Course Eval Link

Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Lanier_DART_330_430

Planetarium dome mask

Click here to download the psd file you can use as a mask or screen to see what will show up on the planetarium dome:

https://www.box.com/s/2dfe9750e2d5a4ae464e

After Effects Render Specs

To export an After Effects file as a playable quicktime, you need to render it out through the render queue.

The best luck I've had, in terms of file quality, was to render out a lossless QT file from After Effects, then re-export that QT file through MPEG streamclip with the proper video and audio compression settings that we need for projecting at the planetarium.

To render your file from AE, go to:

Composition: add to render queue

That will open up the render queue where your timeline usually is.

From there, choose:
Render settings: best settings
Output module: click on lossless, make sure audio is checked in the dialog box that pops up, and choose lossless for that as well.

Then, click on the "render" button at the upper right hand corner of the render queue.

Once you've rendered that QT movie, open that file in MPEG Streamclip, go:

File > Export to Quicktime

With video compression settings set to H264
And audio compression settings set to MPEG-4 AAC
Click on "De-Interlace Video."

After Effects tip sheet

The tutorials that I am basing this assignment on are here:

http://library.creativecow.net/tutorials/adobeaftereffects/camera

And here are a few tips, for easier reference:

Settings for the project:
1920x1080 pixels (remember, only a center circle of 1050 pixels will be projected)
Open AE, select "New Composition," make sure it's set to HDTV 1080 29.97

Making a layer a 3D layer:
Clicking the cube in the layer allows it to be 3d

Setting keyframes:
open up the layers with the triangle - to set keyframes, click on the stopwatch. You'll get a keyframe setter between the two arrows on the left of the layer.


Looping a video clip:
Select in properties window, then File / Interpret Footage / Main will give you access to a looping parameter

Particle system - the system used in the tutorial is under:
Effects and presets
Simulation
CC particle world

Layer>New>solid

Creating a camera:
Layer>New>camera

Create a null object:
Layer>New>Null Object

To right of camera layer, select "Null 1" where "None" is displayed, to "parent: the null object.

To copy and paste properties:
Shift or command select the properties in the layer, then command-c to copy - click the layer where you wish to paste the properties, and command-v. By giving the null object the position properties of your layers, you can direct the camera to point directly at those layers.

Due Tuesday, 4/10: Sketches for your AfterEffects Project

A reminder: come to Tuesday's class with some sketches showing elements of the virtual 3D environment you'll be sending your "camera" through for the AfterEffects project.

Starting Video Assignment: The YouTube Doubler

As a start to the coursework looking at digital media for projection (as opposed to print), you have a Split Screen assignment, due on Thursday. You should use the youtube doubler to make a mash-up of two videos currently hosted on youtube. Remember that juxtaposition is key to this sort of approach -- how do the two videos relate to each other, when they're presented simultaneously, side-by-side. Connections can be on a formal level (shape, color, rhythm) or a content level (having one video "commenting" on the video beside it).

Please paste the URL of your doubled video in the comments section of this blog post; if you can't post comments, then email me the URL at my school address.

Here's the doubler:

http://youtubedoubler.com/

Here are links to some of the split screen examples I showed in class:

Sisters:
http://youtu.be/c88HD5-m39o

Rules of Attraction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzv_B-f0t9o

500 Days of Summer:
http://vimeo.com/29879349

Chelsea Girls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwwNntW3RBg

Here are links of doublers I made a couple years ago:

Soothing:
http://youtubedoubler.com/14H1

The stuff of nightmares:
http://youtubedoubler.com/wlU