[SOLVED] Text Borders?

Michel

This is the closest I can get with a text outline. Be aware that the blend mode from the lower projector has to be set to transparent.

Michel

@dustinboyle

Another version to get cleaner edges, lower the blur and add another projector that is set to blend mode additive. Its not so good visible in the screenshot but works fine fullscreen.

DustinBoyle

@michel Wow cool, Thank you, this looks pretty slick when I try it on my own. So far this is the best result I have seen yet. It would be cool to be able to get the border a little thicker and maybe if I play with this method some I could figure it out. But either way I think I can work with this method and be happy with the results. I really appreciate you taking the time to work this out.

Hoping to see other ideas as well, if nothing else to learn more about how to use this software as creatively as possible. =)

Aolis

I would recommend you try TT Edge Detect.

https://troikatronix.com/plugi...

DusX

@aolis said:

TT Edge Detect

just what I was going to add :)

DustinBoyle

@aolis I had tried that exact actor in my initial experiments, I was not able to get clean lines and it looked very sloppy overall compared to the rendered text. No settings seemed to provide the results I was after. The blur method gets much closer but is still about 95% of want I am after from the premiere render. I do appreciate the input though. =)

DusX

@dustinboyle said:

I had tried that exact actor in my initial experiments

There is an older, 'The Edge' actor (cpu video only) that will give you much more chunky outlines, while the 'TT Edge Detect' actor is available as part of the official Troikatronix GLSLShader bundle and produces much cleaner edges.
One trick that will help ensure you get clean edges is to enter a resolution into the 'Text Draw' actor, by adjusting the 'output width' and 'output height' inputs as needed. Otherwise the default set in preferences will be used, and it's rather low. I will often use a 'Get Stage Size' actor to feed the values into resolution inputs like these, as a way to make the patch auto-adjust to changing display setups.

Michel

@dustinboyle

as @DusX says it definitely helps setting the output width and height to full hd, also for my suggestion above. And if you add a third projector on top with the blend setting to additive you can higher the blur size to 4 or even 5.

Best Michel

Michel

@dustinboyle

And a new version with only 2 Projectors but adding the "TT Sorbel Edge Detection". Very good control of the thickness.

Michel

@dustinboyle

Just realised with the previous method you can strip off a few actors.

DustinBoyle

@michel Very nice, I think you hit the nail on the head here. I do see that changing the Output Width/Height does make a big difference even in the Plain TT Edge Detection actor. I was not doing that before but now see how it likes to operate. This latest method is most certainly the cleanest I have seen yet and will become a staple in my productions. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to work this out. This will save a great deal of time and drive space from not having to render each intro in premiere pro.

I do very much like the blur method as well the more I play with it. I have been able to achieve a very cool glow effect that will work in some areas very nicely. My thanks to everyone who chimed in with their ideas. You have helped me gain a deeper understanding of this software.

Kathmandale

On a related point, I used to make great use of a plugin shared on the forum years ago called 'ReadTextFromFile' or something very similar to that. I can't remember who shared it originally but it was great. It allowed you to read a plain-text file line by line, so was perfect for titles, captions, etc and you could edit the text in a text friendly package that could be easily shared with writers/directors etc.

I guess now that work flow could be replicated with the Data Array actor. You could also use it to record and recall other settings, such as font size, colour, position all stored in the same tab-seperated text file. The file could be easily shared and edited by other people as well.