Preamble

Continue our exploratory journey in the process of creating an effect in Adorage started in our tutorial Depth study of Adorage - Video Tab. Today discover the step Mixer.

Again, I advise you, if not already done, to read the tutorials Adorage, first visit and Depth study of Adorage - Video Tab and start the lesson by creating a new effect.

Mixer step

The Mixer is the area of settings that will determine the way in which images from Video A and Video B will appear on the screen.

Open the Mixer tab :

Mixer uses a very classic principle of mask. If no mask is selected you get a simple crossfade. This principle of mask is the same as that used by famous Alpha Magic transitions in Studio. The darkest areas of the image are displayed first and then are shown the most clear areas.

Load the following image :

We can see that the image consists of 4 zones. Each zone is increasingly clear. We deduce that the image will appear first in the top left, then top right, followed by bottom right and finally in the bottom left. Furthermore we see that each area is slightly darker towards the center of the image to the edge. We can therefore predict that within each zone, the image will appear first at the center and spread to the corners.

Check it in this video :

You can modify the Border sharpness, ie the transition zone moving in the image above between Video A and B Video. Here, I choosed 90% so that the effect is more visible :

You can also reverse the effect with Invert graphic, so that it is the most clear areas that appear first :

So you will understand, the transition takes place from bottom left to top left turning counter clockwise, and each zone will discover the corner toward the center.

Also in the Properties of the mask menu you can choose Video-Source A and Video-Source B :

In this case the mask is dynamic, as it is the selected video, which acts as a mask. Its most dark areas revealing first the other video, followed by the most clear. Try, the effect is often stunning !

You can apply a motion to the mask :

The setting of this part is identical to what has already been detailed in the tutorial Depth study of Adorage - Video Tab.

For example, by applying a simple rotation to the mask, here's what happens :

The Starting point of the mask and the End point of the mask during the course of the video can be specified :

For example, if you take the static mask with the four tiles, putting Starting point of the mask on 29 % and End point of the mask on 71 % prevents the appearance of the first tile of the mask (so the video starts in this area directly with the flag) and the disappearance of the last tile (the flag never appears in this area).

It is more clear with a video :

Last element we look today, the Border color section :

The gradual emergence of the video through the mask can be done with a very nice colored effect. In the menu you select Color :

By double-clicking the black rectangle that appears or by clicking Select Color, you open the classic Windows colors selection dialogue box :

If we choose a pure red here is what the video will look like with the mask consists of 4 zones :

You can change this colored effect with the Border sharpness slider :

and/or the Brightness of the border slider :

Another variation much more interesting, instead of applying a color, you apply a texture. For that, you have to select a file :

For example, with this image that shows a texture of seawater :

We obtain this video :

So, we arrive at the end of this stage. As you can see, only your imagination can set limits to your effects. The possibilities of creation are simply infinite.

See you soon for new adventures !