Cyberlink PowerDirector - 17.0 User’s Guide

User's Guide

PowerDirector 17

CyberLink

To the extent allowed by law, PowerDirector 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 PowerDirector 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.

PowerDirector 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 Confidential unpublished works.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 https://www.cyberlink.com Telephone 886-2-8667-1298 Fax 886-2-8667-1385

Contents

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

Introduction

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

.................................................................................................1Latest Features

.................................................................................................2DirectorZone and CyberLink Cloud

.................................................................................................3PowerDirector Versions

................................................................................................5Minimum System Requirements

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

PowerDirector Editing Modes

................................................................................................7Auto Mode

................................................................................................9Slideshow Creator

.................................................................................................11Adding Slideshow Background Music

.................................................................................................12Customizing Slideshows in the Slideshow Designer

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

PowerDirector Workspace

................................................................................................17PowerDirector Modules

................................................................................................18Rooms

.................................................................................................18Media Room

.................................................................................................20Effect Room

.................................................................................................20Video Overlay (PiP Objects) Room

.................................................................................................20Particle Room

.................................................................................................20Title Room

.................................................................................................21Transition Room

.................................................................................................21Audio Mixing Room

.................................................................................................21Voice-Over Recording Room

.................................................................................................21Chapter Room

.................................................................................................21Subtitle Room

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

................................................................................................22Library Window

.................................................................................................23Explorer View

.................................................................................................24Searching the PowerDirector Library

.................................................................................................24Filtering Media in the Library

.................................................................................................26Library Menu

................................................................................................26Expanding the Workspace

................................................................................................27Preview Window

.................................................................................................28Preview Player Controls

.................................................................................................28Preview Screen Snapshots

.................................................................................................29Preview/Display Options

.................................................................................................31Zoom In/Out

.................................................................................................31Undocking the Preview Window

.................................................................................................31Playing 360° Media Files

.................................................................................................33Previewing in 3D Mode

................................................................................................34Editing Workspace

.................................................................................................34Timeline Mode

.................................................................................................45Storyboard Mode

..................................................46

PowerDirector Projects

................................................................................................46Setting Project Aspect Ratio

................................................................................................47360° Video Projects

................................................................................................48Exporting Projects

................................................................................................48Reusing PowerDirector Projects

................................................................................................50CyberLink Cloud Projects

..................................................52

Importing Media into PowerDirector

................................................................................................52Importing Media Files

.................................................................................................53360° Media Files

.................................................................................................543D Media

.................................................................................................56Importing PowerDirector Projects

................................................................................................60Capturing Media

iii

.................................................................................................61Capturing from a DV Camcorder

.................................................................................................63Capturing from an HDV Camcorder

.................................................................................................63Capturing from a TV Signal

.................................................................................................63Capturing from a Digital TV Signal

.................................................................................................64Capturing from a Webcam

.................................................................................................64Capturing from a Microphone

.................................................................................................64Capturing from a CD

.................................................................................................64Capturing from an AVCHD Camcorder

.................................................................................................65Capturing from an Optical Device

.................................................................................................65Capture Desktop with Screen Recorder

.................................................................................................65Captured Content

.................................................................................................65Quality Profile Setup

.................................................................................................66Capture Settings

.................................................................................................66Capture Preferences

................................................................................................67Downloading Media

.................................................................................................67Downloading Content from DirectorZone/CyberLink Cloud

.................................................................................................69Downloading Photos From Flickr

.................................................................................................70Downloading Royalty Free Music

................................................................................................70

Precutting Video, Detecting Scenes, Extracting Audio, and Capturing Snapshots

.................................................................................................71Precutting Video Clips

.................................................................................................71Detecting Scenes in a Video Clip

.................................................................................................73Extracting Audio from a Video Clip

.................................................................................................73Capturing Screen Snapshots from a Video Clip

..................................................75

PowerDirector Plugins

................................................................................................75Using the MultiCam Designer

.................................................................................................76Importing Media

.................................................................................................78Synchronizing Clips

.................................................................................................79Creating Recorded Content

.................................................................................................81Changing the Recorded Content

................................................................................................83Using the Theme Designer

.................................................................................................84Overview

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

.................................................................................................84Adding Theme Templates/Sequences

.................................................................................................87Adding Media Clips

.................................................................................................90Importing More Media Files

.................................................................................................91Editing Media Clips

.................................................................................................92Editing Background Music

.................................................................................................93Editing Title Text

.................................................................................................94Replacing Background Images

.................................................................................................94Adding Transitions Between Sequences

.................................................................................................95Previewing and Saving Movies

.................................................................................................95Editing Created Movies

................................................................................................96Editing Video in the Action Camera Center

.................................................................................................98Fixing Video Clips

.................................................................................................100Creating Action Effects on Video Clips

.................................................................................................106Action Camera Center Settings

.................................................................................................107Changing the Action Camera Center Content

................................................................................................108Using an Express Project

................................................................................................109Recording Your Desktop with the Screen Recorder

................................................................................................110Creating Overlays with the Blending Effect

.................................................................................................111Blending Image Presets/Templates

................................................................................................114

Designing Custom Slideshows in the Slideshow Creator

................................................................................................115Design Hand-Drawn Animation in the Paint Designer

................................................................................................115Creating Video Collages

.................................................................................................116Creating a Video Collage

.................................................................................................120Saving and Sharing Collage Templates

................................................................................................121Creating Movies Quickly with the Magic Movie Wizard

................................................................................................121Transforming Video with the AI Style Plugin

..................................................124

Arranging Media in Your Production

................................................................................................125Adding Video Clips and Images to the Timeline

.................................................................................................125Adding Video Clips and Images

.................................................................................................127Adding Color Boards and Backgrounds

................................................................................................131Adding Audio Clips

.................................................................................................133Syncing Audio

................................................................................................135Syncing Clips by Audio

..................................................137

Editing Your Media

................................................................................................137Editing 360° Video Projects

................................................................................................139Content Aware Editing

.................................................................................................140Using Content Aware Editing

................................................................................................144Splitting a Clip

................................................................................................145Unlinking Video/Audio Clips

................................................................................................146Trimming Video and Audio Clips

.................................................................................................146Trimming a Video Clip

.................................................................................................150Trimming an Audio Clip

................................................................................................152Setting a Media Clip's Duration

................................................................................................152Setting TV (Video Clip Interlacing) Format

................................................................................................153Adjusting Video Clip Aspect Ratio

................................................................................................154Stretching Images

................................................................................................155Cropping Images

................................................................................................156Rotating Images/Videos

................................................................................................157Changing the Shape of Media

................................................................................................158Fixing and Enhancing Images/Videos

.................................................................................................166Advanced Fixes and Enhancements

.................................................................................................167Enhanced VR Stabilizer

................................................................................................170Utilizing Keyframes on Media

.................................................................................................172Adding Keyframes

................................................................................................175Muting Audio

................................................................................................175Editing Audio

.................................................................................................175Editing Audio in the Audio Editor

.................................................................................................181Editing Audio in CyberLink AudioDirector

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................................................................................................182Time Info

................................................................................................182Magic Cut

..................................................183

Using the Tools

................................................................................................183Using the Power Tools

.................................................................................................184Adjusting Video Speed in the Video Speed Designer

.................................................................................................188Crop, Zoom, and Pan Video

................................................................................................190Audio Ducking

................................................................................................190Motion Tracker

.................................................................................................191Tracking the Motion of Objects in Videos

.................................................................................................196Adding and Editing Trackers

.................................................................................................198Adding Motion Tracking Effects

................................................................................................203Action Camera Center

................................................................................................203Blending Effect

................................................................................................204View Designer

.................................................................................................205Customizing Direction of View in 360º Video Clips

.................................................................................................214Creating Little Planet Videos

................................................................................................221360º Start View Setting

..................................................224

Adding Effects

................................................................................................224Blending Clips on the Timeline

................................................................................................226Adding Video Effects

.................................................................................................228Modifying a Video Effect

................................................................................................229Adding Pans & Zooms on Images

.................................................................................................230Magic Motion Designer

................................................................................................231Using the Freeze Frame Effect

..................................................233

Creating PiP Effects

................................................................................................233Adding PiP Objects

.................................................................................................235Types of PiP Objects

.................................................................................................235Creating Custom PiP Objects

................................................................................................236Using the Paint Designer

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.................................................................................................237Creating a Paint Animation

................................................................................................240Modifying Media in the PiP Designer

.................................................................................................241Mode Selection and Zoom Tools

.................................................................................................242Modifying PiP Media Size and Position

.................................................................................................242Modifying PiP Media Properties

.................................................................................................247Adding Motion to PiP Media

.................................................................................................250Utilizing PiP Keyframes

.................................................................................................255Saving and Sharing PiP Objects

..................................................257

Adding Particle Effects

................................................................................................259Modifying Particle Effects in the Particle Designer

.................................................................................................260Mode Selection and Zoom Tools

.................................................................................................261Adding Objects, Images, and Backgrounds

.................................................................................................262Modifying Particle Object Range and Position

.................................................................................................263Modifying Particle Object Properties

.................................................................................................268Adding Motion to Particle Objects

.................................................................................................268Utilizing Particle Keyframes

.................................................................................................270Saving and Sharing Particle Effect Templates

..................................................273

Adding Title Effects

................................................................................................275Title Effect Categories

.................................................................................................275Standard 2D Title Effects

.................................................................................................2763D Title Effects

.................................................................................................276360º Title Effects

................................................................................................277Modifying Titles in the Title Designer - Basic

.................................................................................................279Zoom Tools

.................................................................................................279Adding Additional Title Text

.................................................................................................279Modifying Title Effect Position

.................................................................................................279Modifying Title Text Properties

.................................................................................................284Setting Title Text Length

.................................................................................................286Saving and Sharing Title Templates

................................................................................................287Modifying Titles in the Title Designer - Advanced

.................................................................................................289Mode Selection and Zoom Tools

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

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.................................................................................................292Adding Text, Particles, Images, and Backgrounds

.................................................................................................294Modifying Title Effect Position

.................................................................................................295Modifying Title Text and Image Properties

.................................................................................................304Applying Animation Effects to Title Text

.................................................................................................307Adding Motion to Title Text

.................................................................................................310Utilizing Title Effect Keyframes

.................................................................................................314Saving and Sharing Title Templates

..................................................316

Creating Custom Masks in the Mask Designer

................................................................................................317Mode Selection and Zoom Tools

................................................................................................318Selecting Masks

................................................................................................321Creating Custom Masks

.................................................................................................321Creating Image Masks

.................................................................................................325Creating a Text Mask in the Mask Composer

.................................................................................................332Creating Custom Brushed Masks

................................................................................................338Modifying Mask Size and Position

................................................................................................339Modifying Mask Object Settings

................................................................................................340Adding Motion to Masks

................................................................................................342Utilizing Mask Keyframes

................................................................................................347Saving and Sharing Masks

..................................................348

Using Transitions

................................................................................................348Adding Transitions to a Single Clip

................................................................................................350Adding Transitions Between Two Clips

................................................................................................351Using Audio Transitions

................................................................................................353Setting Transition Behavior

................................................................................................354Modifying Transition Settings

................................................................................................354Modifying Alpha Transitions in the Transition Designer

.................................................................................................356Creating New Alpha Transitions

.................................................................................................356Modifying Alpha Transition Properties

.................................................................................................369Saving Alpha Transitions

..................................................372

Mixing Audio and Recording Voice-Overs

................................................................................................372Adjusting Audio Clip Volume Levels

.................................................................................................372Mixing Audio In-Track

.................................................................................................373Mixing Audio in the Audio Mixing Room

.................................................................................................375Adding Fade Effects to Audio Clips

.................................................................................................375Restoring Audio Clip Volume Levels

................................................................................................376Recording Voice-Overs

..................................................378

Adding Chapters

................................................................................................378Adding Chapter Markers

................................................................................................378Setting Chapter Thumbnails

..................................................379

Adding Subtitles

................................................................................................379Adding Subtitle Markers

................................................................................................380Importing Subtitles from a File

................................................................................................380Extracting Subtitles from an MKV File

................................................................................................381Editing Subtitles

................................................................................................381Syncing Subtitles

..................................................383

Producing Your Project

................................................................................................383Profile Analyzer

.................................................................................................383Best Matched Format

.................................................................................................383Utilizing Intelligent SVRT

................................................................................................384Produce Window

.................................................................................................386Outputting to a Standard 2D Video File

.................................................................................................389Exporting Video Frames with Image Sequence

.................................................................................................390Exporting Audio Only

.................................................................................................391Producing a 360° Video

.................................................................................................393Outputting in a 3D Format

.................................................................................................397Outputting to a Device

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

.................................................................................................399Uploading Video to Online Media Sites

.................................................................................................407Uploading a 360° Video

.................................................................................................410Batch Produce

..................................................412

Creating Discs

................................................................................................413Importing Additional Disc Content

................................................................................................415Selecting a Disc Menu

................................................................................................417Editing Disc Menu Properties

.................................................................................................417Configuring Disc Menu Settings

.................................................................................................417Editing Disc Menu Text

.................................................................................................418Setting Disc Menu Music

.................................................................................................419Adding a First Play Video

.................................................................................................419Setting Disc Playback Mode

.................................................................................................420Specifying Buttons Per Page

.................................................................................................420Modifying Menu Object Properties

................................................................................................421Customizing Disc Menus in the Menu Designer

.................................................................................................423Mode Selection, Zoom Tools, and Context Menu

.................................................................................................424Setting Menu Opening and Background

.................................................................................................426Adding Title Text and Images to Menus

.................................................................................................426Modifying Text Object and Image Properties

.................................................................................................432Adding and Editing Menu Buttons

.................................................................................................434Enabling 3D Depth in Disc Menus

.................................................................................................434Saving and Sharing Disc Menu Templates

................................................................................................436Burning Your Production to Disc

.................................................................................................436Burning a Disc in 2D

.................................................................................................438Burning a Disc in 3D

.................................................................................................441Configuring Burn Settings

.................................................................................................441Erasing Discs

..................................................442

PowerDirector Preferences

................................................................................................442General Preferences

................................................................................................444Editing Preferences

................................................................................................446File Preferences

................................................................................................446Display Preferences

................................................................................................447Hardware Acceleration Preferences

................................................................................................448Project Preferences

................................................................................................449Produce Preferences

................................................................................................449Capture Preferences

................................................................................................450Confirmation Preferences

................................................................................................452DirectorZone Preferences

................................................................................................453CyberLink Cloud Preferences

................................................................................................454Improvement Program Preferences

..................................................455

PowerDirector Hotkeys

................................................................................................455Default Keyboard Hotkeys

.................................................................................................456Application Menu Bar Hotkeys

.................................................................................................459System Hotkeys

.................................................................................................459Capture Hotkeys

.................................................................................................460Edit Hotkeys

.................................................................................................460Designer Hotkeys

................................................................................................461Customizing Keyboard Hotkeys

.................................................................................................462Hotkey Sets

..................................................464

Appendix

................................................................................................464Intelligent SVRT: When Is Used?

................................................................................................465Licensing and Copyright Information

.................................................................................................467Licenses and Copyrights

..................................................479

Technical Support

................................................................................................479Before Contacting Technical Support

................................................................................................480Web Support

................................................................................................480Help Resources

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

Introduction

Chapter 1:

This chapter introduces CyberLink PowerDirector and the digital video editing process. It also outlines all of the latest features, available versions, and reviews the minimum system requirements for CyberLink PowerDirector.

Note: this document is for reference and informational use only. Its content and the corresponding program are subject to change without notice. For more helpful tips on using the program, please visit our members forum or see the video tutorials at https://directorzone.cyberlink.com/tutorial/pdr.

Welcome

Welcome to the CyberLink family of digital media tools. CyberLink PowerDirector is a digital video editing program that lets you create professional-looking videos and photo slideshows, complete with music, voice-overs, special effects, transitions, and much more. You can then output your project to a file, camcorder, portable device, upload it directly to various online video sharing web sites, or burn it to a disc, complete with stylish menus.

Latest Features

Below is a list of some of the latest features within the CyberLink PowerDirector program.

Redesigned Auto Mode and Slideshow Creator for easier video project creation.

Improved hardware acceleration optimization for faster video decoding/encoding.

More codec support for captured video and audio in Capture module.

Precut videos in the media library for more efficient video project creation.

Import your saved projects as nested projects/sequences for more flexible project editing.

Adds HEIF (.HEIC) image and WEBM (including with Opus audio) video support.

Introduction

Utilize the new chroma key algorithm, including multiple key support, for better chroma key/green effects.

Add special effects on title effects, such as neon, lighting, and fire effects on text.

Customize text backdrops in the Title Designer for better looking video titles.

Improved Paint Designer for easier to design hand-drawn artwork.

Export video clips with synchronized audio from the MultiCam Designer to the Video Collage Designer.

Enhanced Video Collage Designer with more editing options and flexibility.

Utilize the Motion Tracker UI improvements for more professional-quality results.

Create custom masks in the Mask Designer using the virtual mask brush tools.

Transform your videos into living works of art with the AI Style Plugin.

Stabilize 360º video in the Enhanced VR Stabilizer.

Apply video effects to 360º video.

Transform the color in your video with the use of color lookup tables (LUTs).

Enhanced SRT subtitle support with more text options available.

Access the enriched Screen Recorder plugin.

Utilize the integrated audio editing tools for better sounding audio.

Produce 360º video in the H.265 HEVC format.

Export the frames in a video file as JPEG or PNG image sequence files.

Produce MKV video with AAC or DTS audio, and MP4 with lossless LPCM audio.

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

DirectorZone and CyberLink Cloud

You can upload/download effects and templates, and back up media, preferences, projects, and more with the DirectorZone and CyberLink Cloud* features.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

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

DirectorZone

DirectorZone is a free web service that lets you search for and download theme templates, PiP objects, paint animations, title templates, particle objects, sound clips, and disc menus created by other users of CyberLink PowerDirector.

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

clicking the Sign in to DirectorZone link in the top right corner of the CyberLink PowerDirector window.

clicking the button at the top of the window to open the PowerDirector 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 Bulletin 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 https://directorzone.cyberlink.com to find out more information on the features and benefits of the DirectorZone web service.

CyberLink Cloud

CyberLink Cloud is a cloud storage service from CyberLink where users can upload and download their effects and templates, PowerDirector projects, produced video clips, and more. CyberLink Cloud allows users to back up media, preferences, projects, etc., and ensure their working environment is the same on multiple computers.

Note: CyberLink Cloud is a subscription cloud storage service that is included with some CyberLink products, and is available for purchase through our web site. For more detailed information, see https://www.cyberlink.com/products/cyberlink-cloud/.

PowerDirector Versions

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

Introduction

Supported file formats, editing features, disc-making functions, and other features vary depending on the version that you have.

To view the PowerDirector version table, please go to our web site: https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-ultra/compare_en_US.html

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

PowerDirector 365

PowerDirector 365 is a subscription based version of CyberLink PowerDirector that provides all the editing features you expect, and adds the CyberLink Cloud storage service and more.

With a PowerDirector 365 subscription, you get:

All the award-winning features of the Ultimate version of CyberLink PowerDirector, including the production of 4K ultra HD video and stunning 3D movies.

The ability to back up program preferences, projects, project media, and (PiP object, paint animation, title effect, particle effect, disc menu) templates on the cloud storage space CyberLink Cloud.

Guaranteed updates to the latest versions of CyberLink PowerDirector Ultimate.

PowerDirector 365 is the must-have solution for on-the-go video editors who want easy access to their media and the latest up-to-date editing technologies.

Updating PowerDirector

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

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

To update your software, do this:

1. Click the button to open the Notifications window.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

2. Check the New Updates and Upgrade 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.

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

Minimum System Requirements

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

System Requirements

Operating System

Microsoft Windows 10, 8/8.1, 7 (64 bit OS recommended)

Processor (CPU)

Intel Core™ i-series or AMD Phenom® II

Graphics Processor (VGA)

NVIDIA GTX220/470 (2010 Fermi) AMD 5450 (2010 Evergreen) Intel Ivy Bridge (2012)

Memory

2 GB required (6 GB or above recommended)

Screen Resolution

1024 x 768, 16-bit color

Hard Disk Space

7 GB required

Burning Drive

Burning drive is required for disc burning purpose

Sound Card

Windows compatible sound card is required

Internet Connection

Internet connection required for initial software & file formats activation

Note: please consult the CyberLink web site (https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-ultimate/spec_en_US.html) for the most recent system requirements information. * optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

PowerDirector Editing Modes

Chapter 2:

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

Note: before selecting your preferred editing mode, be sure to set the video aspect ratio for your project (16:9, 4:3, or 9:16).

Timeline Mode: select this option to enter timeline mode, a multi video track editing mode, where all of the program's features are available to you. For more details about this mode and the available tracks, see Timeline Mode.

Storyboard Mode: select this option if you want to view a large graphical display of all your video clips and images on the first track in the timeline. See

Storyboard Mode for more information about what's available in this mode.

Slideshow Creator: with the Slideshow Creator you can instantly turn your photos into a dynamic slideshow. Follow the steps in the Slideshow Creator to import your photos, add background music, and stylish slideshow templates. Once done, you can preview the slideshow, before outputting it as a video file or burning it to disc.

Auto Mode: if you are new to the editing process and not sure how or where to get started, then auto mode's Magic Movie Wizard can help. The Magic Movie Wizard takes you through a step-by-step process to import, style, adjust, and preview your finished movie, in just a few steps. You can then edit the created production, output it to a video file, or burn it to a disc.

360° Editor*: select this option to create a 360° virtual reality video. See 360°

Media Files for information on importing these types of media files, or Editing 360° Video Projects for information on how to edit them.

Note: select the Always enter timeline mode option at the bottom of this dialog to skip this window at startup. You can always reset this selection at any time in Confirmation Preferences.

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Auto Mode

If you are new to the editing process and not sure how or where to get started, then auto mode's Magic Movie Wizard can help. The Magic Movie Wizard takes all of your media and creates a completed video production in just a few steps.

To create your video production using the Magic Movie Wizard in auto mode, do this:

1. Select Auto Mode when prompted which mode you prefer at startup. The Magic Movie Wizard displays.

Note: if you are in the timeline mode, you can quickly launch the Magic Movie Wizard

by clicking on the button above the Media Room lib rary in the Edit module and then selecting M agic M ovie Wiza rd.

2. In the Source window, click to import all of the media you want to use in your video production. Select Import Media Files to import a number of individual video or image files, or select Import a Media Folder if all of your media is in a specific folder on your computer's hard drive. CyberLink PowerDirector will import all of the supported media file formats in the selected folder.

Note: if you entered the Magic Movie Wizard in the Edit module, follow the instructions

in the Source window to select the media you want to use. Click to remove any unwanted media files from your production.

3. When in Auto Mode, before proceeding to the next window, you can perform simple trims on video clips and crop any imported images as follows:

hover your mouse over a video clip you want to trim, and then click on its thumbnail to open the Trim window. See Performing a Single Trim for information on how to trim video clips.

hover your mouse over an image you want to crop, and then click on its thumbnail to open the Crop window. See Cropping Images for information on how to crop images.

4. Once you are done importing, trimming, and cropping, click Next to continue.

Note: once you proceed, you can always click the Previous button to return to the Source window to import more media or trim/crop the imported video clips/images.

PowerDirector Editing Modes

5. In the Style window, select from the available movie styles and themes. Each style/theme you select will result in a different outputted video. Select Free Download* to get more style and theme templates. See DirectorZone for more information.

Note: the style templates with the 3D icon produce a 3D effect in 3D mode and when outputted in 3D video productions. * optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

6. Click the Settings* button to add background music, set the movie's duration, and more by doing the following:

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

use the button to add music files to the background music playlist.

Use the and buttons to set the order of the music in the playlist. The total duration of all the music added is noted above the playlist.

Mix audio level between music and the video's audio: 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.

Specify the movie duration: here you can specify how long your movie will be. Select Original duration if you don't want the Magic Movie Wizard to make any edits to your imported media; Select Set output duration to manually specify how long you want the movie to be in the field provided; Select Fit duration to background music if you want your video production to match the duration of the music you imported into the playlist.

7. Click the Advanced Settings button to use the sliders to customize the criteria the Magic Movie Wizard's AI engine uses when cutting your movie. Click the OK buttons to set all your changes, and return to the Style window.

8. Click Next to continue.

9. In the Preview window the Magic Movie Wizard generates a version of your production. If available, enter a Starting title and Ending title for your production in the fields provided, and then use the available player controls to preview it.

Note: if you are not satisfied with the current video production you can click the Previ ous button to return to previous windows to add/remove music, select a different

style, change the criteria settings, duration, or import more media. You can also click the Edit in the Theme Designer button (if available) if you want to customize the theme template used. See Using the Theme Designer for more information.

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10. Click Next to continue.

11. You are done. To finish and close the Easy Editor, choose one of the following:

Produce Video: click to enter the Produce module where you can output your production to a video file, device, or upload it to a video sharing web site. See

Producing Your Project.

Create Disc: click to burn your production to a disc, complete with a professional looking disc menu, in the Create Disc module. See Creating Discs.

Advanced Editing: click this option if you'd like to perform some more advanced editing on your production in the Edit module.

Slideshow Creator

The Slideshow Creator is the easiest way to create a dynamic slideshow with your photos.

To create a slideshow in the Slideshow Creator, do this:

1. Select Slideshow Creator when prompted which mode you prefer at startup. The first Slideshow Creator window displays.

Note: if you are in the timeline mode, you can launch the Slideshow Creator by adding photos to the timeline, selecting them, and then clicking on the Slideshow button above the timeline.

2. In the Source window, click to import all of the photos you want to use in your slideshow. Select Import Image Files to import a number of individual photos, or select Import an Image Folder if all of your photos are in a specific folder on your computer's hard drive. CyberLink PowerDirector will import all of the supported image formats in the selected folder.

Note: you can right-click on a photo and select Set 3D Source Format if required. For

more information, please refer to Setting 3D Source Format. You can also click to remove any unwanted photos from your slideshow.

3. Click Next to continue.

4. In the Style & Music window, select a slideshow style. Each style you select will result in a different slideshow.

5. In the Style & Music window, click the button to add background

music to your slideshow.

PowerDirector Editing Modes

6. In the Style & Music window, click the Slideshow Preferences button to set your slideshow preferences as follows:

Duration: use this option to set the length of your slideshow. Select Fit photos to music to have the length of the slideshow match the duration of the added

background music. Select Fit music to photos (if launched in Full Feature Mode) for the length of the music to match the duration of the slideshow, i.e. its specified length on the timeline.

Sequence: use this option to set the order of the photos in the slideshow. Select Timeline order (if launched in Full Feature Mode) to have the sequence match the order the photos are currently displayed in the timeline. Select Date/time taken for the photos to display in chronological order based on the date and time they were taken.

Detect faces: some slideshow templates include this option. When selected, the Slideshow Creator will scan and detect the faces in the photos included in the slideshow. The faces in the photos will then become the area of focus in the created photo slideshows.

Click OK to save your changes.

7. Click Next to continue.

8. In the Preview window, the Slideshow Creator generates a version of your slideshow. Use the available player controls to preview it.

Note: if you are not satisfied with the current slideshow, you can click the Previous button to return to previous windows to select a different style, or import more photos. Also, if availab le, click the Replace Background button in the Preview window to replace the background image used in the slideshow, or Customize to fully customize your slideshow in the Slideshow Designer. See Customizing Slideshows in the Slideshow Designer for a detailed description of all the available options for your selected slideshow style.

9. Click Next to continue.

10. You are done. To finish and close the Easy Editor, choose one of the following:

Produce Video: click to enter the Produce window where you can output your slideshow to a video file, device, or upload it to a video sharing web site. See

Producing Your Project.

Create Disc: click to burn your slideshow to a disc, complete with a professional looking disc menu, in the Create Disc window. See Creating Disc.

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Advanced Editing: click this option if you'd like to perform some more advanced editing on your slideshow in the Edit window.

Note: if you select the Advanced Editi ng option, the Slideshow Creator adds your created slideshow to the timeline in the Edit window as a combined video file. If you'd like to do further editing on this slideshow (combined video file), just select it and click the Customi ze button above the timeline to edit in the Slideshow Designer. If you would like to remove the slideshow effects added by the template and display each individual photo in the slideshow on the timeline, just right-click on the file and then select Remove Sli deshow Effects.

Adding Slideshow Background Music

If you want to use background music in your slideshow, click the button in the Style & Music window of the Slideshow Creator to add music as follows:

1. In the Add Background Music window, click the button, select the audio file you want to use, and then click Open.

2. If necessary, you can repeat step 1 to add more audio files, and then use the

buttons to set the playback order.

3. In the Trim audio section you can trim the length of the audio 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.

4. Select the Fade-in option to have the background music gradually fade-in at the beginning of the slideshow.

PowerDirector Editing Modes

5. Select the Fade out option to have the background music gradually fade-out at the end of the slideshow.

6. Click OK to save your changes.

Customizing Slideshows in the Slideshow Designer

In the Preview window of the Slideshow Creator, click on the Customize button to open the Slideshow Designer to modify the selected slideshow style.

Note: if the Customi ze button is not availab le in the Preview window, the slideshow style template you selected cannot be customized in the Slideshow Designer.

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A - Preview Area, B - Editing Area, C - Slide Area, D - Extra Tools Area, E - Selected Slide

The editing options and tools that are available in the Slideshow Designer, depend on the slideshow style template you selected. The following outlines the editing options available for the style templates that utilize the Slideshow Designer.

Camera/Cell Slideshow

When customizing a Camera or Cell slideshow in the Slideshow Designer, you can perform the following functions:

PowerDirector Editing Modes

in the slide area, click on a specific slideshow slide to view and edit it.

in the preview area, click and drag a photo to an alternative cell.

in the editing area (Unused photos), click the Add Photos button to import additional photos for use in the slideshow.

in the editing area (Unused photos), indicate the maximum number of photos that are displayed on a slide.

in the editing area, drag and drop the photos from Unused photos to the cell in the preview area where you want it on the slide. You can also highlight a

cell by clicking it and use the buttons to add or remove selected photos.

in the preview area, select a cell with a photo and then click on the button to set the focus of that cell on a specific portion of the photo. Manually resize and drag the box to set the desired focus area.

in the extra tools area, click the Remix button to generate a new version of the slideshow.

in the preview area, use the player controls to preview the slideshow.

Motion Slideshow

When customizing a motion slideshow in the Slideshow Designer, you can perform the following functions:

in the slide area, click on a specific slideshow slide to view and edit it.

in the editing area (Cropping area), use the Magic Motion Designer to customize the motion on the slide. See Magic Motion Designer for detailed instructions on using all its features.

in the preview area, use the player controls to preview the slideshow.

Highlight Slideshow

When customizing a Highlight slideshow in the Slideshow Designer, you can perform the following functions:

in the slide area, click on a specific slideshow slide to view and edit it.

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in the extra tools area, select whether you want to edit the foreground or background photo.

in the editing area (Cropping area), resize and drag the box to the area of the photo you want highlighted on the slide.

in the preview area, use the player controls to preview the slideshow.

3D/Balloon/Frozen Space/Outer Space Slideshow

When customizing a 3D, Frozen Space, or Future slideshow in the Slideshow Designer, you can perform the following functions:

in the slide area, click on a specific slideshow slide to view and edit it.

in the editing area (Cropping area), resize and drag the box to the area of the photo you want highlighted in the photo on the slide.

click the Replace Background button if you want to import a custom image to use as the slideshow's background.

Note: the slideshow background cannot be replaced for slideshows using the Balloon template.

in the preview area, use the player controls to preview the slideshow.

Time-Lapse Slideshow

When customizing a time-lapse slideshow in the Slideshow Designer, you can specify the following settings:

Note: to create a time-lapse slideshow, you need to prepare the photos for it ahead of time. This feature works best with a series of photos taken with a camera that supports time-lapse photography.

Duration of each image: in the field provided, specify how long you want each of the imported images to display. Each image can display for as long as 99 frames, or as short as for 1 single video frame.

For each displayed image, skip: when importing a large number of images that were taken over a period of time, you may find the need to remove some of the images to reduce the slideshow's duration. In the field provided, enter

PowerDirector Editing Modes

the number of images you want to remove for each displayed image in your slideshow.

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PowerDirector Workspace

Chapter 3:

This chapter outlines the CyberLink PowerDirector workspace, and all of its features. The workspace in the Edit module is where you will spend most of your time when using CyberLink PowerDirector, so getting familiar with everything it has to offer is recommended.

A - Rooms, B - Import Media, C - PowerDirector Plugins, D - Library Window, E - Expandable Workspace, F - Preview Window, G - Zoom In/Out, H - Undock Preview Window, I - 3D Display Configuration, J - Enable/Disable 3D Mode, K - Preview Quality/Display Options, L - Take Snapshot, M - Preview Player Controls, N - Editing Workspace, O - Range Selection, P - Function Buttons, Q Timeline Ruler, R - Nested Projects/Sequences, S - View Entire Movie, T - Track Manager

PowerDirector Modules

When you are within the main program window of CyberLink PowerDirector, there are four main modules available to you.

Module

Description

PowerDirector Workspace

Capture

Capture media in a number of formats, from a variety of different sources. See Capturing Media.

Edit

In the Edit module you can edit and trim your imported media, arrange it in your video production, add effects, titles, PiP objects, transitions, music, chapters, subtitles, and much more. See the relevant section of this help file that corresponds with the editing feature you'd like to use.

Produce

In the Produce module you can output your created production to a video file in a variety of formats (including 3D formats), a device (camcorder, mobile phone, or other portable device), or upload it to YouTube, DailyMotion, Vimeo, and more. See

Producing Your Project.

Create Disc

Use the features in the Create Disc module to design discs with menus, and then burn your video production in a variety of different formats in 2D or 3D. See Creating Discs.

When CyberLink PowerDirector launches in timeline or storyboard mode, it automatically opens in the Edit module. Just click on the module button at the top of the window to quickly switch to the available modules to perform your required task.

Rooms

The various rooms in the Edit module of CyberLink PowerDirector are where you can access all of your media, effects, titles, and transitions when editing your video production. You can also gain access to controls for recording and mixing audio, adding chapters or subtitles. By default, the library window displays the Media Room.

Media Room

The Media Room provides access to your media library and the PowerDirector plugins. The media library contains your video, audio, and image files. You can also access a number of useful color boards and backgrounds for use in your video productions, or view your library of saved and express projects.

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Click to access the PowerDirector plugins. See PowerDirector Plugins for a detailed description of the plugins and their available features.

Managing the Media Library

Use the button to manage the media in your media library. You can sort the media, change the media thumbnail icon size, or select Details to view file information instead of a thumbnail.

Note: if you cannot find this button when in the media library, you may need to resize the preview window to reveal it. See Expanding the Workspace for more information.

Other media library management options include:

Note: see Library Window for more information about the library menu options available in all rooms.

Export Library: select to export your entire media library as a file for backup, in the PDL (PowerDirector Library) format.

Import Library: select to import a media library PDL file, exported from another project or version of CyberLink PowerDirector.

Empty the Library: select to empty the entire contents of the media library.

Remove All Unused Content from Library: select if you just want to remove

the media that is not being used in the current project.

Content Aware Details

When in the Media Room, you can select the Content Aware Details* option from the library menu to view the analysis results for all the video clips analyzed and edited in Content Aware Editing. Clips that were previously analyzed are indicated by the green (good parts) and light brown (bad parts) dots in the specific columns.

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

To analyze video clips in this view, select them in the Analyze column and then click the Analyze button.

To edit a video clip using Content Aware Editing, click . If the video clip has not yet been analyzed, CyberLink PowerDirector will do this first before opening the

PowerDirector Workspace

Content Aware Editing window. See Content Aware Editing for more detailed information on this feature.

Effect Room

The Effect Room contains a library of special effects that are used on the video files and images in your project. For more information, see Adding Effects.

Note: the video effects with the 3D icon produce a 3D effect in 3D mode and when outputted in 3D video productions.

Video Overlay (PiP Objects) Room

The Video Overlay (PiP Objects) Room contains a library of PiP objects, or graphics, that you can add on top of the video or images on a video track. You can place PiP objects onto any track in the timeline. The Video Overlay (PiP Objects) Room also includes paint animation objects and access to the Paint Designer.

Note: the PiP objects with the 3D icon produce a 3D effect in 3D mode and when outputted in 3D video productions.

For information on adding PiP objects, see Adding PiP Objects. For information on the hand drawn paint animation objects you can create in the Paint Designer, see

Using the Paint Designer.

Particle Room

The Particle Room contains a library of effects you can place on a video track to add a particle object (snow, clouds, smoke, etc.) on top of a video or image on a video track.

Note: the particle effects with the 3D icon produce a 3D effect in 3D mode and when outputted in 3D video productions.

You can modify particles in the Particle Designer. For more information, see Adding

Particle Effects.

Title Room

The Title Room contains a library of title effects that allow you to add movie titles, screen captions, credits, etc. on your videos.

Note: the title effects with the 3D icon produce a 3D effect in 3D mode and when outputted in 3D video productions.

For more information, see Adding Title Effects.

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Note: if you want to add subtitles to your video, see the Subtitle Room.

Transition Room

The Transition 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 information, see Using

Transitions.

Note: you can create your own custom transitions, or edit existing alpha transitions, using the Transition Designer. See Modifying Alpha Transitions in the Transition Designer for more information.

The transitions with the 3D icon produce a 3D effect in 3D mode and when outputted in 3D video productions. See The Difference Between 3D and 3D-Like

Effects to learn more about both types of effects.

Audio Mixing Room

In the Audio Mixing Room you can use controls to mix all of the audio tracks in your project. For more information, see Mixing Audio and Recording Voice-Overs.

Voice-Over Recording Room

In the Voice-Over Recording Room you can record a voice over for your video production, while you are watching it play back. For more information, see

Recording Voice-Overs.

Chapter Room

In the Chapter Room* you can automatically or manually set chapter markers for your project. Setting chapters on your final disc allows viewers to jump from the menu page to the chapter markers you have set in order to navigate through your disc. For more information, see Adding Chapters.

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

Subtitle Room

In the Subtitle Room you can add subtitles to your video production manually or through the import of a TXT, SRT, or MKV file. For more information, see Adding

Subtitles.

PowerDirector Workspace

Library Window

The library window contains all of the media in CyberLink PowerDirector, including your video, images, and audio files. When you are in other rooms (Effect Room, PiP Objects 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 on the room you are currently in.

Click the button above the library window and then use the slider to adjust the size of the media thumbnails in the library.

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You can also resize the media thumbnails by selecting a default size from the library menu.

Explorer View

Select the button to display the explorer view within the library windows.

In the explorer view you can use tags to categorize the media, templates, and effects in your library. This lets you quickly browse through and filter what is in each room.

Note: you can also use tags to filter the express projects in your library. See Using an Express Project for more information on express projects.

In the explorer view you can:

click on to add a new tag in a library window.

select an existing tag and then click to delete a previously created tag.

filter the media in the library window by selecting an existing tag.

PowerDirector Workspace

Searching the PowerDirector Library

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

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 PowerDirector filters the content in the library window based on the keywords entered.

Note: click on to clear the search results.

Filtering Media in the Library

Use the available drop-down menus at the top of the library window to filter the media that is displayed. For example, when viewing the media in the Media Room, use the Media Content drop-down to display just your media content, the available color boards, backgrounds, your saved projects, or to select a tag. Select Express Projects to view a library of project templates you can use. See Using an Express

Project for more information.

If you'd like to filter the media files that are in the library by file type, use the three buttons above the library window. Click these buttons to hide media so you can more easily find what you are looking for.

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PowerDirector Workspace

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 room you are in.

Note: if you cannot find this button when in the media library, you may need to resize the preview window to reveal it. See Expanding the Workspace for more information.

Expanding the Workspace

The look and layout of the CyberLink PowerDirector workspace is fully expandable and customizable based on your personal preference.

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Simply drag the borders of the preview window and timeline to resize them to your liking. This allows you to get the most out of your display device space and customize the size of the preview window and timeline as you work.

Note: you can also undock the preview window for a much larger timeline and lib rary view. See Undocking the Preview Window for more information.

Preview Window

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

PowerDirector Workspace

Preview Player Controls

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

Click the Clip button to play back only the clip that is selected in the timeline, or Movie to play the entire video production. When viewing media in Clip mode, the cross hairs and grid lines/TV safe zone (if enabled) are visible to help with the placement of the selected clip in the video display area. When in Movie mode, these items are hidden.

Note: you can set PowerDirector to auto switch the playback mode to M ovie mode in Editing Preferences.

Use the button to select a seek by method (frame, second, minute, scene, subtitle, chapter, segment) and then use the buttons on either side of it for a more precise step through of your current 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.

Click the button to undock the preview window for a larger view of your production. See Undocking the Preview Window for more information.

Preview Screen Snapshots

While previewing your video project, click to take a screen snapshot and save it as an image file that's added to your media library. The resolution of preview screen snapshots is 1920x1080, no matter the project preview resolution or the resolution of the original clip.

Note: if you want the screen snapshot to be the same resolution as the original video clip, take it while the clip is in the media lib rary. See Capturing Screen Snapshot from a Video Clip for more details.

You can also take a 3D* screen snapshot (just enable 3D mode) and then save it as an MPO or JPS image file.

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

Before taking the snapshot, you can set its file format (and default file name) on the

File Preferences tab.

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Preview/Display Options

CyberLink PowerDirector includes some preview and display options that help

make your editing experience easier. Click on to set the preview quality, show the TV safe zone, display grid lines, or enable dual preview.

Note: you can also set these options in Display Preferences.

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 movie in the preview window. The higher the quality you select, the more resources that are required to preview your video project.

Note: Full HD and HD preview resolution are only available when the Ultra or Ultimate version of Cyb erLink PowerDirector is installed on a 64-bit operating system.

Preview Mode

CyberLink PowerDirector provides two modes you can use to preview your video production:

Real-time Preview: synchronizes and renders clips and effects in real-time, displaying a preview of your video at the specified frames per second. See the timeline frame rate option in General Preferences for information on setting the correct frame rate for your production.

Non Real-time Preview: mutes the audio and displays a preview at a reduced speed to help make editing go more smoothly. Useful when editing highdefinition video, using multiple PiP tracks on a less powerful computer, or when you receive dropped frames when previewing. By muting the audio and slowing down the video, CyberLink PowerDirector lets you view more frames per second when your computer has trouble providing a smooth preview during editing.

Note: you can also preview a portion of your video using the Render Preview and Produce Range options. See Range Selection for more information on these functions.

PowerDirector Workspace

TV Safe Zone/Grid Lines

When you place media on the timeline, use the TV safe zone and grid lines to help with the precise placement on your video project's image. These display options are only available when in the Clip preview mode.

Click the button and then select TV Safe Zone > On to enable a box that indicates the on-screen area of most TV displays.

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 PiP media and title text on the video image.

Once enabled, select Snap to Reference Lines* to have the selected objects snap to the grid lines, TV safe zone, and the boundary of the preview window.

Dual Preview

If you have a secondary display device, such as a monitor, TV, or DV camcorder

connected to your computer, click the button and then select Dual Preview* to extend your workspace and preview your project on a secondary display.

Note: to use a connected monitor or TV as a secondary preview window, you must first enable extend desktop to a secondary display in the Windows Display Properties Settings. * optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

Once enabled, when you click play in the preview window, you can preview your production on both your primary and secondary display when Primary 2D and Secondary 2D Display is selected. Select DV Camcorder to extend your production preview to a connected DV camcorder device.

3D Dual Preview

When your desktop is extended to a secondary display, you can enable 3D on one of the two devices. If you want one of your previews to be in 3D, select either Primary 2D and Secondary 3D Display or Primary 3D and Secondary 2D Display to enable it. Your selection depends on which device you want to enable, and which one supports 3D.

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Note: if both of your displays are 3D devices, you can only enable 3D on one of the two devices in dual preview mode.

Zoom In/Out

When you place media on the timeline, 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, while zooming out lets you add media that begins off screen.

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

Undocking the Preview Window

Click the button to undock the preview window. Once undocked, you can preview your production at full screen or move it to an extended desktop. You can also resize the timeline and library window to your liking.

Once undocked, you can:

click to view your production at full screen, or to maximize the preview window.

click to minimize the preview window, and hide it so you can edit more

freely. Click on next to the APP button to show the minimized preview window.

click on to re-dock the preview window.

Playing 360° Media Files

After 360°* video and image files are imported into the media library, they can be played back in 360° viewer mode. To play back a 360° media file in 360° viewer mode, do this:

Note: see 360° Media Files for more information about imported 360° videos and images. * optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

1. First, ensure your project's aspect ratio is set to 360. See Setting Project Aspect

Ratio for more information.

2. Select the 360° media file in the media library or on the project timeline.

PowerDirector Workspace

3. Click to enable the 360° viewer mode.

4. If it is a video file, click the play button to start playing it back.

5. Use the 360 controls to view and explore the 360° environment.

Note: you can also click and drag your mouse in the preview window to explore the 360° environment.

360 Controls

When you select or play 360° media files, there are extra 360° controls available in the preview window.

When viewing or playing a 360° media file, you can click and drag on the preview

window to pan around the 360° environment or use the controls to pan

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left, right, up, or down. Note that you can click the in the middle of the controls at any time to reset to the default viewing position.

Note: you can also use your mouse's scroll wheel to zoom in and out within the 360° view.

Previewing in 3D Mode

In the preview window you can enable 3D* mode to view the media in your production in 3D, while you work.

Note: for detailed information on adding and setting the source format of 3D media, see 3D Media. * Optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

3D Configuration

Before you can enable 3D mode, you must first set your 3D display device.

To set your 3D display device, do this:

1. Select the 3D configuration menu underneath the preview window .

2. Select one of the following options:

select your 3D display type from the list, i.e. 3D-Ready HDTV (Checkerboard),

Micro-polarizer LCD 3D (Row-Interleaved), 120Hz Time-sequential 3D LCD, HDMI 1.4 Enabled 3D TV, etc.

if you are not sure which type of 3D display you have, select the Auto Detect 3D Mode option to have CyberLink PowerDirector detect it for you.

if you do not have a 3D display, select Anaglyph Red/Cyan mode and then use anaglyphic (red/cyan) 3D glasses to view 3D content.

Enabling 3D Mode

Once you have set your 3D display device, you can enable 3D mode at any time to

preview your video production in 3D. To enable, just click the button.

Note: any 2D media in your production will not display in 3D. However, you can convert all of the 2D media to 3D using TrueTheater 3D in Power Tools. See Power Tools: 2D to 3D for more information.

PowerDirector Workspace

To disable 3D mode, just click the button.

Editing Workspace

The editing workspace is where you create your project by adding your media, various effects, transitions, title effects, etc. The editing workspace has two different modes, the timeline and storyboard modes. They are accessed at first launch in the

PowerDirector launcher window.

Note: once you have entered one of the editing workspace modes, if you'd like to switch to the other mode, you can do so by pressing the Tab key on your keyboard.

Timeline Mode

In timeline mode you can view your entire project based on running time. This view is useful if you want to insert media, effects, subtitles, etc. at a specific moment in production. The timeline also provides a view of all the tracks, media, and other content (chapter markers, subtitle markers) that are displayed in the timeline.

Timeline Tracks

The timeline contains the following tracks:

Track

Description

Video tracks contain your project's media clips (video clips and images) and effects (PiP objects, particle effects, title effects, etc.) on the timeline. By default, there are two video tracks in the timeline, but you can have up to 100 video tracks by adding more in the Track Manager. Each video track in the timeline may have an associated audio track for the video clip's audio.

Audio tracks contain the audio in your project. The audio may be the audio portion of a video clip on the video track, or a separate audio track for music clips or other audio. By default there are two audio tracks linked with a video track, and a separate audio track for music, which is always the bottom track in the timeline. You can have up to 100 audio tracks by adding more in the Track Manager.

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The effect track contains any special effects that you want to apply to your final video. Video effects in the effect track are applied to all the video tracks that are positioned above it in the timeline.

The title track contains the text title effects that appear in your project. The titles you add to this track display over all the content in every video track that display during their duration.

The voice track contains a narrative voice-over or other audio clips.

The music track contains your video's soundtrack.

The chapter track contains all of the chapter markers in your current video production. This track displays when you are in the Chapter Room. Right-click on the timeline and then select Show Chapter Track if you always want this track to display in the timeline.

The subtitle track contains all of the subtitle markers in your current video production. This track displays when you are in the Subtitle Room. Right-click on the timeline and then select Show Subtitle Track if you always want this track to display in the timeline.

The SVRT track displays the Intelligent SVRT information for your current project. See Utilizing Intelligent SVRT for more information. Right-click on the timeline and then select Show SVRT Track if you always want this track to display in the timeline.

The clip marker track displays all of the clip markers on your media clips. Clip markers are automatically added when using

Music Beat Detection or the Screen Recorder. Or they can be added manually on each individual media clip on the timeline.

Right-click on the timeline and then select Show Clip Marker Track if you always want this track to display in the timeline.

PowerDirector Workspace

Timeline Behavior

The CyberLink PowerDirector timeline has several behavior features that make it easy to manage media on the timeline.

On the timeline you can:

place media clips at any position on a video track. If no media is placed before a media clip on the timeline, your video production displays a black screen until the timeline position of your media clip is reached.

media clips will snap to other clips on the timeline for easy placement in your production. If want to move the clips more freely on the timeline, you can disable snap to clips in Editing Preferences.

hold down the Ctrl key on the keyboard and select multiple media clips on the timeline.

click and drag the mouse to select multiple media clips on the timeline.

right-click on select media in the timeline and select Group Objects. Doing this allows you to move all the selected media clips as a group. Select Ungroup Objects to once again allow for individual media clip movement.

Note: you cannot include transitions in grouped objects.

Timeline Ruler

You can resize the timeline ruler for a more expanded or condensed view of your production. To resize the ruler, click on the ruler and drag it left or right.

Expanding the ruler is especially handy when aligning clips and effects, while condensing it gives you a global overview of your entire production.

Click to auto fit your current project in the timeline area if you want to view the entire movie in the editing workspace. You can also right-click on the timeline ruler

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

and select View Entire Movie to do this. Or select Zoom In or Zoom Out to change the view to your required size.

Use the timeline ruler slider located in the bottom left corner to manually resize the timeline.

Timeline Markers

You can add timeline markers* to the timeline ruler for more precise media placement on the timeline. Once added, media clips snap to the timeline markers, allowing your media to appear in your video production at the exact moment you want it.

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

Adding Timeline Markers

To add a timeline marker, do this:

1. Hover your mouse over the timeline ruler. The green timeline marker indicator displays with the displayed time.

Note: use the timeline ruler to expand the timeline for a more precise placement of timeline markers.

2. Once you have found the time where you want to place the timeline, rightclick on the ruler and then select Add Timeline Marker.

3. Input a Note for the new timeline marker, if required.

4. Click on OK to add the new timeline marker.

Once a timeline marker is added, media will snap to it when added to a track in the timeline.

PowerDirector Workspace

Note: you can manually drag a timeline marker to different position if the original is not in the exact location you wanted it. Expand the timeline ruler for a more precise placement, if necessary.

Right-click on the timeline ruler and then select Edit Timeline Markers to view a list of all the timeline markers you have added. In this list you can remove any of the existing markers, or double-click in the Note column to edit the associated text.

Clip Markers

You can manually add markers to a selected clip in the timeline. Once added, media clips and effects snap to the clip markers, allowing for more precise editing.

Adding Clip Markers

To add a clip marker, do this:

1. First, ensure that the clip marker track is displayed. To display it, right-click on the timeline and then select Show Clip Marker Track.

2. Select the clip on the timeline.

3. Drag the timeline slider to the moment/time position in the clip where you want to add the marker.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

4. Right-click at the timeline slider position on the clip marker track,

and then select Add Clip Marker.

5. Input a Note for the new clip marker, if required.

6. Click on OK to add the new timeline marker.

PowerDirector Workspace

Once a clip marker is added, media and effects will snap to it when added to a track in the timeline.

Note: you can manually drag a clip marker to different position if the original is not in the exact location you wanted it. Also, if you move the media clip to another position on the timeline, its clip markers move with it.

Function Buttons

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

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

select. However, whenever you select media, the and buttons are

always displayed. Click to remove the selected media content from the

timeline, or to gain access to more timeline functions, which vary depending on the selected media.

Range Selection

Click and drag one of the arrows on either side of the timeline slider to select a range* of media on the timeline.

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

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

Once selected, right-click on the selection, select Loop Playback, and then click the play button if you want to continuously play back of the selected range. You can also cut or copy the range, and then paste it to another position on the timeline. You can also use this feature to manually highlight a portion of a clip that you want to then remove or trim out.

Click Render Preview to have CyberLink PowerDirector render a video preview of only the highlighted range for playback in the preview window. Click Produce Range to produce just the selected range in the Produce window, outputting it as a video file that will be added to the media library.

Click Lock Range if you want to lock the selected range. Once locked, you can more easily preview and even add additional media into the range for previewing, rendering, or producing. Click Lock Range again to unlock the selected range.

Track Manager

In the Track Manager* you can add additional video and audio tracks to the timeline. You can have up to 100 video tracks (with or without an audio track) in the timeline, or add up to 98 additional audio tracks.

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

Adding Tracks to Timeline

Each video track you add, adds another layer of PiP video on the tracks above it in the timeline.

To add tracks to the timeline, do this:

Note: CyberLink PowerDirector auto adds a video and audio track for you when all the current video/audio tracks in the timeline have media on them.

1. In the timeline mode, click on to open the Track Manager.

PowerDirector Workspace

2. In the Video section, enter in the number of video tracks you want to add to the timeline. By default, one track is added, but you can add up to 98 video tracks (100 in total) to the timeline, as required.

Note: if you don't want your additional video tracks to have a track for its audio, enter in 0 tracks in the Audi o section.

3. In the Video section, select the Position in the timeline where you want to add the tracks.

4. In the Audio section, enter in the number of audio tracks you want to add to the timeline. By default, one track is added, but you can add up to 98 audio tracks (100 in total) to the timeline, as required.

Note: if you only want to add an audio track (i.e. without a linked video track), enter in 0 tracks in the Video section.

5. In the Audio section, select the Position in the timeline where you want to add the tracks.

6. Click on OK to add the tracks to the timeline.

To quickly remove any unwanted tracks from the timeline, just right-click on the timeline and then select Remove Empty Tracks.

Customizing Timeline Tracks

In CyberLink PowerDirector you can customize the layout of the workspace timeline and its tracks to fit your preference.

Customizing Track Names

To make it easy to identify all of your tracks if you have lots of media on multiple tracks, drag the left sidebar to reveal the track names.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

You can give all the tracks in the timeline a custom name as required.

Reordering Tracks

You can reorder the video tracks in the timeline if required. To reorder, click on the left sidebar and drag the track to the new position in the timeline.

You can also drag the effect track to a new position in the timeline. Effects on the effect track are applied to all video tracks that are positioned above it in the timeline.

PowerDirector Workspace

Adjusting Track Height

Click and drag the bottom of a track on the left sidebar to resize it to your preference.

You can also right-click on the timeline and select Adjust Video Track Height to adjust the height of all the video tracks in the timeline to one of the default sizes. Select Adjust Audio Track Height to resize all of the audio tracks, including the music track, voice track, and each video track's corresponding audio track.

Locking/Unlocking Tracks

To lock a track in the timeline, click at the left of the track. When a track is locked, you cannot add new clips to the track, or move or edit the clips it contains.

To unlock a track in the timeline, click to the left of the track.

Enable/Disable Tracks

To disable a track in the timeline*, deselect to the left of the track. When a track is disabled, the media it contains is not displayed in the Preview window. This allows you to preview your project by tracks so you can concentrate on the track you are working on.

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

To enable a track in the timeline, select to the left of the track.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

Storyboard Mode

Storyboard mode is a large graphical display, or storyboard, of all your video clips and images on the first track in the timeline. You can use it to visualize the main scenes and overall production more clearly.

Note: some features are unavailable in the storyboard mode. If you try to perform a function that is unavailable, the program switches to the timeline mode automatically. You can switch back to storyboard mode after using the function by pressing the Tab key on your keyboard.

Added transitions and effects are viewable and editable in storyboard mode. Just select the "i" icon and then the Effect function button to edit added effects, or select the transition icon and then Modify to customize the transition settings.

To add background music in storyboard mode, just click the button and then do this in the Add Background Music dialog:

1. Click the button.

2. Select the audio file you want to use as the background music.

3. Use the slider to mix the audio level, by deciding whether to have more background music (More music) or the original video's audio (More video) in the production.

4. Click the OK button.

PowerDirector Projects

Chapter 4:

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

PowerDirector Projects and Nested Projects for more information.

Note: a Cyb erLink PowerDirector project (.pds) 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, Fi l e > Pack Proj ect M ateri a ls from the menu.

Use the options in the File menu to save, create new, or open existing projects in CyberLink PowerDirector. When you create a new project, CyberLink PowerDirector 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 > New Workspace.

Note: saved PowerDirector projects are now easily accessib le in the media library, and they are also reusable. See Reusing PowerDirector Projects for more information.

If you have a CyberLink Cloud subscription you can upload saved projects and more to CyberLink Cloud*. See CyberLink Cloud Projects for more information.

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

The changes you make to your media in CyberLink PowerDirector 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, 16:9, 9:16*, or 360* from the aspect ratio drop-down at the top of the window.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

When you select 360, your project will actually have an aspect ratio of 2:1 and is for users wanting to create and produce 360° virtual reality videos. See 360° Video

Projects for more detail about these types of projects, and Playing 360° Media Files

for more information on the extra preview window controls available in these types of projects.

If you want to create/output a vertical video or video for playback on a portrait monitor, you should select the 9:16 aspect ratio.

If some of the video clips you want to use in video production have a different aspect, you can adjust their aspect ratio once in the timeline. See Adjusting Video

Clip Aspect Ratio for more information.

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

360° Video Projects

360°* video projects let you create virtual reality videos you can output as a video file, or upload to YouTube or Vimeo.

Note: if an imported 360° media file is not displaying correctly (no 360° logo), it usually means the file is in the RAW format and was not converted (stitched) for playback. The 360° media file must be stitched before it can be used in a 360° video project in CyberLink PowerDirector. See the documentation for your 360 camera manufacturer for information on stitching the files for viewing and editing. * this feature is not available in some versions of CyberLink PowerDirector.

To play a 360° media file, just select it in the media library and then use the playback and 360 controls. See Playing 360° Media Files for more information. For information about editing these types of projects, see Editing 360° Video Projects.

PowerDirector Projects

Exporting Projects

You can export your CyberLink PowerDirector projects by writing them to a DV tape, or by packing all the materials in a folder on your computer's hard drive or CyberLink Cloud*. Exported projects can then be imported into another computer running CyberLink PowerDirector.

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

To export your project to a DV tape select File > Export > Write to DV Tape. To export it to a folder select File > Pack Project Materials. If you have a CyberLink Cloud subscription you can select File > Pack Project Materials and Upload to CyberLink Cloud to back up all the media files, and the project file, in a folder on CyberLink Cloud.

Reusing PowerDirector Projects

All projects created in CyberLink PowerDirector are reusable, allowing you to use them as templates or as a part of your future productions. To access all your saved projects, make sure you are in the Media Room, and then do either of the following:

Note: reusing your projects is similar to express projects, except you replace your media instead of the media placeholders. See Using an Express Project for more information.

click to open the explorer view and then click My Projects.

select My Projects from the Media Content drop-down.

Note: to play back a saved project, just double-click on it in the media library.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

To reuse a saved project, just select it in the media library and then drag and drop it to a desired position on the timeline. You can also insert the saved project anywhere within a current project by dragging and dropping it to the desired position on the timeline to create a nested project. Saved projects can be added to the timeline in the exact same way as media clips. See Adding Media to the

Workspace for detailed information on adding content to the timeline.

Note: when you add a saved project to the timeline, all of its media is automatically added back into the media library.

Once the saved project is in the timeline, you can simply replace all of the existing media clips, templates, and effects with the content you want to use in your new production. To do this, just drag the media clips/effects/templates to the desired positions on the timeline, hovering over the clip/effect/template you want to replace, drop it, and then select Replace. This replaces the current content with the new content you want to add, without changing the structure of the project.

PowerDirector Projects

Note: if a media clip you are replacing is shorter than a newly added video/audio clip, CyberLink PowerDirector automatically trims the video/audio clip to fit the space. For all other media clips, CyberLink PowerDirector automatically resizes them to fit the original clip's duration.

CyberLink Cloud Projects

If you have a CyberLink Cloud subscription you can select File > Upload Project to CyberLink Cloud to store project files on the CyberLink Cloud* service from

CyberLink.

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

To download a project that was saved on CyberLink Cloud, including projects that were packed in a folder with their media (materials), select Download Project from

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

CyberLink Cloud from the File menu. In the window that displays, select a project and then click Download.

Note: when you open a packed project stored on CyberLink Cloud, the project file and all the project media is downloaded to your local computer and stored in the download folder specified in CyberLink Cloud Preferences.

Importing Media into PowerDirector

Chapter 5:

You can import media in a wide variety of formats into CyberLink PowerDirector, in many different ways. Whether you need to capture media from external sources, import media that is already on your computer's hard drive, or download it from the Internet. CyberLink PowerDirector makes it easy to get all your media into the program quickly, so you can start working on your video production.

Note: media you import is saved in the current CyberLink PowerDirector project you are working on. If you create a new project, you will be asked if you want to merge the media in your library into the new project. You can also select File > New Work space to create a new project, while maintaining the current media in the library.

Importing Media Files

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

Note: if you import media files that are on a removable device into the media library, they will b e 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.

CyberLink PowerDirector supports the following file formats:

Note: for a more complete and up-to-date list of the supported file formats, and supported devices, please visit out web site: https://www.cyberlink.com/products/powerdirector-ultimate/spec_en_US.html.

Image: Animated-GIF, BMP, GIF, HEIF (.HEIC), JPEG, PNG, TIFF

3D Image Format: JPS*, MPO*

CyberLink PowerDirector 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)

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

Video: 3GPP2, AVI, DAT, DivX**, DV-AVI, DVR-MS*, FLV (H.264), HD MPEG-2, M2T*, MKV (H.264, H.265), MOD*, MOV, MOV (H.264), MP4, MPEG-1*, MPEG-2*, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)*, MPEG-4 HEVC (H.265)*, MTS*, TOD*, VOB*, VRO*, WEBM (VP9 and Opus audio), WMV, WMV-HD, WTV*, XAVC S*

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

3D Video Format: Dual-stream AVI, MVC*, Side-by-Side Video*, Over/Under Video

Audio: AAC, ALAC, M4A, MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA

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

To import media into CyberLink PowerDirector, in the Edit module, click and then select one of the following options:

Import Media Files: import media files individually.

Import a Media Folder: import the entire contents of a folder that contains the

media files you want to use in your current project.

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

360° Media Files

You can import and edit video and image files that were recorded with a 360* camera. Once imported, the 360° video files are automatically detected and indicated by a 360° logo in the top right of the thumbnail.

Note: if an imported 360° video file is not displaying correctly (no 360° logo), it usually means the file is not using the 360 equirectangular projection video format required for editing. See the documentation for your 360 camera manufacturer for information on producing the video file in this format. * this feature is not availab le in some versions of CyberLink PowerDirector.

See Playing 360° Media Files for information on the additional preview controls available in the preview window for these types of videos. See 360° Video Projects for more information on the what type of editing you can perform with these types of media files, and what features are not available.

Importing Media into PowerDirector

Setting 360 Projection Format

If CyberLink PowerDirector did not detect your 360° video file and you are sure it has been produced for playback and editing, you can manually set the 360 projection format. You can also disable 360° mode for a file that was mistakenly detected as a 360° video file.

Note: if you want to use 360° video clips and images in a 2D video production, you still need to set the correct 360 projection format to ensure the media displays properly in 2D.

To set the 360 projection format, do this:

1. Right-click on a 360° media file in the media library and then select Set 360 Projection Format.

2. Select the 360 projection format by selecting one of the following:

Equirectangular (360°): equirectangular video is the standard projection used in 360° video. Equirectangular projection displays the 360° video environment, which is a sphere, onto a rectangular video screen.

2D Format (Not 360°): select this option if the selected media file is actually 2D content.

Note: if you want to use 360° video clips in a conventional video production, setting the projection format as 2D is not going to help. You will need to create the conventional video using the 360° footage in the View Designer.

3D Media

CyberLink PowerDirector supports various 3D* video and image formats. You can use 3D media to create both 3D videos, and standard 2D video productions. All 3D media in the library is indicated by a 3D icon in the top left of its thumbnail.

Note: click the button to enable 3D mode to view the 3D content during the editing process. For more information on enabling 3D mode and configuring your 3D display settings, see Previewing in 3D Mode. * Optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

You can use and arrange 3D video clips and images in your video productions the same way you use 2D media. However, note that if you want to create a 3D video production, any 2D media in your project must be converted to 3D before production. See Power Tools: 2D to 3D for more information.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

Setting 3D Source Format

When 3D media is imported into the media library, you may need to set the format of the 3D source video. This is because 3D media comes in a variety of different video source formats. CyberLink PowerDirector needs to know the source format of each 3D media file so that it can display it properly in 3D.

Note: if you want to use 3D video clips and images in a 2D video production, you still need to set the correct 3D source format to ensure the media displays properly in 2D. CyberLink PowerDirector will incorporate the specified eye frames into your 2D video.

To set the 3D source format of your 3D media, do this:

1. Right-click on a 3D media file in the media library and then select Set 3D

Source Format. If the media file is on the timeline, right-click on it, select Set Clip Attributes, and then Set 3D Source Format. The Set 3D Source Format

window displays.

2. Select the 3D source format by selecting one of the following:

Auto Detect 3D Source Format: if you are not sure what the source format is of your 3D video, click this button to have CyberLink PowerDirector automatically detect and set it for you.

2D: select this option if the selected media file is actually 2D content.

Side by side format: select this option if the 3D content has two different

images side by side. CyberLink PowerDirector merges the two images to produce the 3D effect.

Over/Under format: select this option if the 3D content has two different video images, one on top of the other. CyberLink PowerDirector merges the two images to produce the 3D effect.

Multiview video coding: select this option if the 3D content is in the MVC video format (.mts or .m2ts file format).

Dual view format: select this option if the 3D content is in the dual view source format (.avi file format).

3. From the drop-down available, Specify whether to display the left or right eye frame first. Use this feature if while editing or playing back 3D content you begin to feel uncomfortable or uneasy. This may be because the layout of the 3D image is displayed differently than most standard content. If this occurs,

Importing Media into PowerDirector

try selecting the opposite eye view. This switches the way the 3D content is displayed on your display device, and may reduce the discomfort.

4. Click OK to set your changes to the selected media file.

The Difference Between 3D and 3D-Like Effects

In supported versions of CyberLink PowerDirector, there are both 3D effects* and effects that have "3D-Like" properties.

Like 3D media that can be imported into the library, 3D effects* are composed of two images from slightly different perspectives. 3D effects have one image for the left eye, and one image for the right eye. When these images are viewed together with compatible 3D hardware and software, they produce an effect that gives the perception of depth. In supported versions of CyberLink PowerDirector, you can enable this type of 3D effect for PiP media, particle effects, title effects, and on disc menus. The video effects and transitions indicated with the 3D icon on their thumbnail, also have these 3D effect properties when viewed and included in 3D video productions.

Some title effects, transitions, and other features in CyberLink PowerDirector have 3D-Like properties. Available in all versions of the program, these effects are simply 3D animations that only consist of one image. 3D-Like effects do not produce a 3D depth effect when viewed in 3D mode.

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

Importing PowerDirector Projects

CyberLink PowerDirector projects (.pds files) you worked on and saved previously can be imported and then directly inserted into your video production's timeline as a nested project.

Using Nested Projects

Your previously saved projects can be imported as nested projects, allowing you more flexibility and to make edits without affecting the rest of your existing project.

To use a nested project, do this:

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

1. While working on an existing PowerDirector project,

go to My Projects section of the media library.

2. Select the saved project in your library that you want to import as a nested project.

Importing Media into PowerDirector

3. Drag it to the position in your project's timeline where you want it to be located.

Note: you can also select Fi le > Insert Project to import a project at the current timeline slider position.

4. Now you can click on the nested project's tab to perform edits on it so it fits your current project.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

5. Click back on your current project's tab to continue editing.

Importing Media into PowerDirector

Capturing Media

CyberLink PowerDirector lets you capture media from a variety of sources directly into the media library. Click the Capture button to enter the Capture module.

In the Capture module, the program appears as follows:

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

A - Capture from a Webcam, B - Capture from a Microphone, C - Capture from a CD, D - Capture from an External or Optical Device, E - Capture Desktop with Screen Recorder, F - Capture from a DV Camcorder, G - Capture from an HDV Camcorder, H - Capture from a TV Signal, I - Capture from a Digital TV Signal, J - Capture Preview Window, K - Captured Content, L - Quality Profile Setup, M Capture Settings (Drive), N - Capture Player Controls, O - Capture Preferences

Capturing from a DV Camcorder

You can capture video content that you recorded with a DV camcorder. Use the capture from a DV camcorder option only if your camcorder connects to your computer using an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) cable. You can capture a single scene or a number of scenes in a batch from your camcorder.

Note: to add a text remark, date, or timecode to the video you are capturing, click on

the button in capture preferences area to enable it. See Capture Preferences for more information.

If your DV camcorder connects to your computer via a USB connection, just import the video files directly from your camcorder, as if it was another hard drive on your computer. See Importing Media for information on importing video files onto your computer.

Importing Media into PowerDirector

Capturing a Single Scene

You can capture a single segment of video from your camcorder using the capture player controls (record, stop, fast forward, rewind, etc.) underneath the capture preview window. This function is particularly useful, for example, if you want to acquire a long video segment in its entirety without skipping over sections.

DV Backup

The DV Backup* feature lets you back up the digital video from your DV camcorder directly to DVD using CyberLink PowerDirector.

Insert a blank DVD disc into your disc drive and then click the button to begin backing up your video.

Note: this feature requires a DVD burner. * Optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

Batch Capture from a DV Camcorder

With Batch Capture, CyberLink PowerDirector scans your DV camcorder for intervals or scenes (or allows you to set them manually) on the tape, and then captures these scenes as separate video files and imports each of them into the program.

Automatic Batch Capture

If you want CyberLink PowerDirector to auto capture and import each of the

intervals/scenes on your DV camcorder, click the button on the DV Camcorder tab.

An interval/scene is the content you recorded each time you pressed record and then stop during the video shooting process. For help on using this function, use the tips on the user interface.

CyberLink PowerDirector Help

Manual Batch Capture

Using manual batch capture* gives you more control over the capturing process and ensures that the scenes you want to include are captured. Manual batch capture is recommended when you know which scenes you want to capture and have a good idea where they are located on the tape.

Click the button to access the manual batch capture feature. For help on using this function, use the helpful tips on the user interface.

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

Capturing from an HDV Camcorder

You can capture video footage you shot with an HDV* camcorder. Use the capture from an HDV camcorder option only if your camcorder connects to your computer using an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) cable. To a capture scene from your HDV camcorder, use the capture player controls (record, stop, fast forward, rewind, etc.) underneath the capture preview window.

If your HDV camcorder connects to your computer via a USB connection, just import the video files directly from your camcorder, as if it was another hard drive on your computer. See Importing Media for information on importing video files onto your computer.

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

Capturing from a TV Signal

If your computer has a TV* tuner card installed and you want to capture segments from your favorite programs, select this option. To capture, use the capture player controls (record, stop, change channel, etc.) underneath the capture preview window.

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

Capturing from a Digital TV Signal

If your computer has a TV tuner card installed that receives a digital* TV signal and you want to capture segments from your favorite programs, select this option. To

Importing Media into PowerDirector

capture, use the capture player controls (record, stop, change channel, etc.) underneath the capture preview window.

Note: this feature is not available in all regions. * Optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

Capturing from a Webcam

You can record live content with a webcam that is attached to your computer and then import it directly into your CyberLink PowerDirector media library. To capture, use the capture player controls (record, stop, etc.) underneath the capture preview window.

Capturing from a Microphone

Select this option to record audio with a microphone that is attached to your computer. To capture, use the capture player controls (record, stop, etc.) underneath the capture preview window.

Capturing from a CD

Use this option to rip your favorite music, or other audio, from an audio CD. To capture, use the capture player controls (record, play, stop, next/previous track, etc.) underneath the capture preview window.

Capturing from an AVCHD Camcorder

You can capture video content that is on an external device, such as an AVCHD camcorder. Use the capture from an AVCHD camcorder option only if your camcorder connects to your computer using an IEEE 1394 (FireWire) cable. To a capture scene from your AVCHD camcorder, use the capture player controls (record, stop, etc.) underneath the capture preview window.

If your AVCHD camcorder connects to your computer via a USB connection, just import the video files directly from your camcorder, as if it was another hard drive on your computer. See Importing Media for information on importing video files onto your computer.

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

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Capturing from an Optical Device

You can capture content from an optical device, such as video scenes from a DVD. To capture, use the capture player controls (record, play, stop, next/previous frame, etc.) underneath the capture preview window. You can also use the DVD disc structure tree to quickly select the titles and chapters you want to capture.

Note: some DVDs are protected by technology that does not allow you to capture the content they contain. * Optional feature in CyberLink PowerDirector. Check the version table on our web site for detailed versioning information.

Capture Desktop with Screen Recorder

CyberLink PowerDirector's Screen Recorder lets you capture a video of your mouse movements on your computer's desktop. See Recording Your Desktop with the

Screen Recorder for a detailed description of this feature.

Captured Content

All of the media you capture in the capture window is displayed in the Captured Content area. When you return to the Edit module, all of the media is automatically imported into your media library.

In the Captured Content area you can right-click on media to perform a number of options, including detecting scenes in video clips and deleting unwanted content so that it won't import into the Edit module.

The content captured in CyberLink PowerDirector is stored in the folder noted underneath the Captured Content area. If you want to store it in a different location, click the Change Folder button and select a different folder.

Quality Profile Setup

To set the file format and quality of the media you capture, click the Profile button. If this button is grayed out, that means that the original format and quality of the media is maintained, as set on the original media device (camcorder, etc.).

The profile settings that are available depend on the capture device connected and the capture mode you have selected.

Importing Media into PowerDirector

Capture Settings

Use the Settings button to configure the set up of your selected capture device. The capture settings that are available depend on the capture device connected and the capture mode you have selected.

Note: when capturing from a DVD, this button reads Drive, allowing you to select the specific disc drive you want to capture from.

Capture Preferences

Before capturing media, you can set the preferences for your captured content. The capture preferences that are available, depend on the content you are capturing.

Set the capture preferences as follows:

to set a maximum capture length, select Time limit and then enter a time in the timecode box.

to set a maximum captured file size, select Size limit and then enter a size limit (in MB).

to add a text remark, date stamp, or time stamp to the video being captured,

click on the button. In the Add Text Overlay window, select which type and display format of text overlay you want to include on your recorded video on the Text tab. Select the Format tab to set the font and text position for the text.

to take a still photo of a frame of video for use in your project, just click on

at the point where you want to take the snapshot. The image is saved to the Captured content area. You can specify your preferred snapshot image file format in preferences. See File Preferences for detailed information.

select Non real-time when capturing from a camcorder to continue processing captured video after the original video stops playing in order to ensure that no frames are dropped.

select Begin with fade-in to add fade-in to audio captured with a microphone.

select End with fade-out to add fade-out to audio captured with a microphone.

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select Record at maximum speed to record CD audio at a higher speed. Capturing at a higher speed reduces processing time, but yields audio of a lower quality.

Downloading Media

If you feel that you do not have enough media for your project, or you are looking for specific media to make your creation just perfect, in the Edit module you can download media from Flickr, DirectorZone, and CyberLink Cloud* into the media room library.

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

To display all the current downloaded media in the media library, select Downloaded from the Media Content drop-down.

Downloading Content from DirectorZone/CyberLink Cloud

You can download templates and effects created by CyberLink and other PowerDirector users from DirectorZone. Users that have a CyberLink Cloud subscription can also download any effects and templates you backed up on CyberLink Cloud*.

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

Importing Media into PowerDirector

Downloading Effects and Templates from DirectorZone

If you are looking for additional PiP objects, paint animation objects, title effects, particle effects, or disc menu templates for your library, you can click Download Templates to download them directly from the DirectorZone web site in to the PiP Objects Room, Particle Room, Title Room, or Create Disc module.

When in the Edit module's Media Room, you can download sound clips into the

media library. To do this, click on and then select Download Sound Clips from DirectorZone.

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

My DirectorZone Templates

In the My DirectorZone window you can conveniently download your custom PiP object, paint animation object, title effect, particle effect, and disc menu templates that you previously uploaded to DirectorZone. You can also access and download templates from your DirectorZone download history and also your favorite templates.

To download My DirectorZone templates, do this:

1. In the Edit module, click in the PiP Objects Room, Particle Room, Title Room, or Create Disc module.

2. Click the My DirectorZone tab.

3. Filter the templates by My Uploads, Download History, or My Favorites, or enter a search keyword in the field provided.

4. Select all of the templates you want to download.

5. Click Download to download them to your computer and import them into the library.

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Downloading Effects and Templates from CyberLink Cloud

If you have a CyberLink Cloud subscription you can download the PiP object, paint animation, title effect, particle effect, and disc menu templates you previously backed up to CyberLink Cloud. Once downloaded, these templates are stored in the download folder specified in CyberLink Cloud Preferences, and imported into your media library.

To download template from CyberLink Cloud, do this:

1. In the Edit module, click in the PiP Objects Room, Particle Room, Title Room, or Create Disc module.

2. Click the My CyberLink Cloud tab.

3. Filter the templates by selecting a collection from the drop-down, or enter a search keyword in the field provided.

4. Select all of the templates you want to download.

5. Click Download to download them to your computer and import them into the library.

Downloading Photos From Flickr

You can download your own photos directly from your account on Flickr into CyberLink PowerDirector. You can also search for and browse other user’s photos from within CyberLink PowerDirector, and then import them into your media library for use in a project.

To download photos from Flickr, do this:

1. In the Edit module, click on and then select Download Photos from Flickr.

2. Follow the steps in the wizard window to authorize CyberLink PowerDirector to use your Flickr account and accept the Terms of Use from Flickr.

Note: having a Flickr account is not required to search for, browse, and download photos from Flickr.

3. Select from the drop-down whether to search for photos from:

Importing Media into PowerDirector

My Photos on Flickr: this option displays thumbnails of all the photos you have uploaded to your Flickr account.

My Contacts' Photos: this option displays thumbnails of all the photos your Flickr contacts have uploaded to Flickr.

Search for Photos on Flickr: select this option to perform a search for photos on Flickr.

Note: use the drop-down filter menu at the top of the search window to sort the photos.

4. Select all of the photos that you want to import into your media library and then click on the Download button.

Note: you cannot use the photos downloaded into your media library for commercial

use. Click on the button underneath a photo thumbnail to view its copyright information.

Downloading Royalty Free Music

You can download royalty free music from Muserk and Audio Network, and use it in your video productions.

Note: please consult the terms of use sections for both of these music services before purchasing, downloading, and including the music in your video project.

To download royalty free music, in the Edit module click on and then select Download Royal Free Music from Muserk/Audio Network to go to the web site.

Consult the help/FAQ on these web sites for detailed information about how to get music for your video productions.

Precutting Video, Detecting Scenes, Extracting Audio, and Capturing Snapshots

CyberLink PowerDirector lets you precut video clips, detect the scenes in the clips, or extract any audio within them. You can also capture screen snapshots from video clips for use in your video projects. These new clips are displayed, separately from the original clips, in the media library.

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Precutting Video Clips

You can now precut your videos clips while they are still in the media library. To precut a video clip, right-click on it in the media library and then select Precut. The Trim window will open. See Trimming a Video Clip for details on how to trim the video clip as required.

When you are done trimming the video clip, its thumbnail will have an icon on the bottom right.

Click on the icon to view the precut clips, which can be added to the timeline like any other media clip.

Detecting Scenes in a Video Clip

The scene detection function automatically creates individual clips based on the individual scenes (or pre-edited shots) contained within a video clip. Detected scenes are not split from the original clip, but can be added to the workspace like any other media clip.

Note: depending on the file format, scene detection on certain clips may not work as precisely as it does for others. You may need to split the scenes manually in the Scene Detection window.

To detect the scenes in a video clip, do this:

1. Right-click on it in either the Captured Content area (Capture module), or in the media library (Edit module), and then select Detect Scenes.

2. The scenes in the video clip are automatically detected and then displayed in the Scenes panel.

3. Once you are done detecting the scenes in the video clip, click OK. The detected clips are displayed in a sub folder under the original video clip.

When using scene detection, please note:

Importing Media into PowerDirector

if required, use the Sensitivity slider to increase or decrease scene detection sensitivity. Doing this may yield an increased or decreased number of scenes that are detected. Click Detect to redetect the scenes in the video clip. You are asked to confirm the clearing of the previously detected clips and then the updated scenes are detected and displayed in the Scenes panel.

click on the button to configure the Advanced Scene Detection Settings. If the selected video clip is a DV-AVI file, you have the option to Detect by

change of video frame (used on all other file formats) or Detect by change of timecodes (i.e.: timecodes are automatically set when you start and stop

recording). Select the Disable preview during detection option to speed up the detection process if you find your computer runs slow during the process.

to stop the scene detection process before completion, click the stop button on the playback controls.

to detect scenes manually, drag the slider (in Clip mode) to the beginning of

each new scene and then click .

to preview a detected scene, just select it in the Scenes panel (ensure Segment is selected) and then click the play button.

to view all the detected scene markers on the clip timeline, ensure that Clip is selected.

to merge two or more detected scenes into one longer scene, select them in the Scenes panel and then click Merge. Click Remove All if you want to restore the clip to the original.

You can add the individual scenes to the timeline or manage them in the media library like any other video clip.

Video clips that contain detected scenes show a small folder icon in the lower right corner of the clip when displayed in the media library. To display a clip’s scenes, click the folder icon.

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Extracting Audio from a Video Clip

If you just want to use the audio from a video clip in your production, you can extract it in the media library by right-clicking on it and selecting Extract Audio. The audio is separated from the video and saved in the media library. You can use it in your project like any other audio file.

Note: when a video clip is already on the timeline, you can separate the audio from the video file by right-clicking on it and selecting Unlink Video and Audio.

Capturing Screen Snapshots from a Video Clip

You can capture screen snapshots while playing a video clip in the media library, or when previewing your video project on the timeline. The screen snapshots are added to the media library, and can be used in your video projects.

Screen Snapshot Formats

You can set the screen snapshot image file format in the Snapshot file name section of File Preferences. The following file formats are available:

2D screen snapshots: BMP, JPG, GIF, or PNG

3D* screen snapshots: MPO or JPS

Screen Snapshot Resolution

The resolution of a captured screen snapshot is 1920x1080, when previewing your video project on the timeline. If you want a screen snapshot to be the same resolution as the original video clip, you can capture it while the clip is in the media library.

Importing Media into PowerDirector

Capturing Screen Snapshots

To capture a screen snapshot, do this:

1. While previewing your video project in the timeline, or a video clip in media

library, click the button on the preview controls to pause playback. You can also drag the timeline slider, or use the other preview controls, to find the exact moment in the video where you want to capture the snapshot.

2. Click to take the screen snapshot.

Note: if you want a 3D* screen snapshot, click to enable 3D mode first.

3. If required, browse to and then select the location where you want to save the new image file.

4. If required, enter a filename for the snapshot file.

5. Click Save to add it to your media library.

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

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PowerDirector Plugins

Chapter 6:

CyberLink PowerDirector includes a number of plugins that can help you create

video content for your production. In the Edit module, click the button above the Media Room library in the Edit module to view the available PowerDirector plugins. See the following sections for more information:

Using the MultiCam Designer*

Using the Theme Designer*

Editing Video in the Action Camera Center

Using an Express Project

Recording Your Desktop with the Screen Recorder

Creating Blends in the Blending Effect Designer

Designing Custom Slideshows in the Slideshow Creator

Design Hand-Drawn Animation in the Paint Designer

Creating Video Collages

Creating Movies Quickly with the Magic Movie Wizard

Transforming Video with the AI Style Plugin*

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

Using the MultiCam Designer

The MultiCam Designer lets you seamlessly edit footage from multiple cameras, simulating the use of a live camera switcher. The MultiCam Designer* creates professional-looking edited content for use in your CyberLink PowerDirector projects. It also lets you synchronize the audio in multiple video clips, and then send the synced clips directly to the Video Collage Designer.

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

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To open the MultiCam Designer, in the Edit module, click the button and then select MultiCam Designer.

Note: when entering the MultiCam Designer, any selected video files are automatically imported into the available camera (video source) areas.

A - Import Video, B - Available Cameras (Video Sources), C - Import Audio, D - Synchronization Type, E - Selected Camera (Video Source), F - Recording Track, G - Recording/Playback Controls, H - Audio Source, I - Recorded Content, J - Available Audio Source, K - Source Tracks

Importing Media

In the MultiCam Designer you can have up to four different video sources from four different cameras. Each available camera (video source) can have more than one imported video clip on its source video track.

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Note: if you require more than four video sources for your production, you can use Sync by Audio to align them on the timeline and then edit the footage manually. See Syncing Clips b y Audio for more information.

You can also import one or more audio files to use as the source audio in the clip you are recording.

Importing Video Clips

When you enter the MultiCam Designer, any video clips that were selected in the media library are automatically imported into the empty camera (video source) areas and the corresponding source video tracks.

If no clips were selected, you are prompted to select clips from your hard drive for import. You can select multiple video clips for import. Each selected clip is placed in the next available camera area. Once all the camera areas are full, the next clip is imported into the first camera area, after (on the corresponding source video track) the previously imported clip.

To import additional video clips, do either of the following:

click the Import Video button and then Import From Hard Drive to import video clips from your computer's hard drive, or Import From Media Room to import clips from the existing media in the Media Room library. Select one or more clips and then click Open. The clips are placed in the next available camera areas and the corresponding source video tracks.

Note: once all the available camera areas are full, the next clip is imported into the first camera area, after (on the corresponding source video track) the previously imported clip.

to import video clips into a specific camera (video source) area, click the

corresponding button. Next, select Import From Hard Drive to import video clips from your computer's hard drive, or Import From Media Room to import clips from the existing media in the Media Room library. Select one or more clips and then click Open. The clips are placed in the camera area and the corresponding source video tracks.

Source Video Tracks

All of the imported video clips are imported into the corresponding source video tracks. You can move the video clips to different locations on the video tracks, or even drag them to different tracks. You can also reorder the video clips on a source

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track by clicking the button next to the track and then using the and

buttons to reorder them as required.

To remove a video clip from a source video track, click next to the track, select

the check box next to the clip you want to remove, and then click . To add

additional video clips to the source track, click the button.

Importing Audio Clips

If you want to use an audio clip as the audio source in your recording instead of the audio of the imported video clips, you can import it separately into the MultiCam Designer.

To import audio clips, click the Import Audio button and then Import From Hard

Drive to import audio clips from your computer's hard drive, or Import From Media Room to import clips from the existing media in the Media Room library.

Select one or more clips and then click Open. The clips are placed on the source audio track in the timeline.

Source Audio Track

All of the imported audio clips are imported into the source audio track. You can move the audio clips to different locations on the audio track. You can also reorder

the audio clips on the source track by clicking the button next to the track and

then using the and buttons to reorder them as required.

To remove an audio clip from the source track, click next to the track, select the

check box next to the clip you want to remove, and then click . To add

additional audio clips to the source track, click the button.

Synchronizing Clips

Once you have imported all of the media clips into the MultiCam Designer that you want to use in your recording, the next step is to synchronize them.

To synchronize the clips in the MultiCam Designer, do this:

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1. Select the Audio source for your recording from the drop-down. You can use the audio of any of the imported video clips or select Imported Audio to use the audio that was imported on to the source audio track.

2. In the Synchronization drop-down, select one of the following:

Manual: select this option if you want to manually adjust the starting position of each clip on the source tracks. You can do this by clicking and dragging the clips on the source track to a new position.

Note: you can also click the button in the camera area to manually move the clip

on the source track b ack one frame. Click to move it forward one frame.

Timecodes: select this option and then click Apply if you want the MultiCam Designer to synchronize using the video clip's timecodes. The MultiCam Designer will auto adjust the clips on the source tracks.

Note: this option can only be used if the video clips were recorded with a DV or HDV camera that imprinted the timecode information in the clips and were captured by CyberLink PowerDirector.

File Created Time: select this option and then click Apply to use the date and time the file was created as the synchronization points. The MultiCam Designer will auto adjust the clips on the source tracks.

Audio Analysis: select this option and then click Apply if you want the MultiCam Designer to analyze the audio and then sync the files based on the audio in them. The MultiCam Designer will auto adjust the clips on the source tracks.

Markers on Clips: select this option and then use the playback controls to find the synchronization points in each clip. Once you find a point, right click on the source track and then select Set Marker. Once you have manually added all the markers, click the Apply button. The MultiCam Designer will adjust the clips on the source tracks.

Creating Recorded Content

Once you have imported and then synchronized all the media clips in the MultiCam Designer, you are ready to create your video. You can produce your media clips as a single video, or send it to the Video Collage Designer to give it a professional looking edit.

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Produce as Single Video

To record your content as a single video, do this:

1. In the MultiCam Designer window, click the Single Video button in the bottom right of the window.

2. Select the camera (video source) you want to start off the recording with. You can do this by simply clicking on the camera preview area.

3. If required, click on in the recording controls to set the preview window resolution. Select the Create Shadow File for HD Video option to also create a shadow file for the recorded file. This can help speed up editing when using high definition files in your production.

4. When you are ready, click to begin recording. The MultiCam Designer will start recording, adding the current selected camera footage as recorded content on the recording track.

5. As required during the recording process, click another camera (video source) or use keyboard hotkeys 1-4 to switch the recording to that source's content.

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6. Continue switching the camera (video source) as required, creating your recorded content on the recording track.

7. When you are done click the or button to stop the recording process.

8. Click on OK to close the MultiCam Designer, and import the recorded content into the timeline.

Note: if you'd like to modify the MultiCam Designer recorded content once it is in the timeline, just select it and then click the M ultiCam Designer button. See Changing the Recorded Content for more information.

Send Synchronized Video to Video Collage Designer

After synchronizing the audio in at least two video clips in the MultiCam Designer, you can click the Video Collage button to send the clips to the Video Collage Designer. See Creating Video Collages for more information.

Changing the Recorded Content

Once you have recorded your content in the MultiCam Designer and imported it into the timeline, you can edit it like any other video clip on the timeline. However, if you find that you want to replace some of the footage, or add more footage to the recorded content, you can do this by re-entering the MultiCam Designer.

To change recorded content in the MultiCam Designer, click on it in the timeline, and then click on Designer > MultiCam Designer above the timeline.

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Adding More Content

If required, you can record more content. You can record from the beginning over the existing content, or continue from where you left off by using the playback controls to find a specific starting point to record from. See Creating Recorded

Content for information on recording new content.

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

Replacing Existing Content

If you want to replace an existing segment on the recording track, do this:

1. Use the playback controls to find the segment you want to replace.

2. If you only want to replace part of a segment, you can split it into two separate segments. To do this, ensure the timeline slider is at the starting position of the part you want to replace, and then click Split.

3. Right-click on the camera segment you want to replace, and then select another camera (video source).

4. Repeat the above steps as required to edit and replace the segments.

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

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Using the Theme Designer

If you enjoy using the Magic Movie Wizard to create your video productions, you can now fully customize the theme templates used to create these dynamic looking videos in the Theme Designer*. A theme may consist of one or more theme templates, or individual sequences from different theme templates.

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

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, in the Edit module, click the button and then select Theme Designer.

A - Media Tab, B - Effects Tab, C - Sequence Content Area, D - Added Sequences Area, E - Selected Sequence, F - Title Settings, G - Theme Background Music, H - Sequence Background Image, I -

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Transition Settings, J - Preview Window, K - Preview Controls, L - Take a Snapshot, M - Auto Fill Media Slots

Overview

Themes that you edit in the Theme Designer consist of theme templates and your media (images and video clips). The resulting video is similar to the movie content created by the Magic Movie Wizard and Magic Style, but the Theme Designer provides much more creative control over the outputted movie.

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.

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.

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

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Note: you can preview a theme template in the preview window b y 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.

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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.

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

To add media into the selected sequences, do this:

Cyberlink PowerDirector - 17.0 User’s Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual