Good “Green Screen” overview
Here’s a good, basic overview of how to set up, light and shoot a production using green screen.
Check out the Media College link
Getting in the “mode”: composite modes (FCP) & blend modes (AE & PS)
While the name of this tool changes slightly between Apple and Adobe, the concept remains the same. Compsite modes (FCP) and blend modes (AE) and Photoshop (PS) all allow 2 layers directly on top of each other to interact and to “blend” using a mathematical calculations between them. Hence, the terms “add”, “subtract”, “multiply” refer directly to these operations.
No worries, you don’t have to do the math yourself – just remember that these simple tools can make all the difference and are go-to approaches to create a smooth and cohesive composite from multiple elements.
Here are some very useful references to get a good handle on what’s going on with these “modes”:
Ken Stone FCP composite modes
Adobe Blend mode reference
Wikipedia’s breakdown on blend modes
Creative tips to use blend modes in AE by Rich Young
Color keying or green screen in Final Cut Pro
One of the experts available online that I find myself looking to time and time again is Richard Harrington. I guess I like the depth he offers while still staying practical.
Together with Robbie Carman, Harrington wrote the following knockout sample chapter on greenscreen for his book, Video on a Mac. Make sure to read it and to not just twiddle knobs, click switches and hit buttons – it’ll help and save ya at times.
While there are lots of short videos about showing you what buttons to push – unless you put in a little bit of time to understand the underlying logic of color keying, you’ll continuously be frustrated by the a lack of control here.
For our class, the really crucial part are the first 3 pages pages – up to color keying in AE. The fact that he goes on to instruct people in how to use the KeyLight plugin in AE is invaluable though – either something to continue reading to to bookmark for our AE part of the class.
Stress, distress, distressed text!
Again, Richard Harrington give folks a great intro into working with text for strong titles in video. His tutorials on distressed text make use of PS and AE and keep and editable connection alive between both applications.
Tutorial 1
Tutorial 2
If you are asking yourself where this technique can be useful in video check out the following post on this USTelevsion blogsite. Not all logos make use of the “distressed” technique, but there’s enormous possibilities here.
Text in video…resources
Whether you are animating credits and titles or displaying static text, fonts, theirs sizes and colors demand a closer look in the video environment. With older digital video formats like DV, the outcome was often less than desirable. The good news is that many HD formats, due to their higher resolution and PAR (pixel aspect ratio) have made life a lot easier. Still, if we are aware of problems in the past, we can actually create better titles in both the former and current environments. Here are some resources to read, think and learn about the topics:
Creating DV titles in Photoshop (with Alpha Channels)
Oldie but goodies: FCP and AE title tips
Finally, here’s a host of great videos on typography itself
How to use Google Docs….resources
As mentioned in class, google docs, can be a potent tool for collaboration that is free and available to many. Yes, you should consider privacy and abuse when using google tools, but the rewards tip the balance towards using these tools, at least for me. If you’re unsure, use a new and relatively anonymous account – just let me know what you’re new email is.
Meanwhile, here are some resources to get more comfortable with GD:
Also, check out google’s test resources:
GD for students
GD templates
AE CS5 or CS5.5, what difference does it make?
Well, that would be good to know, right? One good thing about large software companies that dominate in their sphere is that they have the wherewithal to document their process and the get the word out.
In the link to Adobe is a list of new features in CS5.5, as well as great tutorials showing you how to use them. Warp Stabilizer here we come (3D editing not so much right now).
Digital Video Editing & Effects 