Nesting MLT's with transparency

Tutorial
1

Nesting MLT’s is useful for projects that are done repetitively. There has been numerous requests and advice for copying specific tracks or just one clip’s filters from one project to another. This doesn’t solve the issue of existing projects that have already been built. This tutorial just gives insight to possibly a better workflow with Shotcut.

Useful cases of nesting could be:

  • Meetings: Names & titles, building names, locations, dates
  • Real Estate: Addresses, cost, size, zoning
  • Religious: Clergy, Bible verses, Hymns
  • Games: Titles, version, other player’s names
  • Sports: Teams, locations, scores

In the video below you can see how the Shotcut with version number appears on the screen. For future videos all I have to is just change that text filter of the version number of that specific mlt and use it in other videos. No rebuilding the keyframes or applying any other filter.

To bring in a MLT file into your current project, click on File then image
For nesting to work correctly:

  • All MLT’s built must be of the same Video Mode, which is the same Resolution & FPS.
  • Within the main project file:
    • MLT’s with more than one track in them, you need to apply Chroma Key: Simple Color:Black.
    • MLT’s with just one track, no Chroma Key filter is needed.

Here is a zip file with all of the MLT files. All built with 1920x1080, 30fps.
nested.zip (8.0 KB)
Source Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/table-music-power-sound-audio-1284507/
Shotcut Image: https://www.shotcut.org/assets/img/media/shotcut-logo-640x640.png

https://streamable.com/f18i5l

  • nested project demo.mlt (Main Project File)

    • V3: version nest.mlt [Chroma Key Simple: Black]
    • V2: nest 1.mlt [Chroma Key Simple: Black]
    • V1: background image (table-1284507.jpg)

  • version nest.mlt

    • V2: version nest lower.mlt (color clip, crop, text, keyframes)
    • V1: version nest upper.mlt (color clip, crop, text, keyframes)

  • nest 1.mlt

    • V3: blue dot.mlt (color clip, crop, keyframes)
    • V2: logo move.mlt (image, keyframes)
    • V1: Tranparent color clip (text, keyframes)

I’m sure I’ve make multiple mistakes, so feel free to tell me, lol.

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