Welcome!!

[lola]

Hi all! Wow, it looks like from the response to the tech post so far that we have a lot of people coming with experience with all sorts of technologies! I think that’s so cool — how we all use so many different tools to create this form.

If you’re totally new, I hope it doesn’t seem overwhelming though! Please don’t be shy to ask which might be the simplest way to start, or the best tool for whatever system you’re working on. The vexercises were originally designed with people totally new to vidding/editing in mind, so please feel welcome and free to ask any questions at all! :) 

VfXercises*

[lola]

 [*blame the name on nu_breed it was her idea.... :D]

So... I’ve also been trying to learn a new tool for me - Adobe After Effects - and as part of the process, I thought that we could have a sort of second set of bonus vexercises each round, except these would be VfXercises—challenges meant to specifically dig into special effects tools, and designed to be short form videos (even shorter than a minute!).

These are not tried and tested, it would be a grand experiment! And perhaps people could adjust them to whatever tool they’re using. I’m using After Effects, but also interested in trying the ipad app Video Star. It’s also possible they could be done within Davinci Resolve Fusion (I have to admit I found fusion a bit overwhelming, and haven’t tackled it yet…) They could even be done with Premiere, for the most part.

This is what we’re thinking these extra VfXercises would be, loosely. (Perhaps we can tweak some of the later ones as we go)

1. 30 s edit, 10 3-second shots, with at least one effect (like an LUT) applied throughout (on AE, through an adjustment layer)
2. same (though if you would like to let go of the 3-second shot restriction, go for it) but with transitions between edits (bonus if you use 3D transitions?)
3. (10-30s) incorporate animated text
4. (10-30s) incorporate masking
5. (10-30s) use/modify a preset edit layout/template
6. make animated closing logo or a watermark, or both!
7. free edit

Thoughts? Suggestions? Questions? 

(We also have been gathering/testing out tutorials etc., so we'll share those as well!)