Photoshop for Video Creating Glass Bug
These days, understanding Adobe Photoshop is almost a necessity when it comes to editing on a non-linear editing system. Even with all the new title tools available, there are still many practical effects that may require Photoshop. One practical and very easy effect to create is a glass bug. You see them all the time in the lower right corner of the screen. It's a great way to add your companies signature or logo but without interfering with the visual piece since it is transparent. Here are the steps.
Scan your logo or title into Photoshop and removed the background. It is best if you scan your image on a solid color background. This will make it easy when using the magic wand if you need select the background.
Before you begin, you will need to unlock the background layer. To do this, hold down the 'alt key' and double clock on the lock icon on the background layer.
You can select either the object itself, or the background. Choose whatever is easier. In this example, I will select each letter in GeniusDV.
First, select the Magic Wand tool, or press the 'W' key. Click on each letter of your logo to select it. Hold down the shift key to add areas to your selection until the entire object is selected.
If you choose to select your object instead of the background, simply navigate to the select menu and choose inverse.
The next step is to delete the background. After the background layer is unlocked, it will change to become 'Layer 0'. You can now press the ‘Delete’ key to delete the background. Your logo should now appear on a checkerboard background which represents the alpha channel.
Now, you need to add a bevel to your object. Double click on 'Layer 0' within the layers tab. This will open the layer style effects box. Activate and click on the Bevel and Emboss category.
Your graphic should now look like this.
The last step is to make the graphic transparent. All you need to do is adjust the fill slider for the layer to '0'.
Your finished object should now look like this.
*When you save your graphic, it is important to save it as a .png file. If you do not, both Final Cut Pro and Avid will have issues with understanding the effect layers that we build as part of this graphic.
Simply import the finished graphic into your nonlinear system and place it on your V2 track. I have tested this with both Final Cut Pro and Avid Xpress Pro. If you are using this example for Avid, make sure you invert your alpha channel within your import settings.
Here is the finished example, using the Avid Xpress Pro software as an example. Very cool.
