Sep 2006
Editor’s Retreat Offers Expanded Content
Saturday, September 30, 2006 Filed in: Motion
Graphics | Video
- The Evolving Role of the Editor
- State of the Union by Avid, Apple, & Adobe
- Power Tools - Photoshop Automation, Small Format Tips: iPods and Beyond
- Color Grading Theory and Techniques
- Business Track: Freelancers, Boutique Owners, Facility Managers
Speakers who've been added that we know and work with:
The Editors Retreat is an unparalleled industry event, exclusive to highly experienced editors of film, TV and video. To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process by a committee of peers. Running for 5 days and 4 nights, the Retreat will only be open to approximately 75 qualified applicants.
The Retreat’s focus will be evenly split between high-end technical sessions and ‘the world behind the timeline’ – the creativity and the craft of the editor, and the business of creating a thriving editing career. Presenters include award-winning editors and icons from the editing world, alumni of previous FMC ‘Master Editor’ programs and known industry power users.
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Never Lost on a Road Trip Again
• It just works, zero problems getting a signal and clear directions.
• It has Bluetooth which is really cool. Pair it with your cell phone and it works as a speaker phone. Need to find a hotel or restaurant, click the built-in guide then push the phone button and you are connected. Dial the office and you have a great hands-free speaker phone. It's clear for both parties and totally works.
• It has built-in storage, and can play music (and even cooler Audible books).
• The screen is bright and clear, plus its a touch screen
• It charges via a USB cable or runs of a cigarette adapter.
• You can put it into a pedestrian mode for walking around cities (it'll ignore one ways, or places that aren't accessible to pedestrians).
• There are no subscription fees.
Be sure to check it out... this little device has taken away a big chunk of the stress I feel in rental cars (and makes my wife happy as she uses it in her non-GPSed car when I am not traveling).
Thanks to Terry White from Adobe for the initial tip.
A Good Week for our New Photoshop Podcast
Sunday, September 24, 2006 Filed in: Education
| Training
Products
Going to Podcast & Portable Media Expo?
Saturday, September 23, 2006 Filed in: Motion
Graphics
I'll be at the Podcast and Portable Media Expo next week in California. This two day event is all about podcasting and the such. If you plan to attend, I'd love to catch up. I'll be sure to bring back a report on all that I learn. I'll also be filing reports for Inside Media Networks and will add links as the stories go online. The event will be held September 29 & 30 in Ontario, California (not far from LA). Hope to see some of you there.
A Universal Media Player
Tuesday, September 19, 2006 Filed in: Video
Classic TV Test Pattern Now as Desktop Wallpaper
Sunday, September 17, 2006 Filed in: Video
A few folks commented about my desktop pattern at a recent conference. It seems the old 'Indian head' pattern evokes some memories in many audience members.
Well the version I had comes from a Russian designer named Art. Lebedev. You'll find it and several other pieces of artwork on his posters page. For the test pattern, scroll down to the bottom and you'll find it in the right column. All are free to download.
My Laptop Backup Strategy
Sunday, September 17, 2006 Filed in: Personal
3. Remember to plug-in the backup drive weekly, and keep it in the bag of your laptop.
That's it... much less stress for the road warrior.
Lost Fans or Casual Bystanders... Catch Up!
Saturday, September 16, 2006 Filed in: Windows
So iTunes and ABC are doing something cool. You can download the season finale of Lost (as well as Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives) for free. The first Million viewers can pull down the show as well as "The Lost Survival Guide" so you can catch back up.
As a podcaster, it's an interesting concept. Making something free, but 'exclusive' (if you consider a million to be exclusive). Still, I like free TV as much as the next creative type.
Be sure to check it out.... it's free after all!
Automating FCP Project Backups (Works for others too!)
Saturday, September 16, 2006 Filed in: Apple
Over
at RHED Pixel, we've finally
come up with a reasonable backup strategy for our
FCP systems. Figured I'd share for those of you
who need it
1. Target One Folder – We save all FCP projects to an FCP folder on the internal drive.
2.
Use
Backup Software – We've
started using Data Backup from
Prosoft.
I
like this package because its affordable and I
have had great experiences with the company's
other software like Data Rescue and
Picture
Rescue. This package
allows you to pick a folder for backup. My
favorite feature is its robust scheduling tools.
• Simply purchase a 1-4 GB USB thumb drive and plug it into your system.
• Then set Data Backup to automatically open as a login item (right click on its icon in the Dock at choose Open at Login).
• Then choose to set a schedule for backup and target the thumb drive.
May your project files find a safe haven.... All for about $150 a machine (software plus thumb drive).
1. Target One Folder – We save all FCP projects to an FCP folder on the internal drive.
• Simply purchase a 1-4 GB USB thumb drive and plug it into your system.
• Then set Data Backup to automatically open as a login item (right click on its icon in the Dock at choose Open at Login).
• Then choose to set a schedule for backup and target the thumb drive.
May your project files find a safe haven.... All for about $150 a machine (software plus thumb drive).
Why You Must Download iTunes 7 Today
Saturday, September 16, 2006 Filed in: Apple
The short answer... it rocks.
Apple has taken a nearly perfect piece of software and made it better. There's a full write-up on Apple's site, but I'd like to share some standout features and what they really mean to the end user.
Movies – So they're only from Disney-owned companies (for now)... someone had to be first. What's nice is Apple upped the quality to 640X480 which looks great on a laptop and playing off an iPod to a TV set via the AV cable. By the way... it's you buy movies (and everything else) from the iTunes Store (they dropped the word Music).
Cover Flow – You can now flip through all of your 'albums' by cover.... it's a cool 3D effect that encourages browsing and helps put a face back on those 'virtual' albums. Missing artwork? No problem... iTunes will now download artwork for free and add it to any song in your library (provided the album is listed in the iTunes store).
New User Interface – The Source List allows you to view and manage all of your files and devices. It really lets you take control of your collection (especially if you have multiple iPods). iPod Games – Just what I need... a waste of time... but I've already bought three. So far Cubis is my favorite, game-play with the scroll wheel is enjoyble and at $4.99, it wasn't a hard sell. The games only work with the 5G (or video iPods) but no problems for me as my nearly year-old iPod worked fine.
Device Management – You know get total control over each iPod, including which elements sync. I particulary like the visual interface that displays the contents of an iPod.
Download Manager – You can now control the order of downloads (useful when you want to hear the music you just chosen and its stuck behind a HUGE movie file. What is even better is the ability to pause (or stop) a download and resume where you left off. This was helpful while riding the Amtrak Acela to New York as my Internet connection kept dropping (hey... tunnels... Hudson River... I understand).
Onscreen Video Controls – Straight out of QuickTime, you now get a great controller that floats over the picture (when you move the mouse). Convenient controls are easy to reach (including a useful full-screnn button). I find this most useful as my keyboard shortcut database has no room left in the brain.
Library Backup – Having lost music... I really appreciate this feature. You can now initiate a “Back Up to Disc” command. This quickly allows you to back up your entire iTunes library to CD or DVD.
Reverse Sync – If you plug your iPod into another computer that has been authorized for your iTunes account (up to 5 machines), you can now transfer music OFF the iPod. It only works with music purchases... but its flawless.
To get the new update... visit the iTunes page.
Paralells Gets Even Better
Saturday, September 16, 2006 Filed in: Windows
Long
time readers will know that we are big fans
of Parallels Desktop
solution
for running Windows on a Mac. No need for multiple
partitions or rebooting, you can have both
Operating Systems going at the same time. Plus you
can install the optional Tools that allow you to
copy and paste between systems and even access
folders on your Mac.
The good news... their trial is still available and a new update has been released.
Recent improvements include:
- Support for new quad-processor Mac Pro towers outfitted with up to 3.5GB of RAM
- Experimental support for Windows Vista
- An improved Parallels Tools package
- Better video output improvement and acceleration
- Added isochronous USB devices support (including WebCam devices)
- Keyboard support improvement: Eject CD key support and more
- Clipboard synchronization tool
- Sound playback and recording improvement
iTunes 7 – My Review
Friday, September 15, 2006 Filed in: Apple
I've put the new iTunes 7 software through a hard core review and it's awesome. With great new features for managing your media, retrieving purchased music from the iPod, and browsing by album art, it's a great update.
If you'd like to find out its best features, then head over to my graphics blog Raster|Vector for a hands-on review. You can check it out here.
Just Can't Get Enough Photoshop? We've Got Two Free Podcasts for You.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
If
you're a Photoshop fan, then we've got you covered.
We've got two Photoshop podcasts you should check
out.
- Understanding Adobe Photoshop – This is a weekly podcast targeting new and intermediate users of Photoshop in all industries. It's sponsored by Peachpit TV.
- Photoshop for Video
–
This one also
comes at you every week and focusses on those
issues facing video and motion graphic
designers. Other kinds of users may enjoy its
emphasis on speed and flexibility as well.
By the way... we're not the only one's who like them. Apple has featured both on the front page of the Technology section in their New & Notable spotlight.
Machine Wash Filters for Photoshop
Tuesday, September 12, 2006 Filed in: Adobe
The filters are priced at $49 a set, and upgrades for previous users are available if you contact tech support.
New Conference Notes
As Photoshop World winds down, its time for homework. Be sure to check out the conference handout section for extra notes and practice files. If you took a class with me, I hope you enjoyed. Have fun and keep learning.
New DVD – Motion Control: Turning Photos into Moving Footage
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Motion Control: Using Photoshop and After Effects To Tranform Still Images into Moving Footage
No longer locked to a stationary position on screen, your photos now possess distinct storytelling abilities. Join Richard Harrington, Photoshop and motion graphics guru, as he reveals the top techniques used by pros to bring still images to life. This DVD will benefit all users interested in improved storytelling abilities. You’ll learn essential techniques both in 2D and 3D space.
- Adobe Photoshop essentials
- Traditional two-dimensional motion control
- Using 3D cameras
- Working in 3D space
- Using 3D lighting to enhance your images
- Performing
advanced camera operations
- Original and processed images
- Adobe Photoshop and After Effects project assets
New Photoshop Podcast
Wednesday, September 06, 2006 Filed in: Adobe
Join us each week for a dose of professional Photoshop training. We've turned our new book, Understanding Adobe Photoshop into a weekly podcast. It's a good idea to subscribe via iTunes, as back episodes won't hang around long. If you are impatient (or want to get the whole set on a DVD) you can purchase the book.
Subscribe now and receive a dose technical training delivered every Monday. Understanding Adobe Photoshop with Richard Harrington .
The new podcast is brought to you by the fine folks at Peachpit Press.
Hope you all enjoy...
NOTE: If you haven't subscribed... don't miss our free Photoshop podcast exclusively for video pros – Photoshop CS: Essentials for Digital Video.
Understanding Adobe Photoshop Gets High Marks
Sunday, September 03, 2006
A few months ago, my new book on Adobe Photoshop was released. I'm not one for fancy titles... so I simply called this one "Understanding Adobe Photoshop." The book combined everything I learned teaching Adobe Photoshop to both college students and working pros, and it is targeted for both new users and those who are self-taught (having never taken a full college-level class).
The book is doing well (but of course... I'd be happy to sell more). It is very well-suited for classroom use as well with hundreds of hands-on exercises (including images) as well as 4.5 hours of training videos. Enough of my thoughts... what are others saying?
Read More...
New Design Tool for Slow Days
Saturday, September 02, 2006 Filed in: Education
Looking for a new design tool? Well this probably is not it... but it is fun. The Official Seal Generator can create 'official-looking' seals in a flash. Enter your text then choose a border and an emblem. You can even customize colors. A simple click of the 'Go' button and an 'Official Seal' will be generated for you. If the presets don't do it for you, the author encourages you to make contact.
There's a ton of funny things like this made by the same group, be sure to check out their site.
If You're an Experienced Video Editor... Check Out this Event
Saturday, September 02, 2006 Filed in: Motion
Graphics
Missed SIGGRAPH? Want News?
Saturday, September 02, 2006 Filed in: Motion
Graphics
If you couldn't make it to SIGGRAPH, be sure to check out these great video reports. Over at the Digital Production Buzz, you'll find several video podcasts with the newsmakers at SIGGRAPH. Additionally, you'll find additional podcasts from NAB and E3. You can subscribe to this occasional feed of video-of-interest here.
Final Results of the NLE Survey
The
polls are now closed for our August survey.
We asked: Which NLE do you prefer to use the most?
We set an all time record for responses. All said, 510 users weighed in... and the results were surprising.
1. Apple Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express (36.27%)
2. Avid Nonlinear Editing Systems (31.96%)
3. Sony Vegas (14.12%)
4. Adobe Premiere Pro (13.73%)
5. Media 100 (3.92%)
Given the number of respondents, we have determined that the survey is accurate within +/- 4%... That means Final Cut Pros lead was slim, but it still took the top spot.
We asked: Which NLE do you prefer to use the most?
We set an all time record for responses. All said, 510 users weighed in... and the results were surprising.
1. Apple Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express (36.27%)
2. Avid Nonlinear Editing Systems (31.96%)
3. Sony Vegas (14.12%)
4. Adobe Premiere Pro (13.73%)
5. Media 100 (3.92%)
Given the number of respondents, we have determined that the survey is accurate within +/- 4%... That means Final Cut Pros lead was slim, but it still took the top spot.
Going to Photoshop World? Then Take My Classes...
Friday, September 01, 2006 Filed in: Motion
Graphics | Adobe
Thursday – September 7
Do No Harm - Non-Destructive Color Correction
NAPP Expo Theatre – 03:30-04:30 pm
Help Desk Live
Various Times
Friday – September 8
Your Photoshop is in My After Effects
Motion Graphics Track – 09:30 -10:30 am
Podcasting for Educators
Peachpit Expo Theater – 12:00-12:40 pm
Photoshop in the Classroom
Peachpit Expo Theater – 2:00 - 2:40 pm
Typography in Motion
Motion Graphics Track – 4:00 - 5:00 pm
Motion Control 3D
Motion Graphics Track – 5:15 - 6:15 pm
Photoshop for Video Podcast Gets Reviewed
Friday, September 01, 2006 Filed in: Training
Products
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