[Steve Johnson]

Why does this matter? Maybe I misunderstand your question. Why does a format for my source files matter? Why would it matter exporting to png or .mov, quality issues aside? Obviously space is a bit of an issue, otherwise we’d all go uncompressed 10bit. But I’m just looking for the best image sequence to render to. If Tiff/targa and png are about the only image sequence formats I know of. Is there a better one for different formats?

I like image sequence renders on long renders because if my system crashes or power fails or a harddrive crashes, you don’t have to start from scratch, you have the image sequence up to the last rendered frame. Big advantage in my mind.

CS3 – Mac
C4D

[Steve Johnson]

Well, At the very least I think I’m less dazed and confused than some others… 🙂

CS3 – Mac
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[Steve Johnson]

Yeah, the Vegas effect allows you to choose Image contours as the method of application or Mask. When mask is chosen you can choose one mask per effect instance. It’s strange that one mask, which is a line with a simple curve works ok, and the other mask when chosen, which is a line of equal length with a curve in the opposite direction, does not get the effect across the full path. Just to a little between the midpoint and the end of the path.

It’s definitely not operating as it should. Probably a bug with a copy/paste of a mask path from Illustrator. I have no doubt that if I created mask paths (open ended masks) with the pen tool it would probably work ok.

I think I’m going to tweak the venetian blinds effect to create movement on the path. But I really liked the ability to create a light effect in addition to movement.

Hmmm.. maybe the blinds rotating plus a tint or moving 4 color gradient.. Oh well, more work but I can get the job done.. 🙂

CS3 – Mac
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[Steve Johnson]

Export using apple animation codec. Pretty much lossless. Make sure the aspect ratio matches your ppro project as well.

But why export, just open the AE project directly from PPro. Then choose the comp to add to your timeline. No render needed.

CS3 – Mac
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[Steve Johnson]

I guess I’m having a problem with the workflow that Adobe is so proud of. You say that titles, etc. that are created in AE will be linked in Premier w/o rendering. That’s right, as will many other effects. But the problem with that statement is that w/o the premier content in AE (footage), it’s really hard to color correct and blend a title to the footage being edited. The same goes for special effects.

The footage has to exist in AE first, then linked into Premier. This doesn’t seem logical to me in a workflow. I capture and edit in Premier first, then AE to edit special effects on my work.

If I arrange my shots in Premier, then decide that I need to put a lens flare on a scene with a sword, or perhaps the next scene down needs to have a CG Fire on the firepit, or a gunshot in the footage on scene 33 needs a muzzleflash update, simply going to file->dynamic link->new AE comp will do nothing for me.

I’m back to doing as best I can with the edit in Premier, including audio sync, and rendering. Then importing the render back into AE for rework and re-render again.

This is bad additionally because I like to do lots of color work that only AE can do. Composting trailers or credits are fun, but require AE’s effects to do the job.

I was really hoping that the miracle of dynamic link would work for me in my workflow, but I feel like I’m missing something obvious. I don’t see dynamic link as such of a big deal. I would love to piece together clips and sequences and then open those up in AE and do some touchups. Then see them back in Premier with the AE effects. This would make my life so much better.

Is my workflow so much different from the rest of the world’s? It’s a neat trick, but if my original footage isn’t in AE, I’m swapping back and forth to try to get color right and tweak the linked comp. Seems easier to me to just render and do it one app at a time.

CS3 – Mac
C4D

[Steve Johnson]

LOL.. Eric, I guess you can’t put a price on looking like a pro.. 😉

CS3 – Mac
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[Steve Johnson]

I was confused about the production resolutions. It looks like I would need the LE. I would prefer not to produce 1440 if at all possible. HDV is a huge part of my work, but upscaling to 1920 is in some cases very necessary.

But alas, I’m coming to the realization that it looks like Axio only likes Windows XP!

I’m running on a Mac Pro. Are there hardware accelerators for premier pro that come close to Axio LE?

CS3 – Mac
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[Steve Johnson]

Wow, I just found this company on the internet. Seems pretty insane some of the controllers they have. Not sure if they would help or hinder, but worth consideration.

https://www.jlcooper.com/cgi/index.cgi?home

I think my main concern is being able to flip between clips and timelines and sequences, move clips, scrub the timeline easily, slide or scroll clips. It would be nice to have a button that woud plcae me into different contexts, like the effects panel or the source monitor. Then maybe a button to place markers or inpoint/outpoints.

I like the low cost shuttle, but I’m not sure it has enough to help me become less keyboard/mouse centric. My goal is to use an interface that I can use 80% of the time in place of a keyboard/mouse.

CS3 – Mac
C4D

[Steve Johnson]

WOW! I never in a million years would have thought to create a cloud by creating an emitter of light! To me that seems like genius. This is very helpful. I could animate clouds growing and changing sizes all day now.

Thanks for this. This is perfect.

CS3 – Mac
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[Steve Johnson]

Ahh, the Ramp effect has helped dramatically. That was the ticket. Doh!

Thanks all.

-steve

CS3 – Mac
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