| OverlayFX PRO is one of SEVEN Wizards for Movie Maker. Also see TitleFX, AccentFX, SpiceMaster, PanZoom, PerfectPIP, and TranJelly. Questions? Email us |
Movie Maker only provides a single video track, which has long limited its creative power to superimpose/ composite still-images atop another image. Advanced users could resort to tricky XML coding to get around the limitation, but the process is non-intuitive and awkward at best.
Now such pain is in the past. OverlayFX PRO gives you the first-ever power in Movie Maker to EASILY and VISUALLY overlay and position ANY imported still-image over your scene, such as a logo, externally-created title, lower-thirds, custom frame, or graphic. Then you can visually enhance it in the Wizard in compelling new ways. It's like adding a whole new track to Movie Maker! In fact, you can apply up to SIX OverlayFX PRO effects to the SAME clip -- to overlay several different still-image graphics at once, if desired. So it's really like adding up to SIX compositing tracks to Movie Maker! WOW!
OverlayFX PRO also is a great supplement to the TitleFX PRO Wizard in SpiceFX 5.0. TitleFX PRO adds terrific new capabilities to Movie Maker's standard titler. But sometimes you may need more flexibility in your title looks such as mixed fonts or colors -- as shown in the examples on this page -- which Movie Maker's titler cannot do. The solution is to create the title in a graphics program such as Photoshop, then use OverlayFX to layered the image easily on top of your clip! The overlay file can be in bitmap (.bmp), PNG (.png), TIFF (.tif) or Targa (.tga) format (see the blue box below for tips about how to prepare the graphic file).
6 Easy Steps to Using OverlayFX PRO
After you re-start Movie Maker, your custom OverlayFX PRO effects(s) will appear in Movie Maker’s Effects list (at the TOP of the list) as "OverlayFX 01" "OverlayFX 02" etc., ready to be dragged onto any video clip or still-image clip in the Movie Maker timeline like a standard effect. Note you can create a fresh set of custom OverlayFX PRO effects for each new project. Older projects will still retain their earlier set! Cool!
| IMPORTANT Note: When preparing a graphic that you intend to overlay with OverlayFX PRO, in your image editing program be sure to save the file as a bitmap (.bmp), PNG (.png), TIFF (.tif) or Targa (.tga) file which includes an alpha channel (thus is a 32-bit file). The alpha channel tells OverlayFX which areas will be transparent. Also, if the graphic is smaller than your full-screen (such as the title shown above), in your image editing program be sure to place the smaller graphic within a full-size canvas. For example, if you intend to have a small logo in the lower right corner of your scene, make a 720x480 graphic (or similar full-size canvas at the size of your intended final output) with the logo much smaller in the lower right corner of that (otherwise empty) canvas. |
To see complete instructions/help/tips, click here.
Features Common to All Wizards
Wizards 5.0 is a separate program from Movie Maker. Access it by double-clicking the Wizards icon on your desktop (installed by our demo or purchased version). Or choose it in your Start > Program Files > Pixelan menu. Note you can keep the Wizards open while working in Movie Maker for reference or quick adjustments. Below are additional features in all Wizards.
SUPERB Creative Control -- Just a Few Easy Clicks!
Below is an overview of SOME of what is creatively possible with the OverlayFX PRO Wizard for Movie Maker. Keep in mind that all of these options/choices SYNERGIZE to give you virtually an infinite amount of overlay looks -- all possible with just a few clicks! To see first-hand OverlayFX PRO's creative power, download our demo, which is a very easy download and automatically installs into Movie Maker -- no technical know-how required!
• Multiple Overlays per Clip. Apply up to SIX OverlayFX PRO effects to the SAME clip -- to overlay several different still-image graphics at once, if desired. That's like adding up to SIX compositing tracks to Movie Maker! Each one can have it's own timing, position, fade in/out, etc.
• Adjustable Transparency for More Subtle Looks. Sometimes a more subtle look for a graphic or logo or text layer is what's most desirable. No problem with the Transparency button in TitleFX PRO. An easy way to solve text or logo watermarks in the corner of your video.
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• Enhance with Depth, Border, and Shadow/Glow. Visually 'pop' your overlay in HUNDREDS of possible ways by combining the many choices available in the Depth, Border, and Shadow/Glow buttons. No need to waste time switching back and forth with an external graphics program trying to reproduce the same enhancements. Just a few examples are shown below.
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| • Easily Fade the Overlays In/Out. Use the Timing button to add an attractive fade-in and/or out to your overlay, giving your results a seamless professional look. |  |
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