Best Editing & Creating Menu Programs

[Deepa DvD]

Sup guys!
I wanted to discuss what are THE Best Editing & Creating Menu Programs.I have been using Premiere (with some problems) & After Affects (Production Bundle).Thay did cost a lot $$$$ combined together. Are there any other pro programs that other Studios use?

[Deepa DvD]

Sorry, wrong place.It should have been in General Discussions.But I don't know why I can't delete it now.I get a message like "You do not have access"

[Arky]

Well actually, I don't object to you posting this topic in the DVD-Authoring Forum, because it is relevant. However, if you have double-posted, please reply so that this thread can be deleted, and replies made only to your other posting.

regards,

Arky ;o)

[Deepa DvD]

aite bro! No i did not double post.

So any of you know?

[Arky]

Well,

Discreet Combustion

and

Boris RED 2.0


are two options which are pretty powerful, but no more so than AAFX Pro Bundle.

It really depends on what you wish to achieve. For Picture In Picture effects (for animated buttons, such as those on Trainspotting), you can use Premiere (and many other NLEs), or you can use AAFX, Boris RED, Combustion etc, but in the pro world, this would be done with hardware video editing cards instead. For creating backgrounds with, say, moving cloudscapes, you could do what I do and use AAFX with the TinderBox 1.1 plugin - gorgeous results which really look the part as menu backdrops.

If you need more specific advice, rather than just satisfying idle curiosity, then ask away. I will do my best to assist, and if I can't, I'm sure someone else will!


Arky ;o)

[Deepa DvD]

Well, lets say after the first play.A heart comes up over a background image.And the heart fades/ or dissolves into a video.Then the video moves to the center of the screen, my title (text) and buttons fly or swirl and then apprear on the screen correctly.And I have some flying people (on a rope). Also I want to have a film roll and in the film roll (you know how there are negatives-squares) I want to put each video in the squares. and the squares (scroll or go down) so you can see little part of every video. Also I want to create a menu, if you press a button the menu burns through the fire and then goes to the next menu or video. I know I need to create a video for that putting both of the menus In it.But how? and which program? And how to get that fire? I can currently create normal Motion Menus.But I want to get into pro advanced motion menus.
Currently I am using:
Adobe-After Affects (production bundle-version) & Premiere.
For graphics, I am using PhotoShop & Illustrator.
And for Authoring, I am using Scenarist.


Also how do you create those chrome letters, do you need a plugin or somethin in Illustrator?
As Always, I appreciate your help!
Thanks in advance!:)

[Arky]

ok, regrettably I must hold my hands up and say that what you wish to do is beyond my experience. I may well get into it, in time, but at the present time, I've only done basic compositing. On the bright side, you are currently using the best program for what you wish to achieve. AAFX5 PB is capable of ASTOUNDING complexity, and at equally astounding quality. I suggest that you ask some professional AAFX users, because what you wish to do requires real intimate familiarity with AAFX in a high level of detail and complexity. Try the WWUG forums at

wwug.com

Failing that, try:

http://msp.sfsu.edu/Instructors/rey/aepage/tutorials.html

http://www.creativecow.net/index.php?forumid=2

http://www.adobe.co.uk/products/tips/aftereffects.html

http://www.adobe.com/products/tips/aftereffects.html


I'm sorry I can't be of more help to you - I'd really like to, but I just don't have the knowledge, to this extent, with AAFX.


Arky ;o)

[Arky]

Regarding the Chrome lettering, I believe Photoshop will do these as standard, although the Eyecandy4000 plugin will no doubt cater for this too.


Arky ;o)

[Deepa DvD]

Thanks anyways bro!
How do you do it in Photoshop?And also is Eyecandy4000 a plugin for Illustrator.
Thanks!:)

[Arky]

I'm not sure of Eyecandy will run under Illustrator, cos I've only ever bothered using Photoshop (yes, I know Illustrator is better than Photoshop, but all in good time!!).

To create chrome letters in Photoshop, using Eyecandy, do as follows:

*********************************************************************

FILE > NEW (CONTENTS = TRANSPARENT)

SELECT THE TEXT ICON FROM THE PALETTE ("T")

TYPE AND POSITION YOUR TEXT

now change your tool from the text writer to, for example, the standard pointer - this will allow you to access the drop-down menus at the top of the screen. Go to:

FILTER > EYECANDY 4000 > CHROME (VARY YOUR SETTINGS IF YOU WANT TO, BUT THE DEFAULT IS GENERALLY EXCELLENT)

(if Photoshop moans that it needs to be Rasterized first, then just say "yes")

SAVE THE RESULT!

**********************************************************************

Simple as hell, huh? :)

Don't forget that you can create letters larger than 72point, simply by manually typing in your required size, in the point-selection field, rather than settling for the max72point preset.


Arky ;o)

[Deepa DvD]

Thanks very very much Arky!:)

[Arky]

For creating video clips with fire in them, you can use Panopticum fire plugin, or similar (there are LOADS of alternative fire-creation plugins, released by various developers over the years - I just can't bring them all to mind right now. I think Digi-Effects "Berserk" or "Aurora" included a fire-generator plugin too, but not 100% certain), in either Premiere or AAFX, or you could use the Quicktime Pro fire plugin (I've never bothered with the QT one, but I know it's there, cos I very briefly fiddled with it in MediaCleaner Pro before I abandoned MediaCleaner to the scrap heap - the plugin doesn't require M-C Pro - it's actually part of QT Pro).


Arky ;o)

[Deepa DvD]

Thanks bro! I really really appreciate it!:)
But with those plugins, can I set it in After Affects (P Bundle) so that the fire rips through the first image and goes to the second image.
Thanks!:)

[Arky]

Well I can tell you for a fact that this IS possible with AAFX Pro, but again, I haven't attempted this yet myself. I am sure that if you post your question on the Creative Cow forum, you will get a useful reply from a pro who works with AAFX in a production environment, on a daily basis. You'll have to register with the forum first, but then that's no different from Doom9's board, but you're still here!

Good luck, and please let me know if you get a decent answer - I'd be interested to learn the technique myself!


Arky ;o)

[Deepa DvD]

Thanks again bro!
What is the URL Creative Cow forum?
Thanks!:)

[Arky]

I already gave you it in my post, above /\

WWUG forums are also full of professional users, but the replies seem to be a bit thin on the ground - you never know, though - if you don't ask, you don't get...


Arky ;o)

[Deepa DvD]

Well, I just posted, lets see if we get a response.:)
I think they can improve that forum if they put this vBulletin thingy.:cool:

[Deepa DvD]

Hey bro,
I got a awnswer!!!:) I'm going to try what Tony said, when I get the plugin. It's over here (http://www.creativecow.net/index.php?forumid=2) subject: Fire-cut through image1 to image2...How to?