I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Michael Ray Dresser for his online radio program “Dresser After Dark” to discuss my book, “The Green Screen Handbook”. Mr. Dresser is known to interview experts and authors over a range of topics and took interest in my book for the technology.

The interview airs tonight at 7:00pm PDT on BlogRadio at his site Dresser After Dark, along with several other authors and topical experts.

You can also hear my interview directly here: Jeff_Foster-Dresser-Radio_8-4-10.mp3

I’ve broken these tutorials down into three videos, using some real-world examples of how I work using SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 5 with Adobe After Effects CS5 projects, creating short production videos and motion graphics for broadcast. Whether I’m creating/editing a short video with layers of motion graphics or building a motion graphics animated opener/bumper, I can use the soundtrack creation and editing capabilities in Sonicfire Pro 5 to produce a quick, interactive workflow with After Effects CS5.

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Sonicfire Pro 5 – Soundtrack Workflow with After Effects CS5

In this tutorial, I show how quick and easy it is to select a soundtrack library in Sonicfire Pro 5 and adapt it to my short project I’ve created in After Effects CS5. By rendering out a low-res version of my project Comp from After Effects, I can import it into Sonicfire Pro 5 and do all of my soundtrack editing to match the video ques without having to go back and forth between the two apps or wait for long RAM previews to test the edits. Sonicfire Pro 5 also uses smart “Mood Mapping” technology that adjusts not only the volume of tracks along the timeline, but also drops out instrumentation as needed for sections of dialog or voice over. Any updates to an AIF file that is created by Sonicfire Pro 5 that you import into your After Effects project, can be re-edited again in Sonicfire Pro 5 with all the track editing data retained. This is truly a smart and efficient workflow!

Watch this video tutorial below:

*Note that selecting 720p on the video gives you a higher quality video/audio playback -
or choose “Watch on YouTube” for a larger version of the video!

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Sonicfire Pro 5 – Roundtrip Soundtrack Editing with After Effects CS5

I cover editing the soundtrack in this video, by using the “Edit Original” option in After Effects, which launches Sonicfire Pro 5 and a new project file is created with all of the original track data still intact from the AIF file. Inside Soncifire Pro 5, I can now split the soundtrack into two sections and it will automatically recreate the end point of the first track while I add a new track that will give the second half of the video a different feel. Since it also recalled the low-res video I used to create the original soundtrack with, it’s easy to see the edit points. All of the editing is done in Sonicfire Pro 5 and the finished AIF is then saved-over the original file so it’s automatically linked back into the After Effects project.

Watch this video tutorial below:

*Note that selecting 720p on the video gives you a higher quality video/audio playback -
or choose “Watch on YouTube” for a larger version of the video!

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Sonicfire Pro 5 – Matching the Soundtrack to Motion Graphics Elements with After Effects CS5

In this tutorial, I show how I use Sonicfire Pro 5 to create an energetic soundtrack for this reality TV show opener/bumper that I created in After Effects CS5. All of my animation sequences are done but I need to set them to the timing of the music soundtrack I create. Using Sonicfire Pro 5 I can not only get the exact soundtrack I need to fit the 13 second long project, but I can customize it to contain exactly what sections of the soundtrack elements I want along the timeline and show you how to use the blocks from the bin to work in a “Garage Band” style of production – though it’s not necessary if you’re not musically-inclined. I also include hit files to enhance my production and it all comes together quickly and efficiently in this workflow.

Watch this video tutorial below:

*Note that selecting 720p on the video gives you a higher quality video/audio playback -
or choose “Watch on YouTube” for a larger version of the video!

I hope these tutorials help you understand the different workflows between these two programs and encourage you to experiment with what works best for you.
Cheers, Jeff
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*Special Thanks to iStockphoto for the images used in the final tutorial.

In this first App in the MixItUp with… series, they’ve joined forces with Adopt-a-Pet.com to provide a series of famous “Dogs Playing Poker” paintings from Brown & Bigelow to insert your own pet or friend into, sitting at the table. All you need is a contrasting plain blank wall behind your character, align them with the overlay on-screen and shoot!

There are more fun MixItUp with… Apps on the way, and several that I’ll be working on with iMatte. Check out their web site to learn more and to watch a movie on how easy it is to use this fun iPhone App!

If you’ve never listened to this live streaming weekly show, be sure to check out the schedule from their web site here. Every Thursday night, Larry and Mike have a fantastic lineup of industry pros, leaders and educators to give you inspiration and knowledge. Highly recommended if you’re a student or a seasoned pro!

My impression of this release in general are much better than the CS4 release overall, with serious productivity enhancements (64-bit optimized, memory allocation/management) and much-needed production tools such as the Roto Brush tool and FreeForm 3D plug-in. I had the opportunity to watch this product evolve through the beta cycles and put it through it’s paces and provide feedback about the usability of the tools during development. Using the Roto Brush on a real post-production assignment gave me a true sense of the usefulness (and possible pitfalls) of this new workflow, and in the end, I found it much more accurate and effective than trying to do hand-roto with a spline mask on complicated tasks such as hair and intricate backgrounds. (link to the final online commercial will be posted here as soon as it’s live)

I might also add that while Digieffects FreeForm from mettle.com is truly a 3D warp mesh and displacement effect that can be applied to any AE layer in 3D space, and integrates well with other 3D layers , lights and cameras, After Effects CS5 still doesn’t provide a true volumetric 3D workflow. FreeForm will definitely garner much more useful 3D capabilities and in the days to come, we’ll see some remarkable projects come to life utilizing this amazing technology. I’ll be posting some examples myself here on my blog as well as reviews and tutorials with FreeForm in the weeks ahead.

Joe first came to me after viewing another client’s “Documercial” I produced for Ojai artists and authors Alice & Richard Matzkin, for their book The Art of Aging. He wanted a piece that worked for both showing the content of his book and shared his passion for the topic of him life’s work: “Photographing Democracy”.

I solicited help with shooting the video interviews from colleague Michael Anderson (Extra Mile Films) and used the Panasonic P2 HD cameras on loan from Panasonic for the production and testing of my book The Green Screen Handbook. We also used the Reflecmedia system for a shot used toward the end of the video that needed green screen compositing, but needed to be ultra portable and compact. The project was edited in Final Cut Pro and Adobe After Effects. Music was provided by Roger Kellaway and Alan & Marilyn Bergman.

You can view the video online by clicking this link:
Visions Of America: Photographing Democracy

In addition to my other conference sessions this year, I’m presenting a LIVE Green Screen shoot at my 1/2 day session for the NAB Post-Production Conference. Equipment and gear supplied for the shoot includes Panasonic, Kino Flo, Bogen, Reflecmedia, Ultimatte, Composite Components, iStockphoto, ScopeBox and many more.

*UPDATE: Ultimatte is providing an Ultimatte DV box so I’ll be showing some Live hardware compositing at this session as well as a guest appearance from Ultimatte President and Co-Founder, Paul Vlahos!

I’ll be sharing some lighting techniques, tips & tricks (including how to make your own portable low-voltage cool lights cheap!) plus materials and techniques not commonly known. Plus I’ll show you the importance of using a scope when setting up your shots to get the optimum quality footage for your green screen extraction software.

I’ll show you how to plan ahead for scenes and virtual sets and adjust your lighting accordingly. We’ll also look at some examples of productions from the past to the present and how compositing technology has changed over the years.

I’ll also be selling/signing my book “The Green Screen Handbook” immediately after the session. Make sure you stick around as I’ll be raffling-off a FREE COPY too!

I hope you can join us for this exciting event – as well as my other sessions at NAB this year!

NAB 2010 Post-Production Speaking Schedule at-a-glance:

• In Depth: Greenscreen/Bluescreen Lighting, Shooting and Post Production
Tuesday, 04/13/2010 10:00am – 1:00pm
Room N254
Link to Online Session Description

• Animating with Photoshop
Tuesday, 04/13/2010 3:30pm – 4:45pm
Room N258
Link to Online Session Description

• Stereo 3D Animation with Photoshop & After Effects
Wednesday, 04/14/2010 3:30pm – 4:45pm
Room N257
Link to Online Session Description

• Motion Tracking with Mocha and After Effects
Wednesday, 04/14/2010 5:00pm – 6:15pm
Room N257
Link to Online Session Description

No shows booked at the moment.

This video segment is from the “Photoshop CS4 Video & Animation” DVD and shows you how to convert a video layer in Photoshop CS4 to a Smart Object so you can apply effects and transformations to your videos. The example shown can be found in its entirety along with all the source footage and project files so you can follow along with the DVD.

Click the image below to view the video hosted on Adobe TV:

Check out the other Adobe TV videos from these DVD titles by clicking here and be sure to check out the DVDs in our online store and save 50%!

“The Green Screen Handbook” (Sybex/Wiley, pub) is finally shipping from the warehouse and hitting the bookshelves. *Note that we are NOW accepting online orders from the PixelPainter Online Store at a 30% discount off retail!

A sneak preview of the book was presented in a live Users Conference session I gave at Macworld 2010 in San Francisco in Feb, 2010. A live green screen shoot is scheduled for the Post-Production Conference at NAB 2010 in April, where I will be sharing some of the material and techniques from the book.

Product Description

Make movies and videos with green screen composting technology with The Green Screen Handbook: Real-World Production Techniques. This unique guide is a comprehensive how-to of professional production techniques, step-by-step instruction, and tips that can save you time and money. Learn when to use green screens instead of blue, find out how the pros operate in professional studios, and get amazing results—even on a shoestring budget.

Topics include matting and keying basics; setups using fabric, portable background panels, or paint; lighting and digital camera essentials; broadcast TV hardware switchers; professional HD and major motion picture compositing; multiple-colored screen composites (background, foregrounds, and objects); directing storyboards and talent; working with virtual sets; motion tracking; and much more.

• See how to plan, set up, and execute your shots to reduce fixes in post
• Choose the right keying process for your project
• Master basic shooting setups and live broadcast keying
• Understand proper lighting and how to match subjects to the background
• Create a working storyboard and learn how to select and direct talent
• Composite your footage and fix problem shots
• Work creatively with virtual sets, motion tracking, and match moving
• Master techniques that apply to all compositing software and plug-ins

The DVD includes sample footage and all project files to accompany the chapters in the book.

(click on book cover thumbnails to see larger images)

Order your signed copy NOW from the Online Store and Save 30% Off Retail!

**UPDATE: Check out THIS NEW PAGE for more info about the book and to see the new 1-minute promo video!

This video segment is from “Learning After Effects CS4″ and shows you the difference between simple “chroma keying” and a real matte extraction/creation tool. Keylight is a plug-in that ships with After Effects CS4 and is an industry standard for compositing/VFX work done with After Effects. The example shown can be found in its entirety along with all the source footage and project files so you can follow along with the DVD.

Click the image below to view the video hosted on Adobe TV:

Check out the other Adobe TV videos from these DVD titles by clicking here and be sure to check out the DVDs in our online store and save 50%!