ChamSys MagicHD - Manual (Page 30)

MagicHD User Manual 22 / 58
(1) Note that there is no way for MagicHD to know whether the chosen frame is representative or useful!
(2) For example, MPEG-4 audio file format (.m4a) supports attached pictures.
Tip
Thumbnail regeneration can be forced from
the menu .
5.1.7 Index Regeneration
If the media index file is missing MagicHD will automatically regenerate it from the media files in the show.
Note that all media will be included in the index. There is no way to mark a file as not part of the show, other than obscuring its
folder and/or file number (e.g. add _ or hide. at the start of the folder or file name).
If multiple files or folders have the same number, MagicHD will take the youngest one. This favours recently added or changed
media. The old media will still be there, but will not be in the index. This also means that if you make a mistake during conversion
or file copying, you will not lose any media (unless the file name is exactly the same).
Tip
Index regeneration can be forced from
the menu .
5.2 Masks
A mask is simply an image whose intensity is used to control the brightness of some other media behind it. White areas are
totally opaque and black totally transparent. Shades of grey scale between the two. Any image can be used as a mask. Colour
is converted to transparency by taking the black & white intensity of the image. The simplest masks have just black and white
areas, and hide the layer (allowing lower layers to be seen) where they are black.
Each media layer can select a mask whose position is automatically synchronised with the media for that layer. As the layer is
scaled, positioned or rotated, the mask is too. This is the easiest way to use a masks.
Any media can be used as an independent mask by loading it as the media in its own layer . If the media has transparency, this
will reveal the layer below automatically. If you wish to control how the mask works, use the Mask colour effect .
Tip
Using a layer as a dedicated mask means that movies can be used as masks as well as images.
The output layer can select a mask which is applied over all the media layers . This can be used for static effects such as shuttering
or edge blending; or dynamic effects that apply to all layers at once.
Tip
For best results create your masks at the same resolution as your media, and use anti-aliasing to minimise visible pixellation
around curves etc.
5.2.1 Examples
If we look at one frame of video and a simple black & white arrow as a mask, the results are as follows: