Key Frames (Expand KF button & panning questions)

[lcdrdan]

I somehow lost my "expand keyframe button" in the video track options. How can I restore this button so I can display the Keyframes beneath the video track.

Also, when trying to "pan", how do I "select a starting position" for the beginning of the pan?
(instructions say to "select a starting position, size, and angle of rotation for the crop rectangle"...but do not say how to do this). I guess I need some very basic instrucitons on doing a "pan" of a single photograph.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

lcdrdan

[lcdrdan]

Sorry...I forgot to mention that I am using, Vegas Movie Studio + DVD Ver. 6.

lcdrdan

[cdb]

I have VMS 7, but it may be similar.

The expand keyframe button is only visible on the track header after you have applied a video effect at the TRACK level (not the event level), by clicking on one of the effect categories available on the track header such as track motion or track fx. If you apply an effect just to an EVENT on the track (even if it is the only event on the track), the button does not appear, and if you remove all effects previously applied at the track level, the button will disappear.

Regarding setting the beginning of the pan/crop, double click on the event to select the entire event. THEN click the pan/crop button on the event. If you change the pan/crop settings at this point then the event will open with those settings. If you first drag the cursor that appears on the timeline INSIDE the event pan/crop window, to a new position on that timeline, THEN adjust the pan/crop settings, then the event will open at it's "default" pan/crop and slowly adjust to the settings at that first "changed" keyframe.

After you set a new keyframe, right click on it to set how you want the transition between keyframes to happen. If you do nothing, i.e. leave it at "linear", then the event will continuously and smoothly change from one keyframe to the next. If you select "hold", then the event will hold the previous keyframe's settings until it reaches the next keyframe, then abrubtly "cut" to the next keyframe's settings. You can use this by setting a "next" keyframe with the same settings at the "previous" keyframe, then moving even farther along the timeline before setting a third keyframe, and setting that third keyframe on "linear". The event holds at a constant pan/crop for a while then smoothly pans/zooms to another, and then holds at that new setting. This way you can open for example on a still picture for a few sceonds, then zoom in on one part and hold a the new zoom level for a few seconds before dcutting to the next still. Makes for a more relaxed visual presentation than having the event already moving the second it appears.

[cdb]

If you're really interested in learning about this, you could rent one of the training DVDs from
smartflix.com

http://smartflix.com/store/video/3207/Absolute-Training-for-Vegas

This is for the full version of Vegas 5.0, but the principles are the same. DVD 3 includes Using Pan/Crop, Building Slideshows, Adding Track Motion, Understanding Keyframes etc.

$10 for a week's rental, prepaid postage both ways, they ship a replacement if you get one that's scrtached, just like Netflix. You just have to send it back in a week or pay another $10.

I warn you though, if you see what you can do with the color correction tools in Vegas 6.0 you might have to go out and get it (only $99 at bhphoto.com). It's amazing how much you can improve how your video looks with the right tools, and those videos at smartflix show you how.

Another option is the online training videos at http://apex.vtc.com/sony-vegas6.php , $30 a month for unlimited use. I haven't actually seen those for Vegas, just those for Excel. You can see some of the demos of the "basic intro" chapters of the Vegas training to decide if they're any good.

[lcdrdan]

cdb:
Thanks a million. I'm trying to get to know all (or at least most) of the features in VMS before I make a video slide show of our recent cruise. You've been a great help. I may try renting one of the dvds.

lcdrdan