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Hello and it's been a while since I was here, hope all is well.
Working with Chroma Key / Green Screen within Xara Photo & Graphics designer, or is this not an option at all?
I am inquiring in an attempt to assist my daughter as she learns to work with the Xara programs I own.
Thanks, SGTDRE
What is your latest Xara software version?
Acorn
If you have the Photo Tool > Select Colors to Enhance tool, click on the green background then right click and select Make Transparent. There are sliders to expand or contract the range of the green background. You might also have to select several areas (one at a time) and make them transparent.
This works best if the objects to be masked do not have any green in them.
chroma is a video technique; so in what way do you wish to use it in xara ? [which is not a video program]Quote:
Originally Posted by SgtDre
if you mean remove the chroma background from stills, then gary's answer is the way to go....
Thank you to all. Xara Photo & Graphics Versions 16 & 19, but yes, the green screen in photographic stills is what I am referring to. I apologize for not stating so. Will inform when my daughter and I get to work that out and we'll show a sample!
no problem :)Quote:
I apologize for not stating so
if these are chroma images specifically produced as professional standard stills then all should be well, as they should not have any green in the subject; if they are on the fly captures from a video it may not be that straightforward
Hi all, my name is Sam, my father SGTDRE who started the thread, helped me to figure out the green screen in Xara with the help of the information from y'all. Thank you very much, it's very much appreciated, and I do apologize for not getting to it sooner, I've been bogged down with recording and editing videos for my YouTube channel. The attached photos are before and after. However, I couldn't get the original 6480x3648 photo that my camera output to post since it was so big, I had to scale it down to 1520x1080, even though the after photo is 5393x2963, which is what Xara put out and it's larger than my monitor.
Either way, here's what I did and how it looks! I know it needs a bit of polishing. I had a bit of a hard time, there was red dot that came up with a cross in it and I needed to use the erase tool. Overall, in order to finish the photo I needed to use the erase tool, but I'm sure that's partly to do with how shiny the object I tested it on is. I'm sure if it were a different object this would have worked just fine.
Thanks again for the pointers and information. Have a good one, Ya'll! :D
Sam, thank you for sharing.
Acorn
Great to see your work Sam! Good stuff.
Just some pointers:
VIDEO
I apologize for not replying sooner, I've been a bit caught up with other things and didnt get the chance to watch it. I appreciate the information and it was very useful! I know it wasnt the best example but it was just something the play around with to get a feel for this effect. My error, I should have stated it sooner, it's actually green felt not just green paper. Again, this was just to get a feel for the effect. I did actually create another image with Xara and I believe it actually looks very good. It's a thumbnail for a video my father has made.Quote:
Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill
Attachment 133479
I also created another image with a bit help from my father as well as from all ya'll. I also believe it turned out very good.
Attachment 133480
Again, I apologize for the late reply and greatly appreciate all the help and information you all have provided. :)
Sorry for my delay on answering too Sam. Great to hear someone young is using Xara. Most of us on TG are way over the hill. ;)
With the large mountains of success behind, viewing the vast plains of opportunity ahead.Quote:
Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill
Acorn
I apologize for taking so long to reply, I've taken a lot of the tips and information I was provided by ya'll and I've been busy helping out my dear ole' dad with video and picture editing. Below, I've attached an image I did and the video below that just shows exactly what I did. I'm pretty proud of what I did and I what I've been doing. Thank you all again for all the useful information you've provided, and I will continue to put it into practice!
Attachment 133740
http://youtu.be/1QlMTrReLb8
I've just made a post but it's not showing up. It's an image and a video. It's showing that I posted, any advice? I want to make sure ya'll get to see it.
Your Post was in moderation.
Acorn
Firstly, excellent work, you obviously enjoy working with graphics and have a feel for the way it all comes together.
The white square (rectangle) is because you are working in a document. The project without the white rectangle is a photo workspace.
Have a look at the pic and come back if it doesn't make sense to you.
Depending on Xara version, the selection may say Photo and/or Blank Photo. If you have both, go for Blank Photo.
Attachment 133741
Thank you, very much. :) I do actually enjoy it, except when my father asks me to do something tedious XD.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris M
The white square being a document makes sense. I was always just dragging the photos to the Xara icon on the task bar at the bottom of the screen and then placing in it Xara after opening a new tab. This method will definitely help me be able to focus on what I'm doing as opposed to worrying about "Am I getting too close to that white square?" I'll definitely try that next time I need to work in Xara. Also, below I've provided the Xara file of what I showed ya'll yesterday.
And don't forget, you're only as old as you think you are. My dad isn't a spring chicken, but he still acts like a Toys-R-Us kid.
Attachment 133742
I didn't intend for the image to be a downloadable link, I don't understand why. Is that just how the forums work? Or is it because it's a Xara file and is seen as a WIP?
Thanks for sharing your work Sam. Great to see you using Xara so freely.
Hi all, apologies for my absence, it was one thing after another with issues on my PC and I haven't been able to get around to working with Xara. I recently finished editing a video for my dad and we needed a thumbnail so I kinda threw this video together to show our process for editing a photo and creating the thumbnail. This really isn't to ask for help, but as always, tips are greatly appreciated, I just thought that it might be nice to see my progression and how I've benefitted from everyone's tips.:D
https://youtu.be/_D0Ci9r44IU
An alternative, and easier, way to make the text follow a curve is to:
Create a curve using the Shape Tool
Type your text anywhere in your project
Select both the curve and the text (Shift click), then
Arrange > Fit Text To Curve
Attachment 133942 Attachment 133943
You can then make the line width None to just leave the text.
Looking at the design itself, I question whether the text suits the picture. The train is weight and power. The weather is inclement and visibility is poor. The picture, as a whole, is dark, moody and menacing.
In the first pic I made the Q249 prominent as it's short, mysterious and punchy, as in, the train IS Q249!
The second pic simply moves the text slightly behind the train, making the power and force of the train the most prominent feature.
#1 is the one I'd go with. #2 is a bit 'fussy'.
Attachment 133944
Attachment 133945
only time to give video a quick watch - like the way you enhanced the picture
if you put text along the track you will need to give it perspective [taper it to the distance] same as the tracks, and the train, otherwise it will look clumsy
agree with chris re text - first pic the brain sees what is there immediately, second pic it needs a split second to seperate out the text from the train....
Hi Sam, here's a video covering Chris M's & Handrawns points:
VIDEO
Apologies for the delay, all. Important family matters came up and I had to tend to them. I greatly appreciate all the tips and information everyone has provided. I will most definitely give the shape tool with the text a try. As far as the images created by Chris M, I would love to know how you did that! It looks amazing! And Egg, unfortunately, I am unable to see the XAR file as we aren't using the same version of Xara, I had an error pop up stating that some assets cannot be loaded due to that issue. I have yet to watch the video provided but I will as soon as I get the chance. Again, thank you all for the help and information.
This was what I ended up using, I neglected to upload it. If anyone wants to see what it looks like or change anything feel free. I removed the name of the game from the image so as to not advertise it here. So if it looks a bit empty or barren that's why.
Attachment 134011
Creating the text effect is actually straight forward. Tricks of the trade and all that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spectra13
Select the picture and clone it, (Edit > Clone, or ctrl+k. Don’t move either picture.
Type your text and drag it to the place you want it.
With the text selected, shift+click the picture.
Arrange > Combine Shapes > Slice (cut) Shapes, or ctrl+4
Click the Shadow Tool and choose the Glow Shadow
Open the colour picker
Ctrl click the shadow and use the dropper to select a colour from the picture
Adjust stuff
Thank you very much! I've got it figured out and when I get the chance I'm going to work on it a bit more to iron out some wrinkles then I'll post it here. You guys are amazing and I cant begin to say how much I appreciate all your tips and tricks! Thanks again!Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris M
Hi all, deeply apologize for the lack of response but I got myself locked out and got caught up with editing videos for my dad and I... for six months...Quote:
Originally Posted by Spectra13
I did get to work out the effect that Chris M showed but I did have one question, I like that font that you showed but I can't seem to find it anywhere, what font was used, please?
Attachment 134593
The font is from Google and is called Abril Fatface. I probably chose it because Fatface looks like Fartface, and I am a child.
Link to the font >>> Abril Fatface - Google Fonts <<<
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris M
Oh, you mean like my father! LOL Thanks, I greatly appreciate it, my dad and I spent so much time searching the web and we couldn't find it.
Obligatory, my opinion only.
Pic 1)
This train is more modern and quite tall, so I went for a modern font. The font is Orbitron and the C, R, and O resemble the shape of the cab. I added more sky, so I could stretch the font until the C had similar dimensions to the cab itself.
The BR 193 may well need making bigger or fatter, or different font altogether, depending on how important it needs to be. I placed it behind the front of the train and off the tracks to give the train an unimpeded run through the picture.
Pic 2)
Font is EurostileTBlaExt, which is a fatter. more squat font that makes the train look taller.
I gave the BR 193 a stretch lengthwise to box in the train and block the tracks to make it look static.
Pic 3)
Probably the one I would use. The image is clean, sharp and simple. I think a single, straight line of text, using a bold font is all it really needs. It also allows the 'PC' logo to be placed in the bottom right corner, where you originally had it.
Attachment 134595 Attachment 134596 Attachment 134597
>>> Attachment 134598 <<<
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris M
These look awesome and I'll definitely be putting these tips into effect in the future! Thanks for all the help and the all the tips, greatly appreciate all of it! :D