Sony Vegas 6 Manual

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CHP. 15ADDING VIDEO TRANSITIONS AND MOTION
CHAPTER267
Adding Video 
Transitions and 
Motion
Want something other than a cut or crossfade between video events? Vegas® software provides a wide 
variety of transitions you can add to your project. This chapter also covers track motion and keyframe 
animation, which allows you to automate video effects, media generators, cropping, panning, and more.
Understanding basic transitions
Transitions occur between two video events. Most professional productions, on television or on the big 
screen, use only two types of transitions. The first is a simple cut, where one scene immediately cuts to the 
other without delay or effects. The other is a fade, otherwise known as a crossfade or a dissolve.
Cuts
A cut is actually not a transition. Instead, the last frame from an event is immediately followed by the first 
frame of the next event. This is what happens with two adjacent events on the timeline, either in the same 
track or in different tracks. This can also happen when an event is punched into another (with fade edge 
edits turned off). 
Crossfades
You can fade one event out and fade into the next event by simply overlapping the two. The duration of the 
transition is determined by the amount of overlap. For more information, see Crossfading events on page 112.
Adjacent events Events on different tracks Punch-in events
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Using transition effects
Transition effects are more complex than a simple cut or crossfade. You can replace a crossfade with a 
transition and then customize the transition to meet your needs.
Tip: Select the Event Fade Lengths option on the View menu 
to display fade lengths between selected and nonselected 
events in the timeline. You can use this display as a quick 
indicator of a transition’s length.
Adding a transition
1.Insert a video event onto the timeline.
2.Insert another event so that it overlaps the first to create an 
automatic crossfade.
3.In the Transitions window, browse for a transition effect. If the 
Transitions window is not visible, choose 
Transitions from the 
View menu. 
4.Drag the effect onto the crossfade between the two events.
Note: The duration of a transition is automatically 
determined by the amount of overlap between the two events. 
As with other events, you can control the precise duration of 
a transition by dragging the edges in and out. You can also 
slide a transition for more precise control. For more 
information, see Sliding a crossfade on page 113. 
Tip: Some transitions also have their own shortcut keys. On 
the numeric keypad, press 
 to insert a crossfade,  to 
insert a dissolve, and 
 to insert a linear wipe. Hold  
while pressing 
 to convert the transition to a cut at the 
cursor position.
Tip: Select the Event Fade Lengths option on the View menu 
to display fade lengths between selected and nonselected 
events in the timeline. You can use this display as a quick 
indicator of a transitions length.
The original crossfade... ...and the new transition effect.
/
*
-Ctrl
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Adding a transition to the end of an event
Typically, a transition occurs between two events on a track, but you can also use 
transitions to fade to and from the background, whether that is an underlying 
image, video, or background color. For example, you can drag a Clock Wipe 
transition to the end of a video event and have the wipe go from the video event to 
black.
Adding a transition to all selected events
If you tend to use the same transitions often, you can save yourself some time by adding a transition to all 
selected events at once.
1.Select the events where you want to add the transition.
2.From the View menu, choose Transitions to display the 
Transitions window.
3.Select a transition from the list on the left side of the window. 
The thumbnail images on the right side of the window represent 
each of the existing presets for the selected transition. Hover 
your cursor over a preset to see an animated example.
4.After you’ve found the setting that you want to use, drag it to 
the position where you want it to occur on the timeline.
5.The Video Event FX dialog is displayed to allow you to edit the 
transitions settings, and a 
 is displayed in the timeline to 
show you where the transition takes place. You can also click 
this icon to edit the transition’s settings.
Dropping on existing cuts, crossfades, or transitions
 If you drop the preset on an existing transition, only transitions within the selection will be changed. Cuts 
and crossfades are preserved.
 If you drop the preset on an existing crossfade, only crossfades and transitions within the selection will be 
changed. Cuts are preserved.
 If you drop the preset on an existing cut, all cuts, crossfades, and transitions within the selection will be 
changed.
Dropping on event edges
 If you drop the preset on a transition that is at the beginning or end of an event (but does not span two 
events), only single-event transitions that occur on the same end of the event within the selection will be 
changed.
 If you drop the preset on an event fade-in or -out, event fade-ins/outs and single-event transitions that 
occur on the same end of the event within the selection will be changed.
 If you drop the preset on an event edge with no fade, all other event edges, event fade-ins/outs, and single-
event transitions that occur on the same end of the event within the selection will be changed.
Note: To change the length of the transition for cuts that are 
converted to transitions, use the Cut-to-overlap conversion 
settings on the Editing tab of the Preferences dialog. 
						

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Adding a transition progress envelope
This feature is available only in the full version of Vegas software.
Normally, a transition progresses from 0 to 100% in a linear fashion over the length of the transition. A 
transition progress envelope gives you complete control over a transition: you can hold, reverse, and repeat 
individual transitions. 
1.Right-click a transition.
2.From the shortcut menu, choose Insert/Remove Envelopes, and then choose Transition Progress from the 
submenu. An envelope is added to your transition.
3.Add points and adjust the fade curves as desired. For more information, see Using the Envelope Edit tool on 
page 165.
In the following example, the transition starts, progresses to 50%, reverses direction, and then finishes.
Understanding track layers
If you want, you can view and modify transitions in an A/B roll 
mode. Right-click the track header and choose 
Expand Track 
Layers
 from the shortcut menu to expand the track to reveal 
three layers within the main track. These layers are called the 
A roll, the B roll, and the transition roll.
The concept of an A/B roll is fundamentally different from the multitrack 
philosophy. Every track is in some way mixed (composited) into the final 
output in a multitrack system, but events are not mixed on the A/B roll. 
Instead, either the A roll or the B roll is playing, with the two trading places 
during a transition. You could mix the two for as long as you want with a 
transition, but they do not blend without an intervening transition. 
Transitions move from one roll and into the other. This could be from A to B 
or from B to A. The direction of the transition is automatically set. The small 
arrows on the side of the transition event indicate this direction. 
As the sequence at the right 
shows, the video output can shift from the A to the B and 
back to A many times during a production, but there is only 
one video output from any particular roll at a time. This 
means that the A and B rolls are not composited.
A roll
Transition roll
B roll
Transition direction arrow 
						

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Converting a cut to a transition
The transition between two events that are adjacent to each other on the same track is instantaneous and is 
called a cut. However, if the first event is trimmed back from the end and the second event is trimmed back 
from the beginning (in other words, both have enough media to overlap), you can transform the cut into a 
transition effect using this extra media.
1.Right-click the line between two adjacent events at the cut position.
2.From the shortcut menu, choose Tr a n s i t i o n and then choose the transition that you want to insert (e.g., 
Insert Sony Iris).
You can also drag a transition to the cut from the Transitions window.
The duration of the newly inserted transition event is determined by the Cut-to-overlap conversion time set in 
the 
Editing tab of the Preferences dialog. To access this dialog, choose Preferences from the Options menu.
Note: There must be enough media in the respective events 
to cover the transition (e.g., the end of the first event must 
not be the end of the media file).
Tip: You can also convert cuts between audio events to 
crossfades. Click the cut and press 
 on the numeric keypad 
to create a crossfade. There must be enough media on either 
side of the cut to create the crossfade.
Converting a crossfade or transition to a cut
1.Click to position the cursor within the transition.
2.Hold  while pressing the  key on your numeric keypad.
The transition will convert to a cut, using the Cut-to-overlap conversion settings on the Editing tab of the 
Preferences dialog to determine where the cut occurs.
This event’s media is
longer than the trim.
This event’s media extends
before the beginning.CutAfter the conversion, both events are
longer and extend into the transition.
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Previewing a transition
The easiest way to preview a transition is to set the loop region to the duration of the transition and then 
loop the playback. This allows you to adjust the transition while it is playing and make changes in real time.
1.Double-click the transition. This automatically creates a time selection equal to 
the length of the transition.
2.Click the Loop Playback button () to turn loop playback on. The selection area 
bar is dark blue when loop playback is turned on.
3.Click the Play button ().
To preview complicated transitions, you may want to build a dynamic RAM preview 
or prerender the effect. For more information, see Building dynamic RAM previews on 
page 291 or Prerendering video on page 289.
Modifying a transition
All of the transitions include several presets that create standard transitions. If a preset doesn’t meet your 
needs, you can customize a transition to suit your taste. 
Tip: You can also animate the parameters of a transition with 
keyframes. For more information, see Using keyframe 
animation on page 273.
1.Click the Transition Properties button 
(
) on the transition or right-click the 
transition and choose 
Tr a n s i t i o n  
Properties 
from the shortcut menu. The 
Video Event FX window appears.
2.Change the parameters. Changes 
update in real time in the Video 
Preview window. For help on the 
different controls in the Video FX 
window, click the 
Plug-In Help button 
(
) to access online help.
Saving custom settings as a preset
After you modify a transition, you can save 
your settings as a preset for use at a later 
time. You can apply presets by choosing 
them from the 
Preset drop-down list.
1.Modify the settings in the window to 
create your desired transition effect. For 
help on the different controls in the 
window, click the 
Plug-In Help button () to access online help.
2.Click the name in the Preset drop-down list. The current text is highlighted.
3.Enter a name for the new preset.
4.Click the Save Preset button ().
You can save any additional changes to the custom preset by clicking the Save Preset button.
Transition
Keyframe
controller
parameters 
						

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Using keyframe animation
Keyframe animation is a technique that computer artists 
use to quickly make complex animated sequences. 
Instead of drawing every frame of a title scrolling in from 
top to bottom by hand, an animator simply has to set a 
starting and ending position for the animation and let the 
computer interpolate the intermediate frames. The 
animation pictured on the right has three keyframes: a 
starting, middle, and ending keyframe. More complex 
animations use more keyframes.
 
While keyframing motion may be the most obvious use 
for keyframe animations, just about any parameter of an 
effect can be animated with keyframes. Keyframe 
animation techniques are used in many areas, including 
transition effects, video effects, event panning and 
cropping, generated media, and track motion. You can 
animate color, brightness, transparency, motion, size, 
perspective, and many other parameters with keyframes.
Understanding the keyframe controller
The keyframe controller appears at the bottom of the Video FX window (used for transitions, effects, and 
generated media), the Track Motion window, and the Event Pan/Crop window.
The cursor position is marked by a flashing line on the controller. This position can also be automatically 
updated on the timeline, with the Video Preview window also updating in real time to reflect changes. Click 
the 
Sync Cursor button () on the keyframe controller to sync the keyframe cursor with the timeline cursor. 
These three frames show the progression
of a title across three keyframes. 
Keyframes Cursor position
PreviousCreateDelete
Next Sync Cursor
Last First
Each effect
in a video effects
chain can have
its own keyframes. 
						

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Adding keyframes
Every effect has a starting keyframe at the beginning (left side) of the keyframe controller. This sets the 
initial parameters for the effect. In order to animate the effect, you must add another keyframe to the effect 
and change some of the parameters. When you first add a new keyframe, it has the same settings (for the 
transition, effect, pan/crop, etc.) as the first keyframe. You can then modify the settings of the new keyframe 
to create the animation from the first keyframe settings to the second.
1.Click the keyframe controller timeline to move the cursor where you want to add a keyframe. The current 
position is marked by a blinking cursor. 
2.Click the Create Keyframe button (). 
3.Modify the settings in the window for the new keyframe as desired. 
Tip: You can also add a new keyframe by positioning the 
cursor in the keyframe controller and changing any 
parameters in the window. A keyframe is added with the new 
settings at the cursor position.
Deleting keyframes
1.Select a keyframe in the keyframe controller.
2.Click the Delete Keyframe button ().
Navigating in the keyframe controller
Use the keyframe navigation buttons (First, Previous, Next, and Last) to quickly jump to a keyframe. 
Alternately, press 
 or  to move to the previous or next keyframe.
Modifying keyframes
After you create your keyframes, you can move them, copy and paste them, and change the interpolation 
curves between them.
Moving keyframes
You can move a keyframe within the keyframe controller by dragging it to a new position. For track-level 
keyframes, you can also move the keyframes in the track view. For more information, see Working with 
keyframes in track view on page 276.
Copying and pasting keyframes
Keyframes on the controller can be copied, pasted, and duplicated. 
1.Right-click a keyframe.
2.From the shortcut menu, choose Copy.
3.Right-click the keyframe controller at the position where you want to paste the keyframe. 
4.From the shortcut menu, choose Paste.
Duplicating keyframes
1.Right-click and drag a keyframe to a new position.
2.From the shortcut menu, choose Copy. A duplicate keyframe is created at the new position.
You can also duplicate a keyframe by holding the  key while dragging it. 
Ctrl+Ctrl+
Ctrl 
						

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Changing the interpolation curve
The interpolation curve determines the rate at which Vegas software animates between two keyframe 
settings. You can right-click a keyframe to choose a different shape for the interpolation curve. The shortcut 
menu provides six options: 
Linear, Fast, Slow, Smooth, Sharp, and Hold. Selecting Hold from the shortcut 
menu prevents any animation from being interpolated between two keyframes. The color of the keyframe 
indicates which interpolation curve is being used. 
Changing the relative spacing of keyframes
You can change the relative positions of the keyframes as a group. This can be useful if you need to change 
the overall length of an animated sequence or if you need to copy a set of keyframes to another event that 
has a different duration than the original.
1.Click on the first keyframe, hold the  key, and click on the last keyframe in the sequence to select all 
of the keyframes.
2.Hold  and drag the first or last keyframe to scale the keyframes.
When copying keyframes from longer events to shorter events, you must temporarily lengthen the duration 
of the shorter event so that all of the keyframes appear on the keyframe controller. Once you have pasted the 
keyframes, you can rescale the keyframes using the above procedure, and then resize the event to its original 
length.
Creating keyframe presets
The 2D and 3D track motion dialogs allow you to create, save, and recall keyframe presets. Keyframe presets 
save the settings of the selected keyframe row at the cursor position.
Notes: Presets for the Position, 2D Shadow, and 2D Glow 
keyframe rows are saved separately.
Presets for 2D and 3D track motion are saved separately: 
presets you create in the 2D Track Motion window will not 
be available in the 3D Track Motion window.
Saving a preset
1.Adjust your Po s i t i o n, 2D Shadow, or 2D Glow settings as desired to create a keyframe.
2.Type a name in the Preset box.
3.Click the Save Preset button ().
Note: Presets for the Position, 2D Shadow, and 2D Glow 
keyframe rows are saved separately.
Hold (red) Linear (gray)
Fast (green)
Slow (gold)
Smooth (lilac)
Sharp (pink)
Shift
Alt  
						

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Note: Presets for 2D and 3D track motion are saved 
separately: presets you create in the 2D Track Motion 
window will not be available in the 3D Track Motion 
window.
Recalling a preset
1.Click in the Po s i t i o n, 2D Shadow, and 2D Glow keyframe row to select a row and position the cursor where 
you want to apply the preset.
2.Choose a setting from the Preset drop-down list. 
If no keyframe exists at the cursor position, one is created using the settings from the preset. If a keyframe 
exists at the cursor position, the keyframe’s settings are replaced with the settings from the preset.
Deleting a preset
Click the Delete Preset button () to delete the current preset.
Working with keyframes in track view
You can move and modify track keyframes in track view. These keyframes are used in the following three 
track-level effects:
 Track effects plug-in (pg. 242)
 Track motion (pg. 281)
 Mask generator plug-in on a parent compositing track (pg. 263)
Viewing and moving track keyframes
Once you have added keyframes to one of these track-level effects, the track keyframes appear at the bottom 
of the track on the timeline. Click the 
Expand Track Keyframes button () to view the keyframes. 
You can drag a keyframe on the track in the same way you would in the keyframe controller. To move several 
keyframes at once, use the 
Envelope Edit tool () to select and drag multiple keyframes.
Tip: You can use ripple editing to automatically move track 
keyframes as you edit in the timeline. For more information, 
see Applying post-edit ripples on page 110.
Expand Track Keyframes button
Collapse Track Keyframes buttonWith track keyframes
collapsed, keyframes
are minimized.
With track keyframes
expanded, each
set of keyframes
displays. You can 
move any keyframe
by dragging it to a Keyframe
Keyframe
new position.