Blur-Sharpen Effects (Magix version): Tutorials & Tips
In Magix Movie Edit Pro 18 (or later) or Video Pro X4 (or later):
1. With a clip in the Magix timeline selected, in the Effects tab untwirl Pixelan section, then click a Blur-Sharpen effects plugin's name (BlurBlender, Smart Blur Pro, or Smart Sharpen Pro). The plugin's main window will then appear, as shown below for BlurBlender Pro. See the easy steps described in the left side of the illustration.
Effect Presets
Our Magix video plugins have two types of presets -- Effects Browser presets and Section presets (in our Pro plugins only).
• Effects Browser presets
This is the most powerful and visual way to access handy professional pre-made presets. A huge quantity are available in a large Effects Browser window to visually compare and choose from, as shown below. (650+ presets are in BlurBlender Pro, for example!) To open the Effects Browser, click the Load a Pre-made Effect button. To save your own custom presets in the Effects Browser, set up the desired look in our plugin, then click the Save to Effects Browser button.
Time-saving tips to load presets faster:
The Effects Browser is fast, but sometimes you may already know which preset you want to use, such as when you are applying the same preset repeatedly in a project. In that situation, selecting a preset by a following method can be faster... To see recently chosen presets, Ctrl-click the Load a Pre-made Effect button. For a drop-down menu of presets, Shift-click the button. To choose in a file dialog, Alt-click the button. |
Handy tips while working within the Effects Browser:
• To scroll through presets in a folder while keeping your eye on the top preview image for comparison, hold the mouse pointer over the right panel then use arrow keys or the mouse wheel.
• To increase/decrease the thumbnail image size, use the Size button at the bottom of the Effects Browser.
• To copy a favorite preset into the My Favorites folder located atop the left column of preset folders, right-click any preset image and choose Copy to My Favorites. To copy the preset into a subfolder within that folder (such as if you want to organize presets per project or per client), right-click the preset and choose Copy to My Favorites >> [new subfolder]. You can then name the subfolder as desired. After the subfolder is created, it will also appear in the right-click menu.
• To rename a preset that is in the My Favorites folder, right-click the preset there and choose Rename this preset. To remove a My Favorites preset, right-click and choose Delete this preset.
• To hide any preset, right-click the preset and choose Hide this preset. To show all hidden presets in a folder, right-click any preset in that folder and choose Restore all hidden presets from this folder. To temporarily view the folder's hidden presets, which can be handy if you just want to momentarily browse them, choose Temporarily show hidden presets.
• To toggle between viewing the source file image and the effect preset, click the top large preview image in the Effects Browser. |
• Section presets (in our Pro plugins only)
Unlike Effect Browser presets, these change ONLY the controls in ONE section of our plugin. Mixing presets from several sections is a quick and easy way to try hundreds of fresh variations. Just click the blue FX folder icon at the top right side of any section. To choose a section preset visually instead of from a list, Shift-click the button.
• Magix Presets
If you prefer, you can save your favorite presets in Magix's usual place. The advantage of the usual Magix way is you can apply a favorite preset quickly without entering the plugin interface at all.
Keyframing
To VARY a control over time, use our powerful but easy-to-use keyframing. Follow the simple process below.
1. Go to the frame where you want a control's value to BEGIN to vary over time. There are several ways to do this: use the built-in Preview Controls , or enter a frame time in the Current Time/Frame box. Or click the stopwatch icon next to the control to open the Keyframes Window, then drag the blue vertical frame marker left or right.
The Keyframes Window graph vertically shows the control's value plotted over time (horizontally, from 0% to 100% of the effect's duration). In this example, the Progress is linear from 0% to 100%.
2. Adjust the control's value in the main window. In the graph, if a keyframe already exists at the current frame, the adjustment will raise or lower that keyframe. If a keyframe doesn't exist, the adjustment will insert a new keyframe in the graph, as shown at right.
Changing the control's value adds a new keyframe, if not already present. TIPS: To hold/freeze the effect's progress, horizontally flatten all or part of the line. To experiment and revert if needed to earlier keyframing, use the Undo/Redo buttons ("B") in the main window. Note you can adjust keyframing while previewing plays.
HANDY TIPS: Another way to add a new keyframe is to click ON an empty segment of the keyframe LINE, then drag that new keyframe wherever desired. As you drag, coordinates will appear and the preview will update.
To move a keyframe only horizontally or vertically in the graph,
Shift-drag it.
To fine-tune the position, click the
Zoom (+) button in the graph's top-left corner to zoom in, then drag as needed. (Repeat to zoom further.) To
precisely position a keyframe, right-click it in the graph and choose
Enter coordinates.
3. Use a bezier curve to accelerate or decelerate the control's value over time. Straight keyframe line segments as shown above represent a linear (constant) rate of change in an effect's value. To smoothly accelerate or decelerate it, which can provide a more professional/realistic look, curve the keyframe line by dragging a bezier curve handle.
Attached to any active keyframe are two bezier curve handles (one handle if a start or end keyframe). If the handle(s) are not visible, click the keyframe (or move the blue vertical frame marker near it). To decelerate, create an downward curve (shown). To accelerate, create an upward curve.
To delete a keyframe, right-click it in the graph and choose
Delete keyframe. Or click the
Delete Key (-) button above the
Keyframes window.
To delete ALL keyframes for a control, right-click the control's stopwatch icon.
To delete ALL keyframes for a control AND revert to the control's default value, right-click in the graph's gray background and choose
Revert to default.
More Keyframing Tips
• To hide/show the Keyframes Window, click the Keyframes Window button ("M") below the preview's bottom right corner. Note that each keyframable control has its own keyframes graph. To see the keyframes graph for a particular control, click the stopwatch icon at the left of that control. Or click in the turquoise color bar that is above the keyframes graph.
• To jump to a keyframe, click it in the keyframes graph. But among tightly clustered keyframes, sometimes that can be difficult. Or you may want to activate a keyframe without accidentally changing its position. The solution is to use the button bar above the top right corner of the graph. For example, to activate the next or previous keyframe, click the Next Key or Prior Key button.
• To copy and paste an ENTIRE keyframe line into another control, right-click the Keyframes graph background and choose Copy or Paste. Note that if copied values do not fit within the parameters of the paste location, they will be modified. To match ONE keyframe's value to another keyframe, right-click the keyframe that has the desired value, then choose Copy value. Then right-click the other keyframe and choose Paste value.
• To adjust an ENTIRE complex keyframe line you've created, right-click the graph's background and choose an option to invert or flip the keyframe line, or Scale/Move to scale its peaks larger/smaller or shift its timing ahead/back -- a great timesaver over manual adjustment.
• To customize the Keyframes graph display, right-click the Keyframes graph background to access four Appearance options, such as to show/hide the graph's grid lines or scroll bars. Any change will be remembered. Save window position opens the Keyframes window at a consistent screen location. Attach to main window keeps the Keyframes window attached if you move the main window.
• To move a bezier handle that is on top of a keyframe, click to activate the keyframe that "owns" that handle. Then Ctrl-drag the bezier handle where desired.
• To stay at a frame while adjusting keyframes elsewhere, right-click the graph's gray background and deselect Sync preview. This can be handy, for example, to adjust a bezier curve while seeing how it alters an earlier or later frame's look.
• To make automatic bezier curve adjustments (instead of dragging a handle), right-click the keyframe and choose Convert keyframe to. Then choose an option shown below. To modify ALL keyframes in a graph, right-click the graph's background and choose Convert all keyframes to.
Linear -- remove all curves in the keyframe
Smooth -- decelerate before & accelerate after
Bounce -- accelerate before & decelerate after (opposite of smooth)
|
Smooth In -- decelerate before
Smooth Out -- accelerate after
Bounce In -- accelerate before
Bounce Out -- decelerate after |
• To zoom in, Alt-drag in the graph where you want to zoom. To zoom in vertically to the range where keyframes exist, right-click the graph's gray background, then choose Fit graph to keyframes. This can help you to fine-tune values in relatively flat keyframe lines. Other ways to zoom in vertically are: drag inward the vertical scroll bar, or Shift-click the Zoom In (+) button. Shift-click the Zoom Out (-) button to vertically zoom out. To bring the blue vertical playback marker into the zoomed region, click in the numerical scale above the graph.
Detailed Help about Each Blur-Sharpen Effects Plugin Control
Note: The below help also appears below as you hover your cursor over each plugin control.
Split Preview. Easily compare the effect to your source clip's original look. When you are done comparing, be sure to turn this off to not include the split in your final render.
Blur
Adjust the main BlurBlender controls. Choose a section preset at right for common settings.
Blur Type. Choose the Blur type. To turn a standard blur into a linear blur, use the Stretch slider below. To turn a radial blur into a spin or spiral blur, use the Stretch and Angle sliders below.
Size. Sets the blur strength. To create extreme blurs, manually enter a value greater than 100.
Stretch. To stretch a blur into a linear, spin, or radial blur, adjust towards 0% or 100%.
Angle. Set the direction of a linear, spiral, or offset blur.
Radial Blur X/Y. Position the radial blur center point.
Radial Blur Bias [in Pro version only]. Controls where the radial blur power is strongest. Affects only radial blur.
Blur Offset. For linear blurs, the Offset controls can create wind trailing effects. For radial blurs, rays and various spin and zoom effects can be created. See the section presets for examples.
Blur Style
More ways to alter the blur's look. Choose a section preset at right for common settings.
Gaussian %. Change the blur's look from Average (0%) to Gaussian (100%).
Cross Style [in Pro version only]. Cross blurs are available to blur in two perpendicular directions and blend the results, creating various crosshatch textures. For this effect, set the Stretch slider towards 50%.
Text/Alpha FX [in Pro version only]. For titles and source clips with an alpha channel, this sets the alpha channel processing. "None" affects only RGB channels. "RGB blur within alpha" retains sharp frame edges in clips that are smaller than the project's frame size. "RGBA blur" variations are handy for text blur since the alpha channel is also blurred. "Outer blur" variations can create text glows and related effects.
Blend Mode [in Pro version only]. To fine-tune the blur, choose a Photoshop-like blend mode. To see these blends, make sure that the Blend/Blur control below is not 0 or 200.
Blend/Blur [in Pro version only]. Creatively alters the blend mode above. 0-100% sets the blend strength; 101-200% blurs the blend mode. To see results, make sure that the Blend/Blur control above is not 0 or 200. See the section presets for examples. For unusual looks, enter values outside the 0-200% range.
Bias Strength [in Pro version only]. Increase to limit the blend in dark/light areas. Use together with the Dark/Light Bias control below. See the section presets for examples.
Dark/Light Bias [in Pro version only]. Increase to shift the blend into lighter areas. Use together with the Bias Strength control above. See the section presets for examples.
Shape Mask
Limit where the blur will appear with an adjustable, movable geometric shape. Choose a section preset at right for common settings.
Shape. Choose a shape from several geometries.
Strength. Set the strength of the shape mask.
Size. Set the size of the shape. For Linear or Door mask shapes, this control affects their position.
Edge Softness. Adjust the softness of the edge of the mask.
X/Y Position. Position the shape within the image by dragging the center point. If \"Linear\" is selected, you can adjust its angle by moving the center point. For more precision, enter numerical values.
View the Mask. Turn on to clearly see the mask.
Randomize [in Pro version only]
Randomize one or more settings over time to create pulsing or variable blur effects. Choose a section preset at right for examples.
Random. Choose a control to randomize. Up to three different plugin controls can be randomized independently by using the additional control sets lower in this section.
Variation. Set how widely the control's strength will vary.
Speed. Set how fast randomness will change.
Density. Set how often random events will occur.
Style. Experiment with variations to the nature of the randomness.
Mix with Original. To alter the effect's overall strength, adjust its transparency with the source image. Positive values increase the source's strength. Negative values can create unusual looks.
Smart Blur Pro / Smart Sharpen Pro |
Split Preview. Easily compare the effect to your source clip's original look. When you are done comparing, be sure to turn this off to not include the split in your final render.
Blur
Adjust the main plugin controls. Choose a section preset at right for common settings.
Size. Sets the effect's strength. To create extreme looks, manually enter a value greater than 100.
Smartness. Increase to preserve the main edges within the image.
Details. Increase to preserve more details.
Highlights. Increase to preserve the brightest areas.
Edges. Increase to preserve sharpness of edges (in Smart Sharpen Pro, to slightly return edges back to the source look.)
Shape Mask
Limit where the effect will appear with an adjustable, movable geometric shape. Choose a section preset at right for common settings.
Shape. Choose a shape from several geometries.
Strength. Set the strength of the shape mask.
Size. Set the size of the shape. For Linear or Door mask shapes, this control affects their position.
Edge Softness. Adjust the softness of the edge of the mask.
X/Y Position. Position the shape within the image by dragging the center point. If "Linear" is selected, you can adjust its angle by moving the center point. For more precision, enter numerical values.
View the Mask. Turn on to clearly see the mask.
Organic Mask
Limit where the effect will appear based on the color or luminance within your scene. Choose a section preset at right for common settings.
Target. Choose which qualities define the Target area. For example, to preserve the white in a source clip's clouds, click the Target eyedropper in the cloud and select "Target's luminance only". To preserve skin tones, click in the skin and choose "Target's color". In the preview, click the eyedropper on the color area to keep it unchanged. Or use the color swatch to choose a color or luminance.
Strength. Set the strength of the source mask. Negative values will invert the mask.
Range. Positive values preserve additional hue/luminance areas that are similar to the Target.
Falloff. Positive values increase the feathering around preserved colors.
View the Mask. Turn on to clearly see the mask.
Within Shape M. Limits organic masking to within the Shape Mask area set in the section above. Can be handy depending on where your masking intent is.
Mix with Original. To alter the effect's overall strength, adjust its transparency with the source image. Positive values increase the source's strength. Negative values can create unusual looks.
Preferences Settings -- In the Pixelan Custom Interface ONLY
In the Preferences settings of the Pixelan custom interface, you can customize our plugin to your video editing system's power and
your working style. At right are the default Preferences Settings. Three options in particular may be handy for you to change (all shown with an adjacent red triangle):
If you have very fast video editing hardware, consider turning off Drop frames to maintain preview pacing.
If you also have a high-resolution monitor and are editing with HD or larger footage, consider turning ON Use largest available preview which will use the largest preview size that can fit in your monitor while still leaving sufficient room for controls. Note that your choice will appear the next time you open the plugin's window.
After you become more familiar with a plugin, consider turning off Show pop-up text and help text. That will leave more vertical space for the controls and reduce any distraction from the help text.
