combining styles ... how to

[anitaemile Profile Private messageWebsite]

I have had some people ask me if they could combine two slide styles. When there are not too many layers involved, making it difficult to trace down which layers do what, it is fairly simple to do so. Here is a little trick on how to get this done. I used a simple butterfly layer that only had a butterfly and an image and one with more layers. Hopefully this will be a eureka moment for someone.
http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewsho ... 2888&alb=0

anita
http://www.outsidethebox.name

[im42n8 Profile Private messageWebsite]

The key thing to remember here is the word "SIMPLE." Combining styles will only work if things are relatively simple and you can determine what is and isn't needed in the "merge" process.

Aside from copying layers between slides you can paste a slide into another. Same limitations basically. But, with simple slides it can work. I've used it to create a couple of styles that were based on earlier styles. It saved a lot of work. However, this technique is limited to specific situations.

In general, however, I don't know that combining styles is going to work in very many situations. The only way to tell is to experiment, is my guess.

Have fun!

Dale

[cherub Profile Private messageWebsite]

I'm with Dale on this one.
Combining styles requires quite a bit of understanding how Producer works in general: Things like: understanding what layers are and how they integrate into the style, the purpose of duplicated layers, how keyframes work, how adjustments work, how layer transitions work, etc, etc.
The recommended duration of a style is also of importance, and when combining styles with different timings, many unexpected things can happen.
So, like Dale, I don't know if combining styles would work in many situations. Mostly it depends on the complexity of the styles in question.

[anitaemile Profile Private messageWebsite]

Hi Dale and Mona

The request for combining styles has come from different people, and like I already mentioned in the post and in the tutorial : don't try to do this with complicated styles. However, I never underestimate other people's capabilities, so it will be up to them to experiment. Moving layers from one slide into the next is the basic idea of achieving a combination. And as usual.. there is more than one road that leads to Rome.
Thanks

Anita

[im42n8 Profile Private messageWebsite]

I'm all for experimenting. But, folks new to Producer sometimes don't know what they're asking. They don't realize what they're asking is more complicated than it appears. Kinda of like asking to apply a style to more than one slide at a time. Some of these styles look simple. But, what underlies their effect is anything but!

As Mona said tho, if you understand keyframes and how they relate to a layer, knowing what a layer or set of layers does/do, helps alot as does knowing how Producer does its magic. Having a good grounding in masks helps an awful lot too. A number of styles are using modifiers too. A good way to learn about modifiers is to study those styles closely. That's because if you don't, it won't be obvious at all how a certain effect or part of an effect is accomplished (it'll be tantamount to magic!). Otherwise, it's going to be a major exercise in frustration!

But, one of the ways to learn is to experiment. Spectacular failures can bring about positive results . . . just not in the way expected. (happens to me a lot! ) And, you won't know until you try!

Happy experimenting!

Dale

[Ron Profile Private messageWebsite]

Spectacular failures can bring about positive results . . . just not in the way expected.

Your comment reminded me of something I read awhile back ... I thought I would share it... lol

The Magnetron, the two Birmingham University scientists were charged with inventing during World War II, provided the Allies with the means to pinpoint the exact locations of Nazi war machines and arsenals, as the magnetron produced microwaves which radar then bounced off of these weapons of destruction, and back to the Allies.
Testing using the magnetron continued in the post-war years, and Dr. Spencer, in the midst of performing one of these tests, made a logical connection, which gave birth to the microwave oven.

[anitaemile Profile Private messageWebsite]

You see.. never discourage any one from trying.

[im42n8 Profile Private messageWebsite]

The Dr in question walked in front of the radar unit while it was on. He promptly discovered that it melted the chocolate bar that was in his shirt pocket. It made a big impression on him. The company he was with: Raytheon. The units that the company made then were leased to restaurants (much like the initial copier machines were early in their careers too). These devices were basically the size of refridgerators (I saw some of these original devices when I was doing contract management for the government at a Raytheon facility). These gave the company a civilian application they hadn't foreseen.

WRT advice to people. No, you don't want to discourage them. But, they should be armed with info (usually) so they know what they're getting into. It's not that it can't be done, often, but that it can get quite difficult and/or confusing (and why that is so!).

Dale

[Ron Profile Private messageWebsite]

WRT advice to people. No, you don't want to discourage them. But, they should be armed with info (usually) so they know what they're getting into. It's not that it can't be done, often, but that it can get quite difficult and/or confusing (and why that is so!).

I think that most people see the 2 effects and say wow they would look good together, but really just want a style that had it combined with no need or desire to copy, pastes,keyframe,mask this or that - fast food society
Ron
PS: It was a peanut chocolate bar in his pocket ..lol