Custom Effect

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rye
  • Start date Start date
R

Rye

Hello,

I tried to create a custom "Contrast" effect to increase
contrast of a clip, without success. I used the following
XML cloned and modified from the Sepia Tone effect
described in http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?
url=/library/en-us/dnwmt/html/moviemakersfx.asp?_r=1 :

<EffectDLL guid="{B4DC8DD9-2CC1-4081-9B2B-20D7030234EF}">
<Effect name="Contrast" iconid="25" comment="Contrast">
<Param name="InternalName" value="Standard" />
<Param name="contrast" value="2.0" />
</Effect>
</EffectDLL>

The icon appeared in the effects collection when I opened
up MM2 indicating that the XML was properly formed. But,
the effect seem to have no, effect. I tried various
values for "contrast" from 1.1 to 1000.0 and the clip
appeared the same as without. I also had 2 occurrences of
the brightness effect, which is included with MM2, on the
clip.

I don't understand the description of the contrast
parameter "Contrast adjustment shifts the range of each
color channel around a midpoint. These values should be
greater than or equal to zero, and are usually around
1.0." since the range of this parameter is specified as
0.0 to infinity how can there be a midpoint? i.e. how can
1.0 be a midpoint? I suspect my problem lies in my
interpretation of this... any thoughts or suggestions are
appreciated.

Thanks,
Rye
 
Hello Rye,

I have also tried to get the contrast function to work
with no success. Others have also tried to various custom
effects and transitions with some limited success. You can
look at PapaJohn's website for some of the other posts
regarding problems with custom effects and transitions.

If you do get this to work, please post your solution.
Others and I are also interested.

Good Luck!

Ken
 
Ken,

I read your post on PapaJohn's site and it looks like I
went down the exact same path you did. Funny how you had
the same problem with the description of the contrast
parameter.

I think the contrast parameter is ignored. However, I
think I found an answer to the problem. I cloned the
Sepia Tone effect, changed desaturate to false and changed
the color parameters to RGB and made them all equal. It
achieves the clarity improvement that I was looking for.
The results look like an increase in contrast to me. Try
it out and let me know what you think. Here's my XML
file, I haven't tried the contrast decrease effect yet.

<TransitionsAndEffects Version="1.0" >
<Effects>
<EffectDLL guid="{00000000-0000-0000-0000-
000000000000}">
<Effect name="2/3 speed" iconid="31"
speed="0.66667" comment="Slow to 2/3">
</Effect>
<Effect name="3/4 speed" iconid="31" speed="0.75"
comment="Slow to 3/4">
</Effect>
</EffectDLL>
<EffectDLL guid="{B4DC8DD9-2CC1-4081-9B2B-
20D7030234EF}">
<Effect name="Sunburst" iconid="25"
comment="Sunburst">
<Param name="InternalName" value="Standard" />
<Param name="Desaturate" value="false" />
<Param name="Red" value="0.20" />
<Param name="Magenta" value="0.09" />
<Param name="Yellow" value="0.20" />
<Param name="Contrast" value="1.0" />
</Effect>
<Effect name="Contrast Increase" iconid="25"
comment="Contrast Increase">
<Param name="InternalName" value="Standard" />
<Param name="Desaturate" value="false" />
<Param name="Red" value="0.25" />
<Param name="Green" value="0.25" />
<Param name="Blue" value="0.25" />
<Param name="Contrast" value="1.0" />
</Effect>
<Effect name="Contrast Decrease" iconid="25"
comment="Contrast Decrease">
<Param name="InternalName" value="Standard" />
<Param name="Desaturate" value="false" />
<Param name="Red" value="-0.25" />
<Param name="Green" value="-0.25" />
<Param name="Blue" value="-0.25" />
<Param name="Contrast" value="1.0" />
</Effect>
</EffectDLL>
</Effects>
</TransitionsAndEffects>

0.25 worked well for my purposes. I expect the contrast
paramater could be removed, but I haven't tried that yet.

Rye
 
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