The Studio software uses several plugins. One of the oldest, if not the oldest, is certainly Hollywood FX. Studio in version 12, came with the Boris Graffiti plugin. Then, using Studio 12 and the two plugins mentioned, I made a small unassuming clip, just to show you how we can bring together these three elements to integrate a time code in a video which itself is then included in another video. So, look at the final result and if you're interested, continue following the tutorial.

Step 1 : Final Result

Step 2 : Preparation

In order to save some time, I prepared a Hollywood FX effect and a Boris Graffiti effect. All you have to do is download the Tutotimecode.zip file available in the « Associated Files » section below to have the necessary material.

The Tutotimecode.zip file contains:

• The 303-timecode.hfz file (Hollywood FX [BASIC]) effect;
  
• the Timecode.grf file (Boris Graffiti effect).

How to use 303-timecode.hfz :

• This file is used like all our free HFX effects;
• Double click the file to decompress;
• Unzip it to the 00-Declic Video folder as usual;
• Remember to run the batch file to make it appear in Studio 12

How to use Timecode.grf :

• Copy the "Timecode.grf" file to one of your folders (My Documents for example);
• Note: This file does not preview or animate, as opposed to .grf files that are provided in the Boris Graffiti library. It is therefore not advisable to copy it to the Boris Graffiti library, since you would have neither the thumbnail or the animation effect.

Step 3 : It's time to get to work...

Prepare the Studio timeline:

• drag the first clip, "OurFunVacation.mpg", to the video track. If you do not possess the demo video distributed with older Studio version, you can download it (courtesy of AVID) in the "Associated Links" section of this page below (right click / Save Target As);
• cut the first 3 seconds of video where there is too much water...
• cut the end of the clip to have a clip that's 10 seconds long;
• copy this short clip to the overlay track;
• delete the soundtrack of the clip placed on the overlay track (review the how-to in our tutorial Third Video Track with Pinnacle Studio)

And if you followed along correctly, your Studio screen look roughly like this:

Step 4 : Adding Boris Graffiti and Hollywood FX effects

ATTENTION : To get the desired result, it's important that the effects are placed in the proper order. It is imperative to begin by placing the Boris Graffiti effect first.

Select the clip placed on the overlay track and then select the plugins.

Adding the Boris Graffiti effect :

• Open the video toolbox
• Click on "Add an effect to a video clip"
• Select the "Boris FX" category
• Select the "Boris Graffiti" effect
• And click "OK"

You have added your first plugin.

Adding the Hollywood FX effect :

Proceed in the same manner for the Boris Graffiti effect by using the visible category and the effect seen in the screen shot.

But don't pay too much attention right now to the Studio 12 preview window. The result is rather unexpected because HFX Filter uses the default STB-FlyOff transition. If you place your cursor on the Studio timeline as shown in the screenshot above, approximately one-third into the clip, you should see this:

Step 5 : Setting inserted effects

Now that our effects have been added, you're going to set parameters. To keep the length of this tutorial shorter and to save you some time, you can use the setup parameters that I am supplying for you.

Setting the Hollywood FX effect:

To edit the HFX Filter, select and click the "Edit HFX Filter" button. Easy FX Editor 6.0 will open and you should see this :

• Locate the "00-Declic Video" folder
• Double click on the "303-timecode" thumbnail to load it in to Easy FX Editor 6.0
• Then click "OK"
• You will then find yourself in Studio 12 with the preview window that looks like this:

Setting the Boris Graffiti effect :

To edit Boris Graffiti, select and click the "Edit Boris Graffiti" button. Boris Graffiti will open and you should see the "Browser" window for Boris Graffiti:

Immediately go into "Advanced Mode" by clicking on the button and the windows for Boris Graffiti Advanced Mode display.

In the "Controls" window, open the "File" menu and select "Open Settings" to select the Boris file "Timecode.grf" that you copied to your system.

Select the Timecode.grf file and open it. The effect appears immediately in the different windows of the advanced mode of Boris Graffiti. You can see the different tracks, key points, the parameters used in the "Control" window and a preview of the result in the "Composite" window.

Click "Apply" (bottom right corner of the "Composite" window). You are now in Studio where your preview window displays the final result:

But don't forget to watch the level of your camcorder battery because it is very low.

Step 6 : Bonus, few secrets ...

The background video that fills the entire screen is one that is placed on the Video track of Studio. It is in the background, ie the plane farthest away.

The video in the viewfinder is the one that has been placed on the overlay track. It is located in an intermediate plane between the background video and camcorder that is in the foreground.

The Hollywood FX effect contains two objects:

• The video in the sight, to which is applied the Boris Graffiti effect;
• An image of a camcorder on a transparent background with a transparent viewscreen.

The Hollywood FX effect (plugin) moves simultaneously with the video on the overlay track affected by the Boris Graffiti effect and the image of the camcorder.

You are free to look at how both effects were built, HFX and Boris Graffiti, at your leisure. The creation of the HFX effect is very simple. The Boris Graffiti is a little more complicated and could be a specific "Boris Graffiti" tutorial if there is enough demand for it.

Of course these two effects are completely customizable. You can give free rein to your imagination by changing the time code information by changing the battery charging icon, registration, adding more icons ...You can also easily modify the camcorder movement... You can also apply only the Boris Graffiti effect or the Hollywood FX effect... In short, it's your turn to experiment!

{Thanks to Malobar who translated this tutorial from french to english, Loosecannon who fine-tuned it}