Switcher input tinting

[nevmoor]

I know this has been aasked, but I couldn't come up with the right search terms.
Anyway, when I tint my DDR modules, the color shows on the switcher. I save the desktop. But the next time I load up VT the colors are gone.
I know this has been answered already but can't find the thread.
How do I keep the colors on the switcher tabs??
Thanks

[Cineman]

Steve,

I haven't caught this question before. You have found a bug. I hope that you will report it through vidfeatures@newtek.com. Of course it is too late for VT-4, but could make it as a fix in VT-5. I have reported, and have had fixed many bugs on patches that didn't stick through a VT open to a saved configuration. NewTek has been very good, once understood, at getting these things fixed.

I also can't imagine any other reason for your doing this DDR tinting than to quickly find the needed DDR for placement on the Preview Bank during a Live Switch. I have the same trouble trying to quickly get the correct DDR onto preview from our usual four (sometimes more) when I'm suddenly thrust into doing the switch for our Church Services.

If that is the correct reason for the tinting, and if you would like, I'll drop a short tutorial on this thread for something that I do, and think you might like a lot. (No it doesn't fix the bug. The same one causes the same problem doing this my way.)

Nes Gurley

[Paul Lara]

Even better Nes...
Send the tutorial my way (vidfeatures@newtek.com) and I'll post it in the tutorials section!

[Cineman]

Good thought Paul, as I think this is something most everyone who is tinting DDR's, or considering it, will prefer a lot.

Will be real short. I'll write it up and send.

Nes

[nevmoor]

Steve,

I also can't imagine any other reason for your doing this DDR tinting than to quickly find the needed DDR for placement on the Preview Bank during a Live Switch.

Nes Gurley

Yes! This is exactly why I want to use the tint. I have 3 DDRs loaded. One for "still store", one for roll-ins, and one for video loops. I renamed them but it is easier to see colors and call them as such.

Please PM me your method Nes, if your way is simpler I will implement it immediately! Thanks.

[Jim_C]

I already know Nes' turorial. It is very short and easy.

1-Buy various colors gaff tape.
2-Cut into tiny squares.
3-Stick on monitor over switcher input labels.

:thumbsup:

[UnCommonGrafx]

Thanks, Jim, got my laugh in for the day.

[Cineman]

I already know Nes' turorial. It is very short and easy.
1-Buy various colors gaff tape.
2-Cut into tiny squares.
3-Stick on monitor over switcher input labels.
:thumbsup:

Close Jim, except for your forgetting "4-Stick matching color square for each on the DDR skin."

Also must give all credit for that idea to my boss. Mine is similar, except for the need for GOO GONE.

Sorry for my slow reaction to this. My VT PC is down so this is being done on the TriCaster. Also, yesterday included doctor, plus two outpatient visits to hospital (knees and broken bone) from my trip to ground from out of a tree. Also vet for 20 year old George Cat. His kidneys have failed.

Only vet and one doctor today, so far. Will try to get to things.

Nes Gurley

[Cineman]

Soon

[Cineman]

Paul,

Since I fell behind, and we are quickly moving into the weekend, thought I'd drop this here. I have also sent to vidfeatures. Please feel free to move, or also post to the tutorials section (edit, move, copy over to).

Quickly Finding DDR Patches in Switcher for Preview placement

Objective #1. Find way to quickly locate a specific DDR to place in Preview during a Live Switch.

Objective #2. Find way to accomplish Objective #1. while maintaining the ability to see the DDR status (colored buttons) as well as can be seen in default DDR Skin.

The seeming obvious way to achieve Objective #1 was with tinting. Problems after tinting led me to add the second objective. I could not achieve a tint that didn't also subdue the DDR skin, and make it difficult to see the settings for the DDR (primarily Cue/Pause which I also need to set just prior to bringing the DDR to air).

I also found my answer to Objective #2 while trying to accomplish Objective #1. I tried to soften the amount of tint, by adjusting the color in the Color Picker. Adjustments made no change to the dark tenting that I was getting, even after adjusting the color down to a light pastel, except in the Alias/Name "type-in box" which changed with my efforts.

So instead of tinting the DDR, I decided to try just tenting the type-in box. It worked for me. Take a look at Grab1Switcher attached. With just a quick glance to the upper right portion of the DDR, I can quickly match to that same color in the switcher patch labels.

The pastel labels worked very well and contrasted with any labels that NewTek places in the other switcher patches. Even the DDR alias names are easy enough to read because of the contrasting edge pixels, But, I don't even take the time to bother reading those during the switch.

You will see that the fourth DDR isn't tinted. Since it is only used in DSK I don't take the time to label that because it is never called to Preview. I have tinted the Title Templates name box when that is going to be used full screen from the switcher.

Here are my steps: (You can see what I did and used in Grab2ColorPickerSet".) First I select the lightest, brightest version there for my color. For speed I just set "Alpha" to approximately "100" to make it a pastel. Then just drag the color to the DDR name/alias box. I suggest using the small square, now with the alpha grid, as there is less chance that you will end up accidently dropping it on the DDR skin for a total tint. (Is probably obvious that I would make a pastel blue if I needed to make another label for such as an additional DDR.)

Finally, I then drag the DDR label to its equivilent on the switcher. (Currently, if you startup VT, even from a saved configuration, you will have to repeat this last step. I believe/hope that this will be fixed in VT5 since switcher patches set and saved should remain as set.

Nes Gurley

[nevmoor]

Thanks for the tip! I will try this out tomorrow.
I just wish that it would retain the tint when you save your set up.
It would be one less thing to have to remember.