Motion Graphics
by PVC Staff
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Just Added From The Vault: Combining Tracking and Cloning
Extending the Clone tool in After Effects using tracking and expressions.
The real power in using any compositing program comes in combining its tools to create something more powerful than any one hammer or screwdriver can give you. In this previous column, we show you how to combine the motion tracker in After Effects with the Clone brush in its Paint tools to help automate the removal of an unwanted, moving object in a shot. (And how do we combine those tools? Using Expressions, a third tool in After Effects.)
Click here to jump straight to “A Track of the Clones” (with apologies for the terrible pun in the name).
Motion Graphics • Post Production • Visual Effects • (0) Comments • • Permalink
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Multithreaded Information
Is the medium really the message? Or should we think more about matching the message to the medium?
(At the end of an old article we recently posted to our Keyframes channel about creating graphics for the NBC AstroVision sign in Time Square, we mused about the ways networks are trying to take advantage of new media to connect better with their audiences and create more brand loyalty. Even thought it was originally written ten years ago, it still resonates today. I thought I would drag it out here for your weekend musing, in case you missed it over in CMG Keyframes.)
One of the original attractions of “multimedia” was the ability to provide additional details and background information about a subject without forcing interruptions in the linear unraveling of the central narrative (as I do here with my frequent parenthetical asides). Examples of this include allowing the user to click on hot words or photos in a CD-ROM application (do any of you still remember those?) or on a web page to take you to another page with tangential content, or attempts to present multiple media streams at once - such as text, photos, and sound - to give a wider gestalt to the story.
So where does established, linear, big media - i.e. broadcast television - fit into this picture? Although the economics are different, many of the same goals applied, even ten years ago: You have a linear central story (the program), but other details you could provide...even something as simple as outtakes from filming the program, or background on the stars. Fan magazines, newsgroups, web sites, and even TV Guide help fill this roll. NBC, in their own way, started doing the same back in the late 90s. For example, their “NBC2000” group was one of the first to put the alternate screen boxes at the end of television shows, sometimes containing outtakes or promos of other programs. With their AstroVision sign, they… more »
Business • Motion Graphics • (0) Comments • • Permalink
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Recently Added: Article on NBC Times Square Promos
Lessons learned creating alternate content 10 years ago still apply today.
Back in the late 90s, we were hired by NBC to create a series of promotional videos to play back on their AstroVision sign in Time Square. This article is a case study of one of those promos, including notes on the NBC “mondo” shoot and how we executed the visual effect of morphing the NBC peacock to a title using the Mr. Mercury effect. It also includes some musings at the end of how to take advantage of the multimedia and multiple media outlets to add value to content and enhance the fan’s experience - interesting to see that these were hot topics a decade ago, even as networks seem to struggle with the very same concepts today.
Click here to jump straight to “Playing Squash.”
more »Interactive • Motion Graphics • (0) Comments • • Permalink
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Recently Added: Elements for Editors
A simple column for motion graphics artists new to working with editors.
When we work alone, it’s easy to ask for what we need - we just get it ourselves. However, when you’re creating elements for someone else you need to be a bit more attentive, anticipating their questions and needs (unless you’re prepared to get calls at 2 AM asking just what you thought you were doing). Therefore, several years ago we wrote this column discussing some of the things a motion graphics artist should keep in mind when they create elements for editors, such as alpha channels, editing handles, and creating templates for lower thirds and the such (should the client suddenly change things on them during the edit session). If you are new, or a student hoping to get into this field (and to be known as the one who was helpful, rather than the one who caused problems), spend a couple minutes to review these tips.
Click here to jump straight to “Elements for Editors.”
more »Editing • Motion Graphics • (0) Comments • • Permalink
Monday, April 21, 2008
AE Puppet Tool
Want to learn how to turn photos into animation?
To get the hands on files Photoshopforvideo.com
more »Motion Graphics • Training • (0) Comments • • Permalink
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
NAB 2008: Plugged In
We came away with three themes buzzing in our head: plug-ins, training, and Nuke.
As expected, NAB 2008 did not reveal any major new software releases for motion graphic designers, but it did showcase a number of interesting new plug-ins. We’d like to give you a quick round-up of our favorites here; we’re arranging to give many of these more in-depth reviews up here on PVC over the next several months. We also were very interested in with what The Foundry has done with the high-end compositing application Nuke (which they acquired from Digital Domain), and came away with the impression that in this slow economy, training has become more important again.
more »Motion Graphics • NAB 08 • Training • Visual Effects • (0) Comments • • Permalink
