[RESOLVED] Building frame around video

[MotoMan_Yz400]

I'm trying to build a frame around a video (would like to use VLC, but WMP would work too). The frame will make the video look like an old-timey TV (rounds the corners). However I'm not sure how to make a layer that could allow video to pass through it in some spots, but block the video in others. I've tried using transparencies, however the video doesnt show through, it just shows the form underneath.

Any ideas on how to do this?

[.NetNinja]

Use the VLC activeX control to embed the video and then design the form to be the "old tv".

[MotoMan_Yz400]

Use the VLC activeX control to embed the video and then design the form to be the "old tv".

Thats what I'm doing. However the "old tv" is just a part of it. the "Old tv" image needs to be overtop the video (so part if the image needs to block the video, while still allowing some of the movie to peek though.) I basically need to fillet (rounded) the corners of the video, even have images or text sit ontop of the video.

Does this need to be done on a much lower level then VB can handle?

[.NetNinja]

No. Do you have a png or bmp or anything designed that has the image of the TV on it? If so just put the image in an imagebox and place it on TOP of the VLC ActiveX.

[MotoMan_Yz400]

No. Do you have a png or bmp or anything designed that has the image of the TV on it? If so just put the image in an imagebox and place it on TOP of the VLC ActiveX.

I tried, I think video is pulled right from memory, or is managed at a lower level then my form, so the transparent part of my image sees though the video to the form.

[.NetNinja]

Post the image and I will work with a sample solution.

[MotoMan_Yz400]

Post the image and I will work with a sample solution.

Here is an example of what I'm trying to do.


Imagine the image in the picture above is a movie. See how the image has rounded edges? thats what I would like it to be. At first I tried to make the black frame an image file with the "screen" as a transparency, so the corners of the movie will be clipped off by my bitmap, but the transparency in the bitmap only showed the form, not the movie.

[.NetNinja]

I am currently not at a computer with VB.NET installed. Give me some time and I will post the solution.

[.NetNinja]

It appears that VLC does not support this. I have been working with it most of the night and I can not get a control to be transparent over a VLC ActiveX object.

[MotoMan_Yz400]

It appears that VLC does not support this. I have been working with it most of the night and I can not get a control to be transparent over a VLC ActiveX object.

I assume that if VLC can not do this, neither will WMP or anything else really. Bummer

[MotoMan_Yz400]

I figured it out!


Along time ago there was a little easter egg found on the web, that if you opened MsPaint, and painted with a specific colour, a WMP movie could be seen behind the MsPaint window, almost like a transparent colour!

So I found VLC uses a slightly different colour than WMP, but I was able to paint the "TV Screen" this magical colour and the "TV set" like normal, then save the image as a BMP. Then loaded up the image in a picture box that was sitting on top of VLC. The video only played on the special colour, while any other colour blocked the video.


FIY: the colour for VLC is R:0/G:0/B:1 - Hue:160/Sat:240/Lum:0

[.NetNinja]

Crazy. Nice research though!