for Matrox AxioMay 11, 2006

Creating Your Own Mask Patterns

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Trademarks • Marques déposées • Warenzeichen • Marchi registrati • Marcas registradasMatrox Electronic Systems Ltd. ....................................... Matrox®, Axio™, Axio.utils™Adobe Systems Inc.......................................................... Adobe®, Adobe Premiere® Pro, Adobe Photoshop® CS

Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................... 1

Requirements ....................................................................................................................................1

Creating your own mask patterns in Adobe Photoshop CS ............ 1

Converting your mask to the .gfx format.........................................3

Installing the .gfx file ........................................................................4

Bitmap dimensions ..........................................................................5

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Your notes

Contents

1

IntroductionThis document explains the steps required to create a mask pattern (.gfx file) that can be used with the Matrox mask effects on Matrox Axio.

We recommend that you experiment with the Matrox mask effects before completing this tutorial. That way, you will have a better understanding of some of the principles discussed in this document.

¦ Note While these instructions are for creating mask patterns with Adobe Photoshop CS, you can use any imaging software you like—as long as you specify the correct image size, select 8-bit grayscale, and save your pattern as a .tga file.

RequirementsYou must have a Matrox Axio system with Axio.utils installed.

Creating your own mask patterns in Adobe Photoshop CS

To create a mask pattern using Adobe Photoshop CS:

1 Start Adobe Photoshop CS, then choose File > New to create a new image.

2 From the Preset list, select Custom.

3 Enter the Width and Height of your mask pattern in pixels.

¦ Note If you plan to use your mask pattern for more than one format, you must recreate it for each format with the proper dimensions. For more information on the dimensions a mask pattern must have for a specific format, see “Bitmap dimensions” on page 5.

Introduction

2

Cre

4 From the Color Mode lists, choose Grayscale and 8 bit.

5 Under Advanced, choose a Pixel Aspect Ratio that matches your project’s ratio from the list.

¦ Note It is not mandatory that the Pixel Aspect Ratio match the ratio of your project, however, this will create a better looking mask.

6 Click OK.

7 Create your mask pattern using any of the tools in the toolbox. You can use the 256 shades of gray available to you. Areas of white in your mask pattern create an opaque area that prevents the underlying clip from showing through. Black areas of your mask pattern create transparent areas, and gray areas create semi-transparent areas.

8 When you are satisfied with your mask pattern, choose File > Save As, name your file, and select Targa *.tga as the file type.

ating your own mask patterns in Adobe Photoshop CS

3

Remarks• If you want to use your mask in many different formats, it may be useful to

create it in the largest format first, and scale it down for the smaller formats. Just be sure you have the correct aspect ratio when you do this.

• If you plan on transforming your mask, you’ll get better results if the edges of your bitmap are all the same color (usually black or white).

Converting your mask to the .gfx formatAxio.utils includes a converter tool that allows you to convert your mask .tga file to a .gfx file. The converter tool also supports converting .bmp files, but it is highly recommended that you use .tga files.

¡ Important Make sure Adobe Premiere Pro is closed before running the converter tool.

°To convert your mask .tga file to a .gfx file:1 Go to the Axio.utils system folder. If you chose the default location when

you installed Matrox Axio.utils, this folder will be installed at: Program Files\Matrox Axio.utils\system.

2 Double-click on mvTGAToGFXConverter.exe.

3 Under Input, click the ... button on the right to browse to your input image (the .tga file you created in the first part of this tutorial).

4 From the Aspect ratio list, choose the aspect ratio of your .tga file.

5 Under Output, click the ... button on the right to specify a name and location for the .gfx file that will be created.

6 Click Generate. This will convert your .tga to a .gfx. A dialog box will inform you if the conversion was successful.

Converting your mask to the .gfx format

4

Inst

Installing the .gfx fileThe .gfx file must be installed in the proper directory so that the next time you apply a Matrox mask effect, your new pattern will be available from the Select Shape list.

°To install the .gfx file:Open the directory where the mask effect patterns are installed. If you chose the default location when you installed Matrox Axio.utils, this folder will be installed at: Program Files\Matrox Axio.utils\Effect Patterns\Masks.

The particular folders displayed depends on which effect pattern formats you chose to install. Open the folder that corresponds to the format of your new .gfx file. For example, if your .gfx is an NTSC 16:9 file, you would open the NTSC-16-9 folder. This will list all the types of effect patterns for that format.

alling the .gfx file

5

7 Copy your mask pattern into the folder that corresponds to the type of pattern it is. For example, if the .gfx file you created is a gradient pattern, copy it to the Gradient folder. You can also create a new folder for your .gfx file if necessary.

¥ Tip Placing your .gfx files in subfolders will enable you to find your files faster when you’re working in Premiere Pro.

Bitmap dimensionsThe following table lists the dimensions required for your mask based on the format you are working in:

Format Width Height

NTSC 720 486

PAL 720 576

720p 1280 720

HDV1080i 1440 1080

1080i 1920 1080

1080p 1920 1080

Bitmap dimensions

6

Bitm

Your notes

ap dimensions

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