Computer Animation Ying Zhu Georgia State University Video Sequence Editor
Video Sequence Editor You can combine multiple videos, images, and audio files in Video Sequence Editor (VSE) VSE also provides some pre-defined effects
Video Sequence Editor Choose “Video Sequence Editor” from Window Type menu Press Space bar (or click on “Add” menu) to add video, images, audio, scene, etc. Adding a “scene” means that you can combine the 3D scene in your current Blender file with other video or image files The “scene” strip can be quite slow in VSE (especially if physics simulation is involved)
Video Sequence Editor Horizontal axis: time (in seconds or frames) Press T to switch between seconds and frames Vertical axis: channels Press Ctrl+Alt+M to add markers along the horizontal axis Press Ctrl + M to name the marker Can be used to add brief notes along the time line
Channels Each video, image, audio, or scene is displayed as a strip Each strip is placed in a channel Strips may overlap When strips overlap, the strip on a higher numbered channel overrides (or blocks) the strip in a lower numbered channel Unless certain effects (e.g. cross, alpha over) are applied to that time period
Edit strips Move a strip: Resize a strip: RMB to select a strip, press G to grab it Resize a strip: Right click on the left and right arrow key at the ends of the strip With LMB pressed, move the mouse to resize the strip Resize a video strip doesn’t mean the video will be speeded up or slowed down If a video strip is shortened, the video simply cuts off at the end of the strip
Edit strips Cut strip Create Meta Strip Move the green vertical line to mark the current frame Press K to cut the strip into two at the current frame Create Meta Strip Select multiple strips Press M to make a Meta Strip A Meta Strip is a group of strips that move together Press Alt+M to undo a Meta Strip
Edit strips There are many more strip operations in the “Strip” menu in VSE window
Editing strip parameters Open two windows A Video Sequence Editor A Buttons Window Select a strip in VSE window In the Buttons Window, select “Scene” (F10) panel, and click on the “Sequencer buttons” icon Or press F10 twice You’ll see a “Edit” tab with parameters for that strip
Image preview Open two VSE windows In one VSE window, select “Sequence” in the “Image Preview” menu (the default) In the other VSE window, select “Image Preview” Press Alt + A (or drag the green vertical line) to play the video sequence The video will be displayed in the “Image Preview” window
Effects In VSE window, select one or two strips, click on “Add” menu, select “Effect” An Effect is displayed as a strip How to edit the parameters of an Effect strip Select the effect strip Open a “Buttons Window” Go to “Scene” panel, click on “Sequencer buttons” icon Edit the parameters in the “Effect” tab Note that the tabs may be stacked on top of each other. You may need to drag the tabs to separate them
Effects Blender provides a number of effects Cross: make one video sequence cross into the next one Alpha over/under: superimpose an image (or video) above/under another video Glow: make the video glow Speed control: speed up or slow down the video Adjust the “Global Speed” in the Effect tab and there are more effects …
How to render video sequences? When you are done with video sequence editing, you can render the video sequences into a final video file In Buttons Window, Scene (F10) panel, “Anim” tab, press “Do Sequence” button Adjust Start and End frames Select Format and Output directory Press “ANIM” button
Reverse frames Sometimes you may want to render a video strip with frames reversed to create some special effects (e.g. spilled water goes back to the cup) Select the strip (by right clicking) In Buttons Window, “Scene” (F10) panel, click on the “Sequencer buttons” icon, in “Filter” tab, press “Flip Time” button
Alternatives to Blender VSE Microsoft Windows Movie Maker Free Allows you to make titles and credits Provides plenty of video effects and video transitions Adobe Premiere Adobe After Effects Apple’s Shake