Motion Graphics

Adobe Reveals its Video Plans for Next Several Years

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Join Jim Guerard, vice president and general manager of Professional Video, as he discusses the massive shifts happening in the industry today, how Adobe is responding through rapid innovation, and the company's pillars of focus moving forward.

It's always great when the companies that make the tools that I use are actually open. Here's where Adobe is going. Listen close to some of the points (it's a tad dry... but trust me... LISTEN to what's being said).

Trying Out Blending Modes

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Blending modes are an integral part of both design and color correction workflows as they let you mix the content of two or more layers. Part of the reason many pass on blending modes is that they are hard to use if you don’t know which one you want. The truth is that the list can get a little long and if you aren't familiar with them, it can get a little confusing.

Here’s a much better way to experiment:

  1. Select the layer or layers you want to blend.
  2. If using Photoshop, choose the Move tool (In After Effects, you can skip this step).
  3. Press Shift + = (Shift plus Equal) to scroll through the list.
  4. To move backward, press Shift + – (Shift plus Minus) to return to a passed blending mode.


How to Be Awesome with Photoshop Actions

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The Actions palette provides a video-friendly graphic user interface (GUI) for computer programming. Here’s some general advice to get results quickly.

  • Brush strokes, cloning, and most manual tools from the toolbox do not work. There are several alternatives, such as using a Gradient Fill layer instead of the Gradient tool.
  • To play a single step of an action, double-click on it.
  • Change Your Mode. Button mode lets you launch actions quickly; it’s in the Actions palette’s submenu. You’ll need to disable it to get recording and editing features.
  • Get Accelerated. Set the Playback Options from the Actions palette submenu to play back an action accelerated. Photoshop can process faster than it can redraw the screen.
  • Be Batchful. You can choose File>Automate>Batch to run an action on an entire folder of images. You can batch multiple folders at once. Create aliases or shortcuts within one folder that point to the desired folders. Be sure to click the Include All Subfolders option.
  • Be Safe. Back up your custom actions to two folders, the default location and a secondary backup. This way, a reinstall or upgrade won’t blow your custom actions away.
  • Change Your Rulers. To create an action that will work on all files, you must record some commands with the rulers set to percentage.
  • Size Specific. Use File>Automate>Fit Image to resize images for a specific height or width.
  • Be Careful Where you click. Photoshop will record the names of layers as you select them. This may cause playback issues, because the action will look for specific names.

Use keyboard shortcuts to select layers and such so that the action won’t look for a specific name for that step.

  • Choose layer above Option+] (Shift+Alt+])
  • Choose layer below Option+[ (Alt+[)
  • Choose top layer Shift+Option+] (Shift+Alt+])
  • Choose bottom layer Shift+Option+[ (Shift+Alt+[)

You can also arrange layers with shortcuts.

  • Move the current layer up the layer stack Cmd+] (Ctrl +])
  • Move the current layer down the layer stack Cmd+[ (Ctrl +[)
  • Move the current layer to the top Shift+Cmd+] (Shift+Ctrl+])
  • Move the current layer to the bottom Shift+Cmd+[ (Shift+Ctrl+[)


For more on actions, check out Automating Photoshop – GET IT HERE – http://store.creativecow.net/p/126/automating_photoshop_photoshop_for_video

DVD Menu Sizes

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A DVD menu can come in two shapes, standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9). The sooner you learn these sizes (and to accept their limitations) the sooner you’’ be designing your next project.

1. Launch Photoshop CS or newer.
2. Choose File > New…
3. From the New document preset list choose on of the following options:

  • NTSC DV 720 X 480 (with guides) for a standard 4:3 menu commonly used in North America or Japan.
  • NTSC DV Widescreen, 720 X 480 (with guides) for a 16:9 menu
  • PAL D1/DV, 720 X 576 (with guides) for a 4:3 menu used in Europe and other parts of the globe.
  • PAL D1/DV Widescreen, 720 X 576 (with guides) for a 16:9 menu used in Europe and other parts of the globe.

4. Click OK to create the document.
5. The guides added to the document identify the title safe region. All objects meant to be seen must fall onside them. The outside region is similar to the ‘bleed’ area in a print project.

  • Action Safe – The outside box. All elements meant to be seen should fall inside of the inner 90% of the menu. Still design the background edge-to-edge.
  • Title Safe – The inside box. All text elements meant to be read should fall inside the inner 80% of the menu.

6. Start to design.

Four Tips for Better Video Type

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Remember when you were a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons? Did your Mom or Dad yell at you for sitting to close to the TV?

“You’ll go blind!”

Well that’s good advice to remember. Type for the Television screen is very different then for print or web. Here are four things to keep in mind:

  • Use a larger point size. Stand up and walk 20 feet away from the computer screen. Can you still read it?
  • Be sure to anti-alias your type. Check the character panel for anti-alias methods for smoother edges at low-resolutions.
  • Layer styles help readability. Don’t over-bevel, but a light bevel can help. Also add a contrasting edge with either a glow or drop shadow
  • Sans serif fonts are often easier to read on television sets. If using a serifed font, be sure to use a true bold version, not a Faux Bold effect.

Using 3D Objects in Photoshop

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Want to learn about Photoshop 3D? Read my article over at Tip Squirrel

Using 3D Objects in Photoshop
Photoshop’s 3D Engine is very flexible. It allows you to transform layers three dimensionally. More importantly, it lets you create new 3D elements including primitive shapes (such as cones or spheres). You can also make complex elements can be created using grayscale meshes.

Read the whole article over at Tip Squirrel – http://www.tipsquirrel.com/index.php/2011/04/using-3d-objects-in-photoshop/

Be sure to also check out the new book Motion Graphics with Adobe Creative Suite 5 Studio Techniques

My New Book on Professional Video Editing with Adobe Software Ships Soon

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My brand new book on Adobe Premiere Pro is written and off to the presses. It was written specifically for the many professional editors who already know how to edit using tools like Final Cut Pro and Avid, but need to now learn Adobe Premiere Pro. The book is a fast-paced, but thorough exploration of what an experienced video editor needs. The idea literally came from my own staff who were frustrated by all the existing books and classes on the market.

The official description:
In this intermediate level book three experienced editors take students step-by-step through the entire editing process in Premiere Pro, from file creation all the way through output. Along the way they’ll learn the ins-and-outs of (or “to do things such as”) file management, essential and intermediate editing techniques, color correction, audio mixing and repairing, titling and effects, and delivering their video onto tape, the web, and mobile devices. They’ll learn to work within the Adobe ecosystem as well, getting up to speed quickly on time saving tools such as Dynamic Link, Adobe Story, and more.

As they work through sections, they’ll find references to engaging videos that accompany the book, giving them a visual and audio frame of reference and solidifying their knowledge of the program.

Students will learn to:

  • Quickly organize their existing Final Cut or Avid projects, or create new projects to use right away in Premiere Pro
  • Understand how to use Premiere Pro with other Adobe software
  • Edit their footage the way they like but with tips and techniques from authors with tons of experience in all the editing programs and who speak your language.
  • Put their skills to work immediately by using the accompanying lesson files to work through the steps in the book