Cyberlink ActionDirector - 1.0 Instruction Manual

CyberLink

ActionDirector

User's Guide

To the extent allowed by law, ActionDirector IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY FOR INFORMATION, SERVICES, OR PRODUCTS PROVIDED THROUGH OR IN CONNECTION WITH ActionDirector AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. BY USING THIS SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE THAT CYBERLINK WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE OR MATERIALS CONTAINED EITHER IN THIS PACKAGE.

The terms and conditions here under shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Taiwan.

ActionDirector is a registered trademark along with other company and product names mentioned in this publication, used for identification purposes and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners.

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Confidential unpublished works. Copyright 1995-2005 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.

For DTS patents, see http://patents.dts.com. Manufactured under license from DTS Licensing Limited. DTS, the Symbol, & DTS and the Symbol together are registered trademarks, and DTS 5.1 Producer is a trademark of DTS, Inc. © DTS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

International Headquarters

Mailing Address CyberLink Corporation

15F., No. 100, Minquan Rd., Xindian Dist. New Taipei City 231, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Web Site http://www.cyberlink.com Telephone 886-2-8667-1298 Fax 886-2-8667-1385

Introduction

................................................................................................1Welcome

.................................................................................................1DirectorZone

.................................................................................................2ActionDirector Versions

................................................................................................3System Requirements

ActionDirector Projects

................................................................................................4Setting Project Aspect Ratio

................................................................................................5Opening Saved Projects

................................................................................................5Exporting Projects

Storyboard Window

................................................................................................6Rooms

................................................................................................7Library Window

.................................................................................................8Searching the Library

.................................................................................................9Filtering Media in the Library

.................................................................................................10Library Menu

................................................................................................11Preview Window

.................................................................................................11Preview Player Controls

.................................................................................................12Taking a Scree n Snapshot

.................................................................................................12Preview /Display Options

.................................................................................................13Zoom In/Out

................................................................................................13Expanding the Library/Preview Window

................................................................................................13Function Buttons

Importing Media

..................................................1

..................................................4

..................................................6

..................................................15

Cyb erLink Action Director

................................................................................................15Importing Media Files

.................................................................................................16Importing ActionDirector Projects

Downloading Effects and Templates from

................................................................................................16

DirectorZone

Adding Video Clips and Images to the Storyboard Editing Media on the Storyboard

................................................................................................23Splitting a Clip

................................................................................................24Trimming Video Clips

................................................................................................26Cropping Images

................................................................................................27Rotating Media Clips

................................................................................................27Making Color Adjustments

................................................................................................28Fixing Video Clips

................................................................................................30Setting a Media Clip's Duration

................................................................................................30Changing the Shape of Media

Adding Action Effects in the Action Camera Center

................................................................................................34Creating Action Effects on Video Clips

................................................................................................37Action Camera Center Settings

................................................................................................37Changing the Action Camera Center Content

Adding Video Effects

..................................................17

..................................................23

..................................................33

..................................................39

Adding Title Effects

.................................................................................................41Adding Text and Backgrounds

.................................................................................................42Modifying Title Effe ct Position

.................................................................................................43Modifying Title Text Properties

.................................................................................................44Applying Animation Effects to Title Text

Using Transitions

..................................................40

................................................................................................40Modifying Titles in the Title Designer

..................................................45

................................................................................................45Adding Transitions to a Single Clip

................................................................................................46Adding Transitions Between Two Clips

Adding Background Music

..................................................47

Producing Your Project

Using the Theme Designer

.................................................................................................58What are Theme Templates?

.................................................................................................59Importing Media Files into the Theme Designer

.................................................................................................66Taking Snapshots from Videos

ActionDirector Preferences

..................................................49

................................................................................................49Utilizing Intelligent SVRT

................................................................................................50Producing and Saving to a Video File

................................................................................................51Uploading Video to Online Media Sites

..................................................57

................................................................................................58Overview

................................................................................................61Adding Theme Templates/Sequences

................................................................................................63Adding Media Clips

................................................................................................66Importing More Media Files

................................................................................................67Editing Media Clips

................................................................................................68Editing Background Music

................................................................................................70Editing Title Text

................................................................................................70Replacing Background Images

................................................................................................71Adding Transitions Between Sequences

................................................................................................71Previewing and Saving

..................................................73

................................................................................................73General Preferences

................................................................................................73DirectorZone Preferences

................................................................................................74Editing Preferences

................................................................................................74File Preferences

................................................................................................75Hardware Acceleration Preferences

iii

Cyb erLink Action Director

................................................................................................75Project Preferences

................................................................................................76Produce Preferences

................................................................................................76Improvement Program Preferences

ActionDirector Hotkeys

..................................................78

Appendix

.................................................................................................83License s and Copyrights

Technical Support

..................................................81

................................................................................................81Intelligent SVRT: When Is Used?

................................................................................................82Licensing and Copyright Information

..................................................95

................................................................................................95Before Contacting Technical Support

................................................................................................96Web Support

................................................................................................96Help Resources

Introduction

Note: this document is for reference and informational use only. Its content and the corresponding program are subject to change without notice.

Note: you can also quickly access your saved ActionDirector projects in the Welcome window. See Opening Saved Projects for more information.

Chapter 1:

Introduction

This chapter introduces CyberLink ActionDirector, outlines its key features, and reviews the minimum system requirements for the program.

Welcome

Welcome to the CyberLink family of digital media tools. CyberLink ActionDirector is a digital video editing program designed specifically for action camera

enthus iasts li ke you, as it helps you quickly create high-impact, pro-looking

videos that showcase the action.

When you launch the program from the start menu, or the CyberLink ActionDirector shortcut on the desktop, you are prompted to choose one of the following editing modes:

· Storyboard: select this option to edit your video on the storyboard.

Storyboard editing is a flexible and very intuitive way to quickly create your video. See Storyboard Window for an overview of the storyboard and the editing features it includes.

· Theme Designer: in the Theme Designer you can use theme templates to

create impressive, professional looking videos with style, almost instantly. See

Using the Theme Designer for more information and detailed steps on using

this feature.

DirectorZone

DirectorZone is a free web service that lets you search for and download theme templates, title templates, and transitions created by CyberLink and other users of CyberLink software.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: you can prevent CyberLink ActionDirector from auto checking for updates/upgrades in General Preferences.

To access the benefits of DirectorZone, you can sign in by:

· clic king the S ign in to DirectorZone link in the top right corner of the

CyberLink ActionDirector window.

· clic king the button at the top of the window to open the ActionDirector

preferences, and then on the DirectorZone tab. See DirectorZone Preferences for more information.

Also, be sure to periodically click the button to check out the latest DirectorZone B ulletin and view the Popular templates on DirectorZone. Just click in either of these sections in the Notifications window to view the bulletin or download these templates. Or go to http://directorzone.cyberlink.com to find out more information on the features and benefits of the DirectorZone web service.

ActionDirector Versions

The features that are available to you within CyberLink ActionDirector are completely dependent on the version you have installed on your computer.

To determine your version of CyberLink ActionDirector, click on the CyberLink ActionDirector logo in the top left corner or select ? > About CyberLink ActionDirector.

Updating ActionDirector

Software upgrades and updates (patches) are periodically available from CyberLink. CyberLink ActionDirector automatically prompts you when either is available.

To update your software, do this:

1. Click the button to open the Notifications window.

2. Check the New Updates and U pgrade Info sections.

3. Select an item in these sections to open your web browser, where you can purchase product upgrades or download the latest patch update.

Introduction

Note: you must connect to the Internet to use this feature.

System R equirements

Operating S ystem

· Microsoft Windows 10, 8.1/8, 7, Vista (SP2).

Scr een R esolution

· 1024 x 768, 16-bit color.

CPU Pr ocessor

· Intel Core i3 or AMD A6.

Graphics Card

· ATI/AMD: Radeon HD 7000 series.

· NVIDIA: GeForce GTX 600 series.

· Intel HD Graphics.

Memory

· 2 GB.

Hard D isk Space (I nstallation)

· 2 GB for installation.

Internet Connection

· Required for program activation, online

services and activation of some import/ export formats.

Other

· Windows Media Player 9 or above.

Note: please consult the CyberLink web site (http://www.cyberlink.com) for the most recent system requirements information.

System Requirements

The system requirements listed below are recommended as minimums for general digital video production work.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: a CyberLink ActionDirector project (.acs) file essentially contains a list of the media clips and effects used in your project, and a log of all the edits you want to make to your media. Project files do not include the media clips in them. If you want to save all your video production files in one place, use the Pack Project Materials function. To do this select, File > Pa ck Proj ect M aterials from the menu.

Chapter 2:

ActionDirector Projects

When working on a new video production, click the button to save it as a .acs file, a project file format that is used exclusively by CyberLink ActionDirector. These project files can be imported directly into the storyboard, if required. See Importing

ActionDirector Projects for more information.

Use the options in the File menu to save, create new, or open existing projects in CyberLink ActionDirector. When you create a new project, CyberLink ActionDirector resets your media library. If you want to create a new video production using the same media that's currently in your library, select File > N ew Workspace.

The changes you make to your media in CyberLink ActionDirector do not affect the original media you imported into the program. Since your edits are all saved in the project file, you can trim, edit, or remove clips, but still keep your original files on your hard drive, untouched. So let yourself get creative. If you end up changing things too drastically, you can always start over.

Setting Project Aspect Ratio

To set the aspect ratio for your project, and your outputted video, select 4:3, 9:16, or 16:9 from the aspect ratio drop-down at the top of the window.

The preview window changes according to the aspect ratio you select.

ActionDirecto r Projects

Opening Saved Projects

You can open previously saved projects at any time when in the storyboard window by selecting Open Project from the File menu. You can also open projects directly on the ActionDirector launch window.

The most recent projects you were working on display at the bottom of launch window. Just click the project thumbnail to open it, or click See m or e to find another saved project.

Exporting Projects

You can export your CyberLink ActionDirector projects by packing all the materials in a folder on your computer's hard drive. Exported projects can then be imported into another computer running CyberLink ActionDirector.

To export your project to a folder select File > Pack Proj ect Materials.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Chapter 3:

Storyboard Window

In the storyboard window is where you edit together your video production. The storyboard is a large graphical display of all the video clips and images in your video production. When you select Storyboard on the CyberLink ActionDirector launch window, the program displays as follows.

A - I mport Medi a, B - Medi a Ro om, C - L ibrary Wind ow, D - Title Effects Ro om, E - Transitio ns Roo ms, F

- ActionDi rector P references, G - Preview Window , H - Z oom I n/Out, I - Add B ackground Musi c, J Produc e Vid eo, K - Preview Quality/Di splay Options, L - Take Sna pshot, M - P review P layer Con trols, N - Storyboa rd Workspac e, O - Func tion Bu ttons

Rooms

There are three rooms in the storyboard window of CyberLink ActionDirector:

· Media r oom: this room contains all the video files and images that you import

into CyberLink ActionDirector. See Importing Media for information on importing media into this window, or Adding Video Clips and Images to the

Storyboard to learn how to add media files to the storyboard workspace.

· Title room : this room contains a library of title effects that when applied to

Storyb oard Windo w

your project, add credits or comments to your production. For more inform ation, see Adding Title Effects.

· Transition room: this room contains transitions that you can use on or

between clips in your project. Transitions let you control how media appears and disappears in your project, and changes from one clip to the next. For more inform ation, see Using Transitions.

Library Window

The library window contains all of the media you in CyberLink ActionDirector, including your video files and images. When you are in other rooms (Title Room, Transition Room, etc.) it contains the effects, titles, and transitions you apply to your media.

The media content and available buttons that display in the library window depend

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if you cannot see all of the media or content in a specific room, you can resize the library window to display it. See Expanding the Library/ Preview Window for more information.

Note: click on to clear the search results.

on the room you are currently in.

Searching the Library

If you are looking for specific media files, effects, or templates in a library window, use the search function to find them.

To search in the library, do this:

1. Enter in a keyword in the search field located on top of the library window.

2. CyberLink ActionDirector filters the content in the library window based on the keywords entered.

Storyb oard Windo w

Filtering Media in the Library

You can filter the media files that are in the library by file type, using the two buttons above the library window. Click these buttons to hide media so you can more easily find what you are looking for.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Library Menu

Click on to access the library menu. In the library menu you can sort the content in a room by name, date created, file size, and more. You can also select all the content in the room or change the media/effect thumbnail display size. Other options that are available in the library menu, but are dependent on the specific

Storyb oard Windo w

Note: you can resize the preview window to fit your personal preference. See Expanding the Library/Preview Window for more information.

room you are in.

Preview Window

While creating your video production, you can preview it in the preview window using the available player controls.

Preview Player Controls

With the player controls you can preview your production as you edit, including playing your project from the current storyboard position, or pausing and stopping playback.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: Full HD and HD preview resolution are only available when CyberLink ActionDirector is installed on a 64-bit operating system.

Use the button to select a seek by method (frame, second, minute, segment) and then use the buttons on either side of it for a more precise step through of your current video production. You can also click and drag the playback slider, or enter in a specific timecode in the time field, and then press the enter key on your keyboard to quickly find a specific scene.

Taking a Screen Snapshot

While previewing your project, you can take a still screen snapshot and save it as a

JPG image file. To do this click the button on the player controls.

Preview/Display Options

CyberLink ActionDirector includes some preview and display options that help

make your editing experience easier. Click on to set the preview quality or display grid lines on the preview window.

Preview Quality

Click , select Preview Quality, and then a preview quality from the list (Full HD*, HD*, high, normal, low) to set the resolution/quality of the video used when previewing your video in the preview window. The higher the quality you select, the more resources that are required to preview your video project.

Grid Lines

When you place media on the storyboard, use the grid lines to help with the precise placement on your video project's image. Click the button, select Grid Lines,

and then select the number of lines you want to display in a grid over the video image. Use this grid to more precisely place the title text or PiP media on the video image.

Once enabled, media and title effects will snap to the grid lines on the preview

Storyb oard Windo w

window.

Zoom In/Out

When you place media on the storyboard, use the Fit drop-down underneath the preview window to zoom in or out on the video. Zooming in is useful for precise placement of media on the preview window.

Expanding the Library/Preview Window

You can expand the size of the library and the preview window to fit your personal preference.

Simply drag the border between the library window and the preview window to resize them to your liking. This allows you to get the most out of your display device space by customizing the size of the preview window, or increasing the amount of content you can view in the media, title, or transition room.

Function Buttons

When you select media that is on the storyboard, whether it's a video clip, image, effect, title effect, etc., several function buttons display above the storyboard. These buttons let you perform a variety of tasks or gain access to some important features of CyberLink ActionDirector.

Cyb erLink Action Director

The function buttons that are available depend on the type of media content you

select. However, whenever you select media, the is always displayed. Click

to remove the selected media content from the storyboard.

Impo rting Me dia

Note: media you import is saved in the current CyberLink ActionDirector project you are working on. You can also select Fi le > New Wor kspace to create a new project, while maintaining the current media in the library.

Note: if you import media files that are on a removable device into the media library, they will be removed if the removable device is disconnected. For best results, it is recommended that you copy the media to your computer's hard drive before importing.

Note: ** to enable, you must download the DivX codec online. Available on Windows 32bit only.

Chapter 4:

Importing Media

The first step when using CyberLink ActionDirector is to import your video clips and photos into the media room library. You can import videos and images one by one, or import the entire contents of a folder into the program.

Importing Media Files

If you already have video and image files that you want to use in your production on your computer's hard drive, you can import the files directly into CyberLink Action Director's media library in the Media Room. You can also import media files that are on a removable device.

CyberLink ActionDirector supports the following file formats: Image: Animated-GIF, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF

CyberLink ActionDirector also supports the import of the following camera RAW image formats, which are then converted to JPEG once imported: ARW (SONY), CR2 (Canon), DNG (Ricoh), ERF (Epson), KDC (Kodak), MRW (Konica Minolta), NEF (Nikon), NRW (Nikon), ORF (OLYMPUS), PEF (Pentax), RAF (Fujifilm), RW2 (Panasonic), SR2 (SONY), SRF (SONY)

Video: 3GPP2, AVCHD (M2T, MTS), AVI, DAT, DivX**, DV-AVI, DVR-MS, DSLR video clip in H.264 format with LPCM/AAC, FLV (H.264), MKV, MP4 (XAVC S), MOD, MOV , MOV (H.264), MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264), MVC (MTS), TOD, VOB, VRO, WMV, WMV-HD, WTV in H.264/MPEG2 (multiple video and audio streams).

PowerPoint files: CyberLink ActionDirector supports the import of PowerPoint files

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: you can also drag and drop media onto the CyberLink ActionDirector window to import it into the program.

in the PPT and PPTX formats. During import, each of the PowerPoint slides are converted to PNG image files, which are then added to the media library.

To import media into CyberLink ActionDirector, click and then select one of the following options:

· Im port Media F iles: import media files individually.

· Im port a Media F older: import the entire contents of a folder that contains the

media files you want to use in your current project.

Importing ActionDirector Projects

CyberLink ActionDirector projects (.acs files) you worked on and saved previously can be imported and then directly inserted into your video production's storyboard.

To do this, select F ile > Insert Project from the menu. All of the media in the original project will be imported into the current project's media library, and also inserted at the current position of the storyboard slider.

Downloading Effects and Templates from DirectorZone

If you are looking for additional title effects or transitions for your library, you can click D ownload Templates to download them directly from the DirectorZone web site in to the Title Room or Transition Room.

Visit the DirectorZone web site for more information: www.directorzone.com.

Addin g Vide o Clips and Image s to the Sto rybo ard

Chapter 5:

Adding Video Clips and Images to the Storyboard

To start creating your video production, begin adding video clips and images to the storyboard. To add a media clip to the storyboard, just select it in the media room and then drag and drop it on the storyboard.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Addin g Vide o Clips and Image s to the Sto rybo ard

Cyb erLink Action Director

Addin g Vide o Clips and Image s to the Sto rybo ard

Repeat this process to continue adding your media clips to the storyboard. You add the media clips in the order that tells the story you want to tell.

You do not have to add the media clips after the last clip on the storyboard. They can also be dragged and dropped between two existing clips.

If the media clips are not in the correct sequence on the storyboard, you can click and drag them to different positions.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Editin g Med ia on the Story board

Chapter 6:

Editing Media on the Storyboard

Once you have your video clips and images on the storyboard you can start editing them. Editing is a broad term that encompasses a number of different functions, including splitting, trimming, applying fixes, and much more.

This section describes all of the editing processes you can perform on your media clips.

Splitting a Clip

You can quickly split a media clip that is on the storyboard into two separate clips. To do this, move the playback slider (or use the player controls) to the position in

the clip where you want to split it. Next, click the button above the storyboard to separate it into two clips.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: when you trim video clips, the program does not delete any of the original source media's content. It just marks the requested edits on the clips and then applies the edits when it renders the final video during production.

You can also use it to quickly remove unwanted portions of a media clip, or if you want to insert other media between the two portions.

Trimming Video Clips

Use the trim functions to remove unwanted portions from the beginning and/or ends of a video clip.

To trim a video clip, select it on the storyboard and then click the button above the storyboard.

Editin g Med ia on the Story board

A - P review Area, B - Marked P ositions in Clip, C - Ma rk Out P osition Slid er, D - Selected Content, E Mark I n P osition Slider, F - Pla yer Controls

To trim a video clip, do this.

1. Select the video clip on the storyboard you want to trim, and then click on

the button above the storyboard.

2. Use the player controls to find where you want the trimmed clip to begin, and

then cli ck to set the mark in position or drag the mark in position slider to this position.

3. Use the player controls to find where you want the trimmed clip to end, and

then cli ck to set the mark out position or drag the mark out position

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: you can reenter the trim window to refine the trimmed clip at any time.

slider to this position.

4. If required, you can preview what the trimmed clip will look like by clicking Output and then clicking the play button on the player controls. Click Original if you want to play the original video.

5. Click OK to set your changes and trim the clip.

Cropping Images

You can completely customize the aspect ratio of the images in your video production or crop out unwanted portions of a photo, using the crop image function.

To crop an image, do this:

1. Select the image on the storyboard and then click the button above the storyboard. You can also right-click on the image and then select Crop Image.

2. Set the aspect ratio or size of the crop area by selecting one of the following:

· 4:3: gives the crop area, and the resulting cropped image, a 4:3 aspect ratio.

· 16:9: gives the crop area, and the resulting cropped image, a 16:9 aspect ratio.

· Freeform: select if you want to manually resize the crop area on the image

and give the resulting cropped image a custom aspect ratio.

· Custom: select if you want to set a custom aspect ratio for the cropped image

using the Width and Height fields.

· Crop size: similar to custom, you can manually enter the image size you want

in the Width and Height fields.

3. If required, drag the crop area to the position on the photo you want to keep. All areas outside the crop area will be removed from the image.

4. Click OK to set your changes and crop the image.

Editin g Med ia on the Story board

Note: enable the Compare adjustments in split previ ew option for a before and after comparison in the preview window.

Rotating Media Clips

If the orientation of a media clip is incorrect, you can quickly rotate it in the storyboard. To rotate a media clip, select it on the storyboard and then click to rotate it 90 degrees counterclockwise. Click to rotate it 90 degrees clockwise.

Making Color Adjustments

Select a video clip or image on the storyboard and then click Color Adjustment to adjust its exposure, contrast, saturation, sharpness, and more.

In the Color Adjustment panel, the following options are available:

· Exposure: use on media clips that are over or underexposed. A lower value

darkens all the colors in the clip, while a higher value lightens them.

· Brightness: use to increase or decrease the brightness of the media clip's

image.

· Contrast: use to adjust contrast, or the difference between light and dark areas

of the media clip.

· Hue: use to fine tune the shade or purity of the colors in the media clip.

· Saturation: use to adjust the saturation of the colors in a media clip. A smaller

value moves the colors towards black and white, while a higher value increases the overall intensity of color in the clip.

· Vibrance: use to make the colors in a media clip brighter and more vivid, by

enhancing the duller colors.

· Highlight healing: is applied to areas of media clips that are overexposed to

recover detail in the highlights and brighter areas.

· Shadow: use to enhance detail in dark sections of the media clip by

lightening shadows and underexposed areas.

· Sharpness: use the slider to adjust the amount of sharpness applied to the

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if required, you can select the Appl y to All button to apply the adjustments you made in the Color Adjustment panel to all of the clips on the storyboard.

Note: if none of the lens profiles match your camera, you can download more from DirectorZone or manually fix the distorted video using the controls in this window. See more details below.

media clip.

When you are done adjusting the color in your clip, click to close the Color Adjustment panel.

Fixing Video Clips

Select a video clip on the storyboard and then click the Fix function button to stabilize shaky video, adjust video white balance, or add color presets. You can also use lens correction to remove fisheye distortions and vignettes.

Lens Correction

Select the Lens Correction option to import lens profiles to auto correct distorted videos, or use the controls to manually correct them if they have a fisheye distortion or vignette effect.

When you enter the Action Camera Center, manually select the lens profile, using the Maker and Model drop-downs, that matches the camera your video was shot with. Once selected, CyberLink ActionDirector will auto correct the video.

Downloading Lens Profiles from DirectorZone

If your video camera's lens and profile are not available in CyberLink ActionDirector

you can c lick the button to download more lens profiles from DirectorZone.

Once downloaded, click the button to import it. CyberLink ActionDirector should auto detect the imported profile and then correct the selected video.

Editin g Med ia on the Story board

Fisheye Distortion

The fisheye distortion section helps correct videos that appear distorted. Dragging the slider to the right straightens lines that bend away from the center, correcting barrel distortions. Dragging it to the left straightens lines that bend towards the center, fixing pincushion distortions in videos.

Vignette Removal

Use the following sliders to remove an unwanted vignette effect on videos that was caused by a camera lens or the lighting environment:

· Vignette amount: use this slider to adjust the level of vignette removal on the

video.

· Vignette midpoint: drag the midpoint slider to the left to increase the size of

the area (towards the center of the video) where the vignette removal is applied. Drag it right to decrease the size, towards the corners.

Video Stabilizer

Select the Video S tabilizer option to employ motion compensation technology to correct shaking videos. This tool is ideal for use with videos taken without a tripod or recorded while moving.

Once enabled, drag the Strength slider to increase or decrease the level of correction. Select the Fix r otational camera shake option if the clip has segments where the camera rotates from side to side.

Select the Enhanced stabilizer option to improve the output quality of some video clips. Using this feature requires more computing power, so it is recommended that you switch to non-real time preview or render a preview for the applied range.

White Balance

Select the White Balance o ption and then Color temperature to adjust the video's color temperature or create a specific atmosphere. Once enabled, use the slider to adjust the color of the video image. A lower value applies a colder temperature, while a higher value creates an atmosphere that is warmer. Use the Tint slider to

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: to set the duration of a video, see Trimming Video Clips.

adjust the color level of the clip.

Select the White c alibration option and then c lick to color correct the video image. By indicating which portion of the video image should be white, CyberLink ActionDirector automatically adjusts the other colors accordingly to be more vivid and true.

Color Presets

Select the Color Presets option to instantly transform the color and look of your video clips. To apply a color preset, just select it.

Setting a Media Clip's Duration

When you add images and title effect templates to the storyboard, you can set how long they are displayed in your video production. Unlike video clips which have a maximum length, these media clips can have any duration you want.

To set a media clip's duration, do this:

1. Select the clip on the storyboard.

2. Click the Duration button (or right-click on the clip, select Set Clip Attributes, and then select Set Duration).

3. In the Duration Settings window, enter in the how long you want it to display in your video production. You can set the duration down to the number of frames.

4. Click on OK.

Changing the Shape of Media

CyberLink ActionDirector lets you change the shape of the media in your video production. Both videos and images added to the storyboard have freeform properties, so you can easily change their shape to create media that is different from the usual rectangle or square shape.

To change the shape of a media clip, do this:

Editin g Med ia on the Story board

1. Select a media clip on the storyboard. The media crosshairs will be displayed.

2. Use your mouse to click and drag the blue nodes in the corners of the media clip, changing it to the desired freeform shape.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Addin g Action Eff ects in the Action C amera Cente r

Chapter 7:

Adding Action Effects in the Action Camera Center

In the Action Camera Center you can add effects that highlight the action sequences in the video.

To open the Action Camera Center, select a video clip on the storyboard and then click the Action Effect button.

A - Fi x Vid eo Cli ps, B - Add Ac tio n Effects, C - P review Win dow, D - Action Camera Center Settings, E Zoom on Timeli ne, F - Actio n Camera Center Timel ine

Once in the Action Camera Center, you can:

· Fix Video Clips

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: to edit content created with the Action Camera Center, click on it on the storyboard and then click on the Action Effect function button above the storyboard.

Note: before you finish creating your action effects, configure the Action Camera Center Settings to ensure the best output results.

Note: use the zoom controls above the Action Camera Center timeline to zoom in on the video clip's timeline to more precisely add the time shift.

· Create Action Effects

When you are done editing the video clip, click the OK button to save your changes. Your changes are applied to the video clip and updated on the storyboard.

Creating Action Effects on Video Clips

Click on the Effect tab in the Action Camera Center to highlight action sequences in your videos clips with time shifts and freeze frames. Time shifts let you replay, reverse, or alter the speed of key moments in your videos, while freeze frames pause and zoom in on the action.

Creating Time Shifts

Time shifts let you highlight action in video clips by adding slow motion or replays on key moments. To create a time shift, do this:

1. On the Effect tab, use the player controls or drag the Action Camera Center timeline slider to the position in your video clip where you want the time shift to start.

2. Click on the Create time shift button. CyberLink ActionDirector will create the time shift, which is indicated in orange on the timeline.

Addin g Action Eff ects in the Action C amera Cente r

Note: the length of the original time shift is dependent on how much you have zoomed in on the Action Camera Center timeline.

Note: you can create more than one time shift on a video clip. Just repeat the above steps to add another.

3. If required, drag each end of the time shift so that it covers the segment of the video you want to add the effect to.

4. Apply the effect as required (see below) to the time shift

segment.

Replay and Reverse

Select the Apply r eplay and reverse option if you want to loop the selected segment of video in the time shift. Once selected, indicate how many times you want the segment to replay by setting it in the R epeat times field. Select the Add reverse effect option if you want the video to reverse forward and backward as it loops playback.

Speed Effect

Select the Apply speed effect option to speed up or slow down just the selected segment of video in the time shift. Once selected, you can enter a new Duration for the segment in the field provided, or use the Speed multiplier slider. Drag it left to slow down the segment, or right to speed it up.

When you apply a speed effect to a segment of video, by default the change in the speed in the video is instantaneous once the timeline slider enters the time shift. If you want it to be more gradual and look smoother, you can use the Ease in/out options. Select E ase in if you want the change of speed at the beginning of the time

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if you also selected the Apply repl ay a nd reverse option, in the Appl y effect to drop down select whether to apply the speed effect to the

first or last play of the time shift segment.

Note: use the zoom controls above the Action Camera Center timeline to zoom in on the video clip's timeline to more precisely find the frame.

Note: you can add more than one freeze frame to a video clip. Just repeat the above steps to add another.

shift to gradually speed up/slow down to the specified speed. Select Ease out if you want the video to gradually return to the original video speed at the end of the time shift.

Adding Freeze Frames

Add a freeze frame to pause a frame of video for a specified duration. To add a freeze frame, do this:

1. On the Effect tab, use the player controls or drag the Action Camera Center timeline slider to the position in your video clip where you want the freeze frame.

2. Click on the Add freeze frame button. CyberLink ActionDirector will add a freeze frame, which is indicated by the blue indicator.

3. In the Duration field, enter how long you want the video to pause on this frame of video.

Applying Zoom Effect

Select the Apply z oom effect option if you want to zoom in and out on the paused

frame of video. Once selected, resize and align the focus box to the part of the video frame where you want the zoom to occur.

Addin g Action Eff ects in the Action C amera Cente r

Note: if you also selected the Apply repl ay a nd reverse option, in the Appl y effect to drop down select whether to apply the freeze frame to the

first or last play of the time shift segment.

Note: * optional feature in CyberLink ActionDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

Note: if you would like to view the individual clips created by the Action Camera Center so you can edit them directly on the storyboard, just rightclick on the file and then select Show Individua l Cl ips.

Action Camera Center Settings

Click the button in the Action Camera Center window to open the settings window. The available options are as follows:

Audio setting:

· Remov e audio: select this option if you want to mute the audio in the entire

video clip.

· Keep audio: select this option if you want to keep the audio in the edited

video clip. Select the Keep audio pitch (05 X to 2X only) if you are changing the speed of the video. Selecting this will stretch the audio to match the new video's length, minimizing the warping of the sound as the video speed changes.

Interpolation setting:

· Apply interpolated technology when available: select this option when

reducing the speed of the video. CyberLink ActionDirector uses frame interpolated technology* to create a more advanced and smooth slow motion effect.

Changing the Action Camera Center Content

Once you have created your action effects in the Action Camera Center and imported the resulting video clip into the storyboard, you can edit it like any other video clip on the storyboard. However, if you find that you want to edit or refine the effects more, you can do this by re-entering the Action Camera Center.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if you want to remove a time shift or freeze frame from a video clip,

just select it on the Action Camera Center timeline and then click the button.

To edit content created with the Action Camera Center, click on it on the storyboard and then click on the Action Camera Center function button above the storyboard.

Editing Content

When you re-enter in the Action Camera Center, you can refine any of the fixes you made on the Fix tab. Click on the Effect tab to edit any action effects you created, or add new ones. To edit a created time shift, just select it on the video timeline,

and then adjust its parameters as required.

For freeze frames, select the freeze frame indicator,

and then adjust the freeze frame settings as required.

When you are done, click OK to save your changes and import the updated content into the storyboard.

Addin g Vide o Effe cts

Note: the effect is applied for the entire duration of the selected clip. If you only want it applied to a portion of it, you can split the clip and then apply the effect to the portion you want. See Splitting a Clip for more information.

Note: media clips on the storyboard that have an effect applied have an i icon in the bottom left corner of its storyboard thumbnail.

Note: only one video effect at can be applied to each media clip on the storyboard.

Note: to remove an applied effect from a media clip, reenter the Effects panel, make sure the clip is selected, and then click on No Effect in the top left.

Chapter 8:

Adding Video Effects

You can add stylish video effects to your video production to make it unique. Video effects can be applied to both video clips and images on the storyboard.

To add a video effect on a media clip in the storyboard, do this:

1. Select a video file or image on the storyboard.

2. Click the Effects button above the storyboard to open the Effects panel.

3. Find a video effect you like and then click it to instantly apply it to the selected clip.

4. Once applied, you can preview it in the preview window.

5. To apply a different effect to this clip, ensure it is still selected and then click on the new effect.

6. When you are done adding the video effect, click to close the Effects panel.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: the text in the title effect template cannot be added or modified in the storyboard or in the preview window. Click the Ti tl e Design er button to edit the text in the template.

Chapter 9:

Adding Title Effects

Title effects let you add text to your video production, such as open and closing credits. You add title effect templates to the storyboard the same way you add media clips, and they can be customized in the Title Designer.

To add a title effect template to the storyboard, do this:

1. Click on the Add Title button above the storyboard, or click the Titles tab to open the Title room.

2. Browse through the available title effect templates. You can click one to view a preview in the preview window.

3. When you find the title effect template you like, drag and drop it on the storyboard. See Adding Video Clips and Images to the Storyboard for more detailed instructions, since the process is the same.

Once added to the storyboard, select the title effect template and then click the Title Designer button to edit it in the Title Designer. See Modifying Titles in the Title

Designer for more information. For information on setting the amount of time the

title effect appears in your video production, see Setting a Media Clip's Duration.

Modifying Titles in the Title Designer

In the Title Designer you can customize the title effects in your project. Title effects contain character presets, animation, and background options that you can modify to fit your video project.

To open the Title Designer, select a title effect on the storyboard and then click the Title Designer button.

Addin g Title Effe cts

Note: if you'd like to perform additional editing after closing the Title Designer, just select the title again in the storyboard and then click the Ti tl e Design er button.

A - Text P roperties Ta b, B - Title P roperties, C - Title Ani mation Effect Tab, D - Insert Text/B ackgrounds, E - Ti tle Text, F - TV Safe Zone/G rid Lines, G - P layer Controls

Once you are done modifying the title effect in the Title Designer, click the OK button to close the window and set your changes in your video production.

Adding Text and Backgrounds

Each title effect template can contain one or more title text boxes. It can also contain a background that the text displays over.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: to remove the imported background image, just click the button.

Note: click on to use the TV safe zone and grid lines to help with the precise placement of the title effect on the master video. Select Sna p to Referen ce Li nes to have the title effect snap to the grid lines, TV safe zone, and boundary of the video area.

Adding Title Text

By default there is one title text box in the Title Designer when it's opened. To edit the text in the title text, just click in the box, ensure the default text is selected, and then type in your text.

You can also add additional title text boxes. To add new title text, click on the button and then click in the preview window to add the title text box to the desired position. Type in the required text in the new title text box.

See Modifying Title Text Properties for more information on customizing the default title text properties to fit the title effect you are trying to create.

Inserting Backgrounds

Your title effect can consist of a background that the title text displays over.

To set a background, do this:

1. Click on the button.

2. Browse to and then select the image on your computer you want to use as the background, and then click Open.

3. When prompted, select the adjustment setting for the background that best fits your requirements.

Modifying Title Effect Position

You can change the position and orientation of the title text in a title effect, quickly and easily.

To modify title text or orientation:

Addin g Title Effe cts

Note: once you are done customizing all of the text properties on the tab,

cl ick on to save the character preset to your favorites. To find and use saved character presets, select M y Fa vor i tes i n the Chara cter types drop-down.

· click on the title text, and then drag it to a new position.

· clic k on above the title text or image, and drag it right or left to change its

orientation.

· click and drag a corner or side to resize the title text.

Modifying Title Text Properties

Click on the Text tab to change the properties of the selected title text.

Modifying Text Properties

Click on the Text properties tab to modify everything from the text size, style, color, as well as adding borders, and much more.

Applying Character Presets to Title Text

Select the Character Pr esets option to apply a defined character preset to title text. After you have applied a defined character preset you can refine it using the other properties on the tab, if required.

To apply a character preset to title text, ensure the text box is selected in the preview window and then click on a character preset in the list.

Customizing Font Type

Select the F ont T ype option to set the font type and size of the selected title text. You can also select the font face color, bold or italicize text, change the line and text spacing, and set the text alignment in the text box.

If the font type you are using supports it, you can select the Kerning check box to reduce the space between the letters in the title text.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Applying a Border

Select the Border option to add a border around the title text. Available options allow you to change the border's size, and add an opacity or blur effect.

You can customize the border color using the following options in the F ill type drop-down:

· Uniform color: select this option if you want the border to be one solid color.

Click the colored square to open the color palette and select the desired border color.

· 2 color gradient: select this option if you want the border color to change

from one color to another using a gradient. Click the colored squares to set the beginning and ending colors, and then drag the Gradient direction control to set which way the color flows.

· 4 color gradient: select this option if you want the border to consist of four

colors. Click the colored squares to set the colors in each of the four corners of the border.

Opacity

Select this option to use the Opacity slider to set the level of transparency of the selected title text.

Applying Animation Effects to Title Text

Click on the Effect tab to apply animations to title text, such as text fades, text motion, or wipes.

To apply animation to text, do this:

1. Select the title text you wish to animate in the preview window.

2. Select the Starting E ffect option and then select an animation from the available list.

3. Select the Ending Effect option and then select an animation from the available list.

Usin g Transitions

Note: if you only want a transition to be at the beginning of a clip, this can only be done by adding it to the first clip on the storyboard. Once added, you can then move the clip to another position on the storyboard.

Chapter 10:

Using Transitions

Click the Transition tab to open the Transition Room and access a library of transitions that you can use on or between image and video clips in your video production. Transitions let you control how media appears and disappears in your project, and changes, or transitions, from one clip to the next.

Adding Transitions to a Single Clip

By adding a transition to a single clip, you can control how the clip appears and/or disappears in your production.

To add a transition to a single clip, do this:

1. Click on Transitions tab to open the Transition Room.

2. Select a transition effect and then drag it to the beginning (prefix transition) of the first clip on the storyboard.

3. Select a transition effect and then drag it to the end (postfix transition) of the last clip on the storyboard.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if you only want a transition at the end of a clip, this can only be done by adding it to the last clip on the storyboard. Once added, you can then add more clips after it on the storyboard.

To change the duration of the transition, click on the Duration button above the storyboard. If you want to remove the transition from the clip, just click on it in the thumbnail and then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Adding Transitions Between Two Clips

You can also add a transition between two image and video clips on the storyboard.

To add a transition between two clips, do this:

1. Click on Transitions tab to open the Transition Room.

2. Select a transition effect and then drag it between the two clips on the storyboard.

To change the duration of the transition, click on the Duration button above the storyboard. If you want to remove the transition from between the clips, just click on it in the first thumbnail and then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Addin g Backgrou nd M usic

Chapter 11:

Adding Background Music

You can easily add background music to your video production. To add background music, do this

1. Click on the Music button to the right of the storyboard. The Add Background Music window opens.

2. Click on the button.

3. Browse to the music you want to add, select it, and then click Open. You can repeat this step multiple times, or select more than one music file to add more music.

4. In the Trim audio section you can trim the length of the music files you added as background music as follows:

· use the player controls to find the desired start point for the music, and then

click .

· use the player controls to find the desired end point for the music, and then

click .

· drag the markers on the music timeline to set the desired start and end times

manually.

5. In the mix audio section:

· drag the slider left (towards More music) to increase the volume of the music

in your video. Doing this will also reduce the volume of the audio in the video clip's on the storyboard.

· drag the slider right (towards More video) to increase the volume of the audio

in the video clip's on the storyboard. Doing this will reduce the volume of the background music you added.

6. Select the Loop playback option if you want the music to play continuously during the entire duration of the video. When the music ends, it will loop back to the beginning.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if you'd like to edit the background music after closing the Add Background Music window, just click on the Music button again.

7. Select the F ade out option to have the background music gradually fade-out at the end of the production.

8. Click OK to save your changes and add the background music to the video.

Producin g Yo ur Project

Note: before you produce your project, you can also click Go to Theme Designer to use theme templates to add style to your video production.

CyberLink ActionDirector will create a render preview of your finished video production and then import it into the Theme Designer. See Using the Theme Designer for more detailed information.

Chapter 12:

Producing Your Project

When you are done creating your video production, and you are satisfied with the results after viewing it in the preview window, it's time to produce it. Producing simply means compiling (or rendering) the separate elements your project contains into a playable video file.

To begin producing your project, click the Produce button in the bottom right corner. In the Produce dialog you have two options:

· Produce & S ave: select this option if you want to create a video file on your

com puter's hard drive. See Producing and Saving to a Video File for detailed information.

· Produce & S hare: select this option if you want to render your video

production and then have it uploaded to a social media web site such as Facebook, YouTube, or Vimeo. See Producing and Sharing to Online Media

Sites for detailed information.

Utilizing Intelligent SVRT

Intelligent SVRT (Smart Video Rendering Technology) is a proprietary rendering technology from CyberLink that assists in the output of your video productions by suggesting which video profile you should use.

Based on the format of original video clips in your project, what portions of the clips were modified (and therefore require rendering during production), and which portions of them were not changed (and thus can be skipped over during the rendering process), Intelligent SVRT suggests the video profile that will result in the best output quality possible, and save you the most time during production.

To utilize Intelligent SVRT, click the I ntelligent SVR T button on the File tab.

In the Intelligent SVRT dialog that displays, CyberLink ActionDirector auto selects the video profile it suggests you use to output your video production, and some

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if you're not sure which video file format you should output your production in, click the Intel ligent SVRT button for assistance. See Utilizing Intelligent SVRT for more information on using this feature.

Note: these video file formats support up to 4K resolution (Ultra HD). Before production, be sure to select the desired video resolution in the Profile name/Quality drop-down.

Producing and Saving to a Video File

You can output your video production as a video file, which you can watch on a computer, burn to disc, or output to a portable device.

You can output your project to one of the following formats:

· H.264 AVC (.MP4)

· Windows Media

To output your video production, do this:

1. Select a video file format by clicking it (H.264 AVC (.MP4), or Windows Media).

2. Select the Profile name/Quality you want to use to create the file. This selection determines the video resolution, file size, and overall quality of the outputted file.

3. Check the production details and that the file will be outputted to the folder

on your computer where you want it. Click to set another output folder.

4. If required, select Enable preview during production to preview your video during production. Selecting this option will increase the time required to produce your file.

Producin g Yo ur Project

Note: in some versions of CyberLink ActionDirector, you can produce and upload up to 4K resolution (Ultra HD) video to social web sites. Before production, be sure to select the desired video resolution in the Profile name/Quality drop-down.

5. Click the Start button to begin producing your file.

Uploading Video to Online Media Sites

On the Online tab you can upload your video production to one of the following online media web sites:

· Facebook

· YouTube

· Dailymotion

· Vimeo

· Niconico Douga

· Youku

Uploading Video to Facebook

To upload your video to Facebook®, do this:

1. Click the Facebook button.

2. Select the desired quality of your video from the Profile type drop-down list.

3. Enter a Title and Description for your video in the fields provided. The text you enter is included on Facebook once uploaded.

4. If required, select Enable preview during production to preview your video during production. Selecting this option will increase the time required to produce the file before upload.

5. Click Start to begin.

6. Click Authorize and then grant CyberLink ActionDirector permission to upload videos to your Facebook account by following the steps in the Facebook Authorization windows.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if the size/length of the your video exceeds the maximum allowed, CyberLink ActionDirector will separate the video into smaller/shorter videos, upload these videos, and then create a playlist for you on YouTube.

Note: the quality option available on YouTube is also dependent on the original captured video quality and the bandwidth of the user who is watching the video.

Note: sign in to DirectorZone and then select Share video on DirectorZone if you want to show others how you adjusted the clips in your

video production. When selected, your uploaded video also displays on DirectorZone.

7. CyberLink ActionDirector proceeds to produce and upload the video file. Click Close when done to return to the program.

Uploading Video to YouTube

To upload your video to YouTube, do this:

1. Click the YouTube Videos button.

2. Select the desired quality of your video from the Profile type drop-down. The quality you select will result in the corresponding quality option being available after the video is fully processed on YouTube.

3. Enter a Title and Description for your video in the fields provided. The text you enter is included on YouTube once uploaded. Also select one of the Video c ategories and enter in some keyword Tags that users can search for to find your video.

4. Set whether you want the video to be Public or Private once it is uploaded to YouTube.

5. If required, select Enable preview during production to preview your video during production. Selecting this option will increase the time required to produce the file before upload.

6. Click Start to begin.

7. Click Authorize and then grant CyberLink ActionDirector permission to upload videos to your YouTube account by following the steps in the YouTube Authorization windows.

8. CyberLink ActionDirector proceeds to produce and upload the video file. Click Close when done to return to the program.

Producin g Yo ur Project

Note: the quality option available on Dailymotion is also dependent on the original captured video quality and the bandwidth of the user who is watching the video.

Note: sign in to DirectorZone and then select Share video on DirectorZone if you want to show others how you adjusted the clips in your

video production. When selected, your uploaded video also displays on DirectorZone.

Uploading Video to Dailymotion

To upload your video to Dailymotion, do this:

1. Click the Dailymotion button.

3. Enter a Title and Description for your video in the fields provided. The text you enter is included on Dailymotion once uploaded. Also select one of the Video c ategories and enter in some keyword Tags that users can search for to find your video.

4. Set whether you want the video to be Public or Private once it is uploaded to Dailymotion.

5. If required, select Enable preview during production to preview your video during production. Selecting this option will increase the time required to produce the file before upload.

6. Click Start to begin.

7. Click Authorize and then grant CyberLink ActionDirector permission to upload videos to your Dailymotion account by following the steps in the Dailymotion Authorization windows.

8. CyberLink ActionDirector proceeds to produce and upload the video file. Click Close when done to return to the program.

Uploading Video to Vimeo

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: the quality option available on Vimeo is also dependent on the original captured video quality and the bandwidth of the user who is watching the video.

Note: sign in to DirectorZone you can select Sha re video on DirectorZone if you want to show others how you adjusted the clips in your

video production. When selected, your uploaded video also displays on DirectorZone.

To upload your video to Vimeo, do this:

1. Click the Vimeo button.

3. Enter a Title and Description for your video in the fields provided. The text you enter is included on Vimeo once uploaded. Also enter in some keyword Tags that users can search for to find your video.

4. Set whether you want the video to be Public or Private once it is uploaded to Vimeo.

5. If required, select Enable preview during production to preview your video during production. Selecting this option will increase the time required to produce the file before upload.

6. Click Start to begin.

7. Click Authorize and then grant CyberLink ActionDirector permission to upload videos to your Vimeo account by following the steps in the Vimeo Authorization windows.

8. CyberLink ActionDirector proceeds to produce and upload the video file. Click Close when done to return to the program.

Producin g Yo ur Project

Note: the quality option available on Niconico Douga is also dependent on the original captured video quality and the bandwidth of the user who is watching the video.

Note: sign in to DirectorZone you can select Sha re video on DirectorZone if you want to show others how you adjusted the clips in your

video production. When selected, your uploaded video also displays on DirectorZone.

Uploading Video to Niconico Douga

To upload your video to Niconico Douga, do this:

1. Click the N iconico Douga button.

2. Enter your Nic onico Douga Username and Password. If you don't have an acco unt, click the S ign Up to Niconico link to get one.

3. Select the desired quality of your video from the Profile type drop-down. The quality you select will result in the corresponding quality option being available after the video is fully processed on Niconico Douga.

4. Enter a Title and Description for your video in the fields provided. The text you enter is included on Niconico Douga once uploaded. Also enter in some keyword Tags that users can search for to find your video.

5. Set whether you want the video to be Public or Private once it is uploaded to Niconico Douga.

6. If required, select Enable preview during production to preview your video during production. Selecting this option will increase the time required to produce the file before upload.

7. Use the player controls in the preview window to find the frame of video in your production you want to use as the video's thumbnail on the Niconico Douga web site, and then clic k the Set Thum bnail button.

8. Click Start to begin.

9. Click Authorize and then grant CyberLink ActionDirector permission to upload videos to your Niconico Douga account by following the steps in the Niconic o Douga Authorization windows.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: the quality option available on Youku is also dependent on the original captured video quality and the bandwidth of the user who is watching the video.

Note: sign in to DirectorZone you can select Sha re video on DirectorZone if you want to show others how you adjusted the clips in your

video production. When selected, your uploaded video also displays on DirectorZone.

10. CyberLink ActionDirector proceeds to produce and upload the video file. Click Close when done to return to the program.

Uploading Video to Youku

To upload your video to Youku, do this:

1. Click the Youku button.

3. Enter a Title and Description for your video in the fields provided. The text you enter is included on Youku once uploaded. Also select one of the Video categories and enter in some keyword Tags that users can search for to find your video.

4. Set whether you want the video to be Public or Private once it is uploaded to Dailymotion.

5. If required, select Enable preview during production to preview your video during production. Selecting this option will increase the time required to produce the file before upload.

6. Click Start to begin.

7. Click Authorize and then grant CyberLink ActionDirector permission to upload videos to your Youku account by following the steps in the Youku Authorization windows.

8. CyberLink ActionDirector proceeds to produce and upload the video file. Click Close when done to return to the program.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

Chapter 13:

Using the Theme Designer

The Theme Designer lets you add style and a professional video look to your video production, with fully customizable theme templates. A theme may consist of one or more theme templates, or individual sequences from different theme templates.

As you customize the theme template, you can also fully customize how your media is displayed, giving you more creative control over your outputted movie.

To open the Theme Designer click T heme Designer on the ActionDirector launch window, or Go to Theme Designer in the Produce dialog.

A - M edia Tab, B - Effects Tab, C - Sequence Content Area, D - Added Sequenc es Area, E - Selec ted Sequence, F - Title Settings, G - Theme Backg round Musi c, H - Sequence Backg round I mage, I Transition Settings, J - Preview Windo w, K - Preview Control s, L - Take Snapshot from Vi deo, M - Auto Fill M edia Slots

Cyb erLink Action Director

Overview

Themes that you edit in the Theme Designer consist of theme templates and your media files. Your media files may consist of:

· images and video clips you import into the Theme Designer.

· a render preview of the video production created in the storyboard window.

· all the images and video clips you had in the media room in the storyboard

window.

· snapshot images you create in the Theme Designer. See Taking Snapshots

from Videos for more information.

What are Theme Templates?

Theme templates are used to create a video production, with a specific type of theme or style, and can be downloaded from DirectorZone. Theme templates consist of a number of sequences. Each of these sequences contain elements, some of which are customizable and some of which are not.

The customizable elements include the text and media (images, videos, and background music) you add to each sequence. You can add effects on this media and set how and when it is displayed. You can also set the background image on some sequences, and select the transition between each sequence in templates named "with transitions". Non-customizable elements include any animation included in the sequences.

When selecting a theme template to use in the Theme Designer, you can choose to add one or more theme templates, creating a more original production. You can even just select some of the sequences in a theme template, or mix and match the sequences used.

There are three types of sequences: opening, middle, and closing sequences. Opening and closing sequences usually contain text, while the elements in middle sequences are much more random.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

Note: once the render preview and media files are imported into the Theme Designer, the Add Theme Templates/Sequences window displays. See Adding Theme Templates/Sequences for more information on the next steps.

Note: if you want to import additional media files into the Theme Designer after you have entered it, see Importing More Media Files.

Importing Media Files into the Theme Designer

There are two ways you can enter the Theme Designer in CyberLink ActionDirector, so the process for the initial import of media files depends on the path you take. If you entered the Theme Designer from the storyboard window, CyberLink ActionDirector will:

· create a render preview of your video production and then import it into the

Theme Designer.

· import all of the video files and images you have in the media room, whether

they were used in your production or not, into the Theme Designer.

If you enter the Theme Designer from the launch window, you will see an import window that helps you import your media files.

Importing Media Files

When you select T heme Designer on the ActionDirector launch window, you import your media files as below.

1. After selectin g Theme Designer, the import media window displays.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: you can also click on the Import icon if you just want to import media files individually.

2. Click on and then select one of the following options:

· Im port Media F iles: import media files individually.

· Im port a Media F older: import the entire contents of a folder that contains the

media files you want to use.

3. Browse to and select the media files you want to import and the n click Open.

4. Click o n Next to import the media files into the Theme Designer and display the Add Theme Templates/Sequences window. See

Adding Theme Templates/Sequences for more information on the

next steps.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

Adding Theme Templates/Sequences

In the Theme Designer you can use one or more theme templates, or just certain selected sequences, to create your video.

When you first enter the Theme Designer, you are prompted to select a theme template.

To add a theme template, just select it in the window and all of its sequences will be added.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: you can preview a theme template in the preview window by selecting it and then using the available playback controls.

If you don't want to use all the theme template's sequences, just deselect the ones you don't want to use.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

Note: the number of media files you can add to a sequence is dependent on its design.

You can also select sequences from other theme templates and include them in your video. The Theme Designer will remember the order of your selections.

Click OK once you have selected all the sequences. They will be loaded into the added sequences area of the Theme Designer.

If you'd like to add more sequences, just click the button. You can drag and drop the sequences to reorder them, or right click to remove the selected one.

Adding Media Clips

Once you have selected the theme templates (and their sequences) that you want to use, you can start adding your images and video files to them.

To add media into the selected sequences, do this:

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: some of the media slots in sequences allow you to add both images and videos into them, while others only allow one type of media.

Note: the media that is available on the Media tab are the videos and images you imported into the Media Room library. Click Impor t Med i a to import media from your computer's hard drive.

1. In the added sequences area, select the individual sequence you want to add media to. Note the number of media slots that are available in the sequence content area. The number of available slots varies from sequence to sequence.

2. Click on the Media tab and then drag and drop the media that you want in the sequence to the desired slot.

3. Continue this process until all the media slots have been used.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

4. Select the next sequence, and then repeat steps 2 and 3 until all the media slots have been filled.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Note: if you want a media file to continue playing from one sequence to the next, ensure the Continue from last clip i n the previous sequence is selected. The first media slot will be auto populated with the content from the last media slot on the previous sequence. Deselect this option if you want new media displayed in the next sequence.

Note: when adding media you can also click the button to auto fill all the empty media slots in the sequences. Select Auto Fi ll by Library Or der to fill by the created date, as displayed in the Media Room li brar y. Select Aut o Fi ll Using Vi deos Fir st if you want to add the video clips first.

5. Continue selecting all the sequences in your video until all of the media slots and sequences contain media.

Importing More Media Files

Once you are in the Theme Designer, there are two ways you can import more media files into the window.

· To import more video files and images located on your hard drive, click the

Im port Media button.

· To take still snapshots from videos in the Theme Designer, click the Snapshot

button. See Taking Snapshots from Videos for more information.

Taking Snapshots from Videos

You can take a snapshot from a paused video and then import the image into the Theme Designer to use in your video production.

To take a snapshot, do this:

1. In the main Theme Designer window, select the video file you want to use and then click the Snapshot button.

2. In the Snapshot window, use the playback controls to find the video frame you want to take a snapshot of. Pause the video and use the and

buttons to find the precise frame you want to capture.

3. Click the . The snapshot image is captured.

4. Repeat the steps to take as many snapshots from the video as you wish.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

Note: the editing options in the Theme Designer are limited to video trimming, image duration, and adding effects. If you need to perform more complex editing on your media clips, it is recommended that you do this before importing the clips into the Theme Designer. See for Editing Your Media for more advanced editing options.

5. Click OK to close the Snapshot window and import the captured images into the Theme Designer.

Editing Media Clips

There are several editing options available for the media clips you want to use in the Theme Designer.

Trimming Video Clips

You can perform trims on the video clips used in the Theme Designer. To trim a video clip, right-click on it in the Theme Designer and then select Trim. Or hover

your mouse over the video clip and click on in its thumbnail. See Trimming

Video Clips for detailed information on trimming video clips.

Muting Video Clips

Some theme templates and sequences contain background music that will be used in your video. Because of this, you may want to mute the audio in the imported video clips, so that it doesn't conflict with the background music.

To mute the audio in a video clip, hover your mouse over the video clip and then

clic k on in its thumbnail.

Modifying Image Duration

To modify the duration that an image clip is displayed in your outputted video, do this:

1. Right-click on it in the Theme Designer and then select Set Duration. Or hover

your mouse over the image clip and then click on in its thumbnail.

Cyb erLink Action Director

2. In the Duration Settings window, enter in the how long you want it to display in your video production. You can set the duration down to the number of frames.

3. Click on OK.

Applying Zoom In on Media Clips

Some media slots in sequences allow you to zoom in on the media clip that was

added to it. If a zoom is available, then the icon is displayed in the top right corner.

To apply a zoom in on the media clip, click on the icon. Click to remove it if required.

Adding Video Effects to Clips

In the Theme Designer you can add special effects to your images and video clips. Each special effect has unique attributes that you can customize to help achieve the impression you want in your video production.

To add a video effect to a clip, do this:

1. Click on the Effects tab.

2. Select an effect and then drag and drop it on the clip.

3. If required, right-click on the clip and then select Modify E ffect S ettings. Use the available sliders and options to customize the video effect to your preference. Click on OK to save your changes.

See Adding Video Effects for more information on video effects.

Editing Background Music

You can customize the music that is used in your video. To edit the background music, select one of the following options in the Background m usic drop-down:

· Default (First Page): select this option to use the background music that is

included by default in theme templates.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

Note: if you select sequences from more than one theme template, the Theme Designer uses the background music that is applied to the first sequence in the video.

· Imported: select this option if you want to import your own custom

background music from your computer's hard drive. Select the music you want to use and then click OK to set it as the music used.

· No Music: select this option if you don't want to have any background music

in your video.

Background Music Preferences

You can trim the music used in your video or add fades. To do this, select Preferences in the B ack ground music drop-down. Modify the music preferences as follows:

· if required, trim the background music using the player controls and the

mark-in/mark-out indicators.

· if required, adjust the volume of the music using the available volume

control.

· if required, use the slider to mix the audio level, by deciding whether to have

more background music or the original video's audio in the production.

Click OK to save your changes.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Editing Title Text

Some sequences contain title text that you can edit. If a sequence allows you to edit title text, the text fields in Title settings will become active when the sequence is selected.

To edit the title text, just enter the text you want to use in the fields provided. If you don't want any text displayed in the selected sequences, just make sure the text field blank.

Replacing Background Images

Some sequences let you replace their background image. A thumbnail of the background image is displayed in the Background area if the sequence has a replaceable background image.

Click to replace the background with an image from your computer's hard drive. Click if you want to remove the background image from the sequence.

Usin g the The me Desig ner

Note: in theme templates not named "with transitions", the transitions between sequences are not editable. These theme templates use your media to make the transitions between the sequences.

Adding Transitions Between Sequences

When viewing a video created with the Theme Designer, you will notice that there are transitions between the sequences in a theme template. These transitions are editable in theme templates named "with transitions". Transitions can also be added between sequences if you are using sequences from different theme templates.

If adding a transition is available for a sequence, the Transition settings area displays when the sequence is selected.

Click to add a transition before the selected sequence. Click if you want to remove a selected transition from the sequence. See Using Transitions for more information on transitions.

Previewing and Saving

As you are creating your video in the Theme Designer, you can preview your creation using the available preview controls.

Click to preview the entire movie, or to preview just the selected sequence. Click to change the preview resolution, or to take a photo snapshot of your

Cyb erLink Action Director

movie.

The keyframe indicators on the preview timeline indicate where the media files in the sequence are in the movie. Hover your mouse over a keyframe to view the clip information.

Once you are done previewing your movie and you are satisfied with the results, clic k on OK. The Theme Designer will close, and you will be brought to produce window where you can do either of the following:

· On the File tab, you can render your production and create a video file on

your com puter's hard drive. See Producing and Saving to a Video File for detailed information.

· On the Online tab, you can to render your video production and then have it

uploaded to a social media web site such as Facebook, YouTube, or Vimeo. See Producing and Sharing to Online Media Sites for detailed information.

ActionDirecto r Preferen ces

Chapter 14:

ActionDirector Preferences

To set your preferences in CyberLink ActionDirector, just click the button.

General Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the General tab. The available options are as follows:

Application:

· Maximum undo levels: enter the number (between 0 and 100) of undos (Ctrl

+Z) you would like to make available while you work on your video production. Setting a higher number consumes more CPU resources.

· Always prom pt m e w hen aspect r atios conflict: select this option to enable a

warning message when you add a video clip to the storyboard whose aspect conflicts with that of the project.

Internet:

· Automatically check for software updates: select to periodically check for

updates or new versions of ActionDirector automatically.

Language:

· Use system default language: select this option for the language display to be

the same as the language of your operating system.

· User defined: select this option and then select the language from the drop-

down list that you want to use.

DirectorZone Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the DirectorZone tab. The available options are as follows:

Auto sign in:

· Auto sign in to D irectorZone: select this option and then enter in your e-mail

Cyb erLink Action Director

address and password to automatically sign in to DirectorZone when the program is opened. If you do not have a DirectorZone account, click on the

Get an Acc ount button.

Retrieve templates from DirectorZone:

· Templates D ownloaded from DirectorZone: click this button when you have

signed in to your DirectorZone account if you want to download and import all of the templates you previously downloaded from DirectorZone.

Privacy rules:

· Allow DirectorZone to gather editing information: select this option to allow

DirectorZone to collect all of the names of the templates used in a finished project you upload to YouTube.

Editing Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the Editing tab. The available options are as follows:

Durations:

· set the default durations (in seconds) for image files, transitions, and titles

when placed on the storyboard.

File Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the File tab. The available options are as follows:

Default locations:

· Im port folder: indicates the last folder that media was imported from. To

change this folder, click Browse and then select a new folder.

· Export folder: set the folder where captured media is saved. To change this

folder, cl ick Browse and then select a new folder.

ActionDirecto r Preferen ces

Note: ensure you download and install the latest drivers, and any related hardware acceleration software, for your computer's graphics card to enable this feature in CyberLink ActionDirector.

Hardware Acceleration Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the H ardware Acc eleration tab. The available options are as follows:

Hardware acc eleration:

· Enable OpenCL technology to speed up video effect preview/render: if your

computer supports GPU hardware acceleration, select this option to speed up the rendering of some video effects by tapping into the multi-core parallel processing power of your computer.

· Enable hardware decoding: if your computer supports NVIDIA CUDA/AMD

Accelerated Parallel Processing/Intel Core Processor Family technology, select this option to use hardware acceleration to decode the video during the editing process and when producing video.

· Enable hardware encoding: if your computer supports NVIDIA CUDA/AMD

Accelerated Parallel Processing/Intel Core Processor Family technology, select this option to use hardware acceleration to encode the video when producing video.

Project Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the Project tab. The available options are as follows:

Project:

· Number of recently used proj ects: enter the number (between 0 and 20) of

recently used projects that you would like to make available in the File menu when you open CyberLink ActionDirector.

· Automatically load the last project w hen ActionDirector opens: select this

option to automatically load the last project you were working on.

· Automatically load sample c lips w hen Ac tionDirector opens: select this option

to automatically load the sample image and video clips into your media

Cyb erLink Action Director

library when the program opens.

· Auto save proj ect every: select this to automatically save your project every

specified number of minutes, so you don't lose your changes by accident. If you want to set a specific location for the auto save files, click the Browse button and select a folder location on your computer.

Produce Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the Produce tab. The available options are as follows:

Produce:

· Reduce video blocky artifacts (I ntel SSE 4 optimized): select this option to

improve the production overall quality of produced video, if your computer supports Intel SSE4 optimization.

· Reduce video noise w hen using H .264 software encoders: select this option if

you want CyberLink ActionDirector to auto apply video denoise when encoding H.264 video during production.

H.264 AVC:

· Allow SVR T on single I DR H.26 4 v ideo: select this option if you want

CyberLink ActionDirector to use SVRT to render a movie project when you only have one H.264 AVC clip on the storyboard. See Utilizing Intelligent SVRT for more information on SVRT.

· Produce WMV v ideo w ith S peed Mode: select this option if you want

CyberLink ActionDirector to use Speed Mode to render WMV videos more quickly.

Improvement Program Preferences

In the Preferences window, select the Improvement Program tab. The available options are as follows:

CyberLink Product Im provement Program

· I want to participate: select this item if you would like to participate in the

ActionDirecto r Preferen ces

Note: the CyberLink Product Improvement Program for ActionDirector will not collect any personal information for purposes of identifying you.

CyberLink Product Improvement Program for ActionDirector. Once enabled, CyberLink ActionDirector will collect information about the hardware and software configuration of your computer system, as well as your usage behavior and statistics related to the software. Click the R ead m ore information about the improvement program online link to view more detailed information about the content collected.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Hotkeys

Command

File

Ctrl + N

Create new project

Ctrl + Shift + W

New workspace

Ctrl + O

Open existing project

Ctrl + S

Save project

Ctrl + Shift + S

Save project as

Ctrl + Q

Import media files

Ctrl + W

Import a media folder

Alt + P

Display project properties

Alt + F4

Exit CyberLink ActionDirector

Alt + C

Open user preferences window

Edit

Ctrl + Z

Undo

Ctrl + Y

Redo

Ctrl + X

Cut

Ctrl + C

Copy

Ctrl + V

Paste

Modify (selected title effect in Title Designer)

Ctrl + Alt + T

Open Trim window

Delete

Delete/Remove selected items

Ctrl + A

Select all media in media room

Ctrl + T

Split clip at current storyboard slider position

Chapter 15:

ActionDirector Hotkeys

CyberLink ActionDirector includes a number of keyboard hotkeys that can make the whole video editing process go more quickly and smoothly.

ActionDirecto r Ho tkeys

Hotkeys

Command

Ctrl + P

Take a snapshot of content in the preview window

[

Mark in Trim window

]

Mark out Trim window

Title Designer

Ctrl + B

Make text bold

Ctrl + I

Make text italic

Ctrl + L

Left-align text

Ctrl + R

Right-align text

Ctrl + E

Center-align text

Up arrow key

Move object up

Dow n arrow key

Move object down

Left arrow k ey

Move object left

Right arrow key

Move object right

View

Switch to Media Room

Switch to Title Room

Switch to Transition Room

Playback

Space

Play/Pause

Ctrl + /

Stop,Previous unit (seek by frame, second, etc.)

Next unit (seek by frame, second, etc.)

Home

Go to the beginning of clip/project

End

Go to the end of clip/project

Ctrl + left arrow key

Go to previous clip in storyboard

Ctrl + right arrow

Go to next clip in storyboard

Cyb erLink Action Director

Hotkeys

Command

key

Alt + up arrow key

Next second

Alt + down arrow key

Previous second

Ctrl + G

Go to timecode

Ctrl + F

Fast forward

Ctrl + U

Adjust system volume

Ctrl + B ackspace

Mute/Mute off

Full screen

System H otkeys

Open help file

Delete

Delete/Remove selected items

Shift + F1 2

View hotkey list

Appendix

Chapter 16:

Appendix

This chapter contains reference information to help answer questions you may have about the digital movie production process or about using CyberLink ActionDirector.

Intelligent SVRT: When Is Used?

Intelligent SVRT can be applied to video clips in the H.264 format. In the following conditions, clips (or portions of clips) do not require rendering during production, and SVRT can therefore be applied:

· The frame rate, frame size, and file format are the same as those of the

destination production profile.

· The bitrate is similar to that of the destination production profile.

· The TV format is the same as that of the destination production profile.

If all of the above conditions are met, SVRT can be used. Any clips that do not meet the above criteria are fully rendered without SVRT.

In the following conditions, clips (or portions of clips) must be rendered during production, and SVRT can therefore not be applied:

· Adding a title or transition effect.

· Modifying the color of a video clip.

· Merging two video clips (clips within 2 seconds before or after the merged

clips will be rendered).

· Splitting a video clip (clips within 2 seconds before or after the split will be

rendered).

· Trimming a video clip (clips within 2 seconds before or after the trimmed clip

will be rendered).

· If the total duration of the production is less than one minute and any portion

of the video requires rendering, the entire production will be rendered for efficiency reasons.

Cyb erLink Action Director

Licensing and Copyright Information

This section contains the ActionDirector licensing and copyright information, including a copy of the Intel License Agreement for Open Source Computer Library and the GNU Lesser General Public License. There is also a list of the third-party components used in ActionDirector.

License Disclaimer

This product includes certain copyrighted third-party software components license under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License and other similar license agreements offering free distribution of these software components offered by other organizations, if applicable. Copies of these agreements can be found by clicking the link associated with each of the component provided in the table below. You may also visit http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/lesser.html for a copy of GNU Lesser General Public License Agreement.

LGPL components and other components listed below are licensed without warranties of any kind, either express or implied warranties, including without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk as the quality and performance of these components is with you. Please check the respective license agreement for more details.

Copyright Holders under LGPL and/or other license agreements mentioned herein shall not be responsible for any damages, general, special, incidental or consequential, arising out of the use or inability to use these components/software. Please check the respective license agreement for more details.

For a list of components of such nature, and to acquire the full source code of these licensed components, including any scripts to control compilation and installation of the object code, please see "List of Components" below.

Dow nloading Sourc e Code

You can download the machine-readable source code of the corresponding licensed component from http://www.cyberlink.com/. Please read the copyright notice, the warranty disclaimer, and the license agreement accompanying these source codes.

List of Components

Component

License Information

cv.dll