Pinnacle Systems Hollywood FX Pro - 5.0 User’s Guide
Hollywood FX
User’s Guide
Release 5.0 - Revision A - English
Pinnacle Systems, Inc.
280 North Bernardo Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94943
ii Hollywood FX User’s Guide
Table Of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION...................................... 1
What is Hollywood FX?..........................................................................1
Hollywood FX levels............................................................................... 2
Before you start .......................................................................................3
Installing Hollywood FX.........................................................................4
Licensing and registration .......................................................................6
Customer support.....................................................................................7
CHAPTER 2: GETTING STARTED ............................... 9
Hollywood FX in the application ............................................................9
Adding a Hollywood transition ............................................................. 10
Changing an existing HFX transition .................................................... 11
Using Hollywood FX as a filter............................................................. 12
CHAPTER 3: TUTORIALS........................................... 15
Tutorial 1: Transitions and options........................................................15
Selecting an FX......................................................................................16
The Monitor panel ................................................................................. 17
Basic effect options ...............................................................................17
Basic flight options................................................................................ 18
Basic lighting, shadows and shine.........................................................19
Basic render options .............................................................................. 21
Tutorial 2: Transition+ ............................................................................23
Selecting the Transition+....................................................................... 23
Mapping a video clip to Source 3..........................................................24
Tutorial 3: MultiWindow FX .................................................................. 26
Selecting the FX and setting options .....................................................27
CHAPTER 4: PINNACLE ONLINE .............................. 29
Table Of Contents iii
CHAPTER 5: TROUBLESHOOTING........................... 31
CHAPTER 6: PERFORMANCE ................................... 35
CPU speed, bus speed and memory.......................................................35
Graphics card drivers............................................................................. 36
Adjusting preview rendering performance............................................36
CHAPTER 7: ADVANCED TUTORIALS ..................... 39
Tutorial 4: Keyframe editing with envelopes......................................... 39
The Envelope Editor.............................................................................. 40
Selecting an object and option............................................................... 40
Creating the envelope ............................................................................41
Setting up the first keyframe .................................................................42
Adding a keyframe ................................................................................ 43
Other envelope controls......................................................................... 44
Tutorial 5: Flight path editing................................................................. 45
Modifying the path ................................................................................ 47
Tutorial 6: Creating new FX from existing FX PRO .............................. 49
Saving your custom FX.........................................................................52
Adding a filter plugin ............................................................................53
Tutorial 7: Warp plugins PRO ..................................................................56
Changing Peel options...........................................................................58
Keyframing the angle of peel ................................................................ 60
Tutorial 8: 3D text generation PRO ......................................................... 61
CHAPTER 8: THE HOLLYWOOD FX WINDOW ......... 65
CHAPTER 9: MENUS AND PANELS.......................... 67
Menus .................................................................................................... 67
The FX Tree panel................................................................................. 74
FX Tree Advanced Features PRO ...........................................................75
The Monitor panel and associated controls ........................................... 78
iv Hollywood FX User’s Guide
CHAPTER 10: THE ALBUM ........................................ 83
CHAPTER 11: FX PROPERTIES ................................ 85
Quick Flight Controls............................................................................86
Quick Lighting Controls........................................................................ 86
CHAPTER 12: MEDIA PROPERTIES.......................... 91
Media Selection .....................................................................................91
Trimming............................................................................................... 94
Cropping controls ..................................................................................94
CHAPTER 13: OBJECT PROPERTIES....................... 95
Object hierarchies..................................................................................95
Positioning controls...............................................................................97
Shape and dissolve ................................................................................99
Object flags.......................................................................................... 100
CHAPTER 14: SURFACE OPTIONS......................... 101
Basic color attributes ........................................................................... 102
CHAPTER 15: THE ENVELOPE EDITOR ................. 107
The single-value envelope...................................................................107
Multiple-value envelope......................................................................108
The Envelope window.........................................................................109
Key Type controls ...............................................................................110
Keyframe controls ............................................................................... 110
Keyframing example ........................................................................... 111
Saving and loading envelopes ............................................................. 113
Exiting Hollywood FX ........................................................................ 113
CHAPTER 16: PLUGINS PRO ..................................... 115
Managing Plugins...................................................................................116
Filter - Blur..........................................................................................117
Filter - Chroma Key.............................................................................119
Filter - Luma Key ................................................................................ 120
Filter - Directional Wipe .....................................................................121
Table Of Contents v
Filter – Edge Wipe ..............................................................................122
Filter - Gradient Wipe .........................................................................124
Warp – AlphaParticles......................................................................... 125
Warp – Displacement Map..................................................................128
Warp – Explode................................................................................... 130
Warp – Peel ......................................................................................... 133
Warp – Polyshrink...............................................................................134
Warp – Ripple .....................................................................................135
Warp – Swirl .......................................................................................138
Warp - Twist........................................................................................ 140
CHAPTER 17: EXPORT HFX PRO .............................. 141
CHAPTER 18: IMPORT 3D PRO .................................. 143
CHAPTER 19: 3D TEXT PRO ....................................... 147
APPENDIX A: LICENSE AGREEMENT .................... 151
INDEX ........................................................................ 155
vi Hollywood FX User’s Guide
Chapter 1:
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing Pinnacle Systems’ Hollywood FX. Hollywood FX is a powerful editor of 3D
transitions, titles and animated effects. Since 1994 this
product has provided many of the same capabilities as
broadcast television equipment and high-end
compositors. It gives you an incredible collection of 3D
transitions that you can quickly add to your video
productions, and completely customize to your needs.
This chapter will introduce you to Hollywood FX,
provide instructions for installation and give contact
information for customer support.
This is a general guide to using Hollywood FX. If you
received Hollywood FX as part of a complete Pinnacle
Systems’ solution, you should first read the Hollywood
FX documentation accompanying that solution.
What is Hollywood FX?
Hollywood FX is an incredible collection of true 3D
transitions and effects that you can add to any video
production. Hollywood FX works as an integrated
plugin to your video editing software (the “host
application”). Hollywood FX is:
• True 3D: Hollywood FX uses OpenGL to provide
hardware accelerated, high quality 3D rendering.
• Easy to use: Simply drag-and-drop Hollywood FX
into your timeline like any other transition or filter.
The Hollywood FX window will appear and you can
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
select a transition, change your options, or customize
an effect.
• Organized: Transitions are organized into conveni-
ent bin categories with icons that let you find the
transition you want quickly.
• Convenient: With every transition you can quickly
change the flight direction, lighting, shadows, shine
and antialiasing with the click of your mouse.
• MultiWindow excitement: Hollywood FX supports
unlimited video sources to create multi-layer 3D
composites. Create cubes with different video
sources on each side, and much more.
• Expandable: Additional theme packs of 3D
transitions, effects, plug-ins and more are available
through Pinnacle Online, and Hollywood FX PRO
lets you share your own creations with other users.
Visit Pinnacle Online at:
hollywoodfx.pinnaclesys.com
Hollywood FX levels
There are two levels of Hollywood FX for Edition:
• Plus: This version is included with Edition 5 and
includes 300 FX plus advanced control over lighting,
light direction, shadows, shine, motion blur, trails,
antialiasing and more. Plus lets you customize any
transition with full keyframe editing of flight paths,
object shape (morphing) and transparency of objects.
• PRO: Gives you more than 100 additional
transitions (over 400 total) and gives you complete
control over all 3D rendering options. PRO provides
2 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
a complete suite of 3D tools to create your own 3D
transitions and effects:
• Complete keyframe editing of all object, surface,
light and camera attributes in a full 3D editing
environment.
• Includes a suite of image filters including: Blurs,
Directional Wipe, Edge Wipe, Gradient Wipe
and Luma and Chroma key.
• Includes a powerful suite of 3D warp plugins
including: Alpha Particles, Displace, Explode,
Peel, PolyShrink, Swirl and Twirl.
• Adds an incredible 3D text generator that lets
you create amazing 3D text fly-ons.
• Import your own 3D objects (Lightwave 5
format) to create completely unique 3D effects.
• Share your customized effects with others by
exporting a simple self-installing compressed file
that contains the effect and all objects and
images needed for that effect.
You can easily and instantly upgrade between these
levels over the Internet at Pinnacle Online or purchase
packaged upgrades from your video reseller.
This is a complete guide for both the Plus and PRO
levels of Hollywood FX. Sections and features only
available in PRO are marked with PRO .
Before you start
Before getting started with Hollywood FX you should
have a good working knowledge of your Windows
system. You should be able to use the mouse to select
menu options and should understand and be able to use
the common controls.
Chapter 1: Introduction 3
You should also be thoroughly familiar with your video
editing software. You should be able to use clips in the
timeline and understand how to add and modify
transitions and filters.
Throughout this document we use the term FX to refer
to the transitions and effects in Hollywood FX. This
term generically describes the following types of
transitions and effects:
• Transition: These are standard A-B transitions,
where one video source transitions into a second.
• Transition+: These are also A-B transitions;
however, they may have additional video channels
that can be mapped with video. For example, the
FlipOver FX features the first video source flipping
over like a card to reveal the second video source.
There is a third video source that is visible in the
background as the “card” flips over.
• MultiWindow: These effects are not transitions at
all. Instead, windows of video may fly on or off the
screen into various positions while playing your
video.
• AniComps: These are effects that frame a picture,
provide 3D titles and accentuate a video segment
through animated composites.
Installing Hollywood FX
If Hollywood FX was included in a Pinnacle Systems’
solution, it will be installed automatically with that
product, and you can skip this section.
Before installing Hollywood FX, verify that you have
the correct minimum requirements:
• PC-compatible computer with at least a 300 MHz
(Intel Celeron/Pentium II, or AMD Duron/Athlon
class processor).
4 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
• Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows ME,
Windows 2000, or Windows XP.
• 64 MB RAM (more may be required by your video
editing software). For multi-window effects, 128 to
256 MB (or more) is recommended.
• At least 200 MB hard disk space.
• 16-bit or 24-bit display adapter. A 3D OpenGL
accelerator is recommended.
To install Hollywood FX:
1. Insert the Hollywood FX CD into your CD-ROM
drive. The main installation menu for your software
will appear.
2. Select Install Hollywood FX. The Language
Selection dialog will appear.
3. Select your preferred language then click OK. The
Serial Number dialog will appear.
4. Enter the serial number that came with your
software (normally found on the first page of this
guide or on the CD-ROM sleeve). Enter the serial
number exactly as shown, including dashes, then
click OK.
5. Click Next to continue. The Setup Path dialog will
appear.
Normally you should accept the default path for
installation. Do not select your non-linear editor’s
plug-in path for installation; the installer will
automatically install the files needed into your nonlinear editor’s folders. Click Next to continue.
Hollywood FX will be installed on your system.
After installation, the LicenseTool dialog will
appear. You have the option to register online
Chapter 1: Introduction 5
immediately (see “Licensing and Registration”
below).
After installation, you may be required to restart
your system.
Licensing and registration
The License Tool
Registering your software gives you access to
important benefits including current updates, support,
upgrade promotions, and information on exciting new
products from Pinnacle Systems.
Hollywood FX Basic and Plus do not require
registration, but will continue to remind you until you
have registered your software.
Hollywood FX PRO is copy protected, and users must
register within 90 days to continue using the software.
When you register a Hollywood FX product, you will
receive a permanent keycode that fully enables
6 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
Hollywood FX on a particular computer and stops the
registration reminders.
You can register from any Internet-enabled computer
by connecting to hollywoodfx.pinnaclesys.com. If you
do not have your own Internet-enabled computer, you
can register from any computer that is connected to the
Internet (from a library or Internet café for example).
If you reformat your system drive and reinstall the
operating system or move Hollywood FX to a new
computer, you will need a new permanent keycode,
which you can obtain at
hollywoodfx.pinnaclesys.com.
Customer support
Pinnacle Systems is dedicated to providing the best
products and the best customer support.
For fastest support, point your browser to:
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/support
Please note: Pinnacle Systems cannot provide support
for using your non-Pinnacle video editing software.
You should first make sure you fully understand the
operation of your other software before calling. You
should also look through the read-me file and the
Troubleshooting section of this guide (page 31) before
contacting customer support.
Chapter 1: Introduction 7
Chapter 2:
Getting started
This chapter will help you get started using Hollywood
FX in Pinnacle’s Edition and Liquid – the “host
applications”. The basic procedure for adding and
modifying Hollywood FX transitions and filters is
described, along with hints and tips.
After this brief introduction, first-time users should
continue with the tutorials in the next chapter (page
15).
Hollywood FX in the application
The Hollywood FX effects can be found and inserted
into a host application project in various ways. One
way is by selecting the ALL button just below the
central bar. This will reveal the tree of various filters
and plugins offered. From here you can either select the
primary Hollywood FX icon from the PlugIn
Transition FX if you want to use an FX for transitions.
To use an FX as a filter, select the Hollywood FX icon
from Plugin Clip Fx.
Another way is under RealtimeTransition FX/Specials.
Here, every transition has its own icon that you can
simply drag and drop it between two video sources.
Chapter 2: Getting started 9
Adding a Hollywood transition
Multiple ways to select a Hollywood FX
Before adding a Hollywood FX transition, prepare two
video sources on the A and B tracks of the timeline, so
that there is some overlap between the two video clips.
Timeline prepared for Hollywood FX Transition
To add a transition to the timeline:
1. Click on the Edition.FX tab in the Project window,
then double-click on the Plugin Transition FX
folder, and the Pinnacle group.
2. Drag Hollywood FX from the Project window into
the timeline, between the two video clips.
10 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
3. Double-click on the transition block or Right-click
on the transition and choose the Edit... command
from the popup menu.
The Hollywood FX dialog will appear, letting you
choose a specific transition, and change options for
your transition.
A Hollywood FX Transition in the timeline
Changing an existing HFX transition
You can modify a transition that is already in the
timeline, changing the selected effect or any options at
any time.
To change an existing transition in the timeline:
• Double-click on the transition block; or,
• Right-click on the transition and choose the Edit...
command from the popup menu.
The Hollywood FX window will appear, letting you
choose a specific transition, and change options for
your transition.
Chapter 2: Getting started 11
Using Hollywood FX as a filter
Hollywood FX can be used as a filter on a graphic,
title, or video clip. Hollywood FX is great for flying on
or off titles over video.
To prepare:
1. Start a new sequence and drag a video clip into the
first video track.
2. Select a title and drag three copies of it into the
timeline, on the video track immediately above the
video clip you dragged into the first track.
The Timeline, ready for a Hollywood FX Filter.
(1) The first copy of the title will fly on over the
video clip; (2) The second will simply be overlaid
on the clip; and (3) The third will fly off the screen.
To fly on the title with Hollywood FX:
1. In the Project window, click on the Edition.FX tab,
then double-click on the Plug In Clip Fx folder.
2. Drag the Hollywood FX 5.0 Filter from the Project
window into the timeline on top of the first copy of
the title.
12 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
3. Double-click on the asterisk ( ) icon on the title
clip to display the Hollywood FX window.
The Hollywood FX Filter has been added to the
first title clip. Double-click the icon (circled) to
display the Hollywood FX dialog. Right: The icon
is shown in a magnified view.
4. Click on the Domino effect in the first row of the
FX Album.
5. Click on Basic Options in the Properties panel on
the left.
6. Check the Reverse Flight checkbox (this will make
the effect fly on instead of fly off).
7. Click OK to close the Hollywood FX window.
After background rendering is complete, you can play
the sequence back and see the title fly on with the
effect selected.
To fly off with Hollywood FX:
1. Drag the Hollywood FX 5.0 Filter from the Project
window into the timeline on top of the last copy of
the title.
2. Double-click on the asterisk ( ) icon on the title
clip to display the Hollywood FX window.
3. Select the Dive Off effect from the first row of the
FX Album.
4. Click OK to close the Hollywood FX window.
When background rendering is complete, you can play
the sequence back, and you will now see the title fly
on, hold, then fly off.
Chapter 2: Getting started 13
Chapter 3:
Tutorials
Here we present three tutorials that will help you get
oriented quickly to using Hollywood FX. Each tutorial
focuses on a different FX type: Transitions,
Transitions+ and MultiWindow.
TUTORIAL 1: TRANSITIONS AND OPTIONS
This tutorial will take you through the basics of
selecting a Transition FX and setting Effect Options.
To prepare for this tutorial: Set up two video clips in
your host application and add Hollywood FX as
described in Getting Started (page 9). When the
Hollywood FX window appears, you are ready to
begin.
The Hollywood FX window
Chapter 3: Tutorials 15
The Hollywood FX window is organized into panels
and menus. The first panel is the Properties panel (by
default this panel may be closed upon first use after
install). This is where all detail controls are found.
The second panel is the Monitor panel that displays the
preview of the current FX (the above image shows the
monitor selected in Tri-View mode).
Finally, the lower half provides access to the Album
folders. One is for selecting property controls for
Objects, Plug-ins, Media, Camera and Lights. The
other is for selecting from the many categories of FX.
Selecting an FX
When the Hollywood FX window is displayed, you
will immediately see the FX Album Folders (the FX
you chose and the FX Folder it is a part of should be
highlighted). The FX Album has two major panels: the
FX Album Folder tree showing the different FX
Folders and the panel showing the FX Album Items of
the FX Folders allows you to select one of the many FX
available. For this tutorial you will select an interesting
transition called Ball Split. This FX is in the Basic
Shape group.
Selecting a folder (1) and an item (2) in the FX Album.
To select the Ball Split FX:
1. Select Basic Shapes from the FX Group popup list.
2. Click on the Ball Split FX icon.
16 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
The Monitor panel
Whenever you make changes in Hollywood FX, the
preview window in the Monitor panel is updated. Try
dragging the slider directly below the preview to view
different frames of the preview.
Monitor panel: 1) Play entire FX preview once;
2) Loop play: preview continuously as you work (press
again to stop preview); 3) Step backward one frame;
4) Step forward one frame; 5) Go to first frame; 6) Go
to last frame; 7) Frame counter; 8) Timeline slider.
To turn on continuous playback of the preview:
click on the Loop Play button below the preview
window in the Monitor panel.
Basic effect options
Hollywood FX gives you quick and easy control over
many FX options. You can create new and exciting
results without having to re-keyframe the entire FX.
To view the basic effect options: Click on the name at
the top of the FX Tree.
Chapter 3: Tutorials 17
Left: The FX tree. Right: The Basic Options selected in
Basic flight options
the Properties Panel.
You can quickly change the flight path of an object in
useful ways using the Basic Options controls.
Basic flight options
Watch the preview now. You will see that instead of
the first video source flying off and revealing the
second video source, the second video source will fly
on and cover the first video source.
18 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
Flight path try-out:
• Click-and-drag the Flight Rotation dial so that it
reads 45. Watch the preview.
• Click on the Object Rotation checkbox so it is
checked. Watch the preview.
• Click-and-drag the Flight Path dial so that it reads
90. Watch the preview.
• Click-and-drag the Flight Path dial so that it reads
0. You can also use the arrow keys to change the dial
by one degree increments.
The Flight Path dial rotates the entire flight path of the
3D objects in the FX, giving you a different result
quickly and easily. When you change the Flight Path, it
does not rotate the object itself. Checking the Rotate
Object checkbox will cause the object itself to rotate
and “follow” the new path.
Note: Some FX were not designed to be compatible
with the basic flight options. So this feature may be
disabled for those effects.
Basic lighting, shadows and shine
Lighting, shadows and shine add incredible 3D realism
to an FX. By default all of these features are turned on.
Try turning them off to see the difference it makes.
Basic lighting options
Chapter 3: Tutorials 19
Basic shadow options
Basic shine options
To turn off Lighting and Shadows:
• Click on the Shadows checkbox to clear it. Notice
that the shadow disappears.
• Click on the Lighting checkbox to clear it. Notice
that the 3D ball is no longer shaded.
• Click on Shadows and Lighting to turn these
features back on.
In addition to being able to control which lighting
features are used, you can also control the light
direction. By default, light comes from the top center of
the 3D “world”. When you adjust the light direction, it
automatically adjusts the shine and shadow position as
well.
Light direction try-out:
• Click-and-drag the Light Direction dial so that it
reads 90. Watch the preview.
• Click-and-drag the Light Direction dial so that it
reads 180. Watch the preview.
20 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
• Click-and-drag the Light Direction dial so that it
reads 0. You can also use the arrow keys to change
the dial by one degree increments.
Changing the light direction to 180 degrees gives a
very unique, almost sinister appearance.
Basic render options
The Basic Options Render controls let you adjust
special rendering features of the 3D engine.
Render type
Normally objects with curves are rendered with smooth
surfaces. You can use the render type to change to
faceted or wire surfaces.
To change the render type:
• Select Flat from the Render dropdown. Notice that
the object no longer appears smooth.
• Select Wire from the Render dropdown. Notice that
the object is now rendered as a wire-frame rather
than a solid object.
• Select Smooth from the Render dropdown to return
to smooth solid rendering.
Antialiasing
Because of the low resolution of video, sharp edged 3D
effects will often exhibit blocky stairstepping along the
edges of objects. Antialiasing eliminates much of this
problem. Hollywood FX includes three methods of
antialiasing (although the preview generally displays
only edge antialiasing).
Chapter 3: Tutorials 21
Selecting render options
Antialiasing first look:
• Select Web/CD under Antialiasing and notice how
the edges of the 3D ball are smoothed.
• Select Video under Antialiasing to switch to scene
antialiasing. This generally will not change the
preview, but during final rendering full Scene
antialiasing will be used.
• Select Hardware under Antialiasing to take
advantage of some of today’s high-end graphics
chips.
The additional checkboxes and advanced shadow
controls are described in more detail under “Quick
Lighting Controls” (page 86).
When you are ready, click OK in the Hollywood FX
dialog to exit, then render your project to see the
results.
22 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
TUTORIAL 2: TRANSITION+
In Tutorial 1 you worked with a Transition FX that had
only two video sources. In the present tutorial you will
use a Transition+ FX that also performs a transition but
has additional video sources you can use.
When you are finished with this tutorial, you will
know:
• How to use a Transition+ FX with extra video
sources.
• Some of the features on the Settings menu.
To prepare for this tutorial: Set up two video clips in
your host application and add Hollywood FX as
described in the “Getting Started” chapter (page 9),
creating a two-second transition. When the Hollywood
FX window appears, you are ready to begin.
Selecting the Transition+
To select the transition:
1. Select Wipes and Fades from the FX Group popup
list at the top of the page.
2. Click on the FlipOver icon.
3. Click the Play Once preview button on the
Monitor.
Watch the preview. Notice that while the video is
flipping over, you can see black in the background.
There is a backdrop that is currently not visible,
because no video source has been mapped to it. The
next step is to map that third video source.
Chapter 3: Tutorials 23
Mapping a video clip to Source 3
Continuing Tutorial 2, we will now add a video clip to
Source 3 so that the background is no longer black.
Selecting media options
To add a video clip to Source 3:
1. Double click on the Back 3 Object icon in the
Tree panel.
2. Double click on the Backdrop 3 Surface Icon
to expand out the Media file.
3. Click on the Select File button in the Media
Options panel.
4. Using the file requester, select a video clip to use
for Source 3.
5. Click on the Play Once button in the Monitor
window.
You have selected a new video source and should be
able to see it in the background as Source 1 flips over
to Source 2. You should also make sure the field
interpretation is correct for this video.
24 Hollywood FX User’s Guide
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