Welcome to another BizVid Communications video tutorial. Today I am going to show you how to create a Quad Split template psd file to be used in conjunction with doing a quad split video in Premiere or any other non-linear edit program. The Quad Split template is simply a design overlay that provides a visually pleasing separation between the video clips in a quad split or a split screen. To learn how to do a Split Screen Quad Split in Premier Pro, be sure to view our video tutorial that will take you through the steps.
After opening Photoshop, position your mouse on “File” on the menu bar and click. Scroll to “New” and click. Here you will have a choice as to the kind of new image you want to create. Photoshop makes this easy for video, scroll to “Pre-set” and click the down to “film and Video” and click. Here you set the parameters for the new image. Let’s name this “Quad Split Template. ” In the “Size” box I’m going to select “HDV/HDTV” and click… creating an image of 1280 by 720. You can set any dimension you want. Next, leave the Resolution at 72 ppi that’s all you need. Next, change the “Background Contents” to “Transparency.” Click “okay.” Next, click “View” then “fit on screen” and click. This brings the image to the largest size possible within the workspace. I’m ready to begin.
Since I don’t want to work on the background layer….which is what you see here, I am going to create two additional layers….one for the vertical line and one for the horizontal line. So, I position my mouse on “layer” and click…then “New” then “new layer” and click. I’ll name this “horizontal.” We need one more layer. Go to “layer”, “new” then “new layer” click. I’ll name this one “vertical.” You now see three layers. Let’s rename layer 1 as “background.” Now to create the horizontal and vertical lines beginning with the “horizontal” layer. I can make my new lines any color I choose, but my purposes, I am going to stay with default white as you can see here in “Set Forground Color”. Next I’ll select the “paint bucket” tool.
My cursor now resembles a paint bucket that I’ll place inside the “horizontal layer” and click. The whole layer turns white. So let’s make the horizontal line. Next, I’ll select the “rectangle marque” tool (make sure Feather is set to zero) then find the center of my image using the grid as a guide. Turn on the grid by going to “View” then “show” then “grid.” Now, I’ll position my mouse at what will be one edge of the line then click from one corner just below the center and drag the opposite corner at the bottom of the image. Next I position my mouse on “edit” and click….scroll to “clear” and click. The white is gone and all you see is the background transparent layer.
Next, position “rectangle marque” above at a point where I feel the line thickness is appropriate…then click and drag to the opposite corner, top right. Go to “edit” and click….scroll to “clear” and click and there is your first line.
Now I’ll make the vertical line, first by selecting the “vertical” layer. The rest is a duplication of what I have just done. Paint bucket and click….change the tool to “rectangle marque” and find the center of the image….click and drag…..go to “edit” on the menu bar and click….scroll to “clear” and click. Now the other side….click and drag…..”edit” and “clear” and there it is, a template that can be imported into your editing software as you create a video quad split. Be sure to save this as a .PSD file otherwise you will lose the transparency layer which is needed for an effective overlay on video.
Here’s how the file will look overlayed over video. To learn how to do a video Quad Split be sure to view our tutorial, “How to Create a Quad Split in Premiere Pro. And while your at it, be sure to view our other tutorials on our BizVid Communications YouTube channel or visit our blog at www.BizvidCommunications.com/blog. Thanks for watching.