Digital Era Dilemmas: the curse of buttons
Here’s an interesting post and follow-up discussions on a troubling lack of basic understandings “by the sub 30 year generation” to what’s going on “under the hood” of FCP or Avid editing apps (applies to After Effects as well). Have a read, check the comments, see what you think.
Link: “What’s wrong with the young FCP editor?”
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Intro Masking tutorial
Here’s a quick overview/tutorial that hints at a method in AE that we’ll get into right after the break – masking (and rotoscoping).
We’ll do a tutorial, look at considerations and define our terms after the break. For now, check out this basic and workable tutorial if you have/make the time.
BTW, it came by way of “tutorial finder”, another aggregator for tutorials on the web which I’m also adding to the “DO” sidebar.
Link: Tutorialfinder.com
Link: Tutorialfinder.com After Effects
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PBS’s “Frontline” Graphics/Effects approach
Here’s an article I hope you find useful about Frontline’s (PBS flagship public affairs program) approach to graphics and the technical considerations that flow into the creative process behind the scenes….
*Note: This is ultimately a PR piece by the software creator, Boris. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting look behind the scenes.
Link: Frontline Graphics
(Short) Assignment for Spring Break ‘08 – collect your thoughts
Here’s a short assignment for spring break (and you thought you’d be horizontal with a MaiTai on your stomach the whole break…).
It’s short and sweet – I’m asking you to decide on an idea for your final visual fx/motion graphics project and to start doing research on your “look” and the elements (still/video/audio) you’ll need to realize it.
Step1: Read the ENTIRE (page 1-7)ideation/development process that Dean Velez outlines here in a sample project: http://motiongraphicslab.com/lessons/teaching-materials-the-design-brief-ex1.html
Step2: Come up with an idea that you’d like to work on for your final project and have it ready on APRIL 2nd.
Include the following elements in your brief (1-page) summary:
TITLE: (intended title)
DESCRIPTION: (Clear description of project and its intended use. Ex. Show opener, commercial, music video exerpt. etc.)
CATAGORY: (where would you see this? Net, TV show, commercial, etc.)
MOOD: (Intended perception of the piece)
RESEARCH: Video: (Find and list at least 2 examples, if possible with URL, if this is not possible – describe in detail).
VIDEO CLIPS: (Where you will source these from)
AUDIO Music: (Style and character of the music you plan to use and where you will source these from)
TEXT FONT CHARACTER: (You plan to use with your intended message – ex. contrasting/supporting/authority, etc.,)
COLORS: (The main, defining colors of your piece.)
SOFTWARE: (You plan to use to achieve your vision – can be FCP, Lyric, AE & Motion)
Additional Tip: For technique using AE, check out Kurt Murphy’s useful Logo motion graphics tutorial using After Effects. (Or click on the “Do” catagory and go down to “Kurt Murphy AE Tutorials” on the sidebar and look for “Choosing a Logo”.)
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SFMOGRAPH posting on Creative Cow
This is kind a repeat posting but I hope it will add emphasis to the great opportunity that is upcoming on Thursday, March 20th. That’s when SFMOGRAPH, a new interdisciplinary visual effects/motion graphics user group, will meet at Adobe. As I’ve mentioned this numerous times in the past (did i say that I don’t mean to belabor the point ??) I would like to point people to some exciting introductory remarks by the initiator of the group that I just came across on the CreativeCow.net* site. (*Note: www.creativecow.net is arguably the most active website dedicated to After Effects discussions (and including some midling tutorials) – next to that they host a wide variety of forum sites focusing on other visual media production topics). Read Matt’s intro remarks here.
See you there.
Misha
Bay Area Women in Film & Television (BAWIFT)
Here’s an encouraging note to women interested in Film and Video – get involved in the local chapter of BAWIFT – The Bay Area Women in Film and Television organization.
Check them out here. Link: http://www.bawift.org
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