[Kieran]

Criterion’s DVD menus of the last few years have been consistently excellent. They’re beautifully designed and always thematically linked to the film itself. Other collector labels are quite precious about maintaining a uniform look for all their releases, whereas Criterion’s menus are extensions of the films themselves. They also seem, from the DVDs I own, to place importance on the usability of their menus. So you don’t get control overrides and inter-menu transitions that may look pretty and push the DVD spec, but which ultimately frustrate the viewing experience.

If you want really sophisticated menus then look at any of the Memento DVD releases, which push the spec to interesting effect. But menus like these do have costs; while they may be initially engaging, if someone wants to find something (surely the primary function of the menu) for repeat viewing your menu system will become a frustration.

For real inspiration, I’d say you can learn most by studying design elements – placement, colour palettes, typography, etc – than by focusing on the narrow confines of dvd authoring.

[Kieran]

If you have money to spend then red giant software make a plugin specifically for this, and there’s a demo at their site:

https://redgiantsoftware.com/filmfix.html

If not then you could try using the clone tool, but the sheer time required means that it would probably only be worth it for extremely obtrusive defects.. You could also try using a noise-removal plug-in, such as the grain surgery plug-ins (which are included in AE 6.5pro) though this will probably require you to sacrifice sharpness.

kieran

[Kieran]

I’m shooting ink in water at the moment.. Do you have any useful tips and hints?

So far I’ve discovered the joys of a catheter and the differences between using cold ink/warm water and warm ink/cold water..

thanks
kieran

[Kieran]

If you search for this on the adobe forums then you should find an email for one of the AE developers who helps people out with the SDK. I think his username is brooce..

[Kieran]

I think the biggest problem with the prequels was that they ended up being completely pointless to the original story. Setting aside the sci-fi aspects, effects and the wider star wars mythology, the films were supposed to explain why Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side. So we ended up with a narrative reason, but dramatically the three films failed abysmally to convey any sense of the emotional journey..

I think he might have done better to make three sequels..

[Kieran]

If you have the production bundle then have a look at “scale wipe”. If not then You can also use Pete Warden’s free smear plug-in, downloadable here:

https://www.petewarden.com/

Your example appears to have some glow added too.

[Kieran]

I think the trend towards activation is partly due to the fact that it is manifestly a technological measure protecting the software and so brings in the DRM provisions of the DMCA and EU Copyright Directive. This would allow Adobe arguably greater protection than that which the underlying copyright in the software provides (the EU copyright directive, for instance, provides legal protection against all activities not authorised by the rightholder – this is particularly useful where the company runs up against a bypassing tool that is capable of legitimate uses and so usually not liable for copyright infringements.)

As far as I understand it, Adobe also gives you a 30 day grace period whenever the software deactivates, so it’s not so bad for consumers.

[Kieran]

If it’s a film then

Columbia/Tristar use “Envoi du film”
Warner and others (including the french distributors) just use “le film” of “film”
alternatively, “lecture” is better rendition of play than “joue”.

[Kieran]

PFHoe is excellent value for money as well

[Kieran]

Most classical music is long out of copyright, and so fair use doesn’t really come into it, though the mistake people often make is to assume that means you can use any recording of classical music you want, which is wrong. The performances themselves are copyright, so as long as you have the music recorded yourself you can use classical music legitimately.

Waivers don’t stop you committing an infringement because the client has no power to exempt you from infringing – that’s the sole right of the copyright holder. However, you may be able to get your client to indemnify you against any losses that you suffer as a result of being sued for copyright infringement.