Joseph W. bourke
Forum Replies Created
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Your client has to tell you what the MXF files came from. MXF is not a “format” as much as it is a wrapper, which can contain any number of layers and codecs, which you have to know to make it work. Here’s an article on it – read the “MXF in Use” section to see the numerous possibilities and problems associated with the file:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Material_Exchange_Format
It sounds as if Ingex might be able to help you out, but your client should be able to tell you whether the MXF they’ve given you came from a camera, an NLE, or whatever, and what’s inside it:
https://ingex.sourceforge.net/
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
You might want to start by stating which version of After Effects you have. Paint in AE has gone through some changes over versions of AE. Here’s a place to start:
https://layersmagazine.com/animate-paint-in-after-effects.html
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
I think it would be easier to use Illustrator paths (or native AE shapes) and animate them. Here’s a tutorial with the basic concept:
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Here’s how it was done – in two parts:
https://provideocoalition.com/pvcexclusive/story/face_replacement_part_1_basicJoe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
If you have even a rough idea of what your hours were for editing, and what you charge for editing, you should be able to come up with a fair price (it should not be free – unless of course this is a pet non-profit).
The fact that they’ve already (ostensibly) paid you for Phase 1 doesn’t mean you should charge for Phase 2, since this wasn’t part of the original quote. Cutting the original in half is going to require a fair bit of time on your part, figuring out what can go and still maintain a cohesive story line. Then you have to actually edit it. Unless there are really clear sections to the video, and you can drop one without hurting the storyline, it will amount to almost a “from scratch” version of the first video. The good news is that the story is fresh in your head, as is the footage, so it should be able to be done in considerable less time than the first edit.
I think that you should come up with what you think is a fair price, call them and quote it, and be prepared to explain simply and clearly why it’s not quite as simple as cutting it in half and rendering it off.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
My guess is that these are Illustrator vector layers, and the vector nodes are moved around and keyframed to get the “blowing” effect. It’s really rather stiff, and unlike real hair or cloth blowing. It could also be done with a Displacement Map.
It could also be done with FreeForm, but I think the overall effect would look smoother if that had been used.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
The one thing you’re not showing us is how far in the reference shot is zoomed. Please post the full frame – it is possible that the area between the glass’s earpieces is too small for the RotoBrush to accurately select. One other possibility is that you didn’t view the RotoBrush tutorials, and you are not adding to the selection, but selecting the entire RotoBrush area a second time. I suggest you view this to make sure you’re not making a mistake:
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
Since you don’t ask for any “easy” way, the best way would be to arrange the pictures (all set as 3D layers) in their final position, at the point on the timeline where you want them settled there, then back up to the point where you want them to start coming in, and move them to wherever you want them to start. Make sure you turn on the Position keyframe at the final landing point.
As far as arranging them, if you want them in a symmetrical grid arrangement, there are some scripts which could speed that process up:
https://aescripts.com/layers2grid/
https://motionboutique.com/collage-script-328/
Collage script allows you to take non-uniform layers, and create interesting arrangements of them. It’s also free.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
There’s a wealth of stuff at Adobe TV:
https://tv.adobe.com/product/after-effects/
It’s all free, and it will get you going, both with the broad overview, and with specific techniques. And as John Cuevas said in the above, Lynda.com is amazingly useful. It’s a complete education.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com -
This is pretty easy, but not obvious – you want to use Text on a Path:
Check out this tutorial, then choose a typeface in which the Period character has the look you want (round dots or square dots). You can change the spacing of the dots by kerning the text. All sorts of capabilities.
Joe Bourke
Owner/Creative Director
Bourke Media
http://www.bourkemedia.com