OT: A bit about graphic

Soniclight wrote on 2/13/2011, 8:48 AM

Shelby,

I'm by no means among the real veterans here and my visits can be sporadic, but I've been here several years. As such, I find your posting both refreshing and a bit nostalgic in that some of us have noticed a shift away from more of a family of like-minded feel to this forum to at times just NLE Q&A -- albeit useful (I've learned so much here too).

There was a time when we'd upload silly pics, wish each other Happy Holidays, etc. The place had just a slightly more "human" feel to it. Perhaps your enthusiasm and hello-everyone-and-thanks-for-all of-your-help will bring some of that warm-and-fuzzier times back. Hell, we also need more women here too :o)

Oh, and I also used to work in the graphics/design field BTW, so a fellow artiste here. I'm no video pro, just a pretty serious and passionate amateur.

~ Philip

Steve Mann wrote on 2/13/2011, 8:49 AM

GG - We all were beginners at some point. And compared to many of us, you're still a kid!

amendegw wrote on 2/13/2011, 9:18 AM

gg,

Really feel daring? Post your picture here: What do you look like? (2010)

...Jerry

btw, I really envy folks with outstanding graphic design talents. My daughter-in-law is a graphic designer and is very good. My problem is... I know what "good" looks like (once I see it), but have problem coming up with my own designs.

gpsmikey wrote on 2/13/2011, 9:34 AM

Welcome !! As someone who raced past 60 last year, it can be a bit spooky sometimes ! I definitely appreciate someone with graphic arts talents - I can design all sorts of clever electronic circuits (hey, I even have a microprocessor controlled heater for my humming bird feeders when it is below freezing ! ). My graphic arts abilities on the other hand ... well, lets just say that when we play pictionary, the difference between my cows and chickens is to count legs :-) I really wish I had some artistic talent, (both my kids do), but it just isn't there in the graphics department. Ah well - welcome and thanks for the breath of fresh air as it were :-)

mikey

graphic_girl wrote on 2/13/2011, 9:56 AM

LOL... thanks guys...

...and Jer... mmmm... gotta leave something to the imagination... eh??? :-)....

...but actually... if I can find a decent photo... I may just have a go at that... truth be told... as I approaced the big 5-0 with 5-kids-worth of extra baggage... I joined weight watchers online and have lost 55 pounds to date! (YAY!)... I can now fit in my college-daughters' clothes (actually they are too BIG on me... lol)... so I need to get a pic of the "new me"... lol... as your 'puter monitor is not big enough for the "old me" :-O

As an aside: My finished video (with disclaimer) is up on brainshark and looks GREAT! Thanks AGAIN!!!

Is anyone interested in critiquing my first video project (gently please as the... lighting bad, sound not so great, LOTS I *could* do with it if I had the time and KNEW HOW)... lol... but NEXT TIME... I just had to get SOMETHING up there....

Sooooo if anyone wants to check out my 4-minute (4:22) video... tell me how/where to put it so you can see it.... It is .wmv format and 16MB. (and the brainshark site is private access so you can't see it there... sorry...)

Thanks AGAIN!

gg :-)

gpsmikey wrote on 2/13/2011, 10:18 AM

Congratulations on the 55 pounds. As one who is not fat, just severely "gravitationally challenged" I know how tough that is. Or as I tell people - "my weight is just perfect ... for someone 9 feet tall" :-)

mikey

amendegw wrote on 2/13/2011, 10:24 AM

"tell me how/where to put it so you can see it"Copy it to the "Public" folder of you Dropbox. Right click on the file, dropbox->Copy Public LInk. Back to this forum and paste the link here, using the [link=http://www.blah.blah] syntax.

In a few days you can delete it from you dropbox so as not to waste space.

...Jerry

Steve Mann wrote on 2/13/2011, 10:28 AM

If you don't have Dropbox, use this link to get your free Dropbox and we both get an additional 250 MB:

http://db.tt/KCWoOts

Thanks.
Steve Mann

john_dennis wrote on 2/13/2011, 10:42 AM

Now would be a good time to sign up for a youtube or vimeo account. You could use either to post examples of video that you wanted to share or examples of items when you need help or just want to brag.

Welcome, I hope you enjoy working with video.

graphic_girl wrote on 2/13/2011, 11:14 AM

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20464103/Horizon%20Investment%20Services%20Overview%20and%20Best%20Ideas%20strategy%20-%20for%20broker%20dealer%20use%20only.wmv

See if this works... it is my first attempt at a video... (be gentle! :-))

gg

amendegw wrote on 2/13/2011, 11:47 AM

gg,

I'll only comment about the technical aspects we discussed in your initial thread (although you might do a search on "safe areas" - not quite so important in web delivery, but something worth learning about).

That said, your initial problems re: getting blocking and poor quality while meeting the requirements imposed by Brainshark have been solved quite nicely - the video looks very nice. Good job! Ask your boss for a raise!

...Jerry

PS: You can probably ignore my comment about deleting this file in a couple days as it is only 16MB - not worth worrying about unless you're bumping up against your 2GB max.

farss wrote on 2/13/2011, 11:57 AM

"See if this works... it is my first attempt at a video... (be gentle! :-))"

The actual video, the talking head, is too dark. Blacks (suit) are crushed.

Bob.

graphic_girl wrote on 2/13/2011, 11:59 AM

Thanks Jerry...

I will look into the "safe area"...

I know the sony text thingy wanted to default to a 10% safe area (is that what you are referring to?) but that put the text smack on my bosses hands... which are quite animated... and it was distracting... so I plopped it on the bottom edge... there for legal purposes... but still distracting as heck to ME... but what are ya gonna do??? :-(

Also I think when I did that nested crop thingy to get rid of the letterboxing... it also tightened up on my boss so his hands get cut off at times... when he is gesturing... but this wasn't the way I shot it... still I am a HUGE AMATEUR at best... and I KNOW THAT... but I am happy with the results... not bad for an amateur's first attempt... <g>

thanks again

gg :-)
p.s. pic now up on other thread.... man... I *AM* feeling brave today... LOL Have a GREAT day! going to do housework now! :-( but would MUCH rather chat with you all... :-/

Steve Mann wrote on 2/13/2011, 1:51 PM

1) you need a light on the camera. You can find inexpensive LED lights for less than $100 that will do the job just fine.
2)Step away from the wall.

graphic_girl wrote on 2/13/2011, 2:06 PM

Thank you Steve.. yes lighting is one of my downfalls in this thing... especially noticable from the initial close-up to the wide-out...

Isn't there a way to beef up the lighting in an already shot video via Vegas? I thought there was but didn't have time to research or implement it...

Thanks again...

gg :-)

Chienworks wrote on 2/13/2011, 2:58 PM

Color curves can do amazing wonders with adjusting brightness, but if the video is too under- or over-exposed then the detail is lost and can't be recovered.

fldave wrote on 2/13/2011, 4:20 PM

Welcome, gg!

farss wrote on 2/13/2011, 10:31 PM

I tried using curves on it but the blacks are flatlined. Skin tone has also suffered a bit.

GG,
as others have said not just more light but usable the light.
With the speaker up against the wall it's always going to look like a police mug shot. Get him away from the wall. Then you have enough separation so you can light the wall as one task and light the subject as another task.

Bob.

paul_w wrote on 2/14/2011, 7:49 AM

Hi gg!
Great use of the lav tie clip mic! The audio is very good. This is Soooo overlooked by a lot of beginners. Sounds really quite good.

Some personal taste things here:
Space behind the speaker is too close, would avoid wall shadow. More depth behind would have also allowed for a background prop, whatever is relavent to the content, maybe a shot of his office, a nice plant pot... computer screen, etc.? Depth looks great in shots like this.
Overall light levels, as already mentioned could have pepped up. Its a whole lighting subject.
But hey, well done! Its works.

Paul

Former user wrote on 2/14/2011, 8:00 AM

I made a frame grab from your wmv, and placed it in Vegas. The following link is an image showing a little tweaking using the secondary color correction plugin. The black areas are crushed pretty badly, so there's very little recovery there. Of course, working with the original footage would yield better results.

Image sample

Jim

Laurence wrote on 2/14/2011, 12:12 PM

Your weight loss looks fantastic.

I went from 207 down to 168, back up to 193, and back down to 183. I'm going to get back down to about 177 and stay there. It's not just losing the weight, it's keeping it off. On the positive side, after a bunch of failed attempts, I now know exactly how to lose weight. All I have to do is avoid simple carbs and sugars for 23 hours a day. Salads and vegetables are ok I don't need to eat just meat or anything like that. I just need to avoid simple carbohydrates like bread, rice, french fries, cookies, candies, soft drinks, etc. Not to hard considering that I take an hour break from this each day. At dinner, I eat whatever my wife makes for the rest of the family and don't worry about it. Pretty easy really.

When I got down to a 32 inch waist, I got rid of most of my big pants, so now I either have to stay skinny or buy all new clothes.

Steve Mann wrote on 2/14/2011, 12:50 PM

I went from 280 to 170 in a few weeks.
I don't want to do that again. Three months in hospitals is really a bummer.

graphic_girl wrote on 2/14/2011, 8:18 PM

Thanx to all for compliments and similar stories... I am planning on being a ww "lifer"..

Jim - WOW... what a dif... with the lighting... is this secondary color correction plugin included with VP10 or is it purchased separately? Any other instruction or direction on the tweaking? THANKS SO MUCH!

gg :-)

graphic_girl wrote on 2/14/2011, 8:49 PM

Bob.... soooo sorry I missed your replies... thank you for the suggestions... so when you talk about lighting the wall as one task and the subject as another... are you talking with actual photography lights? or with VegasPro internal lighting/color correction tricks?

Thanks again!

gg :-)

OT: A bit about graphic_girl :-)

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