Though most non-retarded human (who can read English) should have no problem which window/panel does what after exploring the application for a few hours. Here is something to help loosen the learning curve.
Just like “A brief history of time”, “brief” doesn’t mean “short” or “unimportant”. Please read carefully and memorize the content, particularly for dummies.
![AuInterface-intro01]()
Starting from the BLUE NUMBERS:
Expand sectionHide section
1: Main Window
If anything is loaded, it displays the output of the current frame (indicated by slider③and the red line④), after all enabled filters has performed their work.
The center of the video has a co-ordinate (0,0,0), and X-value increase to the right while Y-value increase downward. So this is basically your familiar 2D-coordinate learn in maths class just with the Y-axis reversed.
The round bracket in the title bar (1280, 720) is the output resolution. This will change accordingly if you have enabled any resize filters.
The square brackets in the title bar represent the currently active frame and time that the main window is showing. Obviously, the first set of numbers, in integers, are frame numbers [current frame/ total frame]. The second set of numbers in time [hh:mm:ss.ms].
These timestamps can be toggle on/off via [Display> Show timestamp]
An aster * after the square bracket denote that this is a KEY FRAME;
Toggle:[Display>Note keyframes of source file]
An exclamation ! after the square bracket denote that this frame needs to be re-compressed on output.
Toggle:[Display>Note frames that need to be recompressed]
The word “Default” after the last square bracket represents the active PROFILE. More on profile is available HERE.
2: Audio waveform
Toggle: [Display> Show Audio Waveform]
Show the audio that is going to be exported, as a waveform. A flat-line for a project without any audio data.
3: Timeline Slider
An important place for navigating around the video. Drag the slider around to set the current active frame/time.
Click |> to step one frame forward
Click <| to step one frame backward
Click |← to mark the beginning of selection
Click →| to mark the end of selection
On the keyboard, Press Ctrl+→ to move to next key frame/selection mark
On the keyboard, Press Ctrl+← to move to previous key frame/selection mark
The Blue Area denote the active selection region
4: Playback window/Preview window
Toggle:[Display> Playback window visible]
A simple player for previewing your work. In ExtraPack 1.3.1/ENmod-1.2.0 and later, cursor ④ will also move in sync with the playback in this window.
For RED NUMBERS (Adv. Editing)
Expand sectionHide section
*: Objects in general
Represented by a horizontal bar (blue/red/green). The left end marks the starting frame/time that the object will be present. The right end marks the final frame/time after which the object cease to exists. The length represent the lifetime of the object.
Currently active object will have a dotted outline around the bar and the corresponding property dialog will be shown.
A Selected object (i.e. when you are holding the left-mouse-button on an object or holding Ctrl-key while left-clicking on multiple objects) will be highlighted (lightened color)
New objects can be added via [Right click on a track> New media object> Image file/Video file/Audio file/Graphic...etc]
You may also drag-and-drop a file on to a track to create an object automatically. The list of file types that support drag-and-drop is defined in exedit.ini.
1: A video (stream) object
This object contains ONLY video(i.e. visual) data and is represented by a blue bar. Even if you point it to a MP4 with sound, this object alone WILL NOT read in the audio data.
This object can also read a sequence of image semi-automatically and it is required for animated GIF to animate.
2: An audio (stream) object
The counterpart of video object. This object is represented by a red bar and contains ONLY audio data. So if you point it to an MP4 video, this object will contain the sound data ONLY.
If you drag-and-drop a video file on to a track, usually a video object AND an audio object will be created simultaneously.
3: An (static) Image object
The usual still image and represented by a blue bar. This object is for still image only, so if you point it to a video file or an animated-GIF, only the First frame will be shown.
4: Frame/Playback cursor
A red vertical line that cut across all tracks and extend to the timeline ruler ⑧at the top. It represent which frame or at what time that the main window shall display.
To move this line, either click/drag on the timeline ruler or on any empty part of any track.
Since ExtraPack 1.3.1/ENMod-1.2.0, this cursor will move in sync with the playback window.
To disable this behavior, right-click on an empty area of any track and choose “Preferences” and then uncheck “Sync with the cursor when playing in the playback window”. This way, a green vertical line will be used for indicating playback location while the red line stay still.(The green line will disappear when playback has stopped)
5: Title bar
Very similar to the title bar of the main window, but it only show time and frame data and nothing else.
6: Scene name and scene selection button
The word “Root” over there is actually a button. Left-click on it will show a list of scene (Scene1…49), right-click on it allows you to access scene settings (e.g. scene name). The “scene” is actually a way to group objects. To display a “scene” from “root”, add the scene object.
You may utilize scene in the following way:
1> A scene to contain OP
2> A scene to hold the main body of the video
3> A scene to hold the ending staff-roll
4> A scene to hold subtitles and audio data
Then assemble them on Root using scene object. In this way, the Root scene will be less cluttered and possibly use less layers.
Note, like the video object, scene is divided into a scene(video) and scene(audio) objects. Furthermore, the “scene change” effect will not work inside Scene1…49, it only works on “Root“.
7: Timeline magnification
To expand or contract the timeline ruler. If you want to work on single-frame resolution, click on the right end of this strip (becoming all blue). To get an overview of all objects, click on the left half of the strip.
8: Timeline ruler
To assist the placement of object at the correct time points and helps navigate across the video. Can be set to display in frame number or as time unit. (also in “Preferences”)
9: Scroll bar for timeline navigation
The Advanced Editing Panel have limited length and only display part of the timeline a one time. By using this scroll bar or just use the mouse scroll wheel, you can move around the time frame to be viewed.
10: Layer name and layer toggle button
The layer names are actually sitting on buttons. Left-clicking on it can disable a layer so that all objects on this layer will be hidden. Click on it again re-enable the layer.
Right-clicking on it give a menu, one of which let you change the layer’s name.
Every scene contains a maximum of 100 layers.
Note that the layers cannot be drag around and switch order like those in Photoshop or Gimp.
For PURPLE NUMBERS (Property dialog)
Expand sectionHide section
*: The dialog box can be toggled by Double-clicking on the active object.
1: Title bar
Indicate the object type and its mode (standard or advanced). Advanced drawing mode gives more parameters to play with.
2: Starting frame marker
Indicate when the object start to exists (as frame number). Clicking the << button next to it move the red playback cursor to the start of this object.
3: Object’s segment(s) and midpoints
Display any midpoints and segments if present. You can right-click on this blue bar to open up a menu where you can add and adjust mid-points. (Mid-points are mostly used for tween animation). Left-clicking on this bar will also move the playback cursor.
4: Ending frame marker
Basically the same as “Starting frame marker” but this one is for the end of an object.
5: Object-type switching (left button) and Filter menu (right button)
The “Recycle button” allows you to switch this object to another type, but usually you will use it to switch between “Advanced drawing” mode and “Basic drawing” mode. “Advanced drawing” mode is required for “camera work”
The + button will open up the filter menu, allowing you to associate a filter to this object.
A maximum of 10 filters can be associated to the same object.
6: Parameter names and buttons
Again, this column of parameter names are actually buttons. Left-clicking on it give you the options to “animate” this parameter over time.
If you select anything other than “No movement”, the slider on the right side will be enabled.
The parameter names may look weird with a lot of abbreviation. This is because this little button cannot be enlarged and show up to 10 alphabets.
Here are some meanings of common parameters:
(Assuming the object’s center has the co-ordinate (x,y,z) )
X: =x (horizontal)
Y: =y (vertical)
Z: =z (depth)
Zoom%: = magnification
Clearness: = transparency
vDisplay: = Display speed
7: Initial/Default values
You can adjust the value for the parameter on the same row by dragging this slider.
You may also left-click on the adjacent number, then type in a number directly. This method is useful when you want a value that is beyond the range the slider can provide.
You may also hold the left mouse button over the value, then drag left or right to change the value. This provide a finer control than using the slider.
8: Final values
As mentioned in section 6 above, you can animate a parameter if you choose anything other than “no movement” after left-clicking on a parameter name. Once chosen, this right slider will no longer grey-out and becomes available for change.
This slider can then be used to set the final state for the parameter on the same row.
For example, a 10-second object has the following setting:
I——— 0.0 Clearness 100.0 ———|
So this object will change its transparency from 0.0 to 100 over the course of 10 seconds.
These settings are also available for mid-points, so an object can have complicated animation.
9: File selection button
Some objects need to refer to an external file in order to show something. So click on this button and then choose your file.
)
