I just bought the newest After Effects plug-in by Video Copilot called Optical Flares. This powerhouse of a plug-in does way more than the out-dated Knoll Light Factory and at $124.95 what is there not to like?
I just bought the newest After Effects plug-in by Video Copilot called Optical Flares. This powerhouse of a plug-in does way more than the out-dated Knoll Light Factory and at $124.95 what is there not to like?
I am pleased to announce that I am now an official AV3 Software affiliate. They are an online motion graphics and VFX plug-in retailer who sells all my favorite third party After Effects plug-ins such as Red Giants Trapcode Suite, Zaxwerks, and DigiEffects to name a few.
I will be producing short sample video clips showcasing the creative power of all their After Effects plug-ins. Stay tuned for more great discussion on AV3 Software.
I just started using a freeware program from Squared 5 called MPEG Streamclip. It is a great program that runs on Mac or Windows for encoding video into a variety of different programs. I have been using QuickTime Pro for many years to encode video and I am tired of the errors I run into when encoding long and high bit-rate video clips. For the past week MPEG Streamclip has been keeping up with my busy work flow by encoding videos quickly, being error free and providing an encoding preview window for piece of mind.
You can use MPEG Streamclip to: open most movie formats including MPEG files or transport streams; play them at full screen; edit them with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Trim; set In/Out points and convert them into muxed or demuxed files, or export them to QuickTime, AVI, WMV, DV and MPEG-4 files with more than professional quality, so you can easily import them in Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Toast 6, 7, 8, and use them with many other applications or devices.
Supported input formats: MPEG, VOB, PS, M2P, MOD, VRO, DAT, MOV, DV, AVI, MP4, TS, M2T, MMV, REC, VID, AUD, AVR, VDR, PVR, TP0, TOD, M2V, M1V, MPV, AIFF, M1A, MP2, MPA, AC3, …
We just launched our new JMDesign website and we wanted to celebrate by giving away a free 1080p video. This video is pretty wild. It is a 30 second video clip that includes an array of dazzling colored light glows, trails and sparkles. I hope you enjoy the video download and like our new website.
A lot of new After Effects users and sadly even seasoned users get hung up when it comes to rendering their videos. The most common mistake that I have seen people make when rendering their videos is choosing the “Animation” compression type when outputting a QuickTime video file. This results in ridiculously huge file with an unnecessary level of detail. This blunder is soon followed by another when the inexperienced user tries their hand at the AVI output setting. More frustration overcomes the user when they experience a tremendous loss to the level of quality in their video, long render times and large files. When it comes to rendering videos for the playback or further video editing leave the “Animation” and “AVI” outputs to the pros.
Rendering High Quality Video for Further Encoding
The Quick-Time “Photo – JPG” compression type is what you should be using if you are archiving source files from AE, rendering video to import into your video editor or rendering video to later encode into video playback format like WMV, MP4 or MPEG. “Photo – JPG” compression can create relatively small video files without sacrificing much of the the quality of the video. That is why “Photo – JPG” is the compression type of chose when it comes to stock video clips bought over the web. The quality is superb and the file size is manageable.
Two things you should keep in mind when it comes to the settings for these two compression types. One is compressor depth and the other is compressor quality. The depth is the bit-depth of color. For “Photo – JPG” you want to keep this on Color. Compressor quality is something to be noted when using “Photo – JPG” because it determines overall compression quality. It is a good practice to keep this marker somewhere on “High” (If you choose “Best” you are going to be left with a very large file.)
Rendering High Quality Video for Easy Distribution and Playback
It is common to render a video straight from After Effects into a playable file that is good for the web or universal distribution. On a Windows machine or on a Mac equipped with Flip4Mac, Window Media Video (WMV) is a good choice if the viewers will be Windows based. A general set of WMV export settings are as follows: WMV Standard, One pass, constant bit rate (CBR), Quality of 80 and a Bit rate of 2000 Kbps SD, 3000 Kbps for WS-SD and 5000 Kbps for 720p.
Another common form of distribution is the Flash Video (FLV) file format. A general set of export settings for this file format are as follows: Max data rate 650-2000 Kbps, On2 VP6 video codec (Sorenson Spark is a less desirable alternative) and a frame rate “Same as Source”.
Lastly one of my favorite formats to render video in is xH.264. This produces a very high quality video that that is small in file size. At times this can be a very complex format to use because of all the setting variations, so stick with the factory presets if you are unsure. Here are some general settings I like to use: NTSC, CBR of 2Mbps, Progressive field order, square pixels and “main” profile with a level of 3.0.
Written by Jeff McIntosh
I hope this chart will help you to understand the differences between the many video size standards available. NTSC is missing for some reason, but I suppose it could fall under the VGA (640×480) category. NTSC is 720×480 with a pixel aspect ratio of 0.9 giving it a video resolution of 648×480.
This chart demonstrats the magnitude of standard definition footage to higher resolution footage.
Everywhere in today’s professional video media, motion graphics are filling in the gaps where straight video shots fall short. Titles no longer stick to the screen like they were fixed in place with a glue stick. Backgrounds are no longer freeze-framed images of abstract block art or dull cityscape. Rather excitement has been infused into almost every shot by adding motion backgrounds, title animations and moving design elements. Without these additions all video would look the same. Talking heads are synonymous to one another unless motion graphics and other frame enhancers are added to a shot.
Whether you are editing a newscast, montage, report, or commercial, motion graphics need to be added to your workflow to increase your production value. Without them the shot will look empty and the viewer will subconsciously notice that there is something missing, whether they are savvy enough to pinpoint it or not. Motion graphics are the added touch that can take video production value exponentially forward by its ability to create both subtle accents and powerful dynamic accentuation either by themselves or simultaneously.
There are many different places in which motion graphics can be incorporated into a video shot. Here are some of the most common forms of motion graphic eye candy:
Animated Backgrounds (Motion Backgrounds)
One of the most common places to insert animated backgrounds is behind the subject matter such as text, logos, titles, photos, and within the background of a set design. A moving background can do great wonders for your logo by adding emphasis and excitement to the screen. Editors should ditch those old still graphics that bore the viewer and add a splash of motion to the backgrounds of their logos and graphics. Green screens or LCD displays are two other wonderful spots to inject motion graphics into the scene. Try adding a motion loop or animated logo into these places to reach new levels of video production and professionalism.
Video Openers (Video Bumpers)
A flashy animation of a station id or logo can really set the stage for a better and more professionally developed broadcast. Just imagine instead of fading straight into a newscast or video clip from a blank screen there was instead a three to six second animation with text and audio that introduced the clip or segment. Animated title sequences and station id’s can help establish brand recognition when used as part of a production work-flow. Video openers are vital assets for any video production that wants to push the envelop for a higher value of production.
Lower Thirds (Superbars)
Sometimes shots need to include a place to add a title to describe a person, place or even the scene itself. Lower thirds accomplish this by overlaying a placeholder graphic on the video shot which text can be layered into. The name “lower third” however is misleading because lower thirds do not take up the entire lower third of the screen. Rather lower thirds are positioned in the lower third of the screen with a space bellow them that is unblocked. The text ranges from one to three lines and can vary in text size. What can bring more dynamic interest to a lower third is the incorporation of motion graphics. The first way would be to use a motion loop as the placeholder graphic instead of one that is static. This adds a subtle aura of sparkle and raises the value of the shot. The other way is to make the entire lower third an animated element. This might include an animation that pops or flips the lower third up into the screen. Once it is visible the text could be animated in with a typewriter effect or subtle positional slide. After the lower third had done its job be giving the viewer the needed information, it could then be removed from the screen by sliding off or rotating away.
Title Animation (Title Sequences)
Whether it is a piece of text, phrase or logo, a title animation can add a lot of thrill to a video project. As seen in the previous video examples, static images and text is boring, plain and outright dull. Animation can captivate an audience very quickly and draw them into a production very easily. When a title or logo is animated it can bring a whole new persona to its identity. It can bring ideas and characteristics that static logos just cannot communicate on their own. Production value and brand value can be greatly increased through these means and should be explored if a higher production value wants to be reached.
There are two great tools to create your own motion graphic elements, backgrounds and sequences. Do note however that both of these programs are motion graphic industry standards and involve steep learning curves. The first is Motion by Apple, which is part of the Final Cut Studio software bundle. This product is only available on Macintosh computers and requires a fast processor and a fair amount of RAM. Motion boasts itself in having an easy to use interface that holds the power and flexibility to create outstanding work. What is most impressive about this program is its ability render on the fly and its ability to create great looking motion graphics quickly using Motion’s animated presents. The second is After Effects by Adobe and can be bought separately or as part of the Creative Suite Production Premium bundle. After Effects runs on both Macintosh and PCs and also requires a fast processor with a sizable amount of RAM for faster rendering. Being an Adobe product there are many familiar characteristics between After Effects and programs like Photoshop and Illustrator. However it is a very powerful program and includes many features and options that might scare away a lot of new users. It also does not include as many easy to use interface mechanics as Motion and has far fewer canned and template material shipped with it. After Effects is not for the weak of heart, but is for those who are serious about creating professional motion graphics.
Video editors such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Sony Vegas and Pinnacle Studio all have varying capabilities to add animation and motion to an edit and they in no way compete with the flexibility and power that Motion or After Effects offer.
There are two other ways of adding motion graphics to a video work-flow without breaking much of a sweat. One is to buy stock motion graphics and the other is to hire a freelance motion designer to create custom content. There are many sites that sell pre-made motion elements such as istockphoto.com, revostock.com, and pond5.com. Other companies such as Digital Juice provide libraries of motion backgrounds and motion elements that can be dropped into editing programs quickly and easily. All of these sources are royalty free and come at a reasonable cost. The other way is to higher a motion designer to create custom motion graphics for your production. Once the graphics are made they can be used over and over again in your productions and can be a very cost and time effective approach for increasing production value very easily.
Written by Jeff McIntosh
Originally writen for School Video News:
http://www.school-video-news.com/index_files/Polishing_Your_Production_with_Graphics.htm