Post Production

Roto Brush Parameter Changes

After Effects CC brings some changes to previous Roto Brush parameters

By Chris and Trish Meyer | May 24, 2013

As we mentioned yesterday, the Refine Edge tool is one of the most significant new tools added to After Effects CC (due to be released June 17). Refine Edge is built on top of the Roto Brush took, which was originally introduced in AE CS5. A side effect of this is that some parameter names and ranges associated with Roto Brush are changing in AE CC. The following movie reviews some of those changes:

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Ice Cold Gold editor tweets a ton of Avid tips

It's only 140 characters but you can make some good tips in a small space if you try

By Scott Simmons | May 23, 2013

Twitter is always a good place to chat about film and video post-production. It’s also a great place to pick up tips and tricks. Recently editor David Michael Maurer spent his Twitter day tweeting a slew of Avid Media Composer tips and tricks. It’s often tricky to distil a complex editing tip into 140 characters but Mr. Maurer did a good job. Since not everyone who would like to see some good Avid tips is on Twitter I’ve reposted those here, with permission.

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Using the new Refine Edge Tool in After Effects CC

Keying hair (and more) without a greenscreen

By Chris and Trish Meyer | May 23, 2013

Every time After Effects or any other major tool you use is updated, you go through a decision process of whether or not to buy the upgrade. Adobe has upped the ante this cycle by announcing the end of permanent licenses for most of their software; from now on, their major apps are only available through their Creative Cloud subscription model. We’ve avoided publicly joining the Creative Cloud debate (we happen to actually be subscribers, and we’re very happy - while also realizing it may not work for everyone), but in the meantime, we wanted to share with you more about some of the significant new features in the Creative Cloud version of After Effects so you can be better informed about your upgrade decision when the June 17 release date rolls around.

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Whip (swish) pans in After Effects & Premiere

Some tools and tutorials

By Rich Young | May 22, 2013

A whip or swish pan describes the motion of a fast camera move, as in following a passing train or spaceship. Because of motion blur, it's most often used to smooth transitions between abrupt cuts of shots or scenes. While this is often done in post, Adobe doesn't include dedicated tools for this effect, so here are some 3rd-party filters and tutorials you can use to construct whip pan transitions in After Effects and Premiere Pro.

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I miss digitizing footage from video tape

In today's way-too-much-footage file-based world that realtime capture feels like an old school luxury

By Scott Simmons | May 21, 2013

Ok, I’m going to just come right out an admit it … I miss digitizing. For those young ‘uns unfamiliar with the term that would be the process of actually having to take a video tape and capture that into the computer for editing. Some folks call it ingest, others do use the term capture but I’ve always referred to it as digitizing. I used to hate it but now I miss it. Sometimes I miss it a lot. Is that crazy?

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FCP X, Photoshop, and RAW

On this week's MacBreak Studio

By Mark Spencer | May 21, 2013

This week on MacBreak Studio, Steve Martin from Ripple Training gives us some tips on working with RAW images in Final Cut Pro X.

We've talked about RED RAW workflow in an earlier episode of MacBreak Studio - how you can work with these RAW video files natively in FCP X,... Read More

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What’s In a Name?

On the differences among grading controls and operational ordering

By Alexis Van Hurkman | May 20, 2013

In this week's somewhat detail-oriented "Answers Occasionally Given," I start out tackling the differences among color and contrast controls with similar names; in particular, the difference between Lift, Shadow, and Offset controls. Then, I move on to a reader's question about the best stage of a multi-operation color adjustment in which to adjust Luma. It's GRIPPING, I tell you…

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Beyond AVCHD: a proposed new standard for AVCHD cam manufacturers

Herein you’ll find the Beyond AVCHD Manifesto.

By Allan Tépper | May 20, 2013

Back in November 2011, I published an Open Letter to professional AVCHD camera manufacturers. In that Open Letter, I clarified what I liked about the then current offering of pro AVCHD cameras;pointed out details I found inappropriate especially for pro users; and made requests. Now I am going... Read More

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Premiere Pro News Notes #02

Creative Cloud, the Timeline, aspect ratios, Encore DVD, color, and more

By Rich Young | May 20, 2013

A series of as-they-come notes on news of assorted Premiere Pro tutorials, tips, and related tools continues.

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After Effects ExtendScript Training: Ep. 7

ExtendScript Script Writing Training

By David Torno | May 18, 2013

Welcome to episode 7 of the After Effects ExtendScript Training series. This week we will be creating new comps and folders as well as creating Nulls, Solids and Text layers.

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Archiving Final Cut Pro X Projects and Media

This Week on MacBreak Studio

By Mark Spencer | May 14, 2013

This week on MacBreak Studio, Steve Martin from Ripple Training talks about archiving your projects in Final Cut Pro X.

Once you've delivered your edit to your client, they've approved it and you've been paid, how do you go about saving that project and storing it... Read More

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UPDATE: Improve the Efficiency of Your Workflow When Switching to Adobe Premiere Pro

Join us on May 29th at 11:00am PDT for this free webcast

By PVC News Staff | May 13, 2013

UPDATE: 5/13/13 - Sebastian Distefano from Adobe, Scott Hamilton from Dell will be speaking on the webcast.

If you are considering or have already switched to Adobe Premiere Pro for your video editing, then you may want to take advantage of new hardware technologies to improve the... Read More

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After Effects ExtendScript Training: Ep. 6

ExtendScript Script Writing Training

By David Torno | May 12, 2013

Welcome to episode 6 of the After Effects ExtendScript Training series. This week we will be learning to collect data from multiple assets into an Array() via a loop. We are also going to learn how to set various values of comps, layers and properties via ExtendScript.

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OS X: Fixing AVCHD media to avoid the dreaded “CANNOT OPEN”

OS X is too picky for its own good with AVCHD media names. Here's how to fix things.

By Adam Wilt | May 10, 2013

If you’re using OS X and you copy AVCHD media folders to a NAS (network-attached storage) or a case-sensitive disk, you may run into problems: opening the media in 10.8’s Finder gives you “CANNOT OPEN” instead of a clip browser, FCP X can’t see the clips, and so... Read More

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Two Questions About Video Scopes

Ruminating on the Differences Between Visual and Graphical Analysis

By Alexis Van Hurkman | May 09, 2013

In this inaugural post of my new question-and-answer column, I tackle two kickoff queries about video scopes from colleague Scott Simmons, who thoughtfully saved me from having to come up with something on my own. If you have a question about color grading, postproduction workflow, or any interesting intersection of production and post, send it my way at ahurkman@procoalitions.com. I'll answer via this column as time permits.

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Premiere Pro (and all the Adobe apps) are going cloud only

No more software boxes or 4 figure purchase either for that matter

By Scott Simmons | May 09, 2013

It’s been an eventful few days in and around the general world of film and video post-production. If you haven’t heard (but of course you have) Adobe made the decision to move all of their software licensing to the cloud, their Creative Cloud, and charge $50 a month to access to everything they make. No more paying some $1,500 up front for the Production Premium and having a box shipped to your door. While it would be nice to have a less expensive monthly access to only those video-centric apps (I’m never going to use Dreamweaver, InDesign or Muse among others) you really do get a lot for that $50 (check out the pricing page for other price options that could lower your monthly bill to Adobe). 

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Adobe Moves Creative Suite To The Cloud - What You Need To Know

No more updates to Creative Suite as Adobe switches focus to new subscription service

By Dan Carr | May 09, 2013

Adobe announced this week at the MAX conference that Creative Suite will no longer be upgraded with new features, the future of all their creative software now lies firmly with the subscription service Creative Cloud.  Alongside this announcement they unveiled new versions of all their... Read More

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Tiffen Debuts Some New Products at NAB 2013

By Jeremiah Karpowicz | May 08, 2013

Derek Hester and Chris Fawcett from Tiffen showed off a couple new products from Tiffen at NAB 2013.  The Steadicam curve is the latest and smallest steadicam to date while the Fawcett Exovest is an ultra-light exoskeletal Steadicam vest that transfers weight into anatomically appropriate... Read More

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Look Good Fast With All-New Simplexity Projects & Templates Collection 5

Digital Juice releases easy-to-use professional template sets for After Effects, Premiere, Motion and Vegas

By PVC News Staff | May 07, 2013

Digital Juice®, the highly acclaimed developer of digital content and professional camera gear and accessories, today announced the release of Simplexity Collection 5, the latest offering in a new line of downloadable projects and templates for Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple... Read More

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Text Animation in Motion

This Week on MacBreak Studio

By Mark Spencer | May 07, 2013

This week on MacBreak Studio, I show Steve Martin from Ripple Training a few tricks for animating text in Motion.

Text, like shapes, particles, replicators, cameras, and other objects in Motion, has a dedicated set of behaviors available for animating it in various ways. In... Read More

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