Babble

[thuviaptarth]

So that thing where I said I was going to slack off and watch TV yesterday? I totally lied. I spent all morning making fiddly adjustments to the draft (note to self: Timing seems much less odd when you are not hyped-up on coffee and exhaustion at 2:00am), and then I exported, and then I went to B&N and skimmed Adobe's Premiere CS3: Classroom in a Book, which I am not sure tells me anything not already in the Help File, but it is much more soothing on paper and presented in linear order. And I discovered Bezier curves and changing parameters from Linear to Bezier and now suddenly my transitions look much better. Go on, laugh. I dimly recall reading about Bezier curves when I was first trying to figure out effects, but there were too many options and it was too much information and it made my head hurt, and I made an executive decision to leave all the effect transitions default/linear and worry about more options later. Now it is later. Really this is working out quite well for me.

What is not working out so well is using Xlogo to remove credits, but I will give it another go now that I've slept and there's sunshine and more coffee.

If my AfterEffects books arrive on time, I may even be able to do my, um, 7-15 effects this week and finish by next Monday (assuming I don't end up redoing huge chunks of vid again, which is necessarily a safe assumption; I need to wait enough time to get over the "OMGFINISHED!" feeling of completing a draft first). That sounds like a lot, but a lot of the effects are essentially the same effect in slightly different variations, and once I figure out how to do it the first time, repeating it should be easy. Also, these aren't Big Effect Effects -- viewers probably won't notice them as effects or as coming from outside the source -- but they will make things so much better.

Color management intimidates me.

I think I should watch SCC today, though. Since there is more tomorrow.

Comments

Look at you!

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

Mere weeks ago you were all "I am a clueless newbie" and "Ah'm afear'd!" and now you're talking about bezier curves and tossing off After Effects in a week!

*\o/*

Re: Look at you!

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

I'm still a clueless newbie! That's why I only discovered the point of Bezier curves yesterday.

Also, no way in hell will I learn AE in a week. But I may learn a specific targeted application of AE in a week. Especially since I am taking two days off for Yom Kippur, for which I usually fast but do not attend services.

Re: Look at you!

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I still never use bezier curves when I vid. I know what they are because I use Adobe Illustrator professionally, but if I hadn't had a class in that, I'd be helpless in the face of them.

And I tried using Motion about six times before I could make it work, so I still say you ROCK.

Re: Look at you!

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

And I tried using Motion about six times before I could make it work, so I still say you ROCK.

Hahaha. I keep opening up After Effects thinking, "Okay, I learn new software all the time, I just need to open it up and look at the Help File and start working," and then I stare at the interface and after a while I realize my brain is frozen and then I shut down the program.

Which is why I ordered a book.

Books are nice! They go in a predetermined order. Sometimes you need that.

Re: Look at you!

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I stare at the interface and after a while I realize my brain is frozen and then I shut down the program.

Yes! Motion is exactly like that! sdwolfpup and I spent an hour at VVC talking about how terrible it is.

I don't actually learn well from books. What I want is a class. But...cha-ching.

Re: Look at you!

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

Have you looked for video tutorials on it online? I've found some surprisingly useful stuff just by searching for "Adobe After Effects tutorial" and "Adobe Premiere tutorial" on YouTube.

Re: Look at you!

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

I've found a couple, but you'd be surprised how hard it is to bring up relevant information when your keyword is "motion".

Re: Look at you!

[giandujakiss.livejournal.com]

I've been doing this since 2006 and this is the first I've heard of bezier curves. You're much more diligent than I am :-).

I pass this on to you in case it might be helpful

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

Three things I learned yesterday:

1. When you're setting up a change in a parameter for an attribute (for example, animating a change over the clip in opacity or position or color), start out by adding four keyframes that divide the clip roughly into quarters: one at the start of the clip, one at the end, and two part-way through. This will allow you to try out adjustments with more control than a single or even two key frames, and you can delete unused keys at the end.
   
   
2. By default, key transitions in Premiere are linear (except for time-remapping). This means that transitions accelerate in a fast, sometimes jerky manner -- fine if that's what you want. But if you want a smoother transition, right-click on the keyframe and select "Bezier," "Auto-Bezier," or "Continuous Bezier." This will change the graph of changes in the Effects Control panel from straight lines to curves, which represent smoother, more gradual transitions. "Auto-Bezier" shapes the curves for you, and "Continuous Bezier" and "Bezier" allow you to manually adjust the curves. I'm not clear yet on what the difference is between "Continuous Bezier" and "Bezier"; I need to play around more.
   
   I just changed most of the moon/circle dissolves and artificial camera movements in my vid from Linear to Auto-Bezier and they look SO MUCH BETTER. I am going to play around with the manual adjustments next, but even if I leave it at the presets, there's a noticeable improvement.
   
   
3. If you're selecting a color with a dropper, to get an average color selection of a 5x5-pixel area, rather than a single pixel, press Ctrl+click or Cmmd+click rather than just clicking on the desired area.
   
   
4. On the timeline, the Page Down key takes you to the beginning of the next clip. The Page Up key takes you to the beginning of the previous clip.

I pass this on to you in case it might be helpful

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

Four things, whatever. Man, I wish I could edit comments on this account.

Re: I pass this on to you in case it might be helpful

[giandujakiss.livejournal.com]

oh hey, awesome, thank you!

[danegen.livejournal.com]

Woohoo first draft!
Since I have no idea what a Bezier curve is, my brain keeps trying to translate it as Bezoar. Premiere just got even more frightening.

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

I used to suck on my hair in elementary school before my doctor scared me with tales of bezoars. It would have been so much more impressive if he'd used the word.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Wow. I have no idea what a Bezier curve is. I am impressed just on principle.

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

No math required! (http://untrue-accounts.livejournal.com/106633.html?thread=1072009#t1072009) Or, you know, lots of math required, but only from the programmers.

[par-avion.livejournal.com]

Yesterday, *I* went to B&N to look at their book on iDVD. :) Randomy clicking on it wasn't helping. The book helped, but I'm not going to buy it, because 90% of thebook is actually about iMovie 08 (i.e. some totally new program also called iMovie, and raher awful for vidding).

Hi!

I may come into Brooklyn next week, not sure yet. I'll email you.

[untrue-accounts.livejournal.com]

Hi! Are you still interested in moving? I am thinking about setting myself a deadline of 12/15 for my new space.

I would love to see you even if you don't want to take over my lease. :)