Adding Transparent Logos onto VOB Files

[agtjones]

Hi,

I'm looking to add a transparent logo (EPS, AI, GIFF etc) onto a VOB file. I have taken a quick look at VirtualDubMod but it does appear to allow me to use transparent logos.

Can somebody let me know where I am going wrong or suggest an alternative freeware programme.

Thanks In Advance

[poisondeathray]

You have to re-encode either way

avidemux has a built in logo filter, and you can adjust the transparency level

vdub also has a logo filter plugin you can download, note you cannot export MPEG2 (VOB) from vdub

another alternative is to use avisynth with overlay and frameserve into an encoder; this is more difficult because you have to know basic scripting but you have more control and options

using vdubmod be problematic, since it hasn't been updated in a few years

[agtjones]

Thanks for the information.

I didn't make myself 100% clear, by transparent I mean that some of the logo is transparent (ie Black writing on a blank background) using the programme I have been the file formats it always means when you save them in photoshop or similar they make the black background white. I need a piece of software that allows me to play with AI EPS TIFF or GIF etc, if one exists?

[poisondeathray]

Thanks for the information.

I didn't make myself 100% clear, by transparent I mean that some of the logo is transparent (ie Black writing on a blank background) using the programme I have been the file formats it always means when you save them in photoshop or similar they make the black background white. I need a piece of software that allows me to play with AI EPS TIFF or GIF etc, if one exists?

Sorry this is still unlear to me;

Did you want something to replace photoshop function for the image file? e.g. ifranview (free) you can swap colors, most simple image editors can do this



or Did you want to adjust the transparency of the logo in the video? You can change the "alpha" value

[agtjones]

OK let me explain.

I have a company logo (black writing on a clear blackground). Now if I wish to overlay this onto a video with the software I currently use I have to save the logo as a .bmp or .tga file to overlay it onto the video. The problem is my nice clear (transparent background) is lost and becomes white. This means that the white area blocks the image.

If I can use .TIFF or .GIF or similar file format I can save the background and its transparency meaning the area of the video that would be covered with a .bmp or .tga files is now visable.


In short image my logo as a piece of glass with writing on not a white piece of paper with writing on, I only want to see the writing over the video files.

This is very different to adjusting the transparency of a white and black logo as the black becomes duller as well as the white area.

[guns1inger]

Most converters will let you convert to png with transparency, which is higher quality than gif, and more widely accepted than tiff. I generally use png for this type of thing now.

[poisondeathray]

OK, sorry I misunderstood you.

Here is my "transparent" logo named "logo1.png", it was made in photoshop as a transparent .png . I'm fairly certain you can do the same thing with ifranview (free). It has to be done "properly" as RGB32 because the transparency information is in the alpha channel (I think).



Using avisynth, you can use the mask feature of overlay(). You can use ShowAlpha() so that the transparency feature of the .png is "read"

a1=avisource("movie.avi")
a2=ImageReader("logo1.png")
a3=ImageReader("logo1.png",pixel_type="RGB32").ShowAlpha(pixel_type="RGB32")
Overlay(a1,a2,mask=a3)

You can use the script to frameserve into any encoder that accepts .avs as input


This is WITHOUT the mask (what you were describing earlier I think - even though the "logo.png" is transparent, the transparency information is not transmitted through by most video overlaying applications)



This is the overlayed result WITH the mask



I don't know of any simple GUI's that do this. Avisynth is very powerful and you can do many things with it, but unfortunately the learning curve is fairly steep


Cheers

[AlanHK]

If you already have your video as a VOB file, (i.e., MPEG2), you could add your logo as a forced subtitle, which would be an overlay. These support transparency

It would be possible to extract the video without the logo, if that's what you were trying to prevent, though.

[agtjones]

Hi AlanHK,

Creating the logo as a transparent subtitle would be an option this is a one of disc that would be useless for anybody else so nobody would need to extract the logo. Is this method easier that the one that poisondeathray suggested (not that I've had time to test it but sounds like the software need some prior knowledge) likewise can you recommend any freeware to try?

I will also give poisondeathray's method a good and let you all know how I got on :@)

[poisondeathray]

I don't know much about forced subs, but I'd like to learn about it if AlanHK has time to teach

@agtjones - the method outlined above is not that difficult once you get started

Install avisynth 2.57 or later, and use DGIndex to index your VOB. Sorry, I gave the wrong source filter above, it should be MPEG2Source("file.d2v") instead of AVISource("file.avi") since you are using a VOB (MPEG2) source. The short 1 page quickstart manual that comes with DGIndex will get your started. The script you can copy & paste into notepad, and just change the extension from .txt to .avs. Of course you have to alter the names/paths to match your files.

If you get stuck or need more specific instructions give a shout and someone will help you out.

[jagabo]

Donald Graf's Logo filter for VirtualDub (and VirtualDubMod) has two ways of making the background transparent: using a separate alpha mask (same base filename with A appended, ie logo.bmp and logoA.bmp), or selecting a transparent color in the logo image. The built in logo filter supports alpha masks too.

[AlanHK]

Creating the logo as a transparent subtitle would be an option this is a one of disc that would be useless for anybody else so nobody would need to extract the logo. Is this method easier that the one that poisondeathray suggested (not that I've had time to test it but sounds like the software need some prior knowledge) likewise can you recommend any freeware to try?

I haven't done this, but I think it will work:
I assume you are making standard DVD, MPEG2, and know how to do that.

Make a subtitle file in SUP form.
You could use, e.g., Subtitle Creator to do that.

Just one subtitle that lasts the whole movie long.
Any random text, because we will replace it.

Now open the SUP file in DVDSubedit.
Under File menu you see "replace current subpic with BMP file" -- which would be your logo graphic.

You are limited to three or maybe four colours.

In DVDSubedit you can remap the colours and make any of them transparent, and change the position.

Then save the SUP, and author the DVD.
Note that DVDSubedit can operate on a subtitle after it has been authored and combined into the VOB files, if you want to change the positions or colours, and you can then see what it looks like over the video.

Your authoring app may let you set the subtitle as forced on, if not you can use PGCedit to do that afterwards.
See http://download.videohelp.com/r0lZ/pgcedit/third_party/2cool/subtitles/subtitles_on_de...lt_pgcedit.htm -- see the final step for forcing.

An advantage of this method is that the original video does not need to be reencoded.

[poisondeathray]

I played with Donald Graft's logo filter in vdub that jagabo mentioned above, and it really is easy to use and will do what you want. I never knew it had the mask feature, but it makes life much easier if you are not familiar with avisynth

I don't know what your final format goal is, but you cannot export MPEG2 directly from vdub. So if your final goal is a DVD, you might have to frameserve out or encode a lossless intermediate (e.g. lagarith)

[agtjones]

Hi poisondeathray,

I have started looking at the avisynth and DGIndex (I also needed AvsP it seems to write the script) that you suggested and have a couple of questions.

1) I need to load an external plugin to AvsP but can't quite understand how I do this can somebody help. I'm looking to use AC3 audio files and believe I need to use the NicAudio plugin but trying to follow the method outlined in the help file I can't get it to work, i'm sure it's a simple newbie error!

METHOD SUGGESTED:
With these functions you can add external functions to AviSynth.
LoadPlugin ("filename" [, ...])

So I tried:
LoadPlugin ("NicAudio.dll" [C:\Users\Andy\Desktop\AvsP_v2.0.2\nicaudio_2007082 1])

Along with variations of the above and nothing happened except error messages, what am I doing wrong.


2) Looking at you method below am I correct in think that I would use something along the lines of the following code:

LoadPlugin("c:\Users\Andy\Desktop\dgmpgdec153\DGDe code.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\Users\Andy\Desktop\AvsP_v2.0.2\nica udio_20070821\NicAudio.dll")
MPEG2Source("test.d2v")
audio=AC3Source("test T80 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 85119ms.ac3")
AudioDub(video,audio)

a1=avisource("movie.avi")
a2=ImageReader("logo1.png")
a3=ImageReader("logo1.png",pixel_type="RGB32").Sho wAlpha(pixel_type="RGB32")
Overlay(a1,a2,mask=a3)


If this is correct can I use VOB rather than AVI a previous post suggests I can and just need to change the code slightly (do I need any plugins for this)?


3) Final question (for now) if you want to change the location of the logo (ie bottem left corner) can this be done and can somebody point me in the right direction.


Really sorry for all the questions but I think I am slowly getting there with this one.

Thanks for everybody help so far :@)

[AlanHK]

I'm looking to use AC3 audio files and believe I need to use the NicAudio plugin but trying to follow the method outlined in the help file I can't get it to work, i'm sure it's a simple newbie error!

Since you only want to change the video, you can demux and just load the video in Avisynth.
Combine the original audio with the new video.

[jagabo]

If you put plugins in AviSynth's plugins folder you don't need to explicitly load them in the script files.

Open your VOB file(s) in DgIndex to create a D2V file.

If your AVS script and logo files are in the same folder as the D2V file you don't need to use full paths:

a1=MPEG2Source("filename.d2v")
a2=ImageReader("logo1.png")
a3=ImageReader("logo1.png",pixel_type="RGB32").ShowAlpha(pixel_type="RGB32")
Overlay(a1,a2,mask=a3)

If they are located elsewhere you need to use full paths:

a1=MPEG2Source("x:\path\filename.d2v")
a2=ImageReader("x:\path\logo1.png")
a3=ImageReader("x:\path\logo1.png",pixel_type="RGB32").ShowAlpha(pixel_type="RGB32")
Overlay(a1,a2,mask=a3)

You can position the overlay using the x= and y= arguments.

Overlay(a1,a2,mask=a3, x=600, y=400)

[poisondeathray]

You don't have to specify audio in the .avs script. Most MPEG2 encoder applications do only video, and you process the audio separately. You haven't stated what your final format goal was? or is it DVD as well? And if it is DVD, you can just use the same audio, instead of re-encoding it and losing quality - just plug the AC3 track into your DVD authoring application.

If you wanted to specify audio in your script, you are missing the "video=" argument for the audiodub() , also your delay is huge - are you sure that is correct? 85119ms?!

LoadPlugin("C:\PATH\DGDecode.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\PATH\NicAudio.dll")

vid=MPEG2Source("C:\PATH\TESTMOVIE.d2v")
aud=NicAC3Source("C:\PATH\TESTMOVIE T80 3_2ch 384Kbps DELAY -148ms.ac3").DelayAudio(-0.148)
AudioDub(vid,aud)

a1=AudioDub(vid,aud)
a2=ImageReader("xslogo1.png")
a3=ImageReader("xslogo1.png",pixel_type="RGB32").ShowAlpha(pixel_type="RGB32")
Overlay(a1,a2,mask=a3)

[agtjones]

OK I think I've finally cracked getting the overlayed transparent logo onto my video using AvsP as I can preview the files and everything is in the correct place and looking good :@)

I guess I need to some help with the final part know! What do I need to do with this file to create my VOB file that will replace the original vob file?

[poisondeathray]

You have to re-encode the video, using that script. You can feed that script into any MPEG2 encoder that accepts .avs as input. HCenc is a good free choice.

This will give you the video part, .m2v with the "burnt in" logo. You can just use the demultiplexed AC3 audio from DGIndex. You can feed these elementary streams (1 audio, 1 video) into any DVD authoring application (e.g. DVDAuthorGUI, GUIforDVD Author, DVD Styler, DVD-Lab Pro, etc...)

[agtjones]

OK so using some of the tools mentions my audio track is way off and likewise it is not Dolby Digital or DTS any more.

And if it is DVD, you can just use the same audio, instead of re-encoding it and losing quality - just plug the AC3 track into your DVD authoring application.

When you are using a DVD movie, where are the audio files hidden, when you make a rip using common software the audio folder is always empty.

This seems to be a lot more work that I'd intended!!!

[AlanHK]

OK so using some of the tools mentions my audio track is way off and likewise it is not Dolby Digital or DTS any more.

Use the ORIGINAL audio. Just demux it from the MPEG.

When you are using a DVD movie, where are the audio files hidden, when you make a rip using common software the audio folder is always empty.

AUDIO_TS is used for the (unusual) audio DVD format. Not ordinary videos.
The VOB files, in the VIDEO_TS folder, contain the MPEG video, audio and any subtitles.
When you demux this you will get separate video (M2V) audio (AC3) and perhaps subtitles.
An authoring app will combine these and perhaps make a menu structure and make a new DVD fileset.

This seems to be a lot more work that I'd intended!!!

Still you have to spend a few hours to generate a new MPEG video.
I suspect the subtitle method would have been a lot faster. Might have taken 30 minutes in all.

Anyway, consider it an education. Avisynth is a very powerful and useful tool.

[poisondeathray]

The audio is inside the VOB

A VOB consists of .m2v (the video), and AC3 or MP2 (the audio), and possibly subtitles

The AUDIO_TS folder should be empty, that's normal

When you used DGIndex on the original file, it should have demultiplexed the AC3 audio. It has the delay written in the filename "test T80 3_2ch 448Kbps DELAY 85119ms.ac3" ; which was why I asked earlier if you were sure that was correct, because that is an >85 second delay!

You have to re-multiplex the new .m2v that you encoded using the .avs, and the old AC3 audio, using one of the authoring tools.

[agtjones]

OK I'm there, I have 5.1 surround and I have my video with log.

Hopefully the last couple of questions:

1) When using DGIndex to get the audio I have a delay of 176ms (at least that's that the files name implies) I need to make sure there is not delay at all if possible or minimise it a little more. It's not huge but it is noticable.

2) I used DVDFlick to create the final DVD Folder rather than the suggested programmes as I had already used it a fews days before for something else and was familiar with it. Is this OK or would you avoid using this as it was not mentioned?

3) It may be just me but I think I notice a loss in video quality (I like look closer tonight) is this standard and what might it be caused by. Is there anything I can do to avoid/minimise this? The lost in quality I think I can see is not huge but this will be playing on a 120" projector system so any imperfections will be amplified.


I know I've said it before but a big big thank you for all your help so far, what a great community, I hope to be able to return the favour one day for other members :@)

[jagabo]

1) When using DGIndex to get the audio I have a delay of 176ms (at least that's that the files name implies) I need to make sure there is not delay at all if possible or minimise it a little more. It's not huge but it is noticable.

I would just adjust the audio delay until it sounds right.

3) It may be just me but I think I notice a loss in video quality (I like look closer tonight) is this standard and what might it be caused by. Is there anything I can do to avoid/minimise this? The lost in quality I think I can see is not huge but this will be playing on a 120" projector system so any imperfections will be amplified.

Any time you reencode with MPG you will get some loss of quality. You can minimize the loss by using high bitrates and 2-pass encoding.

[poisondeathray]

You might want to use a bitrate calculator so you can use the maximum amount of bitrate constrained to your DVD5 or DVD9 size.

I'm not even sure if you can adjust the delay with DVD Flick. Using the manual multiplexing & authoring tools listed above, you can adjust the delay.

DVD Flick uses ffmpeg as the encoding engine backend. HCenc (free) and CCE ($) consistently produce better quality results.

If you want an easy to use GUI for HCenc (similar to what DVD Flick does in terms of ease of use), FAVC would be the equivalent

If you could get AlanHK's idea to work, there would be no quality loss which would be great! I tried playing it but couldn't get it work - has anyone else suceeded?

[sambat]

3) It may be just me but I think I notice a loss in video quality (I like look closer tonight) is this standard and what might it be caused by. Is there anything I can do to avoid/minimise this? The lost in quality I think I can see is not huge but this will be playing on a 120" projector system so any imperfections will be amplified.

Any time you reencode with MPG you will get some loss of quality. You can minimize the loss by using high bitrates and 2-pass encoding.

When using the .m2v and audio from Dgindex in DVD Flick: 'Project Settings' => 'Video' => 'Advanced' and the check box is selected for 'Copy MPEG-2 Streams', the video is not re-encoded.

[jagabo]

The video was reencoded when he hard subbed the original VOB. I assumed he was comparing to that.

[onlyrasel]

I'm using vdub 1.8.6 & with Donald Graft's logo filter working with great quality. Here is my logo. Thanks

logo.bmp