How to make OBS Stinger transitions in Adobe Premiere Elements

Hi everybody! Today I’m going to be showing you a really easy way to make your own custom stinger transitions for OBS.

Stinger transitions are custom transitions between scenes that many streamers use to add a more personal and professional effect to their streams. Today, I’ll be focusing on using them in OBS, which can be downloaded here. Streamlabs OBS operated very similarly.

First, you’ll need to design the image or video you’ll be using between transitions. If you want the text to have separate animation (like in my example that I use), then leave out the text for now. Your image/video should be at least 1280 by 720 pixels. Try to have something that coordinates with your existing scenes.

Next, load up your video in your favorite editing software. I’ll be using Adobe Premiere Elements, which is a simpler (and much cheaper) version of Adobe’s popular Premiere Pro. I highly recommend this for people just getting into video editing.

Now, apply the Chroma Key filter to your video. If your video has no black, select black as the color, and adjust the settings until nothing looks different in your picture/video. If you have black in your picture/video, you’ll need to do a couple of extra steps, which I’ll explain now.

If using black:

Add two images at the beginning and end with a color that’s not in your video. I chose a neon green. Apply the Chroma Key filter to all images, and select neon green (or whatever color you chose) as the color to key out. You should not see that color when you play the video.

Now, apply your transitions between the green image and your main image.

Tutorial continued:

Choose a transition you like. I recommend doing the same transition for the beginning and end to keep it consistent. Apply the transition to the beginning and end of your video.

Now, if you want to add text, add some in the middle and apply a transition to that as well.

Play your transition and see if you like it. Try to keep it about 3 seconds or less.

Export your video as a .MOV file. This may be listed under Quicktime, and you may need to download it for this to work. Make sure when you export, you check the option to preserve the alpha. For me, this was listed as “8-bpc + alpha”.

Once you’ve exported, go into OBS and add a new transition. Select Stinger. Load up your video file, and change the transition point time to 1000 ms. Preview your transition. If it looks good, you should be good to go!

Let me know if you have any questions, or anything you’d like to add to this tutorial. I hope you find this helpful – if so, tag me at on social media @ BoopCreate so I can see what you made!

Mess-free cold brew coffee recipe

Any Starbucks (or coffee) fanatic will tell you cold brew coffee is the best, and perhaps the only way to drink iced coffee. While Starbucks was closed down, I ventured to make my own, however the results were… not good initially.

Most cold brew recipes call for putting the coffee grounds straight into the water, letting it sit in the fridge overnight, then straining the grounds and water through a coffee filter or cheesecloth. My first (and last attempt) at doing this ended horribly – when I tried to strain it through a coffee filter, coffee ended up everywhere, and what I was able to strain somehow still had grounds in it. I was seriously looking forward to my cold brew, so I’m not going to lie – I cried.

There had a to be a better way of doing this – and so I found one.

Here is my mess free method of making cold brew coffee:

Supplies:

•         Coffee grounds (I used store bought, pre-ground coffee)
•          Coffee filter
•          Food safe string/twine
•          Mason jar/cup with lid
•          Water

Instructions:

Fill a coffee filter with coffee grounds until you have just enough room to gather and tie it at the top.

Take a small piece of twine and tie the filter securely.

Place the coffee filter filled with grounds in your mason jar.

Fill with approximately 8 ounces of water.

Put the lid on your container, and stick it in the fridge for about 8 hours or overnight.

In the morning, remove the grounds, add milk or sugar – caster sugar is easy to mix in – and enjoy! This recipe makes one 8 ounce cup of coffee. Feel free to experiment with strength, coarseness of beans, roast strength, and more!

Now instead of crying over failed cold brew in the morning, I cry because we are currently in the middle of a pandemic, there is rampant injustice, and the United States has record high unemployment – but at least I have decent cold brew coffee!

Where to find cosplay reference photos

After you’ve decided what character to cosplay, your first step should be seeking out good reference photos. Even if you’re not doing a 100 percent screen accurate costume, clear reference photos will assist in fabric selection, colors, and help you locate the little details that bring your costume to life.

Screencaps

If you’re cosplaying from a TV show or movie, screencaps and stills are your best friend. You can rewatch whatever you’re cosplaying from on a laptop or phone to grab your own screencaps, or you can find a website that has screenshots. Regularly updated screencap websites include kissthemgoodbye.net, screencapped.net, and homeofthenutty.com to name a few.

Stills

Stills are high quality photos usually taken for use in press kits. These are my favorite to use for reference photos because you can clearly see the type of fabric, seams, and every little detail. However, some of the colors may be off from what it looks like on screen. Far Far Away site has a regularly updated selection of TV shows.

Stills are typically brighter and more vibrant than screencaps, even from the same scenes. In this scene from Game of Thrones, Sansa Stark's dress looks like a much lighter purple in the still. Credit: Far Far Away Site and screencapped.net. 

Other places

Some costumes designers, such as Michele Carragher who does the embroidery for Game of Thrones, may upload close ups of their work online. Research who does the costume design, and snoop their Instagram or website for potential close ups or concept sketches.

Video games

Depending on the video game, you may be able to take your own in-game screenshots from different angles, and save those to your phone or computer. If possible, I like to take screenshots during cutscenes, which offer close ups of details. You can also watch play through videos and take screengrabs from there. Concept art – which can be found from Google, Pinterest, Wiki pages, official art books, or Art Station – is also a helpful guide, though it can be different from the final product.

Now, it’s becoming more common for developers to release cosplay guides of popular characters. CD Projekt Red has made some for the Witcher 3 , Blizzard has them for almost every Overwatch hero, and Bioware has guides for most Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mass Effect: Andromeda characters. Also, many fan websites – such as this one for Tomb Raider – compile reference pictures for various games and outfits.

For every hero that Overwatch originally launched with, Blizzard has a detailed cosplay guide. Credit: Blizzard

If you can’t find a cosplay guide, try googling for the game’s press kit. These include high quality pictures of characters. For example, while Overwatch has guides for most character’s default costumes, you can find pictures of their event skins at Blizzard’s Press Center.

After you have your photos…

Make sure your pictures are easily saved and accessible, so if there’s an impromptu visit to the fabric store, you’re ready to go. Whenever I can, I like to print out any reference pictures I have so I can easily look at it without searching through my phone. It’s also helpful to do this when asking an employee for help or advice on what to buy. If you can’t print them out, save them in a folder on your phone, Pinterest, Google Drive, or whatever method is easiest for you.

While it can take more time in the beginning, good reference photos can save a lot of time and frustration in the long run. Many cosplay contests may require reference photos, so it’s good to have some on hand.

What resources do you use for reference pictures? What cosplay guides would you like to see in the future? Let me know in the comments below!

Percy Jackson inspired Camp Half-Blood T-Shirt Tutorial

Today I’m going to be showing you how to make this *super cute* camp half blood t-shirt inspired by the Percy Jackson books. It’s perfect for cosplay and everyday wear. Way back in the 8^th grade when Blood of Olympus first released, I made a camp half blood t-shirt using an iron-on, and I’ve been dying to make a new t-shirt with the Silhouette Cameo. Recently, I found a t-shirt at Target that was the perfect color, so I decided there’s no better time than now!

First, here’s what you’ll need:

• A Silhouette cameo. If you don’t own one, check out my blog post on ways you can access one for cheap or free.
• Vinyl
• Scissors
• Black fabric paint
• Sponge paintbrush
• An orange t-shirt

First, open the silhouette cameo design. For my design, I used the font Dalek Pinpoint, and I edited Pegasus clipart to make it easily cut with the Silhouette. Here is a link to the Silhouette file, and here is a link to a JPEG version of my design. I also have the design uploaded at the end of the tutorial, though the link will be better quality.

Cut out a piece of vinyl that’s about 12 inches by 6 inches. I like to use the silhouette brand vinyl.

Place the vinyl on your cutting mat. Load the cutting mat into the silhouette, and cut it out using the standard vinyl cut settings.

Once it’s done cutting, carefully peel the vinyl up from the mat. Then, peel away the vinyl from the backing – be extra careful not to tear the vinyl. Take your time, and you may need a helping hand for this part.

Shove a few paper towels and a piece of construction paper under where the design will be on the shirt. This keeps the paint from going to the other side of the shirt.

Center and place the vinyl on the shirt. Since I’m using a scoopneck shirt, I placed it pretty close to the neckline.

Now place the tiny insides of the letters. Once you’re done with that, press down and make sure the vinyl is stuck to the shirt. If needed, adjust to make sure the cardstock and paper towels are directly under your design.

Now, let’s paint! I use Fabric Creations fabric paint for all of my projects. It washes wonderfully and always goes on well. You can buy it at most craft stores.

Carefully paint in a dabbing motion. If you want a more distressed or worn look, don’t focus on painting it perfectly. My shirt was mostly rayon, and it only needed one coat.

Next, wait a little bit – usually an hour or two – until the paint is dried. Now, carefully lift up the stencil – I recommend starting from the end – and remove it from the shirt. Then carefully remove the tiny insides of the letters.

And there you go! Now you have a Camp Half Blood t-shirt fit for any demigod! I’m going to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised with how this worked out, especially since I’ve never put fabric paint on a rayon/polyester shirt before, but it turned out really clean and professional looking.

Please let me know if you made this shirt, and if so, how it turned out! If you have any questions, please let me know – feel free to email me, comment below, or DM me on any social medias.

What tutorials would you like to see more of in the future?

How to access a Silhouette Cameo/Cricut and similar equipment for free

The Silhouette Cameo is one of my favorite crafting tools, which is why most of my tutorials revolve around using it. I’ve found it to be well worth the investment – for around $5-$10 I can make a t-shirt that would cost me up to $30 to buy. This adds up a lot over time, especially when making gifts.

However, if you don’t plan on buying a Cameo or similar machine right now, there’s many ways to access a Silhouette Cameo/Cricut and similar equipment for free or a low cost. Mainly I’ll be focusing on makerspaces, which are spaces that have a variety of equipment like vinyl cutters, 3D printers and sewing machines available to members.

Local libraries

Call or check online and see if the library for your city or a neighboring city has a Silhouette Cameo or other vinyl cutter. Most of the time, the only requirement is that you have a library card, which can be free or a small fee.

Your school/college

Many colleges have makerspaces available to students and faculty for free. To see if your local college has one, make a google search or ask the school. Some are even open 24 hours, so if you have the urge to craft past midnight, you can do that! While it’s less common, there are makerspaces available in some high schools and middle schools – ask your librarian if your school has one!

Local makerspaces

Especially if you live in a large city, a quick google search for local makerspaces will likely yield some results. Generally these are not free – there’s usually a fee involved with using the space, whether it be a daily entrance fee or a membership. These facilities usually have equipment that’s far more complex and expensive than a vinyl cutter though.

Final notes:

Like I mentioned earlier, the Silhouette Cameo is one of my favorite crafting tools, so if it sounds like something you’d use frequently, buy it! If you’re on the fence, or just want it for one project, I definitely recommend going to a makerspace and seeing how you like it. Before you go, keep in mind that most spaces will require you to bring your own vinyl or other material. If your local library or school doesn’t have a makerspace, or a vinyl cutter in the makerspace, don’t be afraid to request it!

Is there any other places or ways you’ve been able to use a vinyl cutter for free? If you’ve been the any of the places I mentioned, how was your experience?

House Stark Direwolves baseball t-shirt tutorial

For this project, I used the Silhouette Cameo.

Cut a 10” by 12” piece of vinyl.

The first step is cutting out your design on vinyl. The best vinyl I’ve used is the Silhouette brand vinyl in white.  I ran out of the Silhouette vinyl, and used the Cricut instead which worked alright. I use the standard vinyl cut setting on the Cameo.

You can download the design file here as a .studio3 file, and here as a pdf.

Once it’s cut out, carefully peel off the vinyl for the “Direwolves” part. I recommend to start peeling from the end of the word. Be careful not to rip or tear the stencil – take it slow and get a helper. I’ve made dozens of t-shirts and I still grab my mom to help with this part.

Place it where you want on your shirt. I recommend  several inches (about 6-8") from the neckline, if you’re working with a crew neck baseball shirt. I used this one from Target, which is currently unavailable. Every shirt that I've stenciled with Cameo has either been 50 percent cotton/50 percent polyester (or a similar blend with cotton), or 100 percent cotton.

Next, go back to your vinyl and pick up the little insides of the letters – in this case, the “E”s, “D”, and “O”. Carefully place those in their respective letters. Once placed, press down on the vinyl – even hit it a couple of times.

Now take paper towels or cardstock and shove it under the fabric, and directly under where your stencil is located. Make sure this is done neatly. I recommend having at least two paper towels under the stencil. This part is so important – if you don’t do this, you’ll likely end up with paint on the back of the shirt.

Finally, we can paint! I’ve always used cheap, black spongey brushes that you can grab for a couple of dollars at the craft store. My all-time favorite paint is Fabric Creations Soft Fabric Ink – it’s easy to use, never washes out when put in the washer and dryer, and it stays soft.

Apply the paint with a stippling/dabbing motion until the shirt is almost completely white, or whatever color paint you’re using. This will usually take a couple coats or more, depending on the fabric.

Once you’ve thoroughly applied the paint, wait about 30 minutes to an hour for the paint to set. If you’re on a time crunch, you can lift up the stencil now, but be extra careful since the paint is wet. If you get wet paint somewhere on the shirt where it’s not supposed to be, use a wet paper towel to wipe it up.

Carefully lift the stencil up. I like to have a helper during this part to hold the shirt down – the paint can still smear if not completely dry. Be extra careful when removing the insides of the letters, and if you have time, wait until those letters are completely dry.

I like to finish setting the paint by running it over with a hair dryer.

Once the front is 100 percent dry, start on the back, repeating the steps used for the front of the shirt. On the back, I noticed I needed more paint and a few more coats than the front, but otherwise it was the same.

Enjoy your new House Stark Direwolves baseball shirt! My shirt is super comfy, and it looks great with jeans or leggings. It would be perfect to wear to the Game of Thrones MLB theme nights, or to celebrate the final season. I’ve already gotten tons of compliments and comments on my shirt, and it’s been an awesome icebreaker to meet new Game of Thrones fans!

Have any questions or comments? Let me know or comment below! If you’ve made this shirt, I’d love to see your pictures as well – feel free to tag me on Instagram or Twitter, or shoot me an email.

Welcome to my blog!

Hi everyone! My name is Chloe and I'm excited to finally start this blog. For years, I've wanted to start a blog to share my interests of books, cosplay, crafting, writing, and games, and I'm so glad to finally do it.

Here's some of the content you can expect from my blog:

• Tutorials for cosplays and crafts
• Reviews for books, video games, conventions and anything else relevant
• Guides and how-to posts
• Resources for crafters and cosplayers
• and other fun things!

I can't wait to begin sharing what I love with the world! I also plan on starting to do livestreams on Twitch, along with YouTube videos. Thanks for reading, and I'm looking forward to posting on here!

♥️ Chloe