How to Use This Help System                          CreativEase plugins main help page

This help guide includes basic info, tutorials, and tips. To access this help while using CreativEase plugin, Click the ? button.

Contents

•How to Apply CreativEase Plugin in VEGAS
•Basics Within CreativEase
•CreativEase Saved Settings and Presets
•Detailed CreativEase Help and Tutorials

NOTE: Effects Browser and Section Presets are not available in StepMotion and StepTime.

CreativEase Effects:

1. Drag the plugin's name (or a Vegas preset for it) from the Vegas Video FX list onto any event or track in your Vegas timeline. Or, click the Event FX button on an event’s icon in the Vegas timeline, then choose the plugin in the Plug-In Chooser window. Our OFX interface will then appear.
2. Click the Load a Pre-made Effect button at the top of the controls (as shown by the smiley in the below images) to open a large Effects Browser window to visually choose/compare effect presets.

CreativEase Transitions:
1. Overlap two events in the SAME video track of your Vegas timeline, automatically creating a crossfade transition.
2. Drag the plugin's name (or a Vegas preset for it) from the Vegas Transitions list onto the crossfade. Or right-click the crossfade and choose Transition Properties, then double-click the plugin's name. All plugin controls will appear as native effect controls within the VEGAS interface.

Click here to visually choose from a HUGE range of pre-made effects presets (plus saved favorites) in an animated Effects Browser window. Ctrl-click to quickly load a recently used preset. Shift-click to quickly load an effect via a pop-up menu. Or Alt-click for an Open dialog box. The loaded pre-made effect will instantly configure ALL CONTROLS into a cool effect. Several subfolders are included, organized by style.
To create a new effect or to modify a preset...
(1) To quickly try pre-made settings, click the Section Presets button -- a Pixelan exclusive! Section Presets will instantly configure controls IN THAT SECTION into a powerful combination.
(2) Adjust the controls in the main effect sections. For detailed help per control, see below on this web page.
(3) If needed, untwirl other sections of the effect to fine-tune further.
(A) Help. Click the ? button to access help. Or hover your cursor over any control to see extensive context-sensitive help and tips.
(B) Save Preset. Click the disk to save a favorite effect to later choose it instantly in Vegas. Or click the Save to Effects Browser button to apply it later from our visual Effects Browser window.
(C) Keyframing. Use Vegas‘ keyframing to vary a visual quality over time.

Most CreativEase plugins has two or three types of presets -- Effects Browser presets, Section presets and Spice Library presets (in some plugins only). VEGAS additionally can create Presets in its Video Event FX panel.

• Effects Browser presets

This is the most powerful and visual way to access presets and is where HUNDREDS of presets are located. Click the Load a Pre-made Effect button at the top of CreativEase (as shown by the smiley in the above illustration) to open a wonderful large Effects Browser window to visually choose/compare from many pre-made presets (including those you have made and saved for future re-use) To save your own custom presets in the Effects Browser, use effect controls to set up the desired look, then click the Save button in the main effect control area.

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 one of the following methods can be faster... To see recently chosen Effects Browser presets, Ctrl-click the Load a Pre-made Effect button. For a multi-level menu of Effects Browser presets, Shift-click the Load a Pre-made Effect button. To use a standard Open file dialog box, Alt-click the Load a Pre-made Effect button.

• Section presets

Unlike the most Effect Browser presets, these change ONLY some or all controls in ONE section. Mixing presets from several sections is a quick and easy way to try hundreds of fresh effect variations. Click the Section Presets button at the top of any control section to instantly change ONLY the controls in that section via handy presets we have developed. Use this to quickly and easily make hundreds of new effect variations.

• Spice Library presets

Each 'spice' is a specially-designed grayscale map that guides the effect. It's simple in concept but incredibly flexible and organic in its creative possibilities compared to the usual hard-edged, limited-adjustment, standard algorithmic effects.
Click the large Choose Spice File button located in Spice section (if present) to open a Spice Library window and visually choose/compare from 600+ spices.

Click a subfolder in the Library's left pane, as shown below. Thumbnail-size previews of available effects will then play in the right pane so you can visually compare and choose the best effect design for your segment.
Double-click a thumbnail in the Library's right pane to select the effect and close the Library.
To choose a spice but bypass the Library, Alt-click the Choose Spice button to get a standard Open dialog box. Then navigate to and select the file. This is how you can load a gradient/alpha wipe or black & white matte you have created. Shift-click the Choose Spice button to quickly load a spice via a multi-level menu. Ctrl-click the Choose Spice button to quickly load a recently used spice.

Handy tips while working within the Effects Browser and Spice Library:
• 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 CreativEase preset, click the top large preview image in the Effects Browser.

• VEGAS Presets

Click the disk in Video Event FX panel to save a favorite effect to later choose it instantly in Vegas.