Nice Tutorial on Using Motion for Pan & Scan Effects
“Animating photos is a staple effect pioneered by celebrated documentarian Ken Burns. In this tutorial Mark Spencer shows you why you should be doing these types of effects in Motion rather than Final Cut Pro.”
Click here to watch Mark's tutorial
Final Cut Help - Formatting Menus & Simulating
NIN – The Times are Changing
Yesreday they‘ve releases The Slip—a new 10-track album—for free on http://theslip.nin.com/. The record is available in virtually every flavor of DRM-free digital format, all you need to do is give them your email address. The album will eventually be available in traditional formats as well. This move mirrors those of both Radiohead and Prince.
Read More...
New Aperture Book is in My Hands
Customize the Default Adjustment Set
Specify exactly which adjustments you want to appear by default in the Adjustments Inspector/HUD. Two new commands — Add to Default Set and Remove from Default Set — are accessible in the Action pop-up menu for each adjustment in order to configure these settings.
Keyboard support in Adjustment Panels
Make precise image adjustments using the arrow keys on your keyboard to drive the various sliders in the Adjustments Inspector/HUD. To activate keyboard control, click once in the numeric field of an adjustment control (such as Exposure). You can then use the arrow keys to increase or decrease values. Hold down the Option key when using the arrow keys for even more precise adjustment. You can use Tab to move to the next adjustment control (and Shift-Tab to move to a previous control).
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Fly! (Trim on the Fly)

It’s possible to trim on the fly.
This way you can listen for an audio edit or look for
a particular visual cue. Just make sure the Dynamic
trimmimg checkbox is marked.
- Enter Trim Edit mode, and press the space bar to cycle your trim. The sequence will play around your edit point and loop. The pre-roll and post-roll are set in the Editing tab of User Preferences.
- When you reach the desired edit point, press the I key to move your In point.
- Press the up or down arrow to move through the Timeline to your next edit point.
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Adobe TV at NAB 2008 – Production Premium CS3 for Final Cut Pro Editors
If you want more free classes... visit the Adobe TV site.
The Dividing Line—Part 2
Several different options are
available when dragging within the Timeline.
When dragging in the Timeline, use these tips:
- Dragging in the Timeline horizontally results in an overwrite edit by default.
- Dragging in the Timeline horizontally results in an insert or swap edit when you hold down the Option key.
- Dragging in the Timeline vertically results in an overwrite edit by default.
- Dragging in the Timeline vertically results in an insert edit when you press the Option key after you start to drag.
- Pressing the Option key and then dragging in the Timeline vertically results in a cloned copy added to the Timeline via an insert edit.
- Pressing the Option and Shift keys and then dragging in the Timeline vertically results in a cloned copy added to the Timeline directly above the clip.
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Final Cut Help - Capturing Video
Adobe TV at NAB 2008 – Photoshop CS3 Extended for Video
If you want more free classes... visit the Adobe TV site.
Adobe Demos Future Technology at NAB
Adobe has actually posted their "secret" presentation from NAB. Hart Shafer talks about four cool things Adobe has up their sleeve.
You SO need to watch this... trust me. BTW (for those of you waiting... they did show OnLocation for Mac in this demo).
School of Podcasting Interview about Video Podcasting
You can get the interview for free right here (http://www.schoolofpodcasting.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=330803) and you should also check out their other shows which offer great perspective.
Does the World Need Another Media Player?
What does this all mean? I had a chance to sit down with Deeje Cooley, who serves as an evangelist for Adobe’s Dynamic Media Organization (and formerly as the product manager for the Adobe Media Player). Cooley was tasked with bringing the product to market and he shared insight into Adobe’s motivation for the product and goals for its role in the market. Unlike competing products, the Adobe Media Player has chosen to focus on being a video-only player.
“The growth of video online, the dramatic growth of flash as the video delivery mechanism of choice… there was a ripe opportunity to take advantage of all these events around the industry,” said Cooley. “We started to build an RSS aggregator and quickly recognized that video was going to be a significant media online and so it became a video RSS aggregator. And so that’s really the birth of the Adobe Media Player.”
MUCH MORE AFTER THE JUMP
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The Dividing Line—Part 1
When dragging tracks in the
Timeline, where you drag is as important as what you
drag. Careless dragging may result in an unintended
overwrite edit when you intended
an insert edit.
If you look closely at the Timeline, you’ll notice
that it’s divided by a thin gray line. When dragging,
look to see which region you enter to determine the
edit type.
When dragging from the Viewer or a bin, use these
tips:
- Dragging to the
upper-third of the track results in an insert edit.
• Dragging to the lower two-thirds of the track results in an overwrite edit.
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Final Cut Help - Adjusting Cellular Generators in Motion
Really Cool Adobe Announcements
In the meantime. Check out this article for details.
http://www.peachpit.com/blogs/blog.aspx?b=a75e92b0-f44f-4dfb-9eb4-96920bcaddc1
China Balls (Lighting)
Get Your Free Podcasts in One Convenient Place
Apple iTunes just promoted my company to network status. You can find all of our "in-house" technical training podcasts on a single page now.
I encourage you to take a look at our several shows.
- Understanding Adobe Photoshop – iPod and HD – A general interest show about Photoshop for beginners and intermediates
- Photoshop for Video – iPod and HD – A show about creating graphics for video pros and motion graphic designers
- Producing Video Podcasts – iPod and HD – A show that offers both production and post tips for making video for the web
- Final Cut Help – iPod – Weekly tips about using Final Cut Studio
Remember, the podcasts are totally free, all we ask is you post a review to the iTunes store and tell a friend.
Two Updated Final Cut Pro DVDs
Apple Final Cut Pro
Volume 1: Getting Started in Final Cut Pro
Volume 2: Going Deeper in Final Cut Studio
Also, you may have missed that we recently released the following titles. These also include HD and iPod versions on the same disc.
Apple Color
Volume 11: Introduction to Color
Volume 12: Advanced Color
Bundled for Savings
Apple Motion
Volume 13: Getting Started with Apple Motion
Volume 14: Going Deeper with Apple Motion
Volume 15: Advanced Techniques with Apple Motion
Bundled for Savings
NAB Show 2008 Conference Notes
Thanks to all the great people who attended my classes at NAB this year. It was a ton of work to prep (and I must admit I needed some rest when I got back home). As promised, the class notes and resources have been posted to the Handouts section (be sure to browse for other resources as well).
Here's the list of what's available.
01 Fast Start with Adobe Photoshop for Video Pros – Slides | Book Sample
02 Video Podcasting Essentials – Slides
03 Selling Podcasting to Your Clients – Slides
04 A Sense of Perspective with Vanishing Point – Slides | Practice Files
05 Creating Movement within Photos with After Effects CS3 – Slides | Practice Files 1 | Practice Files 2
06 Directing Video Podcasts – Slides
07 Project Management for Video Pros – Slides
08 In-Depth: Video Production for the Web – Slides
09 Creating a Graphic Identity for Your Web Video – Slides [Enhanced PDF]
10 Render Faster: Wait Less and Play More in Adobe After Effects – Slides
11 Storyboard Techniques with Adobe Photoshop – Slides
12 Creative and Animated DVD menus using Photoshop – Handouts
13 Automating Broadcast Design with Photoshop – Slides
14 Seeing a New Light: FCP Color Correction – Slides | DVD
’Toon Your Video in Adobe CS3 Production Premium
“Sure, clients want it…that “cartoon look.” But let’s face it; good animation is hard to come by. Unless you have a gaggle of animators locked in your closet, you’ll need to get creative. Sure, you could break out the pencil and paper (or maybe even try shadow puppets), but we’re here to offer you a different solution. By harnessing the power of Adobe CS3 Production Premium, you can convert video frames into vector art into film-resolution movie files. Curious? It’s all possible with the power of the Production Premium. Read on.”

