Fading Logo Overlays for WMM 6.0

For years people have been asking for custom titles for putting a logo or watermark on their video.

There have been solutions for this in Windows Movie Maker 6.0 previously but it required customization of the XML. It also didn't have an ability to fade the logo in and out. I've decided to create an installer that makes it much easier, doesn't require editing of the XML and also adds a fading version.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Logo Overlay Titles (64-bit)
Blaine's Logo Overlay Titles (32-bit)

The packaged installer comes with two sample logos in C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared\AddOnTFX\BlaineLogoOverlays. To use your own logo, edit the .png images to replace my logo with your own. In order to create/edit your own, you'll need a program that can create .png images with transparency. Some freeware options are GIMP and Paint.net.

To use the new title

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles there will 4 new title animations: Blaine's Logo Overlay (16:9), Blaine's Logo Overlay (16:9) Fading, Blaine's Logo Overlay (4:3), Blaine's Logo Overlay (4:3) Fading

Pick the one that matches the aspect ratio of your project and whether you want it solid or fading. Then click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your clip.

This was originally discussed on the Windows Movie Maker Forums.

Custom Camera Back Overlay for WMM 6.0

Following my series of custom Movie Maker image overlays, here's an overlay where your video appears on the back of a digital camera.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Camera Back Overlay (64-bit)
Blaine's Camera Back Overlay (32-bit)

To use the new title

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles there will a new title animation: Camera Back Overlay (4:3)

Pick this then click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your clip.

Custom iPhone Overlay Title for WMM 6.0

Following my series of custom Movie Maker image overlays, here's an overlay where your video appears on the screen of a iPhone.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's iPhone Overlay Title (64-bit)
Blaine's iPhone Overlay Title (32-bit)

To use the new title

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles there will be two new titles: iPhone Overlay FS (4:3) or iPhone Overlay WS (16:9)

Pick the one that matches your aspect ratio then click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your clip.

Wow! Title Variations for Movie Maker

It was recently brought to my attention that the "Wow!" title animation in Windows Movie Maker will randomly choose the angle of the words. After a bit of snooping, I discovered there is a parameter to control this angle. As a result I decided to create this pack of Wow! Title variations so you can decide the angle (even upside down!)

Note: These titles will work in WMM 2.1 (XP) and WMM 6.0 (Vista/Win7). I've provided XML for both versions in the installers.

Here's a sample video to help you visualize the titles.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Wow Titles (64-bit)
Blaine's Wow Titles (32-bit)

There are 4 different variations, but feel free to examine to XML to make your own variants. To use one of the new titles:
Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.
Type your text in the first box.
Click on 'change the title animation'.
Under your list of one line titles, pick the desired variant:

Wow! Tilt Up

Wow! Tilt Down

Wow! Straight

Wow! Upside-down

As with other titles, you can change the font, background color and other styling attributes. Finally, click 'Done'.
Adjust the title duration by shrinking/stretching the rectangle on the Title Overlay track.

Blaine's Paint Splat Titles

I had a request in the forums for titles on top of paint splats. Here's a sample video to help you visualize the titles.

Note: These titles will work in WMM 2.1 (XP) and WMM 6.0 (Vista/Win7). I've provided XML for both versions in the installers.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Paint Splat Titles (64-bit)
Blaine's Paint Splat Titles (32-bit)

There are 4 different colored paint splats. To use one of the new titles:
Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.
Type your text in the first box.
Click on 'change the title animation'.
Under your list of one line titles, find the new animation in the desired color:

Paint Splat (Blue)

Paint Splat (Green)

Paint Splat (Purple)

Paint Splat (Red)

As with other titles, you can change the font and other styling attributes. Finally, click 'Done'.
Adjust the title duration by shrinking/stretching the rectangle on the Title Overlay track.

Blaine's Video with Scrolling Text

In response to a query on the Windows Movie Makers forums, I created this custom title animation. It shrinks the current video and shows it on the left. You can then type a lot of text (credits, notes, disclaimers, copyrights, etc.) and have it scroll by on the right.

For instructions on how to add this custom title and use it in Windows Movie Maker 6.0, please check the WMM forums.

Alias (or Simpsons) Title for Windows Movie Maker

If you have ever watched the TV show Alias or The Simpsons, you've seen this title. It starts with a solid background and a title (such as the name of the location, or the words "The Simpsons"). Through that you can see the video, after a few seconds the words expand toward the screen and you can see the full video behind. Here's a sample video to help you visualize it.

Note: This title will work in WMM 2.1 (XP) and WMM 6.0 (Vista/Win7). I've provided XML for both versions in the installers.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Alias Title (64-bit)
Blaine's Alias Title (32-bit)

To use the new title:
Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.
Type your text in the first box.
Click on 'change the title animation'.
Under your list of one line titles, find the new animation:

Alias Title

As with other titles, you can change the font and other styling attributes. For the best results, pick a big, bold font like Arial Black. Note: the color you choose for the font will actually be the color of the background, since the video and text are reversed.
Finally, click 'Done'.

A couple additional things you might want to do. If you want the title to take longer, stretch it to the right. I added the 'Fade In from White' effect to the video so that the text would start white.

Note: The latest versions of Movie Maker do not allow customization, so this does require a classic version of Windows Movie Maker. If you are on Windows 7, you can install WMM 6.0.

Custom Camcorder Overlay Title for Windows Movie Maker

I thought it would be fun to create an overlay that would look like you were recording through a camcorder. The overlay has a battery icon, a red recording symbol and the word 'REC' which flashes in the corner. As you can see from the sample video, I've created widescreen (16:9) and fullscreen (4:3) versions.

Note: These titles will work in WMM 2.1 (XP) and WMM 6.0 (Vista). I've provided XML for both versions in the installers.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Camcorder Overlay Title (64-bit)
Blaine's Camcorder Overlay Title (32-bit)

To use the new title:
Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.
Click on 'change the title animation'.
Under your list of one line titles should be two titles:

Camcorder Overlay (16:9)

Camcorder Overlay (4:3)

Choose the one that matches your project, then click 'Done'.
Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your video.

Custom PSP Overlay Title for Windows Movie Maker

Following my series of custom Movie Maker image overlays, here's an overlay where your video appears on the screen of a PSP. This looks best with widescreen video, but you can use standard 4:3 video too.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's PSP Overlay Title (64-bit)
Blaine's PSP Overlay Title (32-bit)

To use the new title

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles should be a new one called PSP Overlay

Pick it then click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your clip.

Custom TV Overlay for Windows Movie Maker

One of the neat things you can do with custom titles is to resize the video and overlay an image. Using this technique, you can easily overlay an image of a TV screen, for example. (Click here for a sample video with a TV overlay).

Note: This title has been designed to work with either WMM 2.1 (XP) or WMM 6.0 version. It also works whether your project has a 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's TV Overlay Title (64-bit)
Blaine's TV Overlay Title (32-bit)

To use the new title

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles should be a new one called TV Overlay

Pick it then click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your clip.

Custom Dreamy Look Title Overlay for Windows Movie Maker

I've just reworked my prior "Dreamy Look" overlay so it works with either WMM 2.1 (XP) or WMM 6.0. Here's a sample Dreamy Look Video

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Dreamy Look Title (64-bit)
Blaine's Dreamy Look Title (32-bit)

To use the new title

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Type the text you want to appear below the photo as a caption or, if you don't want any text, type a single space.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles should be a new one called Dreamy Look

Pick 'Dreamy Look', then click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your video.

You might want to apply the "Fade In From White" and "Fade Out To White" effects to your clip, so that it starts and ends on a full white frame.

Custom Photo Album Title for Windows Movie Maker

Have you ever wanted to make your photos or videos look like they are part of a photo album? (See my sample album) If so, I've just created a custom title overlay that can be used in Windows Movie Maker. It makes it look like your photos or video are mounted in a photo album, with a white edge and notched photo corners.

Note: This title has been designed to work with either WMM 2.1 (XP) or WMM 6.0 (Vista) version of Movie Maker.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into, C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's Photo Album Title (64-bit)
Blaine's Photo Album Title (32-bit)

To use the new title

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Type the text you want to appear below the photo as a caption.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles should be a new one called Photo Album

Pick 'Photo Album', then click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your photo.

Repeat as needed for each photo or clip.

Custom Torn Page Titles in the style of Veronica Mars, Updated for Vista

The UPN show Veronica Mars opens with video of the various cast members and torn notebook pages showing their names. I was inspired by a post on the Windows Movie Maker forums, to create a similar look.

Note: These titles will work in WMM 2.1 (XP) and WMM 6.0 (Vista). I've provided XML for both versions in the installers.

Choose the correct 64-bit or 32-bit installer link below. Run the installer and it will install the custom XML code and the image files you'll need.

Blaine's Torn Pages (64-bit)
Blaine's Torn Pages (32-bit)

To use the new title:

Go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip'.

Type the text you want to appear on the torn page.

Click on 'change the title animation'.

Under your list of one line titles should be new ones called Torn Page (Bottom) and Torn Page (Right). Pick the one you want to use.

For my example, I switched fonts to a serifed Playbill font, but you can choose any font or leave it as the default.

Click 'Done'.

Stretch the title so that it extends for the length of your clip.

Repeat as needed for each title.

Custom TV Ratings Titles updated for WMM 6.0

Are you using Windows Movie Maker to edit your home videos? Have you ever wanted to add the TV Ratings to the top of your home videos? I created a set of custom titles that can be used in Windows Movie Maker to overlay the various TV Ratings (Y, Y7, G, PG, 14, MA) to the top left corner of your video.

Note: These titles have been designed to work with either WMM 2.1 (XP) or WMM 6.0 version.

There are two installers depending on whether you are running on a 64-bit or 32-bit version of Windows. The installer will put the necessary files into C:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared.

Blaine's TV Ratings Titles (64-bit)
Blaine's TV Ratings Titles (32-bit)

To use the new titles, go to 'Tools' > 'Titles and Credits' > 'Title on the selected clip' > 'change the title animation'. Under your list of one line titles should be 6 new ones called:

TV Rating (Y)

TV Rating (Y7)

TV Rating (G)

TV Rating (PG)

TV Rating (14)

TV Rating (MA)

If you want an additional subtitle, type it into the text fields, otherwise just type a single space. Click 'Done'.