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Studio can Create End Credits on It's Own

Studio can Create End Credits on It's Own By Le Papy - Last updated on Friday, October 26, 2012
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Category: Pinnacle Studio 21 & S16-S20 Tutorials / Edition  -  Previous tutorials  -  Associated Link(s)
Published on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Created on Thursday, December 15, 2011 7:40 AM

We have already published several tutorials about creating end credits. Probably, one of the oldest is the tutorial "Closing Credits - "Star Wars"" because it was already on the old Declic-Video site. That tutorial used the 3rd party plugin JPs Effects. Then came the video tutorial "Tip-4 Closing Credits (#182)" which used Hollywood FX and more recently we had the "Using the HFX effect 312-finale." tutorial which also used Hollywood FX. Most recently, we saw in the tutorial "Closing Credits Using Only Pinnacle Studio how Pinnacle studio was able to do this task on it's own. So this time it will be Avid Studio (or new Studio versions) that does all the work to make a new kind of end credit. In following this tutorial, you may learn how to use the untapped resources of Studio. If you do not have AVID Studio (or new Studio versions) but chose to stay with Pinnacle Studio Ultimate (V14 or higher), you can still do something very similar, except for the interface.

Step 1 : Here's Our Goal

Step 2 : Preparation of "Snapshots"

To create this tutorial, I used the "OurFunVacation" demo video. If you don't have the demo video distributed with older Studio versions, you can download it (courtesy of the editor) in the "Associated Links" section of this page below (right click / Save Target As).

As you can see from the video you will need to capture 5 images from the clip. Start with the mother ...

Setting up the clip on the timeline

  1. Place the clip on the default A/V Track(2) of the timeline;
  2. Move the cursor to 00:00:11:10 (or directly enter the value in the counter).
  1. Right click to open the context menu;
  2. Click on "Open Effects Editor."

You can perform the same operation by double-clicking the clip on the timeline.

Access to effects editor

Setting the snapshot

  1. Select the "Corrections" Tab;
  2. Click on "Snapshot";
  3. Select "Aspect Ratio";
  4. Notice that the image has 8 "handles" (4 handles in 4 corners and 4 handles at the ends of four bounding lines on the sides. These handles are used to crop the image before capture.
  1. Select the lower right corner handle and slide the handle so only the mother is highlighted. The definition of the capture will of course be worse ... but this is just one example...
  2. Click on the "Apply" button to capture the image;
  3. Studio tells you that the snapshot was saved in the library (in the folder defined in your configuration settings - CTRL + ALT + C and "Import / Image Gallery").
The trimmed image is ready to be recorded

Repeat the above sequences for the son, daughter, father and entire family, by selecting the following images which you can choose to crop or not, it's entirely up to you:

  • The son at 00:00:44:00
  • The daughter at 00:00:50:03
  • The father at 00:01:01:00
  • The family at 00:01:06:11

When you're done you will have prepared the five snapshots needed for the credits.

Step 2 : Preparation of an animated video wallpaper

You are creating an animated wallpaper by selecting just over 3 seconds of the movie and duplicating it several times to get a clip of about thirty eight seconds total.

Selecting a clip to make the animated wallpaper

  1. While your clip is still on the timeline, move your cursor to 00:01:01:29; (NTSC clips)
  2. Or type the value 00:01:01:29 in the frame counter;
  3. Use the razor blade to split the clip into two (N key for those who prefer keyboard shortcuts);
  4. Select the first part of the clip and delete it.

In the remaining part, keep only 3 seconds and 14 frames to create a good loop with the first frame of the clip.

  1. Right click on the rest of the clip to open the context menu;
  2. Click on the item "Adjust Duration";
  3. Enter the value 00:00:03:14 and click "OK".


Adjust the length of the clip

  1. The resulting clip of 3 seconds and 14 frames - will be duplicated 10 times;
    - Select the clip;
    - CTRL + C (1 time);
    - CTRL + V (10 times);
  2. You will get a continuous clip of about 38 seconds and four frames.

Duplication of the original clip

Step 3 : Creation of Credits

The end credit itself will be created from a "Motions" title. Remember that in Studio the track overlay is done from bottom to top. For the title to appear on top of the animated wallpaper, it's necessary for the title to be placed on a track above the default A / V (2) track.

  1. Select track A / V (1);
  2. Move the cursor to the beginning of the time line;
  3. Click the "T" or use the CTRL+5 (5 in the top row of the keyboard and not the 5 of numeric keypad) to the kings of the keyboard shortcut.

The title will be created at the beginning of the A / V (1) track with the default length defined in your configuration settings - CTRL + ALT + C and "Project Settings / Time by default for new titles").

Creation of the title "Motions"
  1. When the Title Editor opens adjust the title length to the length of your animated wallpaper : enter the value 00:00:38:04 (appx in NTSC) in the duration field.
Adjustment of the length title
Opening of the titles Editor

When the Title Editor opens pay attention to:

  1. The "Looks" tab which is selected by default;
  2. Preparing your work flow. For now, you do not need the "Snapshots" but still consider their display in the library;
  3. The default text layer "Your Text Here" which should already be selected.
Changing the text layer

Make the following changes to the default text layer:

  1. Change the default text to the new text;
  2. Move text by holding the left mouse button pressed on the edge of the frame (Use the safe area markers to maintain a good balance);
  3. If the layer name has not changed automatically, wait a second or change it manually ... (right click + edit the layer name - or simply click the layer name) and use the left and right arrows to move through the layer name.
Add a look to the text

We are still in the "Looks" tab and next we will apply a look to your text.

  1. Select the "Mother" text;
  2. Click on the "Standard" option for example;
  3. I suggest you select the "25-Blue Neon Outline" preset look . Applying a style automatically changes the settings of the text by adding borders, shadows, surfaces ...
Adding an entry motion to your text

You will now apply an Enter motion to your text.

  1. Select the "Mother" text layer and shorten it to 8 seconds using the mouse while holding down the left mouse button on the end of the layer;
  2. Select the "Motions" tab;
  3. To select an Enter motion (ie a movement that will bring your text on the screen), click "Enter" ... that makes sense, right ... ?
  4. I chose the "03-Page From Infinity" motion but you choose what suits you;
  5. After applying the Enter motion, the motion is represented by the |---x--| symbol on the layer. You can remove it (by clicking on the cross), to lengthen or shorten it with the mouse.
Adding an output motion to your text

You can now apply an Exit motion to your text.

  1. Select the "Mother" text layer;
  2. Select the "Motions" tab;
  3. To apply an Exit motion (ie a movement that will remove your text from the screen), click "Exit" ;
  4. I chose the "19-Page to Bottom" motion;
  5. After applying the Exit motion this motion is also represented by |---x---| on the layer. You can remove it (by clicking on the cross), to lengthen or shorten it.

The text layer is now complete: it has a look, an Enter effect, Exit effect and its duration is set. For this tutorial, you will not use the "Emphasis" motion which is the effect applied between the Enter and Exit motions.

Create a shape layer

Let's turn to the creation of the shape layer, the one containing the image.

  1. Just drag and drop the "Mother" picture with your mouse to the desired position on the screen. This action will automatically create a new layer called "Shape Layer" with an icon different from the text layer;
  2. Resize the image by holding the left mouse button pressed on a corner of the image;
  3. Position the image by holding the left mouse button pressed on the edge of the image (Use markers to maintain a good balance);
  4. Shorten the layer to 9 seconds, using the mouse, holding down the left mouse button on the end of the layer;
  5. Change the default name of the layer to "Mother Layer" for example (right click + edit the layer name - or simply click the layer name) and use the left and right arrows to move to the layer name .
  6. You can set the height of the window layers by dragging the orange icon like an inverted T.
Adding a color frame around the image

You will now create a white box around the "Snapshot".

  1. With the shape layer selected, click on "Add outline detail";
  2. The setting for Edge 1 is displayed: Keep Offset X and OffsetY at 0, but set the size to 125;
  3. Click the "Fill" button to set the outline color;
  4. Push each RGB slider all the way right to set the color to white (255:255:255​​);
  5. Click "Apply" to change the color;
  6. Close the settings color window.

You can save your settings by clicking the disk icon (save look) at the top right corner of the screenshot (Settings appearances). Next time you can find your settings in the "Aspects (Looks)" / 5 Button "My aspects (Looks)".

I'll let you find other possible settings with the "Add shadow detail" and "Add face detail " buttons. The possibilities are virtually endless since, just as an example, if you click again on the "Add outline detail" button the settings for Edge 2 appear and you can set a second frame of a different color with a larger size.

The shape layer is almost complete: it has an image, its duration is set and you should have added a detailed outline.

OVER TO YOU : Let's just add an enter and exit motion. For my part, I chose as the input "18-Page to Top" and output as "Fade 04-page".

For now, you have:

  • a text layer "Mother";
  • a shape layer "Mother Layer";
Each of these layers has an enter and exit motion.

  1. Select the "Mother Layer" shape layer and:
    - Copy it (CTRL + C);
    - Duplicate it 4 times (CTRL + V);
    - Each copy will be positioned at the top of the stack of layers.
  2. Select the "Mother" text layer and:
    - Copy it (CTRL + C);
    - Duplicate it 4 times (CTRL + V);
Duplicating layers

To make it easier for yourself:

  1. Remember that the two original layers (text and shape) are those that are lowest in the screenshot. They need not be changed;
  2. Rename the four text layer copies (or wait until they change automatically after changing the text in the preview window) and the names of four shape layer copies.
Changing the layer names
  1. Select the two original layers (text and shape) located at the bottom of the stack (SHIFT or CTRL key, on the header of the layer list, to select multiple) and drag these two layers to the top of the stack of layers. When you move a layer, the mouse pointer turns into a "no parking" icon until the position is acceptable. When the position is acceptable, the mouse pointer turns into an insert icon (thin line with two small circles at each end). Then release the mouse button if the position is ok. Also move the other layers to get the view shown here.
  2. Move the cursor to the end of entry motion and edit the text of text layers in the preview window.
    Tip : while editing one text layer, hide the other layers.
Ranking layers
Temporal distribution of layers

You will now proceed to distribute the layers evenly along the timeline by dragging them to their final position.

  1. Without touching the two layers for the Mother, position the two layers for the Son as shown in the screenshot;
  2. Do the same with the layers for the Girl (watch the transformation of the mouse pointer while moving);
  3. Next move the two layers for the Father ...
  4. And finally drag the last two layers to the end of the effect by cropping a little bit off the end.
  1. Remove the exit motion for the last two layers;
  2. On the last text layer "END", replace the enter motion with the "02-page from behind." input motion.
Changing the last two layers
Integration of the instantaneous in shape layer

You have to insert the "Snapshots" in the shape layers copies which do not have them yet.

  1. Select the shape layer for the Son;
  2. Move the cursor to the time when the image should appear on the screen and drag the image of the son to the placeholder that has retained the same dimensions as the part for the Mother.

Do the same with the Daughter, Father and complete Family. When you are finished, click "OK" to return to the main interface of the film.

The time line of Avid Studio
All that remains is for you to finish your two video tracks with a fade to black transition and to include a music track that will run 2 to 3 seconds longer than the video so they blend together nicely.

This tutorial took a little longer to explain and execute well because I had to start the production a dozen times to get good screenshot captures at the right time. But with a little practice, it is an accomplishment that should require not much more than about 30 minutes.

{Screen Capture made with TechSmith Snagit 10}
{Thanks to Loosecannon for the fine tuning}

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Gert Oskar Reitner By # Gert Oskar Reitner @ Monday, July 16, 2012 2:56 PM
As a long time subscriber I am not thrilled with all of the AVID STUDIO tutorials . This Website was originated on Pinnacle Studio and as far as I am concerned should stay that way . My Win XP and Studio 15 combination with a multitude of Plug-Ins accumulated over a vast number of years is EXTREMELY stable and for a simple amateur like me I would not trade it for anything in particular now that SmartSound is back on board .
To make a long story short PlEASE more on Pinnacle Studio for that 90% who own it !!

Best Regards

Déclic Vidéo FX By # Déclic Vidéo FX @ Tuesday, July 17, 2012 2:32 PM
Dear Gert,

We already took into account your suggestion, and if you read carefully the beginning of the tutorial, you will see that it also applies to Pinnacle Studio, and you can follow it with Pinnacle without any problem (only screen capture change).

Give it a try ?

Griller By # Griller @ Monday, June 24, 2013 3:37 AM
Dear Le Papy,
As a newcomer to video editing and Pinnacle studio 16, I would like to thank you for your tutorials. They are clear to follow and very informative. As for this particular tutorial, I followed it using my own clip and a picture (not a clip) background it works very well. However, I can't produce the white box around the shape layer. (the edge 1 ) I tried changing the size to no avail. can you think of a reason for it?
Thank you again for your help into a fascinating world of video editing.

Déclic Vidéo FX By # Déclic Vidéo FX @ Sunday, July 28, 2013 2:36 PM
Hello Griller,

For producing this border, use an additional effect to do what you would like.
Should do the trick.



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