In this video you’ll learn to rank and sort
images in Aperture. You’ll also learn about
contact sheets and Web galleries for client
review. You can also visit the websitewww.peachpit.com/videomac
in order to download sample files.
Soundtrack Pro is a powerful tool for scoring and
adding sound design elements like sound effects,
Foley sounds, and ambient noise. Check out this
video as we take a project from Final Cut Pro to
Soundtrack Pro and back to Final Cut Pro. You can
also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac
in order to download sample files.
Use
FCP, Aperture or Logic? Be sure to download the
Apple ProKit 5.1 update to fix memory leaks
–
About
ProKit 5.1 (Leopard & SnowLeopard)
This ProKit
Update fixes issues with user interface software
resources that are shared by Apple's professional
applications.
The issues
addressed include:
Corrected an
issue with improper scrolling
behavior.
Resolved
memory leaks for improved
performance.
Addressed
layout of interface elements in certain
application alert windows.
The update is
recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio,
Final Cut Pro, Motion, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Studio
Pro, Aperture, Final Cut Express, Soundtrack,
Logic Pro and Logic Express. Get
it here –http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1008
If you're a
media pro... here are a few iPhone/iPod Touch
apps to check out. I've not played with all of
these yet, but they've all been recommended to me
(or I've used 'em).
Adorama is
running an iPhone photo contest until February
28th. You can upload photoshereor photo for
your favorite photo apphere. There's
been some great photos submitted so far
–
Click here. They have some
pretty cool prizes too!
I've been
quite happy with Aperture 3, but like many of
you... I looked forward to the first update to
address minor bugs. Well it's here! Apple
released two updates: Aperture 3.0.1 which has
several bug fixes and a digital camera update to
add support for several camera
models.
About
Aperture 3.0.1
This update
improves overall stability and addresses a number
of issues in Aperture 3, including:
Upgrading
libraries from earlier versions of
Aperture
Importing
libraries from iPhoto
Importing
photos directly from a camera
Memory usage
when processing heavily-retouched
photos
Face
recognition processing
Adding
undetected faces using the Add Missing Face
button
Printing
pages containing multiple images
Printing
photos and contact sheets with borders and
metadata
Editing
photos using an external editor
Display of
images with Definition and Straighten
adjustments applied
Zooming
photos in the Viewer and in the Loupe using
keyboard shortcuts
Accessing
Aperture libraries on a network volume
Selecting and moving pins on the Places
map
Adding and
editing custom locations using the Manage My
Places window
Switching
between masters when working with RAW+JPEG
pairs.
The
Digital Camera update also added several new
cameras to Aperture and iPhoto.
With Aperture 3, Apple has fully embraced video
acquired on DSLR cameras. In fact, you can now
manage video and audio files as easily as any
other image in your library. If you are used to
using Aperture as part of your photo editing
workflow, you'll find the addition of audio and
video support quite welcome.
Importing Video
Video and audio files are
added to your library in the same manner as any
other image. You can import files directly from a
memory card or from a hard drive. It is important
to decide where you want to store the files
before you import them. Follow these steps to
choose a location and import your files:
1. Select a project or album then click the
Import Files button in the toolbar.
2. Navigate to the desired files in the File
Browser at the bottom of the main window (this
can be files that already exist on hard drive or
a memory card).
3. Select the check boxes for the desired clips.
You can also click the Check All or Uncheck All
buttons at the top of the window.
4. In the right column, choose a destination for
the files. Specify where you want the files to be
located in Aperture:
Click a project or folder in the Library
pane to target it.
Choose New Project from the Destination
menu to create a new project to hold the
imported items.
5. Specify the media management approach
you'd like to use. Click the Store Files menu and
choose one of these options:
In the Aperture Library moves the files
into a managed library. These files can be
exported but will be copied to a new
location.
In their current location leaves the files
where they are located. This is the best
approach if you've already copied your video
files to an editing drive.
Your User folder is available (and is
labeled with your default name).
The Pictures folder in your home directory
is another option.
Choose lets you specify another location.
This option works well when you want to target
a specific drive (such as your project's media
drive). The Choose option can be used to copy
the media from the camera memory to an editing
location.
6. Click Imported Checked when you’re
ready to add the files to your project. The files
are then added to your library.
Want to create your
own Motion templates for use in Final Cut Pro? In
this video lesson you’ll learn how to
combine After Effects and Motion into a template
project that can then be updated from within
Final Cut Pro.
I have two
new iPhoto training titles released today from
Peachpit Press. I am very proud of these and hope
you enjoy them. For you pros... its perfect for
your family members/parents. These are two very
cool titles that I made especially for the iPhoto
users out there.
iPhoto: Fix
Your Photos –http://tinyurl.com/iphotofix The videos
provide easy to follow tutorials that help you
fix common problems with pictures. You'll learn
how to straighten and crop, adjust dark photos,
and bring out the color in your snapshots. You'll
also learn how to fix soft focus, red eye, and
overexposed photos. Whether you're new to iPhoto
or even an experienced user, you'll find useful
techniques and powerful shortcuts to get your
work done faster. Each lesson includes hands on
files so you can work along with the instructor.
iPhoto: Share
Your Photos -http://tinyurl.com/iphotoshare The videos
provide easy to follow tutorials that help you
share your pictures over email or post them
online to services including MobileMe, Facebook,
and Flickr. You’ll also learn techniques
for making slideshows and creating your own blog.
Whether you're new to iPhoto or even an
experienced user, you’ll find useful
techniques and powerful shortcuts to share your
photos easily. Each lesson includes hands on
files so you can follow along with the
instructor.
Hi all...
happy news in the Aperture 3 was just announced
and shipped. This is not a full review (I am
slammed with Macworld and finishing up a book for
print). But I couldn't resist playing with the
new version and look forward to jumping in.
Here are my top 10 reasons to upgrade for current
users. More details soon...
Better
Filmstrip and Fullscreen View –It's much easier
to work with your images and really get at the
details.
Backup on
Import –Have your media go to two
drives at once. This is HUGE.
Places– Yes
it's in iPhoto... but now that GPS tag makes it
so much easier to sort by location. I also use
this as a tool for site surveys and planning
from shoot scouts.
Faces
–Again... was in iPhoto last
year, but I'll take it. Facial recognition to
organize your library. This is great for
finding pictures of one subject. It's freaky
good too.
Focus
Points –Actually see where the camera
used points to auto focus. This is very useful
for evaluating sharpness.
Search on
Steroids –Okay, that's not its actual
name. But it's amazing... you can sort by
usage, face, place, time, file type, all sorts
of things. Literally search by Who, Where,
When... I'm still waiting on Why.
Nondestructive
Brushes with Edge Detection –Easily cleanup
images with all sorts of spot adjustments.
Completely nondestructive and editable,
including the ability to view the selections
mask and tweak it at any time. Oh... and they
work with Wacom tablets too. The skin smoothing
brush is dreamy good.
Curves!
– 'nuff said.
Adjustment
Presets – Useful starting points or
make your own. Can even apply them upon import
to batch fix problems.
Video
–You can organize it, trim it,
media manage it, drag it into Final Cut Pro,
export out versions, use it in new slideshows.
Uh huh... that's right... video.
(February 5, 2010)
Canon's EOS E1 video plug-in for Apple's Final
Cut Pro was released today. This new plug-in
allows simple and easy transfer of video content
from Canon’s EOS DSLR cameras directly into
Final Cut Pro.
The EOS E1 video plug-in takes advantage of Final
Cut Pro’s powerful Log and Transfer
feature, which allows users to select and mark
the video directly while it is still on the
camera, add custom metadata and ingest the clips
in the background so the editing can begin
immediately.
The EOS E1 video plug-in is a free download
available at http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/finalcutstudio/.
The plug-in is compatible with Final Cut Pro
6 or higher and currently supports Canon EOS
5D Mark II, EOS 7D and EOS 1D Mark IV
cameras.
Adding video elements to a presentation is an
easy way to make a good presentation a great one.
In this video, we add a video to an Apple Keynote
presentation and go through all the options of
using video in it.
I recently
wrote a review for a new filter called Continuum
Cartoon Look for Layers Magazine.Here it
is.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll spot the
“look”: video footage transformed to
look like a cartoon. In a traditional workflow,
the process involves rotoscoping. An artist
literally traces animation frame by frame over
the original source. The technique was invented
by Max Fleischer around 1915, and has been used
by animators on classic films such as Snow White
and the Seven Dwarves and Cinderella, as well as
modern movies such as Titan A.E. and Waking Life.
The process is very tedious, however, so many
video pros and motion graphics artists have been
on a quest for an easier solution. These days
you’ll find several products on the market
to transform your video footage to look like
it’s a cartoon. Early options such as
Studio Artist ($379;www.synthetik.com)
and market leaders like ToonIt ($399;www.redgiantsoftware.com)
have all seen heavy use.
While they’re not new to the plug-in
market, Boris FX has released their own take on
cartoon filters. The Boris Continuum Unit:
Cartoon Look breaks out four filters from the
larger plug-in package Continuum Complete. The
set is only $199 (significantly less than
competitors) and runs in several host
applications including Adobe After Effects and
Premiere Pro, as well as Apple Final Cut Pro and
Motion. The four filters for stylizing your
footage include:
We've got
another episode of MacBreak Work! Rich Harrington
shows Alex how to use Mail Merge in iWork '09.
This is a great way to create several customized
documents from a database.
Here are links to get the free episode.
Our friends
atthe Peachpit User Group
Programare making a
special offer for all Mac User Groups who are
interested delivering both great information
on video production and a great price on a
Peachpit book to their members.
MacBreak Work
is back! In this new episode we cover how to
align items in a presentation. You'll also learn
cool new transitions in Keynote ‘09.
Here are links to get the free episode.
Always
nice to have one of my books get a 10/10 review
– go team! Thanks to the folks over at
MyMac.com for a detailed review of our Aperture 2
book.
"Aperture 2:
Professionally Manage Digital Photographs goes
into every little things that Aperture can do for
you. While you can easily see and use the sliders
in the interface, it is not obvious by looking at
them that using a modifier key will improve the
tools' functionality. They are also describing
features like round-tripping to an external
editor, such as Photoshop. And if your camera RAW
file format is not yet recognized by Aperture,
did you know you can use a free DNG converter
from Adobe to be able to edit it in Aperture
without having to wait for Apple to update the
software? I point this out, because historically
speaking Adobe has been faster to implement RAW
decodes for new cameras than Apple ever was."
See the whole review here.
Get the book here.
Check out this video on making secondary
corrections in Final Cut Pro. Secondary
corrections are corrections that affect only part
of the picture. They’re very useful for
fixing problems or creating looks.
Apple's
ProRes Codec is a great tool for professional
video editors. Apple has released a version that
let's PC users and editors read the files created
on a Mac. This is great for video and mograf
folks. It's a free download. I made a new tiny
URL for my Windows friends..http://tinyurl.com/prorespc
Looking for another way to key? Be sure to check
out this video for a detailed demonstration of
keying with Apple Motion. You can also visit the
website www.peachpit.com/videomac
in order to download sample files.
Have you seen
ournew book? Be sure to check out
theFacebook groupfor more
resources.
We've also got a new podcast series too with free
tips and practice files.Webor iTunes for free.
"On a Mac, the sky's the limit for creating
professional video. With all the tools available
though, it can be a daunting task to decide which
ones offer the best solutions for combined
efficiency and high-level results. How can you
effectively communicate your vision to clients
and crew? How should you calibrate your camera
for multi-camera and green screen shoots? Is it
better to do your keying in After Effects,
Motion, or Final Cut? How should you set up your
edit suite for efficiency and accuracy? How do
you manage large amounts of media and a multitude
of formats for multiple software applications?
In
Video Made on a Mac, you'll learn the answers and
much more. Chock-full of practical advice and
step-by-step instructions, each chapter provides
insight on the critical components of production
and postproduction that can make all the
difference when you're up against a tight budget
and schedule. The accompanying DVD supplies you
with project files and high-definition footage so
you can follow along with the examples, as well
as 50 training videos. Whether you're an advanced
Mac user or just beginning to incorporate Adobe
Creative Suite into your Final Cut Studio
workflow, you'll learn to apply best-practice
techniques to all your video projects."
Are you capturing video with your DSLR
video camera? My new training video just
launched over at Kelby Training.
Editing Your DSLR Video on a Mac
Your
DSLR shoots video! Cool right!? Now what? You've
probably got more video than you know what to do
with. Richard Harrington created this course to
help you with how to edit that video footage
(using Mac software). Rich covers everything from
in-the-field tips all the way to post-production
techniques using Final Cut Pro, Final Cut Express
and iMovie
While it is said to
affect only a "small number of customers," I am
glad this update was released (I'm small
apparently). Apple released an update to fix
"intermittent hard drive related pauses" that
could impact performance.
The update is for the following machines:
Check out
ournew podcast
series. Join Richard Harrington
and Robbie Carman as we show you how to create
professional video on the Mac. We share videos
and project files using real world examples in
Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite.
From pre-production to post, these podcasts
gives you a sample of what you can learn using
their book,Video Made on the a
Mac.You can
use the code MACVIDEO for 35% off and free
shipping.
Watch
the latest FREE episodes:
•Organizing Images with
Bridge
•Prepping Storyboards for
Animation
Do you ever wonder what’s
going on with your laptop battery? Does it seem
like it just doesn’t power your MacBook Pro
as long as it used to?
Check outcoconutBatterywhich shows you
the current maximum capacity of a battery in
relation to the original capacity your battery
had as it left the factory. You can also find
out how many battery-loadcycles (how often did
you fully load your battery). This information
is useful because you can tell when a battery
is going bad (and if you aren't being a good
laptop owner). Plus it will tell you how old
the computer is, which is useful for birthday
parties and whining about needing a new
machine. You can get coconutBattery for free
byclicking
here.
If all this talk aboutbattery
maintenancehas you confused,
visitthis pagefor some useful
tips. While its an Apple page, the same advice
holds true for Windows laptops with Lithium
Ion batteries.
I often find
when I am browsing the Net to select text and
drag it to the Desktop. I often use these
clippings as a way to gather a few notes. The
only problem with this system is that you
can’t modify the clipping. If you open the
clipping in the Finder you can read it, copy the
text to your clipboard, but that’s about
it. But don’t worry, there’s a great
piece of freeware to make tweaks.
Everyday Software has released ClipEdit so you
can modify both text and image clippings. The
program is free and very useful if you collect
bits of knowledge/trivia. For best results try
the following.
1. Right-click (Control-click) on a clipping file
and choose Get Info.
2. Change the Open with: drop down menu to
ClipEdit
3. Click Change All…
ClipEdit is now set as the default editor for all
clippings… much more useful and all
it’ll cost you is a visit toEveryday
Software.
So, making a book using
iPhoto is still the best. I sat down and was
going to use Aperture, but it didn't have
the theme I wanted (although both use the
same engine and printer service). If you've
never made a book, the process is a snap.
1. Select the photos you want in the browser
(pick more than you think you'll need)
2. Click the Book icon in the Toolbar
3. Flip from page to page (choosing layout
options from the Toolbar)
4. Drag photos in and scale and position using
intuitive controls.
Mini books start at $4 and larger books range
between $20 -$30 depending on soft or hard
covers. It really makes a nice keepsake for
friends or even a new way to build a portfolio.
But what about 'proofing?' Well you can share the
book before you print it.
1. In iPhoto, choose File > Print.
2. In the Print Window, choose Save as PDF.
3. Pick a destination, then name the file and
click OK.
4. Send the PDF to those who need to review it.
The mini books make great leave behinds for
clients or potential employers.
This is a
book that I’ve wanted to write for a LONG
time.
Video Made on a Mac: Production and
Postproduction Using Apple Final Cut Studio and
Adobe Creative Suite
Richard Harrington I have just
returned my final comments for the new book Video
Made on a Mac. We are now compressing the 5.5
hours of HD video lessons that come with this
book. This book is SO awesome... (I am not
objective, but its the best book I've ever
written). If you work with Final Cut Studio
and/or Adobe Creative Suite... You need this
book. We have filled it to the brim with time
saving workflow and practical advice. Here’s the official
blurb – You can order it
hereon Amazon (it’ll
ship in a few weeks).
On a Mac, the sky's the limit for creating
professional video. With all the tools available
though, it can be a daunting task to decide which
ones offer the best solutions for combined
efficiency and high-level results. How can you
effectively communicate your vision to clients
and crew? How should you calibrate your camera
for multi-camera and green screen shoots? Is it
better to do your keying in After Effects,
Motion, or Final Cut? How should you set up your
edit suite for efficiency and accuracy? How do
you manage large amounts of media and a multitude
of formats for multiple software applications?
In Video Made on a Mac, you'll learn the answers
and much more. Chock-full of practical advice and
step-by-step instructions, each chapter provides
insight on the critical components of production
and postproduction that can make all the
difference when you're up against a tight budget
and schedule. The accompanying DVD supplies you
with project files and high-definition footage so
you can follow along with the examples, as well
as 50 training videos. Whether you're an advanced
Mac user or just beginning to incorporate Adobe
Creative Suite into your Final Cut Studio
workflow, you'll learn to apply best-practice
techniques to all your video projects.
Need to know the latest
about Final Cut Studio? Want to look
something up about ProRes from your iPhone?
Hate those big printed manuals that waste
paper?
While its not a revolutionary step (others like
Adobe have already placed their docs online) it
is still a welcomed event. Some might wonder if
trimming the manuals out allowed the huge price
cut?
Regardless… the manuals and an even better
Workflows document are now online.
The Apple documentation team has converted all of
the documentation for the web. It is freely
searchable and can even be linked to if you need
to point to a specific article to help a
colleague (an even nicer way to say RTFM).
You’ll find them here athttp://documentation.apple.com/
A great document is also the “Final Cut
Studio Workflows.” It’s a little
hidden within the Final Cut Pro help
library:http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutstudio/workflows/
It offers great ideas on how Final Cut Studio
applications fit into a post-production
workflow. You’ll also find practical
guidance on how Final Cut Studio apps work with
one another.
Enjoy.
Yes we all new it would
eventually come… the “new Final Cut
Studio” was announced. We’ll let the
cheers and moans begin after a few days of
testing the final release (just ordered mine 30
minutes ago).
But there are a few surprises.. mainly price!
Here’s the great news (especially in this
economy)
Final Cut Studio 2 – NEW was $1,299the new Final
Cut Studio – NEW is $999
Here’s the best news Final Cut Studio 2
upgrade – was $499 - $699the new Final
Cut Studio upgrade – is
$299
I have confirmed… doesn’t matter
which version you are upgrading from… I
took it right to Apple and got a straight answer.
That is $299 for ANYONE to upgrade from a full
copy of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Studio (except
Student or NFR copies).
More on new features soon… but let me just
say:
In the current economic client, it’s truly
appreciated to see software pricing that respects
the long-term customer. This is a
no-brainer upgrade… speed and power without
pinching your wallet. Thanks Apple… I
mean it!
Full press releaseHERE
I just got
this email from Apple about a special on Time
Machine.
“Save $30 on a 500GB Time
Capsule. Time Capsule works with Time Machine in
Leopard to back up your Mac computers wirelessly
and automatically. And as a MobileMe member, you
can access files on your Time Capsule drive over
the Internet, wherever you go.”
Use this Promo Code at checkout:T2N3L7GJE8”
The code might be a one-time use.... so try it
(first come first served).
I recently
spoke at the Authors Video Workshops in Boston.
The event was sponsored by theBOSFCPUG&Focal
Press. Over two days, I spoke on
three topics I am passionate about: Photoshop,
Final Cut, and web video.
Here are some of the promised resources.
If you’ve wondered why I’ve been so
quite lately... it’s because I’ve
been hard at work on both of these books.
I’m proud to announce that these will be
shipping in just a few weeks. Both feature a ton
of new projects and all sorts of new tips. Even
if you have previous editions of the books, you
won’t want to miss these. We’ve
completely rewritten nearly every chapter with a
ton of new projects, design tips, and a bunch of
really helpful advice.
Apple
Training Series: iWork 09
In the only Apple-certified guide to
iWork ’09, you’ll learn to create
everything from first-rate business presentations
and newsletters to effective budgets and event
planners. Focused lessons take you step by step
through all aspects of Keynote, Pages, and
Numbers. The self-paced book/DVD combo uses
real-life material and practical lessons that you
can apply immediately to your own projects.
You’ll learn to:
• Master the iWork suite of tools quickly
through fun, real-world projects
• Design a Keynote presentation from
storyboard to Web export
• Add animated charts and motion
backgrounds to a presentation with ease
• Publish great-looking newsletters and
brochures in print and on the Web
• Build a professional marketing package
from scratch
• Create expense reports, track budgets,
and plan special events
• Sort, organize, and chart data using
sophisticated spreadsheet calculations
Apple Training Series: iLife 09
In the only Apple-certified guide to
iLife ’09, the authors have you working
miracles with iLife within the first few pages.
Featuring footage and images from around the
world, this book/DVD combo uses real-life
material and practical lessons that you can apply
immediately to your own projects. Focused lessons
take you step by step through all aspects of
iLife ’09—everything from organizing
and sharing your photo library to creating
polished video and soundtracks. Along the way,
you’ll produce movies, photobooks,
podcasts, websites, blogs, and custom DVDs.
Get iLife ‘09 for 34% off the
cover price
I
worked hard on these... there’s a ton of
new stuff and I really hope you check them out.
Seems like times
are changing... Apple (and more importantly,
movie studios) have decided to start offering
high-definition movie sales and rentals through
the iTunes Store. This is yet another sign that
consumers want digital downloads (and are willing
to pay a fair price). Let’s hope more
studios come on board.
Starting
today, movie fans can purchase box office
blockbusters for download in HD for $19.99 from
iTunes, and films will be available as iTunes
Movie Rentals in HD for $4.99 within 30 days
after release. Customers can enjoy these films in
HD on their Mac or PC and on their widescreen TV
with Apple TV, as well as in standard definition
on their iPhone or iPod with video.
I
recently had a chance to shoot a bunch of
podcasts with Alex Lindsay and the great folks
atPixel
Corps.
“Learn how to get the most out of your mac
at Work! From iWork to communication to databases
to networking hardware – MacBreak Work will
help you MACsimize your productivity!”
Be sure to check out the new show, MacBreak Work.
You can view it on thewebor subscribe for
free iniTunes.
We’ve
partnered with the cool folks over at mDialog to
bring you our Aperture show... now on Apple TV
and the iPhone. To view our episodes on your
phone, just download the free mDialog application
from the iTunes App Store.
“The mDialog application is always
available as a
free download worldwide from Apple's App
Store on iPhone and IPod Touch, or at
www.itunes.com/appstore/ or click on the
link on the mDialog site.”
Be
sure to download and try it out.... it works
great and is absolutely free.
I know some
of you hate iPhone posts (sorry)....
But here’s something I just had to gush
about.... Themophie Juice PackiPhone battery
is shipping. I had the original battery pack,
but with the new form-factor for the 3G
phones, I had to upgrade. Here’s the
specs:
Standby Time
– Up to 350 hours
Talk Time
– 6 additional hours on 3G | 12 hours on
2G
Internet Use
– 6 additional hours on 3G | 7 hours on
Wi-Fi
Audio
Playback – 28 additional
hours
Video
Playback – 8 additional hours
This device is absolutelyawesomeand lets me get through a
long day of business.
Besides repairing, the Retouch brush in
Aperture offers the ability to clone within an
image. This works well to copy pixels from one
area of an image to another as a way to hide
imperfections or repeat objects. The cloning
option is fast because it doesn’t attempt
to blend pixels.
1 Press X to select the Retouch tool.
2 Select the Retouch HUD and click the Clone
button.
3 In the Retouch HUD, adjust the brush Radius and
the Softness.
4 Hold down the Option key and click the area you
want to sample.
Tip
It’s often better to take a few strokes to
build up the texture. Be careful as you clone so
you don’t introduce stray strokes.
5 Brush over the area you want to clone.
6 Repeat brushstrokes as needed.
Tip
If you get an unintended stroke,
you can choose Undo. If you return to a retouched
image you can also delete a Retouch brush stroke
at any time by clicking the Delete button in the
Retouch area of the Adjustments pane. Note that
brush strokes can be deleted only in reverse
order because they’re recorded
sequentially.
As an iPhoto user
chooses to migrate to Aperture, they’ll
likely have a large library of images to bring
with them. Aperture offers twoasy ways to migrate
iPhoto images into your Aperture library. Which
method you select will vary depending upon your
needs.
Migrating an Entire iPhoto
Library
When
you launch Aperture for the first time, a dialog
offers to let you import your entire iPhoto
library. You can choose to copy the images into
your Aperture library or to simply reference the
images in their current location. Even if you
choose not to import your Aperture library the
first time you launch, you can do so at any time.
Because Aperture and iPhoto are both manufactured
by Apple, the two programs are designed to share
information seamlessly. For example, any
organization you did to create albums in iPhoto
will translate into projects in Aperture. The
EXIF, keywords, ratings, and applied adjustments
are also maintained.
Importing an iPhoto
library is very easy. To import your iPhoto
library, do the following:
1. Choose File >
Import > iPhoto Library. Aperture navigates
automatically to your current iPhoto library.
2. Select the iPhoto Library folder using the
file browser.
3. Choose the location where
you’d like Aperture to store your images.
Choose "In the Aperture Library" from
the Store Files pop-up menu to store
imported masters in the Aperture library.
This will allow Aperture to manage the
images in its library architecture.
Choose "In their current location" from
the Store Files pop-up menu to import the
files as referenced images. This means the
files are stored in their current locations
on your hard drive.
Choose "Pictures" from the Store Files
pop-up menu to store imported masters in
the Pictures folder for the current user.
The images are treated as referenced
images.
Choose "Choose" from the Store Files
pop-up menu and pick a folder where you
want to store the imported masters as
referenced images. You can also specify an
organization method for the images by
clicking the Subfolders pop-up menu.
4. Specify a naming convention from the Version
Name pop-up menu. You can choose Master Filename
from the Version Name pop-up menu to store your
images using the current master filenames
assigned by the camera. There are also several
options for assigning custom names.
5. Click Import to add the images to your
Aperture library.
Welcome to Part
1 in our series comparing iPhoto to Aperture. I
invite you to check out theApple Pro Training Series guide
to Aperture 2for more
information on getting the most out of this
powerful software.
Nondestructive Image
Processing
Both Aperture
and iPhoto offer nondestructive image
processing.At any point during the image
adjustment process you can restore your image to
its original state.Although both iPhoto and
Aperture feature nondestructive imaging,they take
a different approach to achieve it.
Oftentimes you’ll need to create a form
letter to send to multiple clients (such as an
address change or a promotional letter). If
you’d like to personalize these letters,
Apple Pages makes it easy to insert data
you’ve defined for contacts in Address
Book. This can save you time because you can
reuse a letter, envelope, or other document for
multiple people. This feature is generally called
a mail merge.
Read More...
The following tip comes from
theApple Pro Training Series:
Aperture 2book published
by Peachpit Press.
Let’s look at two adjustment controls in
the RAW Fine Tuning controls group: Boost and Hue
Boost. Aperture includes a set ofcamera profiles
for all supported cameras.These profiles give
Aperture specific details about each
camera’s imaging characteristics,and are
used to determine what color and contrast
adjustments should be automatically applied to
the RAW file.These adjustments are done to apply
the optimal decode based on the manufacturer
ofthe camera.
The Boost slider lets you control the degree to
which this default adjustment is applied to your
image.By default,the Boost slider is set at full
strength,so your image appears with the full
level ofcorrection.As you drag the slider to the
left,the correction is reduced.The Boost slider
is handy for times when you feel your images have
too much contrast or are a little too saturated.
Read More...
What
would happen if you locked Bill Gates and Steve
Jobs in the same apartment (like Big Brother)?
Well you get the risque comic strip
–The Silicon
Apartment(PG-13). The strip
is really quite good and skewers both sides.
Just saw WALL-E
with my son, and in typical Pixar fashion, it is
awesome!
Two quick things I found hilarious for the
Mac-Geeks out there.
First, there is a character in the film called
Auto, who is an auto-pilot robot for the ship.
The character’s voice is done byMacintalk, the speech
synthesizer included with the Mac back in
1984. It sounded familiar, and I confirmed it
as the “actor credit” actually
appears at the end of the film.
Second, there is a scene where WALL-E reboots...
and yes, it is the Macintoshstartup chimethat you
hear. I found myself laughing out loud (and I
think I was the only one within 20 rows of me
who got the joke (geek!).
Seems like a
lot of folks have forgotten (or never learned)
how to scan photos. With this is mind, I offer
some practical scanning advice. Several problems
can be introduced by those using antiquated
scanners with a distinct lack of skill. To get
the best results, try the following:
Before
scanning an image, ensure you have the latest
software needed by your scanner. You can always
check their websites or use Version Tracker.
Having problems with a lack of support on the
OSX side for older scanners. I recommend
checking out VueScan from Hamrick
Software.
There’s
been a lot of ho-hum reviews on the Apple
TV… too much of this, not enough of
that… but these have all been focussed on
the consumer space and the living room.
What I’m here to tell you is why video pros
should care about the Apple TV (and why we swear
by it in my shop). Here are a few reasons
we use Apple TV at my shop, RHED Pixel.
Read More...
In the category of
so new the paint is still drying.... I present to
you the Aperture 2: Quick Tip podcast. You can
find the first two episodesonline now(as well as
embedded here for streaming).
To see the show
online and subscribe in a web browser:
HD Web –http://www.podango.com/podcast/3044/Aperture_2_Quick_Tip__HD HD
iTunes –http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=282371228 iPod
Web –http://www.podango.com/podcast/3043/Aperture_Quick_Tips__iPod iPod
iTunes–http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=282371245
“Looking to learn all about Aperture
2, Apple's powerful image-editing and
organization software? Whether you are new to
Aperture or an experienced pro, there's a lot to
learn. Aperture 2 is a major update, adding over
100 new features as well as support for a wide-
range of digital SLR cameras. This podcast is
based on the best selling book, Apple Pro
Training Series: Aperture 2 and features co-
author RIchard Harrington. Join us each week for
a concise, but detailed look at the useful tools
and workflows used by imaging professionals.
Aperture 2's new features are completely covered,
including a new RAW-image processing engine, a
streamlined interface, powerful new adjustment
tools, and added integration with Mac OS X and
other Apple products for instant web publishing
and one-click portfolio syncing. You'll learn
time- saving techniques for sorting, ranking, and
organizing images, effective methods for
correcting and enhancing images, plus efficient
ways to display images for client review, apply
metadata, update your online portfolio
automatically, and much more. Real-world
exercises feature professional photography from a
variety of genres, including photo-journalism,
sports, wedding, commercial, and portraiture. To
learn more on the software, be sure to check out
the Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2
book.”
Once the displays are attached, you’re
ready to configure Aperture for multi-screen
viewing. When two displays are connected to your
Mac, Aperture considers the main
display—the one with the menu bar—to
be the primary Viewer. The other display is the
secondary Viewer. By default, the primary Viewer
displays the Aperture application.
Let’s specify the function of the
secondary Viewer.
Read More...
I know a lot of folks who are hesitant to
upgrade.... I admit, I've been burned by
installing updates as soon as they come out...
but hey, that's why I'm an early adopter. The
latest Mac update looks to include several
important bug fixes and enhancements. Here's a
few that tip the scale in favor of installing.
Addresses an issue with stuttering video
and audio playback in certain USB devices.
Fixes an issue in which certain attached
hard drives may not show up in the Finder.
Includes additional RAW image support for
several cameras.
Improves 802.1X behavior and
reliability.
Improves reliability when using Time
Capsule.
Fixes reliability issues with authenticated
RSS feeds.
Addresses compatibility issues with
Aperture 2.
Addresses reliability issues when
performing a full restore from a Time Machine
backup.
You can access the update through your Apple
Menu.... I’ve been running it for several
days and all seems happy. Additionally, several
new pro digital cameras were added for Raw
support.
Sometimes
third-party plug-ins fill obvious holes... this
is truly the case here. Wouldn't it make sense to
be able to quickly send photos from Apple
Aperture to Final Cut Pro? You'd think that sort
of thing would be built right in (its not).
Fortunately the fine folks over atConnected Flowover an elegant
(and free)solution.
“The Aperture to Final Cut Pro plugin lets
you take your images stored in Apple's
professional photo management application and
send them directly to a video sequence in Final
Cut Pro. From within Aperture, you can select
photos, set their order and duration and select
transitions between frames.”
The Aperture to Final Cut Pro plugin is afree downloadand is provided
on an as-is basis.
As both a
photographer and author, his challenge in
writing books like this one is to remember that
the purpose of the software is not to bring
something out that wasn’t there, but
rather to enhance something that (for whatever
reason) you couldn’t capture. We’ve
all been in those situations where time is so
short that you don’t get the lighting
quite ideal, etc.
Right now,
use of an Aperture plug-in works much like a
round-trip to Photoshop. A new version of the
image is created, edited via the plug-in, and
“returned” to Aperture’s
control. Granted, you never alter your original
image, so you never lose the ability to go back
and start again on a process that utilized a
plug-in. Ultimately, true non-destructive
plug-ins might happen, but there’s no
absolute way to know with Apple being so
tight-lipped about their development process.-
The book covers a wide range of output targets
including prints, books, web use, iPhone,
AppleTV, etc.
I came home
tonight and found a copy of Apple Pro Training
Series: Aperture 2 sitting on my door step. I'm
quite happy with how the book came out
(especially since we were able to work in all of
the new features in the 2.1 release). The book
should start shipping within days...you canorder it
here.
In the mean
time (here are some features you won't want to
miss).
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).
Adobe released the
Adobe Media Player software on April 9, which
allows a customizable, cross-platform media
player experience. Built using the Adobe AIR
runtime, the media player harnessed the power of
Flash to create a rich media experience. To
complete the experience, Adobe adds support for
both RSS feeds and H.264 video, two of the open
standards used by the podcasting movement.
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
Read More...
I just released
two newly updated Final Cut Pro discs. We updated
our Absolute Training for Final Cut Studios Disc
1 & 2. Both DVDs are full current for Final
Cut Studio 2 and include hands-on training files
as well as HD resolution training and iPod files.
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.
I took the
plunge and got an Apple TV for our living room
(we already had one in the office). The Device is
cross-platform and works really well. Apple
updated the software in February and added some
great features. Here's what I like the most:
The HD
Rentals work great and look on par with
Blu-ray
Movies are
affordable, priced between $2.99 and
$4.99
Downloads
start to play in less than 5
minutes
I can watch
podcasts on the big screen (it's weird to watch
yourself in HD)
Accessing
music, movies, and photos from any computer in
the house is near instant
The device is
easy to hook up
My three-year
old can figure it out
YouTube's
expected switch to bigger image size will be
great
Numbers is a
really useful spreadsheet program that comes in
the Apple iWork suite. I'm a big fan (I wrote
theofficial
bookafter all). I just stumbled
across this great website calledNumbersTemplates.comthat offers a
ton of free templates that makes Numbers even
more useful.
Some of my favorites include.
When I look
at what Apple has accomplished its been an
interesting journey. The company has released a
ton of great products (and also a few clunkers).
I have found agreat imagethat lets you
see much of the product line laid out
chronologically. After all, you can't get to
the great Mighty Mouse without first passing
the "hockey puck."
It really is pretty interesting tosee the "big"
picture. Be sure to click on the
graphic so you can zoom in and view.
Photoshop for
Video - Working With Photos
Richard Harrington uncovers
techniques essential for video editors who are
working with Photos in Photoshop. He shares his
best practices for working with graphic and still
images in a video environment.
Photoshop for
Video - Technical Essentials
Join
Adobe Certified Trainer Richard Harrington, as he
uncovers the Technical Essentials of Adobe
Photoshop CS3 for video professionals and
enthusiasts.
You can access all the classes online for only
$19.99 per month (besides mine there's a ton of
great stuff up there).
Forgive the
short blog posts... I'm a little busy for the
next two weeks finishing this:
“Fully updated for
Aperture 2, this comprehensive book-DVD training
combo starts with the basics of image management
and takes you step by step all the way through
Aperture's powerful photo-editing,
image-retouching, proofing, publishing, and
archiving features. Aperture 2's new features are
completely covered, including a new RAW-image
processing engine, a streamlined interface,
powerful new adjustment tools, and added
integration with Mac OS X and other Apple
products for instant web publishing and one-click
portfolio syncing. Apple Pro Training Series:
Aperture 2 delivers comprehensive training - the
equivalent of a two-day course - in one
project-based book. You'll learn time-saving
techniques for sorting, ranking, and organizing
images, effective methods for correcting and
enhancing images, plus efficient ways to display
images for client review, apply metadata, update
your online portfolio automatically, and much
more. Real-world exercises feature professional
photography from a variety of genres, including
photo-journalism, sports, wedding, commercial,
and portraiture. All the files you need to
complete the exercises are included on the
DVD.”
And by fully-updated... its a completely new book
with all-new photos and a ton of cool new things.
From Scott
Kelby's Photoshop Insider Blog
We’ve
posted our first online class from Digital Video
Guru (and Photoshop World Instructor)
Richard Harrington, and
it’s one a lot of people have been asking
for:Getting Started with Apple
Motion.Here’s
the link to Rich’s new online class over
atKelbyTraining.com.
Note: We’ve got a lot more classes coming
from Rich very soon, so stayed tuned!
(That’s TV talk. I thought Rich would
appreciate that type of jargon).
I've just
completedthree new DVDs on Apple
Motion. We shot the titles in HD,
and the screen quality is awesome. On each
title you get a regular DVD, iPod ready files,
and HD files for viewing on a computer or
Apple TV. There are three volumes at $59 each
or a bundle of all three for $139. Each comes
with hands on lesson files and a lot of cool
stuff is covered.
“From beginner to master in one set, these
three DVD’s will take you step by step
through Apple Motion and have you ready to tackle
complex projects in just hours. Join Richard
Harrington in this three DVD set of clear,
concise training that will have you producing
higher quality work with Apple Motion in no
time.”
You can get the training fromVASST.com. If you want a discount
code... Post a comment and I'll send it to
you.
Major
Upgrade Features Improved Interface, Faster
Browsing & Enhanced Image Processing
Press
Release: CUPERTINO, California—February 12,
2008—Apple® today introduced
Aperture™ 2, the next major release of its
groundbreaking photo editing and management
software with over 100 new features that make it
faster, easier to use and more powerful. With a
streamlined user interface and entirely new image
processing engine, Aperture 2 also introduces new
imaging tools for highlight recovery, color
vibrancy, local contrast definition, soft-edged
retouching, vignetting and RAW fine-tuning, and
lets users directly post their portfolios on the
.Mac Web Gallery* for viewing on the web,
iPhone™, iPod® touch and Apple TV®. At a
new low price of $199, anyone can easily
organize, edit and publish photos like a pro.
The
new update is great.... I'm actually co-authoring
the official Apple book on the software now. More
details soon.
I saw
this
verycool product at
Macworld Expo calledFlow. It is a
revolutionary workflow management technology
designed to work with Adobe and Apple
software. The product took Best of Show (and
for good reason). You cansee it in actionin a video
demo on their site.
"Flow
is a revolutionary approach to digital content
management that dramatically simplifies the
design process for creative professionals working
on graphic design, web and video projects. Flow
automatically tracks your work from idea to end
result and manages your assets and applications
for your most complex projects- all without
changing the way you
work."
Flow isn't shipping for a while, but GridIron is
acceptingsign-ups for beta
testing.
Just wanted
to let you know that Amazon is running a special
on thenew Final Cut bookI co-authored.
They've got the book for less than $20 (thats
a third off the cover price).
Book
Description
Packed
with more than 500 techniques, this book delivers
what you need to knowon the spot. It is suited to
editors of all experience levels, whether you
are:
Migrating
from another NLE
Upgrading to
Final Cut Studio 2
Seeking a
handy reference to raise your
proficiency
Lot of bugs
lately with QuickTime (especially in pro video
applications). We've personally seen issues in
both Final Cut Pro and After Effects.
Apple has
released a new update to QuickTime... lets hope
it's elusive “improves compatibility with
third-party applications” actually means
something.
Visithttp://www.apple.com/support/quicktime/for more
information.
Like many out there... I find some of the
cosmetic changes in Leopard are bothersome.
Fortunately, a donationware application
namedXspinnerdoes the trick.
Customize the
Dock
Change the
look of the menu bar
Use Widgets
outside of the Dashboard
Customize the
default Save and Print dialogs in all
applications
Tweak Finder
settings
Run system
maintenance scripts
and access
system utilities and system logs
The biggest
changes I like are making the menu bar opaque
again, showing file paths in windows, and
tweaking the Dock. The application is highly
recommended as it is very stable and does not
have to keep running after the changes are made.
I just wanted to
let you know that our new training on Apple Color
is shipping (Motion will be coming very soon as
well).
Absolute
Training for Final Cut Studio, Vol. 11
Introduction
to Color
Join
Apple Certified Trainer Jeff Greenberg as he
takes you through the basic and intermediate
features of Apple Color. As a leading presenter,
trainer, and creator of multimedia content, Jeff
guides viewers through the most important
features in Apple Color. His presentation style
empowers users to get up and running in Color
immediately.
Absolute
Training for Final Cut Studio, Vol. 12
Advanced Color
Join
Apple Certified Trainer Jeff Greenberg as he
takes you well beyond the basics in Advanced
Color from VASST. This DVD is designed for users
who want to take advantage of the high end
features found in Apple Color. As a leading
presenter, trainer, and creator of multimedia
content, Jeff’s presentation style allows
viewers master the advanced features in Color
quickly and easily.
I just picked
up a new book that I highly recommend on
maximizing your efficiency and workflow with
Final Cut Pro. Be sure to check outFinal Cut Pro Workflows: The
Independent Studio Handbookby Jason Osder
and Robbie Carman. The book has a lot of
coverage on integrating graphics with Final
Cut Pro and is truly useful.
“Today's digital production tools empower
the small team to produce multimedia projects
that formerly required large teams. Orchestrating
a production requires more than proficiency with
the postproduction tools. Final Cut Pro
Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook offers
a cookbook of postproduction workflows that teams
can follow to deliver an array of products to
their clients. It describes appropriate
postproduction workflows, team roles and
responsibilities, and required equipment for some
of the most common media productions.”
With an easy style and great depth,Final Cut Pro Workflows: The
Independent Studio Handbookis an enjoyable
and important read. Osder and Carman offer a
diverse background and extensive experience
with Final Cut Pro.
I've launched a new
resource site called Final Cut Help to offer you
more news on Final Cut Studio as well as
centralize all of my Final Cut resources and
training products. Here are a few things you may
like.
Those who know me personally, know I am
very passionate about podcasting. I have been
hard at work for the last year on a new book on
just that, video podcasting. My business partner,
Mark Weiser, and I have taken many of the hard
lessons learned at RHED Pixel and put them into a
book. The book is full color and richly
illustrated, plus there will also be a companion
website and podcast launching in January.
The book ships in February, but you can get the
biggest discount by pre-ordering it from
Amazon.com.
I've taken
part in MacUpdate's bundle deals for a while
now... here's theirlatest and
greatest. This deal runs out soon.
“MacUpdate has partnered with 11 Mac
developers to bring you a great software bundle.
You can buy this bundle for $49.99 instead of
$666.74, a savings of $616.75 This amazing offer
is time limited so buy today.”
Here are my favorites from the bundle
ForkLift
–A
useful FTP application
RapidWeaver
–A
great website and blogging tool, how this
website is made.
Xslimmer
–Trim an applications by
removing universal versions (going to just PPC
or Intel) as well as Internationalization
files.
Yep
– A really cool cataloging tool
for PDF files
SRS iWOW
–Makes iTunes sound great on a
laptop.
XMIND 2008
Pro –A mind-mapping application
that helps creative types get their ideas
down.
iStabilize
–A
REALLY good image stabilization program for
shaky footage.
PulpMotion
–A
surprisingly useful motion graphics tool with
some cool templates
I am very
proud to tell you that the new book Final Cut
Studio on the Spot is shipping. This third
edition has a ton of new things including
dedicated chapters on Multi-camera Editing and HD
(and the audio chapter is HUGE). In told, more
then half the book is new... so if you own a past
edition, this update is worth it (and if you
don't have it.. then go now). This time Robbie
Carman came on board with some helpful tips and
tricks.
Optimize
system performance
Create
impressive titles with Generators, Motion,
LiveType, and Photoshop
Work quickly
with buttons and keyboard shortcuts
Color correct
to save vital shots, and keep them broadcast
legal
Fix and mix
for professional-quality audio
Design and
import graphics seamlessly
Integrate
with other applications including Motion,
Soundtrack Pro and Color
Manage media
and backup strategies
Export and
publish finished projects to tape, DVD, or the
Web
We absolutely
adore Apple’s Keynote software. Besides
importing PowerPoint files and creating
beautifully animated 3D charts, it likes to
share. In fact, it can create any QuickTime
format. Just set up your document for a video
size and export a QuickTime movie with the Export
command.
I recently
picked up a new tablet for home use... it's
actually for my three-year old who seems a bit
too fascinated with the tablets in my office.
Becuase budget was an issue, I picked up the
newWacom
Bamboo. What I thought was merely
a replacement for the old Graphire tablets is
so much more. It's easy to set up, very
responsive, and fun to use.
The Bamboo comes in a standard version, simply
called Bamboo, which is targeted towards Windows
users who need signature abilities for their
documents as well as a few other perks. The "Fun"
version costs $20 more (unless you go for the
larger one, then its $120 more).
The tablet has four programmable buttons as well
as a touch wheel. It also comes with a full
version of Adobe® Photoshop® Elements and Corel®
Painter™ Essentials. What surprises me is
that the tablet costs the same as buying
Photoshop Elements as a stand-alone application.
The tablet is a nice addition to a home
workstation and would be a great entry point for
a new tablet user.
I just got done
fighting with Adobe Photoshop in front of a live
audience of people (which is pretty frustrating).
Photoshop crashed every time I tried to open a
file, save a file, etc. Pretty frustrating... but
I solved it. The culprit wasVersion Cuefrom Adobe.
Every time File Navigation Services were
invoked to Open, Browse, or Save... Photoshop
crashed.
Here's
the fix.
1. Choose Photoshop > Preferences.
Apple offers
an excellent service for online storage, tools,
and utilities. One of those utilities is Backup,
which is designed to synchronize some of your key
system settings. Any file can be added to Backup
and be told to archive to your iDisk (the
Internet storage that comes with a .mac account).
Be sure to add your active project file to the
backup list and tell it to archive every night.
This is an excellent way to preserve a clean copy
of the project file.
Peachpit Press
is running anew contestfeaturing the
$1,000 question. It's a simple question "What
equipment and software would you recommend to
a budding digital photographer if they had a
$1000 budget to get started?" Peachpit
gathered six experts (somehow I was one,
you'll find me doing my best Las Vegas lounge
singer impression).
Youvotefor the best
answer (pick me) and a chance to win the
prizes.
The contest:
Go topeachpit.com/1000dollarquestionand vote for
your favorite digital photography
package—compiled by our author experts.
You’ll be automatically entered for a
chance to win the package that you vote for.
We’ll choose one winner out of all
entries.
The
websiteArsTechincahaspostedan in depth
review of Leopard (a full 17 pages, in fact).
The review takes a very deep look at the new
features and the core technology. Of interest
to designers is the effect Leopard will have
on Adobe and future developments for 64-bit
computing.
If you are a Mac user, take the time and give it
a read. You'll learn a lot about some of the less
obvious changes.
The
official Apple Training Series titles for iLife
08 and iWork 08 are on their way. The iWork book
will hit first, but both books are on the
printing press. There are a wealth of new
features and changes in these two suites of
applications (you can see videoshereandhere). These apps have
a lot to offer for both consumers and media
pros. You can find out more on the iWork
bookhere, and the iLife
bookhere. Enjoy!
Hey
all.... seems like I've been on a nonstop writing
streak (5 books this year...). The latest update
is about to ship on iWork. The book has four new
chapters and all of the chapters have been
updated. The iWork ’08 update is
significant as it adds a new application called
Numbers. Plus the apps can all read and write
Office 2007 files. To be honest, its pretty hard
to beat at only $79 for the software.
Book
DescriptionApple's enhanced iWork
productivity suite is poised to allow Mac users
to create, present, and publish their work with
style. iWork '08 offers three powerful
applications—Pages ’08, Keynote
’08, and the brand-new spreadsheet program,
Numbers ‘08—for creating everything
from newsletters and stationery to polished
business presentations to graphics-rich
spreadsheets.This self-paced
learning guide, which includes a companion
CD jam-packed with practical media files, takes
readers step-by-step through essential, real-life
tasks for home and office that cover all aspects
of iWork '08. The book is both a self-paced
learning tool and the official curriculum of the
Apple Training and Certification Program, used by
schools and training centers worldwide, and is
ideal for users of all levels.”
The
Insomnia Film Festival is back—and while
the world sleeps, you could be making film
history. Calling all high school and college
filmmakers.
At
9:00 a.m. on October 13, you’ll get the
green light: The requirements for the 2007
Insomnia Film Festival will be posted atwww.apple.com/go/insomnia,
and your team will have 24 hours to write, cast,
shoot, edit, score, and upload your movie.
Once the films are in, your friends, family, and
adoring fans will be able to watch them online
and rate their favorites. The 25 entries with the
highest rating on November 9 at 12:00 a.m. EST
will be screened by industry professionals,
including Barry Sonnenfeld, James Mangold, and
Nora Ephron.
If your film is the biggest hit with either the
public or the pros, each member of your team will
receive a MacBook Pro, Final Cut Studio 2, Logic
Studio, and Shake so you can get started on that
first sequel. How’s that for a Hollywood
ending?
If
you came to either of my classes atPodcast and New Media
Expo. I just wanted to
offer you the handouts and resources. Heck..
even if you missed the show you might like
these.
CLASS ONE – Field Production Strategies for
Video Podcasting
The rules of the studio don't apply the same in
the field. In this session you will learn how to
properly capture your video content outside of a
controlled environment and unpredictable lighting
and background noise. You also learn how to
achieve the best results when encoding files for
various output devices. See how the experts
retain overall quality with an overview of the
latest methods and technologies. This session
will also share best practices for multi-camera
productions.
Thanks
toTerry Whitefor
saying this so well:
”Apple released thedetailson
getting your $100 Apple Store Credit if you
bought AND activated an iPhone before August
22nd. I have to admit that I was expecting
Apple to make it harder than this. I was
expecting to download a PDF, fill it out, mail
it in and wait 4-8 weeks for a snail mail
certificate. Apple could teach the world how
to do rebates! Go to the link above on your
computer and you basically enter your iPhone
phone number and serial number. You then get a
SMS text message on your iPhone with your
code. You input your code on the same page you
were on above and a couple seconds later your
rebate certificate is there in your browser
(on your computer) for you to print!”
Kudos Apple, the whole process took about 15
seconds and now I have two $100 store credits
(for our two iPhones) in my hands!
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
I just wanted to let you know,
the new book on Final Cut Studio is on the
presses (this means it will be in your hands
soon). Here's the official description (I promise
a sample chapter in a few days).
“Packed with more than 500 techniques, this
book delivers the time-saving workflow processes
that experienced editors want to improve their
productivity, and wow their clients. No need to
wade through tomes of documentation. 'Final Cut
Studio On the Spot' presents immediate solutions
in an accessible format. Written by
Apple-certified trainers, it clearly illustrates
all the essential methods that pros use to get
the job done efficiently and creatively.
Screenshots and step-by-step instructions show
the way.”
The book is completely updated with new tips in
every chapter. There are also two completely new
chapters on Multi-camera Editing and HD
Workflow.Amazon has the book on
sale...I hope you enjoy!
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
All of the major
applications in Final Cut Studio support the use
of an external video monitor. However, each
application is a little different in how you set
it up and not all applications will support every
configuration of hardware cards or decks. Be sure
the hardware is powered on and properly connected
before launching an application.
Final Cut Pro
Choose Final
Cut Pro > Easy Setup. Pick the profile that
matches your hardware.
Choose View
> External Video > All Frames (Command +
F12).
If you have
more than one device, you can specify it by
choosing View > Video Playback > and
choosing the device.
Color
Choose the
Setup Room by pressing Command + 1.
Locate the
Video Output menu toward the right edge.
Note: Color currently does
not support FireWire monitoring of any kind
including DVCPRO HD and AJA IO devices.
Motion
Choose Motion
> Preferences and click the Output
tab.
Select an
Output path based on your active hardware.
Soundtrack
Pro
Choose
Soundtrack Pro > Preferences and click the
Video Out tab.
Select a
device from the popup menu.
DVD Studio
Pro
Choose DVD
Studio Pro > Preferences. and click the
Simulator tab.
Choose a
Video and Audio path for the Simulator and
click OK.
To invoke,
click the Simulator button and use the virtual
controls on the Simulator window.
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read More...
If
you'll be at the Podcast and New Media Expo show
this weekend, consider checking out these free
classes on the show floor. Podango is offering
an“Unconference,”a
featured program of the Podcast and New Media
Expo (PNME) taking place September 28-30, at
the Ontario Convention Center.
Podango, the online video and audio network that
enables publishers and advertisers to “get
heard” by today’s hard-to-reach,
niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of
topics and speakers. They include: new media
pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone
Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang,
hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden,
David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share
ideas for building and monetizing audiences in
today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new
media marketplace.Read
More...
Interested in Motion
Graphics? The check out the evolvingMographWikiwhich has a nice
collection of user contributed content and
articles. Its a great place to browse for
ideas and talent. There's a lot of useful
things up here including:
If
you’re having system problems and want to
clean the disk, check partitions, and so on,
here’s a way to fix problems without any
third-party applications: Start up in single-user
mode, and run FSCK. Uh, what was that?
FSCK stands for “file system check,”
and the –fy you’ll type just says to
go ahead and fix any problems it finds.
Here’s the drill:
Restart your
Mac.
Immediately
press and hold Command + Option + S.
You’ll see a bunch of text begin
scrolling on your screen. (Cool, you’re
now a geek.) Soon you’ll see the Unix
command line prompt (#). Don’t cry;
it’s still your Mac—you’re
just a true Unix god–well,
demi-god.
Type fsck -fy
(that’s fsck + space + minus + f +
y).
Press Return.
The FSCK utility will do its magic, running some
text across your screen. If there’s damage
to your disk, you’ll see a message that
says: “FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED.”
If you see this message, it found some problems
and fixed them—repeat steps 1 and 2 until
that message no longer appears. It’s normal
to have to run FSCK more than once; the first
run’s repairs often uncover additional
problems.
When FSCK finally reports that no problems were
found and the # prompt reappears, type reboot to
restart or type exit to start without rebooting.
Then press Return.
It was a proud day
at RHED Pixel (my office). One of our new
podcasts made the front page of iTunes.On Softwarefocusses on how
software is developed, and features interviews
with the creative folks who design and program
the tools we all love.
(It's not every day that you're grouped with a
presidential candidate, CNN, and PBS)
OnSoftware—Each
week, we will talk to some of the software
industry's leading developers about a wide range
of programming and development issues. Our
interviews include talks with Java Puzzlers
author Josh Bloch, C++ Inventor author Bjarne
Stroustrup, and Java Concurrency in Practice
author Brian Goetz to name just three. With
discussions on topics ranging from the future of
C++ and Concurrency and value driven software
development to Design Patterns, Agile Estimating
and Planning, Iterative Development, Generics,
and language compatibility, we have something for
technical professionals working in every part of
the industry.
Is it technical... yup. But I still think you'll
find itinteresting.
In
case you missed it... Apple released a public
beta ofSafari 3.0for
both Mac
AND WINDOWS!To be honest, I never
saw that one coming... With great new features,
its a worthy upgrade for both platforms. I've
seen an occasional hang-up, but the program is
faster and adds some great features.
Inline find– Search
within a web page by pressing Cmd+F (Ctrl+F)
Resizable Text Fields –More room when working
online
Improved Security –Shoo!
Pick up the tabs –Rearrange tabs with
drag and drop ease
PDFs Control – Zoom, Save, or Send to
a PDF app
While it’s useful that
you can import layered PSD files into Final Cut
Pro, it’s unfortunate that not all features
carry over. On the other hand, when you need to
change a graphic (such as a spelling mistake)
it’s very useful to have those
layers...Have your cake and eat it too—hmm.
Okay, this is easy. In Photoshop, save your files
as LAYERED TIFFs. Final Cut Pro will read it in
as a flattened file, but you can make changes.
Better yet, if you use the Open in Editor
shortcut, you can open and modify the file. In
fact you can add, delete, move, and rename layers
with no ill effects (try that with a PSD file
you’ve imported and watch what craziness
breaks loose).
I just had a need to pull
outTRANSTYPE
SE.
This useful utility comes in handy when
working on a design project and getting
client-provided materials? Oftentimes fonts
come over (which is great), except they are
for the wrong platform (which isn't so great).
Instead of rushing out to buy the font again,
you can usually convert it.
This shareware application converts Mac fonts to
PC fonts, or vice versa. Simple in concept, clean
in execution--this tool has been a lifesaver that
has kept many a motion graphics project on
track.
DIRTY ALPHA
Not happy with the
alpha channel you get when you cut a Motion
project into a Final Cut Pro timeline? Well, your
alpha may be off. Final Cut Pro sometimes
misinterprets the alpha channel data, expecting
you to have a straight alpha channel, when in
fact you may have a premultiplied alpha.
1. Select the Imported Motion project file in
your Browser.
Do you like
carpal tunnel? Stop clicking on each window in
FCP when you want to use it and start using
keyboard shortcuts! With a little practice,
you’ll be flying around the different
windows without clicking.
I
know both of the authors on this book and I am
looking forward to reading it (as soon as I
finish my own updates that is). But if you have
no looming deadlines... I strongly suggest
checking out this cool title.
Apple Pro Training Series:
Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut
Studio
“This practical
book focuses on just the parts of Final Cut
Studio that editors and designers need to create
motion graphics in their daily work. Using
footage from the BBC archives along with Motion,
Final Cut Pro, and Live Type (all included in
Final Cut Studio), you’ll build
broadcast-quality titles, motion menus, show
bumpers, and news opens. As with the other titles
in the Apple Pro Training Series, each chapter in
this Apple-authorized guide represents a complete
lesson--with projects to complete and a review
section to reinforce the lessons. Author and
video editor/producers Mark Spencer and Jem
Schofield begin by introducing the basics of
creating an animated title sequence with Final
Cut Pro. From there, you’ll learn
everything from text animation, compositing, and
keyframing to 3D set creation and camera
animation. Step-by-step exercises and a DVD with
project and media files will have you creating
stunning motion graphics in no time.”
Okay... I'll admit
that the words "pro video codec" and "white
paper" won’t elicit excitement in many of
you. But Apple has released details about this
new format for video. What is exciting is that
you get better quality at smaller files sizes (in
plain English things look better and cost less to
store on drives). So... maybe you can do
something else like skydive to add excitement
into the mix.
For those who want the tech-know-how....check out the white
paper. It’s only
11 pages and is filled with great info for
video pros who need to create video or motion
graphics for mac-based systems.
I
just finished a new training title on Final Cut
Express. It's called Final Cut Express HD 3.5
Essential Training (but it will work for just
about any version of the application). It is
priced at$99, or you can view
it as a member of the lynda.com online
library.
Here's the official blurb:
Instructor
Richard Harrington covers each detail of using
Final Cut Express HD 3.5 to effectively edit,
organize, and publish digital video and audio
files for DVDs, web-based projects, and iPod
productions. From understanding the finer points
of the workspace to using the tools to their full
potential,Final Cut
Express HD 3.5 Essential Trainingteaches the
complete process, using hands-on examples.
Exercise files accompany this
tutorial.
We’ve always wished that
we were incredible illustrators. Alas the whole
hand-eye coordination thing never really worked
out. However, we have a nice, happy medium.
Choose a clip
you’d like to effect.
Choose
Effects > Video Filters > Stylize >
Line Art. Whoa! Isn’t that cool? Your
footage has instantly been transformed into a
moving illustration!
Load the clip
into the Viewer and click on the Filters tab.
Here you can adjust paper color and opacity,
and ink color.
You can also
control threshold and smoothness to adjust what
is included as a line and the blend between the
lines and the paper.
Use the Mix
control to blend in your original
image.
In case you
missed it... Apple just released an update to
Final Cut Pro. Version 5.1.3 adds a few bug fixes
and minor updates:
Render File
Compatibility –Render files created on both
PowerPC-based and Intel-based Macintosh computers
now work properly on either type of computer.
This means you can move machines without having
to re-render.
Keyboard
Layout Issues Resolved –Several commands to
the default keyboard layout that were missing in
the previous version.
Issues with
Cross Dissolves in Nested Sequences Resolved
–Resolves cases in which cross
dissolves did not work as expected in nested
sequences containing still images with adjusted
motion parameters.
You will need to be running FCP 5.1 to install
this update. You must have loaded it from the
DVD-ROM update (it is WAY too big to download).
The 5.1 update is a paid update as Apple has to
ship you new media (but it is a really big update
for a 'dot release' and is worth it.) Apple
offers $49upgrades and
crossgradesthat start at $99. This is a
phenomenal opportunity to bump up to the whole
studio for a bargain price.
Just saw this cool blurb over
atMacRumors(it’s a
rumor/news site). The American Institute of
Architects named two Apple retail stores
toits
list of the 150 best works of architecture.
You canview the entire list
here, which is also a great
chance to look at good design.
• The 5th Avenue Apple
Store in New York City was the 53rd favorite
example of architecture
• The Apple SoHo in New York City took
the 141st spot
Head on over and explore some great works of
design.
I was
literally just using Apple's Aperture photo
manager software for a client session. We were
sifting, ranking, and sequencing images for use
in a video edit. The whole process was very
smooth and professional. The only issue was
getting the images quickly into the NLE. Sure
Aperture allows for exporting images, but all
that organizational work would be lost.
Fortunately I am not the only one who thinks this
way. The fine folks over at Connected Flow have
releasedAperture to Final Cut
Pro. This free plug-in allow
you to export images, pick a format, specify
transitions, and send it all fromAperturetoFinal Cut Proas a sequence
with media. This is a super flexible exchange
that allows for changes (including scaling)
within Final Cut Pro.
Oh... it's free too. If you use Aperture and
Final Cut Pro, be sure tocheck it
out.
I found
agreat articleover at the
Editblog as a part of theirUseful Tools for
Editorsseries. It's a dashboard
widget for OS X that lets you calculate frame
sizes for graphics to match a wide range of
tape and film formats. The widget is called
called Aspect and it's totally free. Grab the
widget fromthis file hosting
siteby clicking the Download
link at the top.
Be sure to stop by and visit theEditblogfor lots of news
for video pros. The blog is frequently updated
and a source of excellent information.
I was there... I oohed and
aahed with the rest of them... then I asked
questions. Is the phone really cool? Yup. Will I
buy one? Yup. Is it perfect? Nope... and here's
hoping that Apple will listen to some of the
criticism.
First off... if you haven't looked at the online
demo on Apple's website, be sure tocheck it
out. It is both informative and
an impressive use of the web for an
interactive demo.
Cool... huh? I agree... but here's my list of
gripes.
1. The battery is not user changeable. I
travela
lotand
carry three cell phone batteries with me. I've
also run my iPod dead while on a plane. See the
math? What also happens when the battery stops
charging all the way? Currently Apple needs to
service iPod batteries and it takes a few days.
2. They say it runs OSX and "desktop class"
applications – but that doesn't really
mean any application and no they won't let
third-party software develop titles
independently. Rather, it'll be more like iPod
games, just a few titles and tight control.
3. It looks to have none of the following items
– no iChat, no AIM, no Games, no GPS, no
Java, and no Flash (yet most carriers and phones
offer these).
To be fair... here's what's great about it:
1. You iPod accessories and chargers work with
it.
2. Apple has confirmed that they can (and will)
release updates for it like the iPod.
3. Apple i supporting third-party hardware
development.
4. The map features is really cool.
5. It has an "airplane mode" so you can turn off
wireless but leave the unit on.
6. You can see all your voice mails as a list and
check them out of order.
7. Widescreen video playback.
8. A great looking web browser.
9. It's really thin!
David Pogue has lots of great info on his blog
|post 1|post
2
And hey... the release date isn't until June. So
maybe they'll continue to tweak it a bit.
Some of
my favorite tools are on sale this week as part
of a great shareware bundle (deal ends
thisSunday).
Over atMacHeist(an
online game) they have a shareware developer
bundle. For $49 you can get the following
programs.
1. Delicious Library
(allows you to catalog music and DVDs)
2. Foto Magico
(a cool slideshow
application) 3.
ShapeShifter
(for changing the Mac UI) 4.
Devon Think
(a database application) 5.
Disco
(a disc burning
application) 6.
RapidWeaver
(the blogging tool I use for this
site) 7.
iClip
(a clipboard organizer that is very useful)
8. A game from Pangea software(several to choose from... I like Bugdom)
9. Newsfire
(a RSS reader) 10.
TextMate
(a
Subscribe to the RSS Feed
