Add arrow to Quicktime movie

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Level 2

238 points

Add arrow to Quicktime movie

I am trying to add some arrows to movies to point out action in the movie. I have found that making an arrow in a drawing program and Adding to selection and Scale works fine to get the movie in and then I can position it with the Movie Properties/Offset. However, I cannot get any program to output an arrow that does not have a surrounding box. If I make the arrow black, when saved and opened in Quicktime, it is a black arrow on a small white canvas. I want just the arrow without the canvas. Any suggestions on how to do that?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 24, 2009 8:25 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 24, 2009 8:22 PM in response to David Knecht

Your arrow image must be saved with an "alpha channel" and use a file extension that supports them (.png or .tif). I use GraphicConverter ($35 shareware) to make mine.
You'll see the transparency options in the Movie Properties window.

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Answer 2

David Knecht Author

Level 2

238 points

Oct 13, 2009 4:51 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I get the general idea, but I am having trouble getting the steps right in Graphic Converter and Quicktime. Can you give me a step by step? I have created an arrow in graphic converter with its drawing tools. Then what? In Quicktime do I open the file and add to selection and scale or use the Choose mask in the Properties/visual settings area?

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Answer 3

Oct 13, 2009 5:18 PM in response to David Knecht

Read the help files in GraphicConverter to learn more about alpha channels. Save your arrow image as .png format.
Open the image with QuickTime Pro and "Copy". Switch to your video, create your selection (where you want the arrow) and "Add to Selection & Scale".
Open the Movie Properties window and single click on this new "track" to highlight it. The "Visual Settings" tab holds the transparency options.

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