Adding and applying Filter tracks

You can use filters to give your QuickTime movies special effects.

To insert a generic Filter track:

1 With a movie open in the Movie Viewer window, click the Show TimeLine Window button ().

2 Drag the Generic Filter Track icon from the QuickTime tab () of the Objects palette onto the track list area of the TimeLine Window. A new empty Filter track appears in the track list.

3 With the track still selected, set the properties in the Generic Filter Inspector. See Using Video tracks for details on setting properties.

4 Click the triangle next to the Filter track to expand the track. You'll see the Sample track.

5 With the Create Sample tool, create a sample bar in the Sample track content area. The Generic Filter Sample Inspector is displayed.

6 Click the Select button. The Select Effect dialog box opens.

7 Choose an effect: Cloud, Fire, or Ripple. Notice that when you select each effect, the parameters are dynamic and change with each effect. The preview pane displays each effect.

8 Choose the Load button if you want to load a previously saved effect.

9 Choose Save if you want to save this effect as a .qfx file for later use (which you do with the Load button).

10 Click OK. The Sample content bar will be labeled with the name of the actual effect, and you'll be able to play the movie in the Movie Viewer window to view the filter. You can also work with the Filter tracks in the Layout tab of the Movie Viewer window.

To insert a one-source filter:

1 With a movie open in the Movie Viewer window, click the Show TimeLine Window button ().

2 Make sure you have the following tracks in your movie:

3 Drag the One Source Filter Track icon from the QuickTime tab () of the Objects palette onto the track list area of the TimeLine Window. A new empty Filter track appears in the track list.

4 With the track still selected, set the properties in the One Source Filter Inspector. See Using Video tracks for details on setting properties.

5 Choose a Video track from the Source pop-up list to which you want to apply this filter.

6 Click the triangle next to the Filter track name in the track list to expand the track. You'll see the Sample track.

7 With the Create Sample tool, create a sample bar in the Sample track content area. The One Source Filter Sample Inspector is displayed.

8 Click the Select button. The Select Effect dialog box opens.

9 Choose an effect from the list. (See QuickTime filter effects for a description of each effect.) Notice that when you select each effect, the parameters are dynamic and change with each effect. The preview pane displays each effect.

10 Choose the Load button if you want to load a previously saved effects file.

11 Choose Save if you want to save this effect as a .qfx file for later use (which you do with the Load button).

12 Click OK. The Sample content bar will be labeled with the name of the actual effect, and you'll be able to play the movie in the Movie Viewer window to view the filter. You can also work with the Filter tracks in the Layout tab of the Movie Viewer window.

To insert a two-source filter:

1 With a movie open in the Movie Viewer window, click the Show TimeLine Window button ().

2 Make sure you have the following tracks in your movie:

3 Drag the Two Source Filter Track icon from the QuickTime tab () of the Objects palette onto the track list area of the TimeLine Window. A new empty Filter track appears in the track list.

4 With the track still selected, set the properties in the Two Source Filter Inspector. See Using Video tracks for details on setting properties.

5 Choose a Video track from the Source A pop-up menu and a track from the Source B pop-up menu.

6 Click the triangle next to the Filter track name in the track list to expand the track. You'll see the Sample track.

7 With the Create Sample tool, create a sample bar in the Sample track content area. The Two Source Filter Sample Inspector is displayed.

8 Click the Select button. The Select Effect dialog box opens.

9 Choose an effect from the list. (See QuickTime transition effects for a description of each effect.)

10 Notice that when you select each effect, the parameters are dynamic and change with each effect. The preview pane displays each effect.

11 Choose the Load button if you want to export this effect into another movie.

12 Choose Save if you want to save this effect as a .qfx file.

13 Click OK. The Sample content bar will be labeled with the name of the actual effect.

14 Choose whether you want to have the effect transition from Source A to B or vice-versa.

15 Play the movie in the Movie Viewer window to preview the filter. You can also work with the Filter tracks in the Layout tab of the Movie Viewer window.

Editing QuickTime Movies > Using Filter tracks > Adding and applying Filter tracks