How to create a custom PiP Mask for PowerDirector 7

[KottLoom]

cool its works thx a lot

[TheUmar17]

what is a output type and how do you set it to bit mask using paint

[Ihazahate4lolcatz]

@TheUmar17 your pretty dumb

[slipofjip]

The mask I create shows up in the list of applyable ones but it doesn't seems to do anything. What could be wrong?

[rvna123]

Thanks for your response. Yes, I checked and I do have the full version of PD7. Moreover, all mask files are msk files and the thumbnails are png files which is not the case in PD 8 for as far as I know. Maybe it will help if you send me one of your custom msk files together with the original bitmap for me to play with. This may help to pinpoint the cause.

[rvna123]

I have followed Charles Forsyth's instructions and created a mask in Paint. Converted the bitmap with his Mask converter, made both names the same and loaded them into the PD7 Mask folder. Opened PD7 where I can see the thumbnail but only a rectanglare pip block appears on the screen. Is this problem somehow related to my operating system; Windows 7 (64)? I noticed that existing pip msk files a larger in size than mine and no mask editing software recognise their structure. How can I solve this?

[ScottishPride68]

@rvna123, make sure you actually do have PD7 (and not PD8), and that you select the correct output from the Mask Converter utility (select PD7 output if you have PD7 and PD8 if you have PD8). Look in Help -> About of PD to find out what version you have.

[IdiotVidios]

1000 thx

[sormu16]

Great! For a beginner - like me - it was simple, clear and informative.

[supersailorearth]

is it possible to make a blurr effect on the sides of the mask so that it has a fade-like effect into the mask color?

[ScottishPride68]

Yes, sort of. If you dither the edges of your transparency you can make it appear as if it fades. PD8 doesn't support the multi-channel alpha transparency possible in PNG files, it only supports the single-color transparency. So you can't have a nice, clean faded edge. But if you have software to dither a soft edge so it utilizes only a single color for transparency, then you can do it. I've done it myself, but it turned out to be too much work. Look up "dithering" on google

[supersailorearth]

Thank! Ill definatley have to go play with that.

[Rikusmine]

i can't seem to find the mask converter where did u find it

[ScottishPride68]

I didn't find it, I wrote it. :)

YouTube doesn't allow us to post links to other sites. (how "big brother" huh?, lame!)

You'll have to go to the CyberLink site, go to the forums and find the "PowerDirector (versoin 6 and above)" forums. On there, there is a sticky post containing a link to download the software.

I appreciate donations. So far over 200 people have downloaded my software but only 4 have donated.

[REDBULL98303]

where do you download this? I seareched it on google but its not there do u hav a link?

[ScottishPride68]

Unfortunately YouTube doesn't allow us to post links. Go to the Cyberlink Forums and you should see a sticky there that I posted where you can download it.

[REDBULL98303]

it says that i dont have the permission to save in the folder..

[ScottishPride68]

Try saving it to a different location first then move it with File Explorer. I can't think of why you wouldn't have permission to save a file onto your hard drive. Perhaps someone else installed the software PowerDirector for only one user and dind't select the "all users" option. Either way, if you're an administrator on your machine you should have permission to save a file into any folder on your machine.

[ynotfish77]

Great piece of work Charles - the mask converter and the tutorial video. Top stuff.

[ScottishPride68]

Just a new edit of the old video. :)