Can A Rectangular Drop Zone Be Distorted?

Occasionally when I drop a photo on the menu to create a drop zone I would like to distort it slightly to give a feeling of perspective . . . . . as though the picture were at a slight angle (not to be confused with rotating the image).
Is it possible, without putting the image in Photoshop, to generate the distortion?

Yes. You have complete control over layers in Motion. The easiest way to create a rhombus would be to add an image to a Motion project, then adjust Four Corners parameter in the Properties tab of the inspector. There is also a cursor tool that will let you adjust that parameter free-hand.
You can then turn that image into a drop zone and save the project. Then later, you can add any image you want in there (presuming the goal is to create a distorted image rather than a masked image) and export QT movies for DVD Studio Pro.
I'm working on a video tutorial class that shows how to use Motion with DVDSP. It'll be a few weeks before I can get it finished, but hopefully you have enough to go on with.
Andy

Similar Messages

  • Can you customize drop zones in Motion?

    Im trying to help a client who spends an extra day on his "template" adding picture to it but then resizing and cropping when the photo's are portrait as a apposed to landscape. I'm not really sure why this takes him so long, I think he has Motion 3 so maybe someone could tell me if this is much different with drop zones? But i was looking for a way to speed up the process? Let me know? Thanks!

    Drop Zones will not distort an image, but only show what will fit.  If you have a perfectly square Drop Zone, and put an anamorphic clip in it, you'll cut off the left and right edges.  You can always take your Motion template in FCP and Send To Motion to change the size/shape of a Drop Zone.  It's pretty easy, can be done pretty quickly.

  • Scaling within a drop zone

    I'm working in MOTION 3.
    I'm working with a template that has drop zones into which you're intended to place pictures or video.
    When I drop the pictures in, they are too large...meaning parts of the picture are being cut off,
    or are outside the parameters of the rectangular drop zone.
    I want to scale the pictures down so they are completely visable in the drop zone, but I don't
    want to change the overall size of the drop zone itself...I want the rectangular box (the drop zone)
    to remain the same size.
    I know how to scale the drop zone itself, but not the image that I'm placing inside the drop zone.
    Minimally, I need to be able to move the image I dropped into the drop zone around in there,
    so I can see the most important part of the image.
    Any assistance would be appreciated.

    In Motion 4, you'd be able to use the Link behavior to make a scale adjustable template... ala: Mark's tutorial (thanks Mark!)...
    With Motion 3, I'd say edit the template. You have the option to save it just for this use, or globally. I'd say make your adjustments on a use by use basis...
    Patrick

  • Drop Zones - Changing shapes and sizes

    This may not be possible with DVD Studio Pro, but does anyone have an idea how to change the size and shape of a Drop Zone and distort them so they look like they are laying on the ground or have some scale.
    Refer to a Star Wars DVD where the drop zone is on the deck of the death star, or shaped round, or against a building. Much like the distort tool in Final Cut Pro, but can you do it in DVD studio Pro?
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks

    sorry typo, assets
    You can use Photoshop, Final Cut, Motion, After Effects or other program you like using, you mentioned the distort tool in Final Cut, and there are similar tools in the other programs.
    What you would do is compositie the menu in Motion or AE or FCP (if you want movement) and make the drop zones part of that (or in Photoshop) The drop zones can also just be manipulated by going into DVD SP --> Package--Resources and you can see the actual files, copy and distort the copy to use. Makke sure to use a copy

  • Drop zones

    I using DVDSP 4.1.2, Mac OS 10.5.4, on a MacBook Pro 2.4 Intel Core Duo, 4 gigs RAM........
    Is there no way in DVDSP 4.1.2 that I can rotate a drop zone? I can only resize it right?
    I am looking to rotate it about 15 degrees it possible.
    Thanks.

    Thanks Len,
    That explains it

  • Drop Zone referencing time code 00:00:00:00

    FCPX drop zone is referencing timecode 00:00:00:00 in my Motion template.  How can I use drop zone footage with a different timecode?

    I appreciate the post Fox and the link to your fine video on using the Comparator Generator; however, what I'm finding is that when multiple drop zones appear in a project clip they seem to reference the first drop zone.  (Your example uses only one drop zone. I've never had a problem syncing video with only one drop zone.)  My post, that I referenced above, didn't specify using this procedure, but that is exactly what I did.  Just to review a portion of that post:
    For the first test I placed each Drop Zone within one Group in Motion.  Drop Zones start at the following timecode for each location as follows:
    UL: 00:00:00:00
    LL: 00:00:10:00
    UR: 00:00:20:00
    LR: 00:00:30:00
    After publishing the project, I loaded it into FCP X.  I used the same timecode video for each Drop Zone starting it at timecode value 00:01:00:00.  Now, one would think that each drop zone window, having been placed exactly 10 seconds apart, would show timecode values for the inserted videos also each 10 seconds apart.  But they don't!  All four Drop Zones show exactly the same timecode value.  They are acting as if all four were placed within the Motion 5 timeline starting at 00:00:00:00.  But they weren't.
    I perfectly aligned the start point for each timecode clip segment for it's appropriate drop zone, (first one at 00:00:00:00; second at 00:00:10:00; third at 00:00:20:00 and fourth at 00:00:30:00) but found that FCP X ignored the clip's cursor location for all but the first drop zone.  Each of the other three referenced that first drop zone and when playing the project back, the timecode readout in each window precisely matched when they should have been 10 seconds apart.
    However, I also found that if I loaded the drop zones in reverse, starting with the last and moving to the first, using the exact same procedure, then all four drop zones synced perfectly.  Honestly, it's got me scratching my head.  I'm now working on a project that uses 12 drop zones and I'm seriously considering creating each drop zone video clip separately, exporting them from FCP X, importing them into Motion directly, then export the Motion project as a video which I can then import into FCP X.  I shouldn't have to do that, but at least that seems to work.
    John

  • Video length in drop zones

    Is there a limit on the length of videos I can put in drop zones?

    Sue,
    I don't think so-why do you ask?
    There is - and I've run into it - but I don't remember right now exactly what it is.
    Setting the duration of a movie in a drop zone
    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iDVD/6.0/
    en/260.htm
    That is a dead link because you said "htm" - it should end in "html". The iDVD 5 Help article is at: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iDVD/5.0/en/260.html

  • DVD Menu:  Make Person On Background Movie Walk In Front Of Drop Zone?

    This is the same idea as the iDVD theme - Fish.
    In that, there is a photo frame at the bottom of a fish tank.
    The inside of the frame is a drop zone.
    A fish on the background/theme movie swims in front of the photo frame containing the movie you have dropped onto the drop zone.
    It looks completely realistic and there is no translucency in the fish.
    How is it done?

    Just to make it clear, I can do the drop zones etc. it is just that I can't make something on the background movie pass in front of the drop zone.
    When I tried it in DVDSP I had partial success by fiddling with the order of the layers but the "fish" was always translucent with the movie in the drop zone showing through it slightly.
    I am sure it can be done in Motion?

  • Drop zone (transparent) over motion menu problem

    Hello.
    I've created a semi-transparent photoshop file that I would like to use as a dropzone. When I import the psd file, DVDSP lists it as a "quicktime picture". When I drag the asset over my motion menu the part that is supposed to be transparent is white and covers up the entire motion background. Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong here?
    Has anyone had success using transparent graphics in DVDSP 4?
    Thanks.

    i dont believe you can mix photoshop files the way you are intending with motion menus. I know you can create custom drop zones and patches using photoshop, but this is a more involved process than just dropping a psd over motion. I have exported tga that maintains transparency information and used them to success as drop zones. you could try that.
    It would be better to bring you psd into a compositing program like motion, after effects, or even final cut, and create the motion for your menu there. Export it, compress it to m2v and bring that into dvd sp.

  • How to remove iDVD Template Drop Zones?

    Hi! I'm looking to remove all drop zones from iDVD to have a simple black background that could be replaced with a .mov file.
    Essentially, I'd like to remove the 3 drop zones from the "Modern" 7.0 theme.
    Please let me know if this is possible, thanks!
    Alex

    This is from iDVD Help: _Adding or hiding drop zones_
    The drop zones in a theme are a permanent part of the graphics or animations included in that theme. Therefore, you can’t add drop zones, delete individual drop zones, or change the location of drop zones on a menu. You can, however, hide all the drop zones on a menu so that they don’t appear in your final project. This is particularly helpful when you want to create a simple custom theme.
    To hide all drop zones on a menu screen:
    Make sure the menu whose drop zones you want to hide is showing in the iDVD window.
    With your pointer over the menu, press Command-I to open the Menu Info window.
    Deselect the “Show drop zones and related graphics” checkbox.
    The drop zones immediately disappear from the menu, and they do not appear in your final burned project. Some other graphical elements may also be hidden.
    You can always show the drop zones and ornaments again after you’ve hidden them. Simply open the Menu Info window and select the “Show drop zones and related graphics” checkbox.
    To replace the background, open the menu info window. For full directions, go to iDVD Help, and look up _Changing the background image of a DVD menu_.
    I hope this helps.

  • Can't import jpegs into drop zones in 7.0 themes

    I've followed the thread regarding mac book pros and hang ups with iDVD 08 and the 7.0 themes. I have a G5 and can't get the 'Revolution' 7.0 them on main menu to allow me to 'drop' a jpeg into its drop zone. I drag the jpeg over, the green sign appears like its going to allow it to be dropped, it drops but the zone remains black like nothing is there. When I go to the info tree for the drop zones, its shows up like it is there, but on the main menu it remains empty. Any one with any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any info.

    Roger,
    What happens if you click on the Drop Zone button and drag the image there?
    This frequently helps solve some problems. Quit iDVD. Search for the file named com.apple.iDVD.plist and trash it. (A new one will be created next launch of iDVD.) Or look in: User/Library/Preferences. This may solve project loading errors too. Restart and use Disk Utility to Repair Permissions.
    You'll need to reset some Preferences.

  • MOTION 4 - I can't locate correct drop zones for template

    I'm working in MOTION 4 and a template I purchased online.
    I'm not deeply experienced with MOTION (one of the reasons I prefer
    templates), but I have used built-in MOTION templates and those from 3rd parites
    and other sources on many prior occassions.  I'm familiar with dragging
    the elements you want to customice into the drop zones.
    The problem I'm having is with a Calendar template. I've been
    playing for hours now trying to get
    the video or image into the drop zone.  For instance this template is
    made of of a bottom part
    that shows a January calendar, and the top of the calendar is the drop
    zone where you drop in
    the picture you want to customize to represent January.  And there is a
    counterpart for all 12 months and it flips through all 12 months.
    No matter how hard I try, I can't drag my images into the right area of
    MOTION Canvas or layers area to get it into the right
    drop zone corresponding to the month I'm shooting for.
    This seems straight forward, but the template is confusing.  I've tried
    trial and error for hours now, but they're not
    ending up where I need.
    Is there someway to see ONLY the drop zones in MOTION?  I keep replacing things
    I don't intend. 
    Any quick assistance would be appreciated.  I've contacted the 3rd party I purchased the template
    from but haven't heard back yet and on deadline.  Help!

    ichbinesderelch wrote:have you tried using xrandr? xrandr -q shows available outputs, xrandr --output outputadapter(like VGA) --mode 1280x1024, as far as i can see, virtual monitor is set high enough that this should kinda work!
    Yes, I tried xrandr:
    $ xrandr --newmode "1280x1024" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -vsync -hsync
    $ xrandr --addmode VGA 1280x1024
    $ xrandr --output VGA --mode 1280x1024
    $ xrandr --output VGA --right-of LVDS
    At first this didn't work at all, so I tried to mess with screen resolution applet and got output on the second monitor, but not at the desired resolution.
    I tried running these commands again and got output on the second monitor, but at the wrong resolution. The strange part is that the resolution I want is listed by xrandr:
    $ xrandr -q
    Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 2304 x 800, maximum 2560 x 2048
    VGA connected 1024x768+1280+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
    1280x800@60 60.0 +
    1360x768 59.8
    1024x768 60.0*
    800x600 60.3 56.2
    640x480 59.9
    1280x1024 60.0
    LVDS connected 1280x800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
    1280x800 60.0*+
    1024x768 85.0 75.0 70.1 60.0
    832x624 74.6
    800x600 85.1 72.2 75.0 60.3 56.2
    640x480 85.0 72.8 75.0 59.9
    720x400 85.0
    640x400 85.1
    640x350 85.1
    TV disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

  • Forever Theme Frames around drop zone pictures - can I remove them?

    I'm using the forever theme. There are frames around drop zone photo's - not buttons. I've tried hitting the buttons bar with the drop zone highlighted and clicking the none button - but it stays with a white boarder around it. So - i looked in the theme contents - but I don't find anything that looks like a white frame... I checked out the plist file -and it looked all compiled - funny script and all - any way to eliminate these frames? I use a lot of transparent gifs for the purpose that I don't want a frame around them - so they just float over the background.

    Does this help?
    From the iDvd Help Menu:
    Repositioning an image or movie in a drop zone
    When you drag a picture or movie into a drop zone, the aspect ratio of the image is preserved, but it is scaled larger or smaller to fill the drop zone. As a result, sometimes part of the image is cut off and does not appear in the drop zone. In this case, you can move the image to choose which portion is visible in the drop zone.
    To reposition an image or movie in a drop zone:
    1.) From the drop zone on the menu (not in the drop zone editor), click the image or movie and press Command.
    2.) Drag the image until the part you want is visible in the drop zone.
    Keep these things in mind as you position an image:
    If you drag a narrow image to a drop zone, the image is scaled vertically, and you can move the image up or down only.
    If you drag a wide image to a drop zone, the image is scaled horizontally, and you can move the image side to side only.
    If you accidentally drag the image too far, you will remove it from the drop zone. (The cursor changes from a hand to a puff of smoke.) Choose Edit > Undo to restore the image to the drop zone.
    Repositioning a movie in a drop zone is different from selecting which part of a movie shows in a drop zone (which allows you to select which frame of the movie is displayed in a drop zone). For more information, see Related Topics below.

  • Can i backtime a clip into a template drop zone?

    trying to use a transition template but when i drop the clip into the outgoing clip's drop zone well it goes in from an in point which makes aligning the transition with it's ingoing and outgoing clips a major pain in the ***. Ideally I'd like to just back time the outgoing clip. Can i do this? any other workaround suggestions?
    thanks

    thanks. i'm not sure if i did exactly what you meant, but i found a pretty good workaround. I put a marker in the template where the new clip starts, then i line that marker up with the edit point between the clips, giving me the ins and outs as you said.
    cheers

  • I have 3 consecutive movie clips that I am trying to drop into the drop zone but it only recognizes the first one and only produces the firts one in a DVD. How can I drop all three  movie clips into one drop zone

    On IDVD, I have 3 consecutive movie clips that I am trying to drop into the drop zone to create a DVD but it only recognizes the first one I dropped and only produced the first one in a DVD. How can I drop all three  movie clips into one drop zone.

    I have had some luck doing the following: Export each clip from imovie as a quicktime clip. Open iDVD and create a new project. Import a few stills into iDVD and then click on the button that gets created to get into the screen where the individual slides appear. Drag each quicktime into that screen and arrange in the order you want. You can then delete the stills. The button that appeared when you dropped in the stills will launch a complete show.

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