Adobe SpeedGrade

Here at Hotbed, we're getting ready to move a project into Adobe SpeedGrade for color correction. SpeedGrade is new for us! So what exactly IS Adobe SpeedGrade? Find out here:



IMPORTANT:
When exporting TO SpeedGrade from Premiere Pro - you may NOT want to use the "Send to SpeedGrade" option under export. This is ESPECIALLY true when using R3D Epic or Scarlet footage. Instead, use this method to save some of those finer details and give yourself more room:



Now that we know what SpeedGrade is - how about some directions on the basics:




For more control with Color Grading - You can do power windows (also known as masks in SpeedGrade):



Also, when you've had everything corrected the way you want, it's time for Export! Here's a nice tutorial that goes over all of the basics when rendering from SpeedGrade:



MORE LINKS:

Timeline Basics
Keyframe Basics
Mask Basics
Keyboard Shortcuts

Multitrack Mixing Automation in Adobe Audition CS5.5

We're using Automation in one of our jobs here at Hotbed, and so this little video is a good reference on how to get to all of the basic tools you need while working. We're working out of CS6, but the 5.5 controls are just about the same :)

DPX Files

The complicated world of color management and VFX!

Trying to figure out how to export a DPX sequence from Premiere Pro CS6 for a VFX artist.
Surprisingly, there's a lot more about IMPORTING DPX files than there are EXPORTING them....but here's information on  DPXs that I've found so far.

Digital Picture Exchange (DPX) via Wiki

The Cineon System via Wiki

Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE)

According to Juan Salvo from the Lift: Gamma Gain Forums:
"Are you doing a dpx for dcp or is the DPX intended to still be 709 color for broadcast? It's perfectly standard to do 64-940 within a dpx. This would be a limited range dpx, and is what would be expected as delivery for broadcast. Full range is generally used in situations when dealing with systems that don't have the ability to properly manage limited space, or maybe on a low budget grade for dcp or film out, but not for most workflows."

Where's the old Youtube Embed Code

We are working with Sinema, an independent theater in Singapore who will be screening our feature film Valley of the Sun. Sinema wanted to imbed the Valley of the Sun Trailer in their website, but there website only works with youtube's old embed code, not the new iframe embed code. It doesn't appear that youtube offers an option to copy the old embed code.

After searching around on the web, we were able to find the old embed code and swap out the targeted youtube video. Here's the old code:

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hu1EzfIsEYA?version=3&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hu1EzfIsEYA?version=3&amp;hl=
en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>


Here are some insructions:

The bits highlighted in blue are the width and height which you can adjust as you wish. The bits in red are the 11-character video ID: simply replace that part with the video ID of the video you want to embed.

The video ID can be found in the URL, which you can get from your browser's address bar when you're looking at the video on its own page:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUjbKaUcxeA&feature=plcp

It's the 11-character code that comes after v=...

Here is the trailer embedded on this blog using the old embed code:

Using Multi-Cam in Premiere CS6

Multi-cam is good for any project that uses more than one camera, but especially for live events! The option allows for easy back and forth between multiple cameras angles. This is how it can be used in Adobe Premiere CS6:

Basics from Lynda.com:




Julio Cesar explains the use of Multi-cam through 4 simple steps:
1) Marking & Naming of Clips
2) Creating a Multi-Camera Source Sequence
3) Enabling Sound in ALL Clips
4) Enabling Multi-Camera Monitor for the Recording of the Sequence



Notes:
Remember to double-check your sync points before you begin cutting.
It is important to roll your edit points so that you can fine-tune your camera changes.

Adobe Dynamic Link

Use Adobe Dynamic Link to link sequences between various adobe products (for easier editing). We use it mainly for moving between Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects. Here's a quick tutorial on how to import a sequence from Premiere into After Effects using Adobe Dynamic Link:




Here's one from Adobe.com. Adobe Beginner's Classes Episode 41: Dynamic Link Workflows in Premiere Pro CS6

Motion Tracking in Apple Motion

A useful tutorial on how to do motion tracking in Apple Motion. I used this in the VOS Outtakes Reel and will also being using it for a billboard scene in another project.

Digital Juice: Motion Tracking in Apple Motion by David Wakeling