Ellipse

One of the most basic yet versatile tools available in VSDC is the Ellipse tool which allows you to create graphic elements in the form of ellipses or circles in a video. Ellipses are useful for object highlighting, masking, animation, and other purposes. Here's how to use this tool:

Applying the Ellipse

1. You can easily access the Ellipse tool from two different locations: it's available on the left-hand side menu near the preview scene or in the Add Object menu at the top, right next to the Editor tab. Another option is to use a hotkey combination Shift+E.
2. After selecting an object, a pop-up window will emerge, allowing you to define the exact timing for when the Ellipse should be visible and when it should disappear. As soon as you're satisfied with the configurations, click "Ok" to confirm changes.
3. Once the pop-up window is closed, your cursor will change into a cross. At this point, you can freely modify the positioning and dimensions of the Ellipse within the scene. As you do this, you will notice a new Ellipse block appear both in the timeline and on the scene itself. Holding the Shift key will help you to draw a perfect circle.
4. If you ever need to make adjustments to the settings configured in steps 1 to 3, including the Ellipse's visibility duration, position, or dimensions, you can easily do so by accessing the Properties window located on the right-hand side of the screen. The Properties window will automatically open, giving you access to the Common settings menu. This menu not only enables you to fine-tune these parameters but also provides options for renaming the object and altering its overlay method.
5. You can also stretch and rotate your Ellipse directly on the scene. When you select the shape on the scene by clicking on it once, you can see resize and rotate markers appearing around the shape. To stretch the shape in the desired direction, drag one of the markers located on the edges or corners of the shape. Hold the left mouse button and move the marker to resize the shape. To rotate the shape, move the mouse cursor outside the shape until it changes to a two-arrow cursor icon. Then, hold the left mouse button and rotate the shape in the desired direction.
6. Well done! If you're satisfied with your progress, feel free to move on to the next stage of your project editing. But, if you're curious about diving into more advanced settings of the Ellipse tool, you're welcome to keep reading the instructions for further ideas.

Ellipse Object Settings

In the Properties window, you can further adjust additional parameters. Select the shape on the scene or timeline, and the Properties window will appear on the right side of the screen. If the window is not displayed, right-click on the shape on the timeline or scene and select Properties from the context menu. Here, you can adjust common settings and ellipse-specific settings:

After creating the shape, you can adjust its color and transparency in the Editor tab or the Object Properties window. Select the shape on the scene or timeline and navigate to the Editor tab. There you can select the Ellipse shape style: fill and stroke. Also, you can adjust the Pen Color which is responsible for the outline of the object Brush Color which determines how the Ellipse should be filled. There are four options available to select the Brush Color from, each with their own set of customization settings:

• Transparent: makes the inside of the Ellipse transparent;
• Solid: fills the Ellipse with a color of your choice, which you can adjust for intensity using the Opacity feature;
• Gradient: enables you to assign multiple colors to the Ellipse, and they will smoothly blend into each other;
• Image Pattern: fills the Ellipse with an image of your preference, which you can adjust for Opacity and exact positioning.

Last but not least, the "Antialiasing" parameter determines whether the edges of the Ellipse's contour should be smoothed or left as is. This feature can be instrumental in achieving a more polished and refined appearance for your Ellipse.

Creative Ideas for Using Ellipses in VSDC Object Settings

Now let's explore some ideas for using the Ellipse tool in VSDC:

• Object highlighting: Use the Ellipse tool to highlight objects in a video and draw attention to them. This is particularly useful when you want to emphasize a specific object or detail in a frame. For example, you can try to add a Vignette effect, using an algorithm presented in our video tutorial.
• Creating transitions: Use the Ellipse tool to create circular transitions. This adds interest and smoothness when transitioning between scenes. For this, you can watch our video tutorial on How to create zoom through effect.
• Creating masks: The Ellipse tool can be used to create masks that cover or highlight specific areas in a video. For example, you can Hide people's faces in the background or emphasize certain parts of an image.
• Animation: By using the Ellipse tool and animation features in VSDC, you can create moving ellipses that change size, shape, or position throughout the video, such as an animated progress chart.
• Placing video within the shape: Using the Ellipse tool, you can place videos inside the shape, creating original compositions or scenes with multiple video elements.

These are just a few ideas to inspire you to experiment with the Ellipse tool. VSDC Video Editor provides extensive possibilities for creative video editing and adding visual elements. Use the Ellipse tool to enhance the visual style of your videos, emphasize important details, or create eye-catching transitions between scenes.