixel by pixel and subtracts the 
darker color value from the lighter color to generate a new color value 
(difference). Available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Difference SquaredRemaps color values along a parabolic curve. The color values of the layers 
in the composite group are subtracted, and then the subtracted values are 
squared.
The resulting image will have less extreme changes in color values as the 
colors approach black (RGB 0,0,0) and more extreme changes in color 
values as colors approach white (RGB 255,255,255). Available only in 
the full version of Vegas software.
Compositing mode Sample Description
Composite level slider 
						

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Using a 2-to-1 transform plug-in to customize compositing
Click the Parent Composite Mode () or Composite Mode button and choose Custom from the menu to use 
plug-ins to control how the parent track modifies the tracks in its composite group.
Custom compositing is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
The included Displacement Map, Height Map, and Bump Map plug-ins can create interesting lens, mirror, 
water, fire, and other light-bending effects. These plug-ins are explained below:
 Displacement Map: Uses the parent image as a guide to offset the pixels in the composited child tracks 
along the horizontal and vertical axes. The X and Y offsets are independently encoded in the image color 
channels.
 Height Map: Uses the parent image as a guide to offset the pixels in the composited child tracks. The 
gradient of the image in the parent track is used to determine the amount of offset for the image displayed 
at that location, much like how light bends through a lens.
 Bump Map: Uses the parent image as a guide to add texture and lighting to the composited child tracks. 
The texture of the bump map is applied to the composited child tracks: light sections of the map represent 
high areas, and dark sections represent low areas.
3D Compositing
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
With 3D compositing, you can move video tracks anywhere in space to simulate realistic motion and 
lighting.
With 2D compositing (and in previous versions of Vegas software), you can move video or images along the 
X or Y axes, and you can rotate video along the Z axis. With 3D compositing, you can move or rotate along 
the X, Y, or Z axes to create distance, depth, and perspective.
There are two basic rules to 3D compositing:
1.When you have a 2D track in the track list, 3D tracks below that track are rendered in 3D and then 
composited as a 2D image. 
2.A 2D track at the root level (flush to the left of the track list) acts as a barrier to interaction between 3D 
tracks.
In the following examples, both text tracks have been rotated in 3D: the “hot” track is rotated toward the 
user, and the “cool” track is rotated away from the user.  
						

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In the first example, the two tracks intersect along their rotation axis. In the second example, adding a 2D 
track above the “cool” track causes it to be rotated in 3D and composited as a 2D image so the “hot” text is 
displayed above it without intersecting.
Single-track 3D motion
1.Click the Tr a c k  M o t i o n button () on the track that contains the overlay that you want to animate. The 
Track Motion window is displayed. 
2.From the Compositing Mode drop-down list, choose 3D Source Alpha. 
3.Choose a setting from the Layout drop-down list to choose the workspace display that you want to use. 
The 
Layout setting allows you to see your track from various points of view.
4.Adjust the selection area to change the viewable area of the track and its position in space. Guides are 
displayed in bold to indicate how the track will be moved or rotated:
 
Moving closer to or farther 
from viewer. Drag across 
corners to flip the track.Dragging the track.Rotating left to right 
around the Y axis.Rotating forward or
backward around the
X axis.Rotating around the
Z axis. 
						

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5.Use the buttons at the top of the dialog to allow or prevent movement or scaling. For more information, see 
Changing editing options on page 256.
Tip: Right-click the workspace to display a shortcut menu 
that displays commands to restore, center, or flip the selection 
box. You can also force the box to match the source medias 
aspect ratio or your projects output aspect ratio. Matching 
the output aspect ratio can prevent black bars from appearing 
when you use source media (such as photographs) that does 
not match your projects aspect ratio.
6.The 3D track motion occurs instantly, and the results are updated in the Video Preview window. 
7.Use the keyframe controller at the bottom of the Track Motion window to establish distinct track motion 
settings throughout the duration of the track. 
During playback, immediate frames are interpolated to create smooth motion. Expand the Keyframe 
interpolation
 heading on the left side of the window and drag the Smoothness slider to adjust the 
interpolation. For more information, see Using keyframe animation on page 273. 
						

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Composited group 3D motion
1.Click the Make Compositing Child button () on the tracks you want to 
group to create a compositing
 group. For more information, see Understanding 
the parent/child track relationship on page 248.
2.Click the Parent Composite Mode button () on the parent track and choose 
3D Source Alpha. 
3.Click the Parent Motion button () on the parent track. The Track Motion 
window is displayed.
Parent track motion affects the parent track and all child tracks.
In the sample track list to the right, parent track motion on track 1 will 
affect tracks 1 through 6.
Parent track motion applied to track 4 will affect only tracks 4 through 6.
4.Choose a setting from the Layout drop-down list to choose the workspace display you want to use. The 
Layout setting allows you to see your track from various points of view.
5.Adjust the selection area to change the viewable area of the track and its position in space. Guides are 
displayed in bold to indicate how the track will be moved or rotated:
 
6.Use the buttons at the top of the dialog to allow or prevent movement or scaling. For more information, see 
Changing editing options on page 256.
Tip: Right-click the workspace to display a shortcut menu that 
displays commands to restore, center, or flip the selection box. 
You can also force the box to match the source medias aspect 
ratio or your projects output aspect ratio. Matching the output 
aspect ratio can prevent black bars from appearing when you use 
source media that does not match your projects aspect ratio.
7.The 3D track motion occurs instantly, and the results are updated in the Video Preview window. 
8.Use the keyframe controller at the bottom of the Track Motion window to establish distinct track motion 
settings throughout the duration of the track. 
During playback, immediate frames are interpolated to create smooth motion. Expand the Keyframe 
interpolation
 heading on the left side of the window and drag the Smoothness slider to adjust the 
interpolation. For more information, see Using keyframe animation on page 273.
Moving closer to or farther 
from viewer. Drag across 
corners to flip the track.Dragging the track.Rotating left to right 
around the Y axis.Rotating forward or
backward around the
X axis.Rotating around the
the Z axis. 
						

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Changing editing options
Use the toolbar at the top of the Track Motion window to change your editing options.
Examples of various 3D compositing scenarios
In the following examples, track two (blue-and-yellow checkerboard) is rotated forward in 3D space, track 4 
(green-and-gray checkerboard) is rotated backward in 3D space, and track 3 (red-and-white checkerboard) is 
a 2D track.
Track 1 is used to rotate tracks 2 through 4 so you can see the compositing interaction.
In the first example, the 2D track is a compositing child to track 2. The 2d child is inserted in the 
composited output at a depth of zero on the Z axis, and tracks 2 and 4 intersect in 3D space.
IconCommandDescription
Enable RotationSelect this button if you want to be able to rotate, or spin, the video. 
When the button is not selected, video is locked so you can move it along the X, Y, or Z axis, but the event will 
not rotate.
Enable Snapping to GridSelect this button if you want your editing to snap to the grid.
Edit in Object SpaceSelect this button if you want to edit in the objects space rather than the cameras space. 
For example, if a video object is rotated, its X axis may not correspond to the X axis of the of the Video Preview 
window. Selecting the Edit in Object Space button in conjunction with the Prevent Movement buttons allows 
you to move the object along its own X, Y, and Z axes.
Prevent Movement (X)Select this button if you want to prevent horizontal movement of the track.
Prevent Movement (Y)Select this button if you want to prevent vertical movement of the track.
Prevent Movement (Z)Select this button if you want to prevent movement of the track along the Z axis (closer to or farther from the 
viewer).
Lock Aspect RatioSelect this button if you want the selection box to retain its aspect ratio during resizing. 
When the button is not selected, the height and width can be resized independently.
Scale About CenterSelect this button if you want the selection box to retain its center point when you resize the box by dragging 
its edges.
When the button is not selected, the opposite side of the selection box will remain anchored when you drag the 
edges to resize it.
Prevent Scaling (X)Select this button if you want to lock the horizontal dimension of the selection box.
Prevent Scaling (Y)Select this button if you want to lock the vertical dimension of the selection box.
Prevent Scaling (Z)Select this button if you want to lock the Z-axis dimension of the selection box.