Blurred box, behind text, with transparency

[GiantSmasher]

Hi all,

Long time user, but running into something either:

• Challenging, can be done, I’ve not yet worked it out OR
• Simple, and I’m just not seeing that simple solution… OR
• Just not possible…

Effectively, I’m trying to create a ‘template’ mlt (can do) that has text, with a box behind the text which then blurs the video that I overlay that template over.

Another way to put it is that I want titles which show clearly, but blur anything behind them (via a larger rectangle) - and are not filters of the clips/s they’re overlaying.

That last bit might be the challenge - blurring the clip/s behind it, without being a filter on the particular clip/s.

Any ideas, or am I being a bit silly?

[Hudson555x]

@GiantSmasher

That last bit might be the challenge - blurring the clip/s behind it, without being a filter on the particular clip/s.

Put all of the clips you want to blur on their own tacks. Use the blur filters (or other filters) on the track header.

[GiantSmasher]

Thanks Hudson555x,

That’s a good solution if I want to blur that particular track, but what I’m trying to achieve is effectively a ‘blur everything below the top track’ - so downwards, rather than across.

I believe the tracks effectively run independantly of each other, which may firmly put this idea in the “Just not possible” category.

[Hudson555x]

Could you show an example?

[Hudson555x]

@GiantSmasher

a ‘blur everything below the top track’ - so downwards, rather than across.

You would have to apply to all track headers below the top track then.

In my example I use 3 tracks total. Bottom 2 have the blur filter applied to just the track headers.

https://streamable.com/ut7ckl
Direct video link: https://streamable.com/ut7ckl

[MusicalBox]

Hi @GiantSmasher
Maybe you want something like this?

If so, here’s a way to do it. Forgive the poor quality, I’m working on a very old PC at the moment:

[MusicalBox]

@GiantSmasher

That last bit might be the challenge - blurring the clip/s behind it, without being a filter on the particular clip/s.

I just read your post again and realized my solution might not be exactly what you need… sorry

[TimLau]

You can’t blur something, without having a blur filter on the clip you want to blur.

You can make a semi transparent color box behind your text, but blur need pixels to blur.

[Hudson555x]

Going along with @MusicalBox 's interpretation of OP’s request, applying a Mask filter to the track header can still be accomplished.

[TimLau]

Yes, you can add a blured box to the background track, but you cant create an title template .mtl your can place on top of an video track, that will show a blurred box on the video below.

[awake]

The closest thing I have come up with is to set up the template .mlt file with a mask filter, with softness set to 100%:

Here are the files used to generate this. Note that the test.mlt file is used as-is in the test2.mlt to produce the video - no other filters needed. But again, this is not really what is asked for.
test.mlt (8.6 KB)

test2.mlt (5.8 KB)

[GiantSmasher]

Thanks awake,

That’s actually exactly what I ended up doing.

Try a grey box with a hard box blur on it - makes it a touch more interesting, a slight debossed effect.

[Hudson555x]

An alternate method can also be done with a gradient image. Less filter usage in Shotcut is all.

[jonray]

Nice effect, @Hudson555x .

[awake]

I had wondered about trying different colors, but didn’t have time to experiment. Looks good! And Hudson, your idea is great as well!