Apple
Use Apple Pro Apps? Time to Update.
Thursday, March 04 ,2010
Use FCP, Aperture or Logic? Be sure to download the Apple ProKit 5.1 update to fix memory leaks –
About ProKit 5.1 (Leopard & SnowLeopard)
This ProKit Update fixes issues with user interface software resources that are shared by Apple's professional applications.
Get it here – http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1008
About ProKit 5.1 (Leopard & SnowLeopard)
This ProKit Update fixes issues with user interface software resources that are shared by Apple's professional applications.
- The issues addressed include:
- Corrected an issue with improper scrolling behavior.
- Resolved memory leaks for improved performance.
- Addressed layout of interface elements in certain application alert windows.
Get it here – http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1008
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How to Automatically Add Copyright Metadata in Aperture 3
Wednesday, February 24 ,2010
Learn how to add copyright information to your videos upon import with Aperture 3. Just a short tip (banged out in the basement with my new Yeti mic to give it a test).
Apple Updates Aperture and Digital Camera Support
Wednesday, February 24 ,2010
About Aperture 3.0.1
This update improves overall stability and addresses a number of issues in Aperture 3, including:
- Upgrading libraries from earlier versions of Aperture
- Importing libraries from iPhoto
- Importing photos directly from a camera
- Memory usage when processing heavily-retouched photos
- Face recognition processing
- Adding undetected faces using the Add Missing Face button
- Printing pages containing multiple images
- Printing photos and contact sheets with borders and metadata
- Editing photos using an external editor
- Display of images with Definition and Straighten adjustments applied
- Zooming photos in the Viewer and in the Loupe using keyboard shortcuts
- Accessing Aperture libraries on a network volume Selecting and moving pins on the Places map
- Adding and editing custom locations using the Manage My Places window
- Switching between masters when working with RAW+JPEG pairs.
The Digital Camera update also added several new cameras to Aperture and iPhoto.
- Hasselblad H3DII-50
- Leica M9
- Leica X1
- Olympus E-P1
- Olympus E-P2
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
- Pentax K-7
- Pentax K-x
- Sony Alpha DSLR-A500
- Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
- Sony Alpha DSLR-A850
Aperture 3 Supports Video
Thursday, February 18 ,2010
With Aperture 3, Apple has fully embraced video acquired on DSLR cameras. In fact, you can now manage video and audio files as easily as any other image in your library. If you are used to using Aperture as part of your photo editing workflow, you'll find the addition of audio and video support quite welcome.
Importing Video
Video and audio files are added to your library in the same manner as any other image. You can import files directly from a memory card or from a hard drive. It is important to decide where you want to store the files before you import them. Follow these steps to choose a location and import your files:1. Select a project or album then click the Import Files button in the toolbar.
2. Navigate to the desired files in the File Browser at the bottom of the main window (this can be files that already exist on hard drive or a memory card).
3. Select the check boxes for the desired clips. You can also click the Check All or Uncheck All buttons at the top of the window.
4. In the right column, choose a destination for the files. Specify where you want the files to be located in Aperture:
- Click a project or folder in the Library pane to target it.
- Choose New Project from the Destination menu to create a new project to hold the imported items.
- In the Aperture Library moves the files into a managed library. These files can be exported but will be copied to a new location.
- In their current location leaves the files where they are located. This is the best approach if you've already copied your video files to an editing drive.
- Your User folder is available (and is labeled with your default name).
- The Pictures folder in your home directory is another option.
- Choose lets you specify another location. This option works well when you want to target a specific drive (such as your project's media drive). The Choose option can be used to copy the media from the camera memory to an editing location.
READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP Read More...
Creating Motion Templates
Wednesday, February 17 ,2010
Want to create your own Motion templates for use in Final Cut Pro? In this video lesson you’ll learn how to combine After Effects and Motion into a template project that can then be updated from within Final Cut Pro.
You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.
You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download sample files.
New iPhoto Training
Thursday, February 11 ,2010
iPhoto: Fix Your Photos – http://tinyurl.com/iphotofix
The videos provide easy to follow tutorials that help you fix common problems with pictures. You'll learn how to straighten and crop, adjust dark photos, and bring out the color in your snapshots. You'll also learn how to fix soft focus, red eye, and overexposed photos. Whether you're new to iPhoto or even an experienced user, you'll find useful techniques and powerful shortcuts to get your work done faster. Each lesson includes hands on files so you can work along with the instructor.
iPhoto: Share Your Photos - http://tinyurl.com/iphotoshare
The videos provide easy to follow tutorials that help you share your pictures over email or post them online to services including MobileMe, Facebook, and Flickr. You’ll also learn techniques for making slideshows and creating your own blog. Whether you're new to iPhoto or even an experienced user, you’ll find useful techniques and powerful shortcuts to share your photos easily. Each lesson includes hands on files so you can follow along with the instructor.
Aperture 3 Announced – New Training on Way
Tuesday, February 09 ,2010
Here are my top 10 reasons to upgrade for current users. More details soon...
- Better Filmstrip and Fullscreen View – It's much easier to work with your images and really get at the details.
- Backup on Import – Have your media go to two drives at once. This is HUGE.
- Places – Yes it's in iPhoto... but now that GPS tag makes it so much easier to sort by location. I also use this as a tool for site surveys and planning from shoot scouts.
- Faces – Again... was in iPhoto last year, but I'll take it. Facial recognition to organize your library. This is great for finding pictures of one subject. It's freaky good too.
- Focus Points – Actually see where the camera used points to auto focus. This is very useful for evaluating sharpness.
- Search on Steroids – Okay, that's not its actual name. But it's amazing... you can sort by usage, face, place, time, file type, all sorts of things. Literally search by Who, Where, When... I'm still waiting on Why.
- Nondestructive Brushes with Edge Detection – Easily cleanup images with all sorts of spot adjustments. Completely nondestructive and editable, including the ability to view the selections mask and tweak it at any time. Oh... and they work with Wacom tablets too. The skin smoothing brush is dreamy good.
- Curves! – 'nuff said.
- Adjustment Presets – Useful starting points or make your own. Can even apply them upon import to batch fix problems.
- Video – You can organize it, trim it, media manage it, drag it into Final Cut Pro, export out versions, use it in new slideshows. Uh huh... that's right... video.
You can see a detailed list of all 200 features here – http://www.apple.com/aperture/features/
I am working on two new DVDs and video titles for Kelby Training – tell them you want more!
Also, be sure to check out the great site – http://www.apertureexpert.com/
Create a Line Item Budget in iWork '09
Monday, February 08 ,2010
This line says it best – "Budgets lead to money and money leads to exciting things"
Check out more shows from MacBreak – http://www.youtube.com/user/macbreaksf
Check out more shows from MacBreak – http://www.youtube.com/user/macbreaksf
Media Placeholder in Apple Pages
Thursday, February 04 ,2010
Richard Harrington shows Alex Lindsay how to streamline document updates with a customized media placeholder in Pages '09.
Using Video in a Keynote Presentation
Wednesday, February 03 ,2010
Adding video elements to a presentation is an easy way to make a good presentation a great one. In this video, we add a video to an Apple Keynote presentation and go through all the options of using video in it.
Using Mail Merge in iWork '09
Wednesday, January 20 ,2010
Here are links to get the free episode.
http://www.pixelcorps.tv/macbreak_work018
http://www.youtube.com/user/macbreaksf
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=308761591
Direct Download
Special Video Book and Content Deal
Monday, January 18 ,2010
Peachpit would like to give your group a unique opportunity to provide your members with high-quality articles and video instruction from Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman’s critically acclaimed Peachpit book, Video Made on a Mac: Production and Postproduction using Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite absolutely free.
Get more information – here
An Interview About my New Book
Friday, January 15 ,2010
Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman are both Apple Certified Trainers and have an extensive background in video production. They talk with publisher Nancy Aldrich-Ruenzel about their new book Video Made on a Mac: Production and Postproduction Using Apple Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite, explain who it is written for, and reveal why the Mac is their platform of choice for professional endeavors.
Aligning items in Keynote '09
Thursday, January 14 ,2010
Here are links to get the free episode.
http://www.pixelcorps.tv/macbreak_work017
http://www.youtube.com/user/macbreaksf
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=308761591
The New Drobo is Awesome... Come Learn More
Tuesday, December 08 ,2009
Join me for an educational seminar on Thursday, December 10, 2009 where we review how it (and the rest of the Drobo line) can benefit video editors, motion graphics artists, and videographers.
The event starts at 8:30 AM Pacific / 11:30 AM Eastern. Its a 30 minute seminar and you can ask any questions you want.
We've been putting it into play with our tapeless workflow and have been very pleased.
Sign up for your spot here – http://bit.ly/7vhDJr
Photo of nearly every Apple product ever released
Tuesday, November 17 ,2009
Here's a cool picture for those of you into Apple. Click the image to view the full-resolution poster.
Get More Out of Your Mac
Wednesday, November 04 ,2009
We've also got a new podcast series too with free tips and practice files. Web or iTunes for free.
"On a Mac, the sky's the limit for creating professional video. With all the tools available though, it can be a daunting task to decide which ones offer the best solutions for combined efficiency and high-level results. How can you effectively communicate your vision to clients and crew? How should you calibrate your camera for multi-camera and green screen shoots? Is it better to do your keying in After Effects, Motion, or Final Cut? How should you set up your edit suite for efficiency and accuracy? How do you manage large amounts of media and a multitude of formats for multiple software applications?
In Video Made on a Mac, you'll learn the answers and much more. Chock-full of practical advice and step-by-step instructions, each chapter provides insight on the critical components of production and postproduction that can make all the difference when you're up against a tight budget and schedule. The accompanying DVD supplies you with project files and high-definition footage so you can follow along with the examples, as well as 50 training videos. Whether you're an advanced Mac user or just beginning to incorporate Adobe Creative Suite into your Final Cut Studio workflow, you'll learn to apply best-practice techniques to all your video projects."
Clean Up Your Mac's Hard Drive for Free
Saturday, October 31 ,2009
For example... I saved over 1.5 GB of space in just a few minutes.
- I used it to identify some HUGE template files for Apple Motion on my internal drive.
- I then opened up the files with QuickTime Pro. They were Photo-JPEG and Animation codec files (both beefy).
- I converted the Photo JPEG to Apple ProRes 422 and the Animtion to Apple ProRes 444.
- Voila.. space saved.
I am currently on a seek and destroy mission to locate large downloads and forgotten files. If you are a little weary, back up your drive before you start the purge in case you trash a needed file.
Editors Retreat
Wednesday, October 28 ,2009
Recharge Your Creativity and Craft • January 13 - 16 • Miami Beach, Florida
Now in its fourth year, the Editors Retreat has become an annual gathering for the post-production elite. Highly experienced editors from the worlds of film, TV and video gather to network, exchange ideas, share tips and of course, have fun!
Past keynotes and attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Stuart Bass, Chris Franklin and David Helfand as well as Apple, Adobe and Avid experts and industry power users. Attendees have included representatives from HBO, FRONTLINE, MTV, Lockheed Martin, Harpo Productions and Telemundo.
Running for 4 days and 3 nights, the Retreat offers advanced sessions on post visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. An equal amount of time will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors.
To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process. Visit www.EditorsRetreat.com for the full schedule and more details.
Attendees all receive a huge goodie bag! Right now its valued at over $4500 in gifts:
Past keynotes and attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Stuart Bass, Chris Franklin and David Helfand as well as Apple, Adobe and Avid experts and industry power users. Attendees have included representatives from HBO, FRONTLINE, MTV, Lockheed Martin, Harpo Productions and Telemundo.
Running for 4 days and 3 nights, the Retreat offers advanced sessions on post visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. An equal amount of time will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors.
To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process. Visit www.EditorsRetreat.com for the full schedule and more details.
Attendees all receive a huge goodie bag! Right now its valued at over $4500 in gifts:
- Megasuite from Digieffects $799
- Plug-in from Automatic Duck $495
- Plug-in Collection from CGM $199
- Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 $799
- Free Training Course from FMC $1,500
- NAB Post Production Conference Pass $895
- Music License from Free Play Music $100
New Podcast Featured on iTunes
Tuesday, October 20 ,2009
Our new podcast, Video Made on a Mac, is in the New and Notable section of iTunes.
Richard Harrington and Robbie Carman show you how to create professional video on the Mac. In this series, they share videos and project files using real world examples in Final Cut Studio and Adobe Creative Suite. From pre-production to post, and accomplishing it all within a tight schedule, this podcast series gives you a sample of what you can learn using their book, Video Made on the a Mac.
Be sure to visit the site to get the free downloadable files or order the book. Be sure to use the code VMMBOOK at checkout to receive a discount.
The new podcast is brought to you by the fine folks at Peachpit Press.
Budgeting with Apple Numbers
Tuesday, October 20 ,2009
For a quick overview on creating video budgets with Apple Numbers, be sure to watch this informative video. You can also visit the website www.peachpit.com/videomac in order to download the budget template.
Important Update for Recent Macs
Thursday, October 15 ,2009
The update is for the following machines:
- MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)
- MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009)
- MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2009)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008)
- iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009)
- iMac (24-inch, Early 2009)
- iMac (20-inch, Early 2009)
- Mac mini (Early 2009)
The update is available for both Snow Leopard and Leopard.
Want to Learn How to Make DVD Menus?
Thursday, October 15 ,2009
You can view it here as well a check out the whole book.
"Updated for DVD Studio Pro 4.2.2, this best-selling, Apple certified guide uses striking real-world footage to build four complete DVDs and share a Blu-ray disc. It covers how to use DVD Studio Pro on its own, as well as how to integrate it into your workflow with Final Cut Pro 7, Motion 4, and Compressor 3.5. Each lesson takes you step-by-step through an aspect of DVD creation and finishing, with hands-on projects for you to complete as you go."
How Good is that Laptop Battery?
Monday, August 17 ,2009
Do you ever wonder what’s going on with your laptop battery? Does it seem like it just doesn’t power your MacBook Pro as long as it used to?
Check out coconutBattery which shows you the current maximum capacity of a battery in relation to the original capacity your battery had as it left the factory. You can also find out how many battery-loadcycles (how often did you fully load your battery). This information is useful because you can tell when a battery is going bad (and if you aren't being a good laptop owner). Plus it will tell you how old the computer is, which is useful for birthday parties and whining about needing a new machine. You can get coconutBattery for free by clicking here.
If all this talk about battery maintenance has you confused, visit this page for some useful tips. While its an Apple page, the same advice holds true for Windows laptops with Lithium Ion batteries.
Macintosh Clippings made Useful
Monday, August 10 ,2009
I often find when I am browsing the Net to select text and drag it to the Desktop. I often use these clippings as a way to gather a few notes. The only problem with this system is that you can’t modify the clipping. If you open the clipping in the Finder you can read it, copy the text to your clipboard, but that’s about it. But don’t worry, there’s a great piece of freeware to make tweaks.
Everyday Software has released ClipEdit so you can modify both text and image clippings. The program is free and very useful if you collect bits of knowledge/trivia. For best results try the following.
1. Right-click (Control-click) on a clipping file and choose Get Info.
2. Change the Open with: drop down menu to ClipEdit
3. Click Change All…
ClipEdit is now set as the default editor for all clippings… much more useful and all it’ll cost you is a visit to Everyday Software.
Photo Books Tip
Friday, August 07 ,2009
So, making a book using iPhoto is still the best. I sat down and was going to use Aperture, but it didn't have the theme I wanted (although both use the same engine and printer service). If you've never made a book, the process is a snap.
1. Select the photos you want in the browser (pick more than you think you'll need)
2. Click the Book icon in the Toolbar
3. Flip from page to page (choosing layout options from the Toolbar)
4. Drag photos in and scale and position using intuitive controls.
Mini books start at $4 and larger books range between $20 -$30 depending on soft or hard covers. It really makes a nice keepsake for friends or even a new way to build a portfolio. But what about 'proofing?' Well you can share the book before you print it.
1. In iPhoto, choose File > Print.
2. In the Print Window, choose Save as PDF.
3. Pick a destination, then name the file and click OK.
4. Send the PDF to those who need to review it.
The mini books make great leave behinds for clients or potential employers.
High Definition Review and Approval with Apple TV
Friday, July 31 ,2009
| Image courtesy Apple |
Sure, you can compress HD clips for web delivery. Problem is most clients don’t have the monitor resolution, RAM, etc. to view HD (and don’t even get me started on color and contrast issues with the average PC monitor). You could burn a Blu-ray disc, except at $12 a pop (plus rush courier) that gets pretty expensive (and time consuming). So what’s a discerning post company to do? No the answer is not VHS… it’s Apple TV.
Read the whole story at ProVideoCoalition.com
Final Cut Studio Documentation and Workflows Now Online
Friday, July 24 ,2009
Need to know the latest about Final Cut Studio? Want to look something up about ProRes from your iPhone? Hate those big printed manuals that waste paper?
While its not a revolutionary step (others like Adobe have already placed their docs online) it is still a welcomed event. Some might wonder if trimming the manuals out allowed the huge price cut?
Regardless… the manuals and an even better Workflows document are now online.
The Apple documentation team has converted all of the documentation for the web. It is freely searchable and can even be linked to if you need to point to a specific article to help a colleague (an even nicer way to say RTFM).
You’ll find them here at http://documentation.apple.com/
A great document is also the “Final Cut Studio Workflows.” It’s a little hidden within the Final Cut Pro help library: http://documentation.apple.com/en/finalcutstudio/workflows/
It offers great ideas on how Final Cut Studio applications fit into a post-production workflow. You’ll also find practical guidance on how Final Cut Studio apps work with one another.
Enjoy.
Final Cut Studio Price Shocker
Thursday, July 23 ,2009
Yes we all new it would eventually come… the “new Final Cut Studio” was announced. We’ll let the cheers and moans begin after a few days of testing the final release (just ordered mine 30 minutes ago).
But there are a few surprises.. mainly price! Here’s the great news (especially in this economy)
Final Cut Studio 2 – NEW was $1,299 the new Final Cut Studio – NEW is $999
Here’s the best news Final Cut Studio 2 upgrade – was $499 - $699 the new Final Cut Studio upgrade – is $299
I have confirmed… doesn’t matter which version you are upgrading from… I took it right to Apple and got a straight answer.
That is $299 for ANYONE to upgrade from a full copy of Final Cut Pro or Final Cut Studio (except Student or NFR copies).
More on new features soon… but let me just say:
In the current economic client, it’s truly appreciated to see software pricing that respects the long-term customer. This is a no-brainer upgrade… speed and power without pinching your wallet. Thanks Apple… I mean it!
Full press release HERE
Want to Know What’s New in the “new Final Cut Studio”
Thursday, July 23 ,2009
Like many of you, I went digging to find the most information about the new Final Cut Studio release. Sure.. there are tutorials and flashy pages on Apple’s site. These have some great info… but I’m a details kinda guy. After so poking and prodding… I found these great documents.
The Final Cut Studio Product Overview shows the new features with great descriptions. It’s easy to navigate and serves as a menu of what to explore. The document clocks in at 66 pages
Most importantly (for quality nuts) the ProRes white paper offers in-depth technical information about the Apple ProRes codec. This was just updated to 4:4:4:4… that is fantastic as we have a lossless codec with embedded alpha channels. Goodbye Animation codec and your sluggish performance. Read all about it in 22 informative pages.
Start Reading!
A Good Deal on Time Machine
Monday, April 06 ,2009
“Save $30 on a 500GB Time Capsule. Time Capsule works with Time Machine in Leopard to back up your Mac computers wirelessly and automatically. And as a MobileMe member, you can access files on your Time Capsule drive over the Internet, wherever you go.”
Use this Promo Code at checkout: T2N3L7GJE8”
The code might be a one-time use.... so try it (first come first served).
I already have one and these work great.
Powering Audio Search for Video
Thursday, March 26 ,2009
Continue to the Layers Magazine website to see the full tutorial for free.
Two New Apple Books Ready To Order
Sunday, March 22 ,2009
If you’ve wondered why I’ve been so quite lately... it’s because I’ve been hard at work on both of these books. I’m proud to announce that these will be shipping in just a few weeks. Both feature a ton of new projects and all sorts of new tips. Even if you have previous editions of the books, you won’t want to miss these. We’ve completely rewritten nearly every chapter with a ton of new projects, design tips, and a bunch of really helpful advice.
Apple Training Series: iWork 09
In the only Apple-certified guide to iWork ’09, you’ll learn to create everything from first-rate business presentations and newsletters to effective budgets and event planners. Focused lessons take you step by step through all aspects of Keynote, Pages, and Numbers. The self-paced book/DVD combo uses real-life material and practical lessons that you can apply immediately to your own projects. You’ll learn to:
• Master the iWork suite of tools quickly through fun, real-world projects
• Design a Keynote presentation from storyboard to Web export
• Add animated charts and motion backgrounds to a presentation with ease
• Publish great-looking newsletters and brochures in print and on the Web
• Build a professional marketing package from scratch
• Create expense reports, track budgets, and plan special events
• Sort, organize, and chart data using sophisticated spreadsheet calculations
Get iWork ‘09 for 34% off the cover price
Apple Training Series: iLife 09
In the only Apple-certified guide to iLife ’09, the authors have you working miracles with iLife within the first few pages. Featuring footage and images from around the world, this book/DVD combo uses real-life material and practical lessons that you can apply immediately to your own projects. Focused lessons take you step by step through all aspects of iLife ’09—everything from organizing and sharing your photo library to creating polished video and soundtracks. Along the way, you’ll produce movies, photobooks, podcasts, websites, blogs, and custom DVDs.
Get iLife ‘09 for 34% off the cover price
I worked hard on these... there’s a ton of new stuff and I really hope you check them out.
A Change in the Market – Apple Releases HD Movies for Sale
Friday, March 20 ,2009
Seems like times are changing... Apple (and more importantly, movie studios) have decided to start offering high-definition movie sales and rentals through the iTunes Store. This is yet another sign that consumers want digital downloads (and are willing to pay a fair price). Let’s hope more studios come on board.
Starting today, movie fans can purchase box office blockbusters for download in HD for $19.99 from iTunes, and films will be available as iTunes Movie Rentals in HD for $4.99 within 30 days after release. Customers can enjoy these films in HD on their Mac or PC and on their widescreen TV with Apple TV, as well as in standard definition on their iPhone or iPod with video.
3-Way Color Corrector – Final Cut Help
Saturday, January 17 ,2009
This video tutorial reveals a little known fact of color correcting different actors in a scene with the 3-way color corrector in Final Cut Pro. This tutorial is presented by CreativeCOW.net and is part of a video tutorial series at www.creativecow.net.
Editor's Retreat – "Virtually Free"
Saturday, November 29 ,2008
If you’re an editor, be sure to check out the Editors Retreat. This great event is a lot of fun and a wonderful learning experience (I’ve been 5 times its that good). The price is lowered, but you need to put a reservation in ASAP.
“With respect to the current economic times and in response to your requests, we are pleased to announce a price reduction for 2009 Editors Retreat. By shortening the length of the Retreat by one day, we’ve managed to cut the price from $3,150 to $2,300 without losing any of our key sessions.
The Retreat now includes:
• 4 days and 3 nights of sessions and activities
• All-inclusive resort stay
• See more here
And, a package of give-aways for each attendee worth $2,400 to include:
• A Full Pass to the 2009 NAB Post-Production World Conference in Las Vegas! (Valued at approx. $700)
• An Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium! (Valued at $1700)
With all of the give-aways and savings you actually receive more than the price of the retreat!
Join us for an amazing conference of advanced sessions, networking, creative workshops, award winning keynotes, raffles and unlimited access to representatives from Apple, Adobe and Avid!”
Registrations must be submitted before December 10th, 2009 with a 30% down payment. Visit www. EditorsRetreat.com for more info.
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Apple Releases Pro Apps Updates
Tuesday, November 25 ,2008
Improved High-Precision Rendering – This means improved reliability and quality when rendering still images and footage in high-resolution formats.
Improved AVCHD Support – This affects the Panasonic AG-HMC150 C and the Panasonic HDC-SD9 Camcorder
Improved Support for Metadata Imported from P2 Cards
Improved Format Support for Color – Color 1.0.3 provides support for XDCAM 422 media and for the RED plug-ins for Final Cut Studio.
Improved EDL Handling – Accuracy and reliability during EDL import have been improved.
To Download Files
What’s That Exclamation Point?
Monday, November 24 ,2008
After about five minutes, they call us back and ask if we were pulling their legs. Well, Final Cut Pro does have a secret AI engine. If we told you more, we’d be put on double-secret probation, but the exclamation point and checkbox actually mean something
else.
They’re used to determine if your video is broadcast safe/legal. An exclamation point means you’re not broadcast safe, and a green checkbox or one with an up arrow means you’re okay. Now how did this get turned on? Well, the keyboard shortcut for this is Control + Z, so people often accidentally hit it when trying to do an Undo (Command + Z) or a Fit to Window (Shift + Z).
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Aperture 2 Quick Tip – Now on iPhone
Sunday, November 16 ,2008
“The mDialog application is always available as a free download worldwide from Apple's App Store on iPhone and IPod Touch, or at www.itunes.com/appstore/ or click on the link on the mDialog site.”
Be sure to download and try it out.... it works great and is absolutely free.
Cloning an Image in Aperture
Saturday, November 08 ,2008
1 Press X to select the Retouch tool.
2 Select the Retouch HUD and click the Clone button.
3 In the Retouch HUD, adjust the brush Radius and the Softness.
4 Hold down the Option key and click the area you want to sample.
Tip
It’s often better to take a few strokes to build up the texture. Be careful as you clone so you don’t introduce stray strokes.
5 Brush over the area you want to clone.
6 Repeat brushstrokes as needed.
Tip
If you get an unintended stroke, you can choose Undo. If you return to a retouched image you can also delete a Retouch brush stroke at any time by clicking the Delete button in the Retouch area of the Adjustments pane. Note that brush strokes can be deleted only in reverse order because they’re recorded sequentially.
How to Fix Apple Compressor
Sunday, October 19 ,2008
“Apple's Compressor relies heavily on a service called Qmaster in order to work. Qmaster allows you to split rendering tasks across multiple machines in a render farm but it is still required even if you are only rendering on a single computer.The link between the two is so important that if the Qmaster service fails to launch, Compressor will be unable to submit batches. Should this occur, Compressor Repair checks for problems that could be preventing Qmaster from operating correctly. It checks for missing files, incorrect permissions, and attempts to manually start the qmasterd process.”
Importing iPhoto Images into Aperture
Monday, September 29 ,2008
As an iPhoto user chooses to migrate to Aperture, they’ll likely have a large library of images to bring with them. Aperture offers twoasy ways to migrate iPhoto images into your Aperture library. Which method you select will vary depending upon your needs.
Because Aperture and iPhoto are both manufactured by Apple, the two programs are designed to share information seamlessly. For example, any organization you did to create albums in iPhoto will translate into projects in Aperture. The EXIF, keywords, ratings, and applied adjustments are also maintained.
Importing an iPhoto library is very easy. To import your iPhoto library, do the following:
1. Choose File > Import > iPhoto Library. Aperture navigates automatically to your current iPhoto library.
2. Select the iPhoto Library folder using the file browser.
3. Choose the location where you’d like Aperture to store your images.
4. Specify a naming convention from the Version Name pop-up menu. You can choose Master Filename from the Version Name pop-up menu to store your images using the current master filenames assigned by the camera. There are also several options for assigning custom names.
5. Click Import to add the images to your Aperture library.
Migrating an Entire iPhoto Library
When you launch Aperture for the first time, a dialog offers to let you import your entire iPhoto library. You can choose to copy the images into your Aperture library or to simply reference the images in their current location. Even if you choose not to import your Aperture library the first time you launch, you can do so at any time.Because Aperture and iPhoto are both manufactured by Apple, the two programs are designed to share information seamlessly. For example, any organization you did to create albums in iPhoto will translate into projects in Aperture. The EXIF, keywords, ratings, and applied adjustments are also maintained.
Importing an iPhoto library is very easy. To import your iPhoto library, do the following:
1. Choose File > Import > iPhoto Library. Aperture navigates automatically to your current iPhoto library.
2. Select the iPhoto Library folder using the file browser.
3. Choose the location where you’d like Aperture to store your images.
- Choose "In the Aperture Library" from the Store Files pop-up menu to store imported masters in the Aperture library. This will allow Aperture to manage the images in its library architecture.
- Choose "In their current location" from the Store Files pop-up menu to import the files as referenced images. This means the files are stored in their current locations on your hard drive.
- Choose "Pictures" from the Store Files pop-up menu to store imported masters in the Pictures folder for the current user. The images are treated as referenced images.
- Choose "Choose" from the Store Files pop-up menu and pick a folder where you want to store the imported masters as referenced images. You can also specify an organization method for the images by clicking the Subfolders pop-up menu.
4. Specify a naming convention from the Version Name pop-up menu. You can choose Master Filename from the Version Name pop-up menu to store your images using the current master filenames assigned by the camera. There are also several options for assigning custom names.
5. Click Import to add the images to your Aperture library.
Reasons to Upgrade Videos Over at Peachpit.com
Tuesday, September 23 ,2008
Peachpit Press has released a cool series on reasons to upgrade to Photoshop CS4.
You can check out cool videos by:
You can check out cool videos by:
- Bert Monroy's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
- Matt Kloskowski's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
- Chris Orwig's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
- Kevin Ames' Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
- Rich Harrington's Reasons to Upgrade to Photoshop CS4
iPhoto versus Aperture – Part 1
Sunday, September 14 ,2008
Nondestructive Image Processing
Both Aperture and iPhoto offer nondestructive image processing.At any point during the image adjustment process you can restore your image to its original state.Although both iPhoto and Aperture feature nondestructive imaging,they take a different approach to achieve it.Read More...
Aperture Podcast Gets Featured
Saturday, September 13 ,2008
It’s always nice to start your day and find out that Apple has listed you on their homepage for Hot News. Seems they like our new podcast on Aperture 2, which is a great program.
By the next day the show was #3 on all of iTunes (beating every television network except for one show from HBO). So, thanks! And for those of you new to the site - welcome! Please look around and explore the many books, training titles, podcasts and resources we have here.
By the next day the show was #3 on all of iTunes (beating every television network except for one show from HBO). So, thanks! And for those of you new to the site - welcome! Please look around and explore the many books, training titles, podcasts and resources we have here.
MommyCast Interview
Tuesday, August 12 ,2008
We had Gretchen Vogelzang from MommyCast speak at the DC Podcaster Alliance Meetup. She gave a great talk on how to attract an audience. The meeting audio is here (she starts about 30 minutes into the recording). Download the files Meeting audio for Sat., 8-9-08, Part 1 and Meeting audio for Sat., 8-9-08, Part 2. You can download the audio recording here for free. Some really good ideas, be sure to check it out.
Convert MPEG-1 for FCP
Thursday, July 24 ,2008
bbDEMUX – Free
http://sourceforge.net/projects/macbbdemux
I stumbled across this great piece of freeware when stuck with an editing problem. My client had some MPEG-1 files they wanted to edit together for their website. While I was able to import them into FCPand set the timeline to 320X240, I couldn’t get the audio to import. Turns out with MPEG-1 files, the audio and video are merged into one track (muxed). This great little app does nothing more then split them apart, but that’s all that was needed and its free!
Create a Form Letter with Apple Pages
Wednesday, July 23 ,2008
Oftentimes you’ll need to create a form letter to send to multiple clients (such as an address change or a promotional letter). If you’d like to personalize these letters, Apple Pages makes it easy to insert data you’ve defined for contacts in Address Book. This can save you time because you can reuse a letter, envelope, or other document for multiple people. This feature is generally called a mail merge.
Read More...
Adjusting Boost and Hue Boost in Aperture
Monday, July 21 ,2008
Let’s look at two adjustment controls in the RAW Fine Tuning controls group: Boost and Hue Boost. Aperture includes a set ofcamera profiles for all supported cameras.These profiles give Aperture specific details about each camera’s imaging characteristics,and are used to determine what color and contrast adjustments should be automatically applied to the RAW file.These adjustments are done to apply the optimal decode based on the manufacturer ofthe camera.
The Boost slider lets you control the degree to which this default adjustment is applied to your image.By default,the Boost slider is set at full strength,so your image appears with the full level ofcorrection.As you drag the slider to the left,the correction is reduced.The Boost slider is handy for times when you feel your images have too much contrast or are a little too saturated.
Read More...
Editors Retreat Returns
Monday, July 14 ,2008
Recharge Your Creativity and Craft • January 28 - February 1 • Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Now in its third year, the Editors Retreat has become an annual gathering for the post-production elite. Highly experienced editors from the worlds of film, TV and video gather to network, exchange ideas, share tips and of course, have fun!
Past keynotes and attendees have included such names as Alan Heim, Sally Menke, Stuart Bass, Chris Franklin and David Helfand as well as Apple, Adobe and Avid experts and industry power users. Attendees have included representatives from HBO, FRONTLINE, MTV, Lockheed Martin, Harpo Productions and Telemundo.
Running for 5 days and 4 nights, the Retreat offers advanced sessions on post visual and audio techniques and features valuable insight into emerging trends and technologies. An equal amount of time will be devoted to discussing the creativity, craft and business practices of successful editors.
To ensure that only the best of the best attend, participation is subject to an application and screening process. Visit www.EditorsRetreat.com for the full schedule and more details.
WATCH THIS YEAR'S VIDEO
Rebuilding Permissions
Tuesday, July 08 ,2008
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Laugh at Bill & Steve – The Silicon Apartment
Wednesday, July 02 ,2008
What would happen if you locked Bill Gates and Steve Jobs in the same apartment (like Big Brother)? Well you get the risque comic strip – The Silicon Apartment (PG-13). The strip is really quite good and skewers both sides.
When in Doubt, Shut Down and Restart
Tuesday, July 01 ,2008
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Why Every Post House Needs an Apple TV
Tuesday, June 10 ,2008
Read More...
New Aperture Podcast
Saturday, June 07 ,2008
In the category of so new the paint is still drying.... I present to you the Aperture 2: Quick Tip podcast. You can find the first two episodes online now (as well as embedded here for streaming).
To see the show online and subscribe in a web browser:
iPod iTunes – http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=282371245
“Looking to learn all about Aperture 2, Apple's powerful image-editing and organization software? Whether you are new to Aperture or an experienced pro, there's a lot to learn. Aperture 2 is a major update, adding over 100 new features as well as support for a wide- range of digital SLR cameras. This podcast is based on the best selling book, Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 and features co- author RIchard Harrington. Join us each week for a concise, but detailed look at the useful tools and workflows used by imaging professionals. Aperture 2's new features are completely covered, including a new RAW-image processing engine, a streamlined interface, powerful new adjustment tools, and added integration with Mac OS X and other Apple products for instant web publishing and one-click portfolio syncing. You'll learn time- saving techniques for sorting, ranking, and organizing images, effective methods for correcting and enhancing images, plus efficient ways to display images for client review, apply metadata, update your online portfolio automatically, and much more. Real-world exercises feature professional photography from a variety of genres, including photo-journalism, sports, wedding, commercial, and portraiture. To learn more on the software, be sure to check out the Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 book.”
To see the show online and subscribe in a web browser:
iPod iTunes – http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=282371245
“Looking to learn all about Aperture 2, Apple's powerful image-editing and organization software? Whether you are new to Aperture or an experienced pro, there's a lot to learn. Aperture 2 is a major update, adding over 100 new features as well as support for a wide- range of digital SLR cameras. This podcast is based on the best selling book, Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 and features co- author RIchard Harrington. Join us each week for a concise, but detailed look at the useful tools and workflows used by imaging professionals. Aperture 2's new features are completely covered, including a new RAW-image processing engine, a streamlined interface, powerful new adjustment tools, and added integration with Mac OS X and other Apple products for instant web publishing and one-click portfolio syncing. You'll learn time- saving techniques for sorting, ranking, and organizing images, effective methods for correcting and enhancing images, plus efficient ways to display images for client review, apply metadata, update your online portfolio automatically, and much more. Real-world exercises feature professional photography from a variety of genres, including photo-journalism, sports, wedding, commercial, and portraiture. To learn more on the software, be sure to check out the Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 book.”
Configuring Aperture for Multiple Displays
Friday, June 06 ,2008
Once the displays are attached, you’re ready to configure Aperture for multi-screen viewing. When two displays are connected to your Mac, Aperture considers the main display—the one with the menu bar—to be the primary Viewer. The other display is the secondary Viewer. By default, the primary Viewer displays the Aperture application.
Let’s specify the function of the secondary Viewer.
Read More...
Cool Video Prodution Widgets for Your iPhone or Laptop
Monday, June 02 ,2008
Video Footage Calculator – Calculates how much storage you'll need for your footage type and duration.
Web – iPhone version – Offline version
Film Rate Calculator – Determines how much film you need for a particular scenario.
Web – iPhone version – Offline version
Aspect Ratio Calculator – Determines the aspect ratio for different footage formats.
Web – iPhone version
Depth of Field Calculator – Calculates depth of field for many camera sensors.
Web – iPhone version
Pixel Aspect Ratio Calculator – Determines relationship of Pixels for many digital formats.
Web – iPhone version
Lens Angle Calculator – Helps calculate the lens angle for a given sensor size and focal length.
Web – iPhone version
Power Load Calculator – Calculates the load on a circuit to see if it is excessive. You can also calculate the minimum circuit breaker size for the given load.
Web – iPhone version
These tools are cool, free, and useful.... three points that make them a must have for my iPhone.
Analyze Video Files on a Mac with Video Spec
Monday, June 02 ,2008
• The latest version has been tested on Mac OS X Tiger and Leopard.
• It is compatible with PowerPC and Intel Mac (Universal Binary).
• This version is localized in english and french.
The Mac OS X 10.5.3 Update – What it Means to Media Folks.
Saturday, May 31 ,2008
- Addresses an issue with stuttering video and audio playback in certain USB devices.
- Fixes an issue in which certain attached hard drives may not show up in the Finder.
- Includes additional RAW image support for several cameras.
- Improves 802.1X behavior and reliability.
- Improves reliability when using Time Capsule.
- Fixes reliability issues with authenticated RSS feeds.
- Addresses compatibility issues with Aperture 2.
- Addresses reliability issues when performing a full restore from a Time Machine backup.
You can access the update through your Apple Menu.... I’ve been running it for several days and all seems happy. Additionally, several new pro digital cameras were added for Raw support.
Get Photos from Aperture to Final Cut Pro
Saturday, May 24 ,2008
“The Aperture to Final Cut Pro plugin lets you take your images stored in Apple's professional photo management application and send them directly to a video sequence in Final Cut Pro. From within Aperture, you can select photos, set their order and duration and select transitions between frames.”
The Aperture to Final Cut Pro plugin is a free download and is provided on an as-is basis.
Timecode Burn-in and Encode in One Step
Tuesday, May 20 ,2008
Fortunately, a great new feature in Compressor 3 allows you to do this.
- Inside Final Cut Pro select the sequence you want to export.
- Choose File > Export > Using Compressor.
- Inside Compressor select the setting you’d like to apply to the file. With the setting active, select the Inspector window and click the Filters tab.
- Choose Timecode Generator.
- Change the settings for the Timecode Generator as you see fit.
- Apply the setting to the clip in the Batch window.
- Submit the job.
Note: If you’re trying to choose the Timecode Generator for an Apple preset you’ll notice there are no filters in the Filters tab of the Inspector. To be able to add the Timecode Generator to one of the Apple presets, you’ll have to duplicate it first (then it becomes a custom preset).
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
TWIP Podcast Episode #25 - Rich Harrington’s New Aperture Book
Monday, May 12 ,2008
We discussed the new book Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 (Apple Pro Training Series). Here are a few highlights:
- As both a photographer and author, his challenge in writing books like this one is to remember that the purpose of the software is not to bring something out that wasn’t there, but rather to enhance something that (for whatever reason) you couldn’t capture. We’ve all been in those situations where time is so short that you don’t get the lighting quite ideal, etc.
- Right now, use of an Aperture plug-in works much like a round-trip to Photoshop. A new version of the image is created, edited via the plug-in, and “returned” to Aperture’s control. Granted, you never alter your original image, so you never lose the ability to go back and start again on a process that utilized a plug-in. Ultimately, true non-destructive plug-ins might happen, but there’s no absolute way to know with Apple being so tight-lipped about their development process.- The book covers a wide range of output targets including prints, books, web use, iPhone, AppleTV, etc.
Nice Tutorial on Using Motion for Pan & Scan Effects
Wednesday, May 07 ,2008
“Animating photos is a staple effect pioneered by celebrated documentarian Ken Burns. In this tutorial Mark Spencer shows you why you should be doing these types of effects in Motion rather than Final Cut Pro.”
Click here to watch Mark's tutorial
New Aperture Book is in My Hands
Tuesday, May 06 ,2008
Customize the Default Adjustment Set
Specify exactly which adjustments you want to appear by default in the Adjustments Inspector/HUD. Two new commands — Add to Default Set and Remove from Default Set — are accessible in the Action pop-up menu for each adjustment in order to configure these settings.
Keyboard support in Adjustment Panels
Make precise image adjustments using the arrow keys on your keyboard to drive the various sliders in the Adjustments Inspector/HUD. To activate keyboard control, click once in the numeric field of an adjustment control (such as Exposure). You can then use the arrow keys to increase or decrease values. Hold down the Option key when using the arrow keys for even more precise adjustment. You can use Tab to move to the next adjustment control (and Shift-Tab to move to a previous control).
Read More...
Adobe Demos Future Technology at NAB
Thursday, April 24 ,2008
Following up on my "Really Cool Adobe Announcements" post...
Adobe has actually posted their "secret" presentation from NAB. Hart Shafer talks about four cool things Adobe has up their sleeve.
You SO need to watch this... trust me. BTW (for those of you waiting... they did show OnLocation for Mac in this demo).
Adobe has actually posted their "secret" presentation from NAB. Hart Shafer talks about four cool things Adobe has up their sleeve.
You SO need to watch this... trust me. BTW (for those of you waiting... they did show OnLocation for Mac in this demo).
Two Updated Final Cut Pro DVDs
Monday, April 21 ,2008
Apple Final Cut Pro
Volume 1: Getting Started in Final Cut Pro
Volume 2: Going Deeper in Final Cut Studio
Also, you may have missed that we recently released the following titles. These also include HD and iPod versions on the same disc.
Apple Color
Volume 11: Introduction to Color
Volume 12: Advanced Color
Bundled for Savings
Apple Motion
Volume 13: Getting Started with Apple Motion
Volume 14: Going Deeper with Apple Motion
Volume 15: Advanced Techniques with Apple Motion
Bundled for Savings
Final Cut Server World Tour
Sunday, April 20 ,2008
Apple has launched a road tour in support of Final Cut Server. I got a chance to look at this at NAB and I must say it is impressive.
The tour is going to hit several cities:
Hollywood – May 13 | New York – May 22 | Chicago – May 28
Korea – May 28 | Washington, D.C. – June 3 | Beijing – June 3
Mumbai – June 11 | Seattle – June 17 | Sydney – June 18
Singapore – June 18 | Hong Kong – June 24 | San Francisco – June 26
Taiwan – June 27 | Atlanta – July 2 | Dallas – July 8
“Beginning in May, Apple takes Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server — Apple’s new media asset management and workflow automation software — on tour around the world. Attend a free, in-depth seminar that features workflows used by some of the industry’s leading film and video production companies. Apple experts will give step-by-step demonstrations that reveal how each of these customers used Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server to achieve exceptional results.”
Find out more or register here.
Get the Adobe Media Player Now!
Sunday, April 20 ,2008
This is an excerpt from an article to be released in full later this week:
Adobe released the Adobe Media Player software on April 9, which allows a customizable, cross-platform media player experience. Built using as an Adobe Air application, the media player harnessed the power of Flash to create a rich media experience. To complete the experience, Adobe adds support for both RSS feeds and H.264 video, two of the open standards used by the podcasting movement.
What does this all mean? I had a chance to sit down with Deeje Cooley, who serves as the evangelist for Adobe’s Dynamic Media Organization (and formerly as the product manager for the Adobe Media Player). Cooley was tasked with bringing the product to market and he shared insight into Adobe’s motivation for the product and goals for its role in the market. Unlike competing products, the Adobe Media Player has chosen to focus on being a video-only player.
“The growth of video online, the dramatic growth of flash as the video delivery mechanism of choice… there was a ripe opportunity to take advantage of all these events around the industry,” said Cooley. “We started to build an RSS aggregator and quickly recognized that video was going to be a significant media online and so it became a video RSS aggregator. And so that’s really the birth of the Adobe Media Player.”
The Adobe Media Player is immediately available as a free download for Windows and Macintosh platforms from http://www.adobe.com/go/mp.
What does this all mean? I had a chance to sit down with Deeje Cooley, who serves as the evangelist for Adobe’s Dynamic Media Organization (and formerly as the product manager for the Adobe Media Player). Cooley was tasked with bringing the product to market and he shared insight into Adobe’s motivation for the product and goals for its role in the market. Unlike competing products, the Adobe Media Player has chosen to focus on being a video-only player.
The Adobe Media Player is immediately available as a free download for Windows and Macintosh platforms from http://www.adobe.com/go/mp.
Aperture Book – Now with 2.1 Updates
Tuesday, April 08 ,2008
- Dodge & Burn Plug-in – This plug-in offers much more than just Dodge and Burn. You'll also find brush-based tools for Contrast, Saturation, Sharpen Fade, and Blur. The plug-in also opens the door to third-party development (including some cool tools from nik Software.
- Customize Default Adjustment Set – You can now specify which adjustments appear by default in the Adjustments Inspector/HUD.
- Updated Crop Tool – The crop tool has been simplified. The new UI makes it easier to preserve an image's original aspect ratio, match the aspect ratio of your display, or use one of the standard preset aspect ratios.
- Flip Images – You can now flip or flop images horizontally or vertically within Aperture.
- Save Books as JPEG or TIFF images – This means you can now submit books to several third party websites.
The book will be out very soon... you can order it here.
Apple TV Rocks
Saturday, April 05 ,2008
- The HD Rentals work great and look on par with Blu-ray
- Movies are affordable, priced between $2.99 and $4.99
- Downloads start to play in less than 5 minutes
- I can watch podcasts on the big screen (it's weird to watch yourself in HD)
- Accessing music, movies, and photos from any computer in the house is near instant
- The device is easy to hook up
- My three-year old can figure it out
- YouTube's expected switch to bigger image size will be great
Nice Review of iWork ‘08 Book
Saturday, March 22 ,2008
“Apple’s iWork applications are quite easy to use. However, if users want to go beyond the meager instructions given in the little pamphlets that come in the box with the software, Apple Training Series: iWork ‘08 is a great way to extend their knowledge of the software.
The applications in the iWork suite are designed to be easy to use from the get-go. Install, launch, poke around a little, do a little dragging and dropping, enter some text, and ...Shazam!.. get surprisingly good results. However, the ease with which users can use the software initially might prevent many from realizing the full potential of the iWork apps. Working through the lessons in Harrington’s manual, The Apple Training Series: iWork '08, will take users to the next level.”
“Richard Harrington has come up with a real winner for Mac users who are serious about developing new and valuable skills with The Apple Training Series: iWork '08, though it may be overkill for casual users of the iWork applications.”
You can read the full review here – You can get the book here
Cool Site for iWork Users
Saturday, March 22 ,2008
Some of my favorites include.
Project Management Template
Baseball Scorecard
Scuba Log
If you are on the fence, don't be. The application suite costs $79, has a 16% market share, and reads and writes all of the Office Formats.
21 Years of Apple Evolution
Saturday, March 15 ,2008
It really is pretty interesting to see the "big" picture. Be sure to click on the graphic so you can zoom in and view.
Two More Classes on Kelby Training
Thursday, February 28 ,2008
Two more of my classes are now online at Kelby Training.
Photoshop for Video - Working With Photos
Richard Harrington uncovers techniques essential for video editors who are working with Photos in Photoshop. He shares his best practices for working with graphic and still images in a video environment.
Photoshop for Video - Technical Essentials
Join Adobe Certified Trainer Richard Harrington, as he uncovers the Technical Essentials of Adobe Photoshop CS3 for video professionals and enthusiasts.
You can access all the classes online for only $19.99 per month (besides mine there's a ton of great stuff up there).
Aperture 2 – What's in it for You?
Wednesday, February 27 ,2008
“Fully updated for Aperture 2, this comprehensive book-DVD training combo starts with the basics of image management and takes you step by step all the way through Aperture's powerful photo-editing, image-retouching, proofing, publishing, and archiving features. Aperture 2's new features are completely covered, including a new RAW-image processing engine, a streamlined interface, powerful new adjustment tools, and added integration with Mac OS X and other Apple products for instant web publishing and one-click portfolio syncing. Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 2 delivers comprehensive training - the equivalent of a two-day course - in one project-based book. You'll learn time-saving techniques for sorting, ranking, and organizing images, effective methods for correcting and enhancing images, plus efficient ways to display images for client review, apply metadata, update your online portfolio automatically, and much more. Real-world exercises feature professional photography from a variety of genres, including photo-journalism, sports, wedding, commercial, and portraiture. All the files you need to complete the exercises are included on the DVD.”
And by fully-updated... its a completely new book with all-new photos and a ton of cool new things.
In the meantime... check out these free online videos and my review: Top 10 Reasons To Upgrade to Aperture 2.
Troubleshooting Apple Compressor
Sunday, February 17 ,2008
Apple has posted a useful article on what to do when Compressor isn't starting up properly or performing normally.They offer basic troubleshooting steps to remedy the situation. This is the right place to start if you are attempting to to submit a batch and you see the following message:
Unable to submit to queue. Please restart your computer or verify your Compressor installation is correct.
Check out the whole article here.
New Class on Kelby Training
Saturday, February 16 ,2008
We’ve posted our first online class from Digital Video Guru (and Photoshop World Instructor) Richard Harrington, and it’s one a lot of people have been asking for: Getting Started with Apple Motion. Here’s the link to Rich’s new online class over at KelbyTraining.com. Note: We’ve got a lot more classes coming from Rich very soon, so stayed tuned! (That’s TV talk. I thought Rich would appreciate that type of jargon).
Blu-ray Wins?
Friday, February 15 ,2008
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Toshiba "is expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format in the coming weeks." THR noted, however, that Toshiba says no official decision has been made. "Given the market developments in the past month, Toshiba will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players," Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products, told THR. Toshiba had hoped that slashing the prices on its HD DVD players last month would help bolster sales, but subsequent sales data from NPD showed that Blu-ray maintained its wide sales lead despite the move.
- Related Links:
- http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5673.aspx
- http://tinyurl.com/2wn5fe (Hollywood Reporter)
- http://www.dmwmedia.com/news/2008/02/15/wal-mart-drops-hd-dvd%3B-toshiba-expected-pull-plug
New DVDs on Apple Motion
Friday, February 15 ,2008
“From beginner to master in one set, these three DVD’s will take you step by step through Apple Motion and have you ready to tackle complex projects in just hours. Join Richard Harrington in this three DVD set of clear, concise training that will have you producing higher quality work with Apple Motion in no time.”
You can get the training from VASST.com. If you want a discount code... Post a comment and I'll send it to you.
Apple Releases Aperture 2
Wednesday, February 13 ,2008
Press Release: CUPERTINO, California—February 12, 2008—Apple® today introduced Aperture™ 2, the next major release of its groundbreaking photo editing and management software with over 100 new features that make it faster, easier to use and more powerful. With a streamlined user interface and entirely new image processing engine, Aperture 2 also introduces new imaging tools for highlight recovery, color vibrancy, local contrast definition, soft-edged retouching, vignetting and RAW fine-tuning, and lets users directly post their portfolios on the .Mac Web Gallery* for viewing on the web, iPhone™, iPod® touch and Apple TV®. At a new low price of $199, anyone can easily organize, edit and publish photos like a pro.
The new update is great.... I'm actually co-authoring the official Apple book on the software now. More details soon.
Amazon has Final Cut Studio On the Spot at a Special Price
Sunday, February 10 ,2008
Book Description
Packed with more than 500 techniques, this book delivers what you need to knowon the spot. It is suited to editors of all experience levels, whether you are:
- Migrating from another NLE
- Upgrading to Final Cut Studio 2
- Seeking a handy reference to raise your proficiency
New Plugins for Broader DVCPRO HD and P2 Support
Sunday, February 10 ,2008
QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Apple For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Mac OSX (Intel) and importing native P2 MXF Files into Final Cut Pro Studio 2 Applications (see Read Me)
Please note: The P2 MXF plugin has NOT been tested in long form projects in FCP Studio 2 Applications and the DVCProHD Codec should NOT be installed if the Apple DVCProHD Codec is already installed.
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.4 (Tiger) - Intel Only
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.5 (Leopard) - Intel Only
Download Read Me
Download License Agreement
QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Windows
For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Windows (see Read Me)
Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for Windows
Download Read Me
Download License Agreement
Apple Updates QuickTIme
Thursday, February 07 ,2008
Apple has released a new update to QuickTime... lets hope it's elusive “improves compatibility with third-party applications” actually means something.
Visit http://www.apple.com/support/quicktime/ for more information.
Useful Mods for Mac Leopard Users
Sunday, January 20 ,2008
Like many out there... I find some of the cosmetic changes in Leopard are bothersome. Fortunately, a donationware application named Xspinner does the trick.
- Customize the Dock
- Change the look of the menu bar
- Use Widgets outside of the Dashboard
- Customize the default Save and Print dialogs in all applications
- Tweak Finder settings
- Run system maintenance scripts
- and access system utilities and system logs
Two New Discs on Color
Friday, January 04 ,2008
I just wanted to let you know that our new training on Apple Color is shipping (Motion will be coming very soon as well).
Absolute Training for Final Cut Studio, Vol. 11
Introduction to Color
Join Apple Certified Trainer Jeff Greenberg as he takes you through the basic and intermediate features of Apple Color. As a leading presenter, trainer, and creator of multimedia content, Jeff guides viewers through the most important features in Apple Color. His presentation style empowers users to get up and running in Color immediately.
To Order
Absolute Training for Final Cut Studio, Vol. 12
Advanced Color
Join Apple Certified Trainer Jeff Greenberg as he takes you well beyond the basics in Advanced Color from VASST. This DVD is designed for users who want to take advantage of the high end features found in Apple Color. As a leading presenter, trainer, and creator of multimedia content, Jeff’s presentation style allows viewers master the advanced features in Color quickly and easily.
To Order
By both and save....
Introduction to Color
Join Apple Certified Trainer Jeff Greenberg as he takes you through the basic and intermediate features of Apple Color. As a leading presenter, trainer, and creator of multimedia content, Jeff guides viewers through the most important features in Apple Color. His presentation style empowers users to get up and running in Color immediately.
To Order
Advanced Color
Join Apple Certified Trainer Jeff Greenberg as he takes you well beyond the basics in Advanced Color from VASST. This DVD is designed for users who want to take advantage of the high end features found in Apple Color. As a leading presenter, trainer, and creator of multimedia content, Jeff’s presentation style allows viewers master the advanced features in Color quickly and easily.
To Order
By both and save....
Useful New Book on Final Cut Pro Workflow
Friday, January 04 ,2008
“Today's digital production tools empower the small team to produce multimedia projects that formerly required large teams. Orchestrating a production requires more than proficiency with the postproduction tools. Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook offers a cookbook of postproduction workflows that teams can follow to deliver an array of products to their clients. It describes appropriate postproduction workflows, team roles and responsibilities, and required equipment for some of the most common media productions.”
With an easy style and great depth, Final Cut Pro Workflows: The Independent Studio Handbook is an enjoyable and important read. Osder and Carman offer a diverse background and extensive experience with Final Cut Pro.
New Resource Site Launches – Final Cut Help
Thursday, January 03 ,2008
I've launched a new resource site called Final Cut Help to offer you more news on Final Cut Studio as well as centralize all of my Final Cut resources and training products. Here are a few things you may like.
As always... comments and requests are very welcome.
- Tip of the Week – Thanks to Focal Press
- Podcasts – Back Episodes and New Subscriptions
- Forums – In partnership with Creative Cow
- Conferences – New Events and Notes from previous classes
- Blog – For all the latest news
As always... comments and requests are very welcome.
Great Mac Shareware Bundle
Monday, December 10 ,2007
“MacUpdate has partnered with 11 Mac developers to bring you a great software bundle. You can buy this bundle for $49.99 instead of $666.74, a savings of $616.75 This amazing offer is time limited so buy today.”
Here are my favorites from the bundle
- ForkLift – A useful FTP application
- RapidWeaver – A great website and blogging tool, how this website is made.
- Xslimmer –Trim an applications by removing universal versions (going to just PPC or Intel) as well as Internationalization files.
- Yep – A really cool cataloging tool for PDF files
- SRS iWOW – Makes iTunes sound great on a laptop.
- XMIND 2008 Pro – A mind-mapping application that helps creative types get their ideas down.
- iStabilize – A REALLY good image stabilization program for shaky footage.
- PulpMotion – A surprisingly useful motion graphics tool with some cool templates
Final Cut Studio On the Spot – 3rd Edition is Shipping
Sunday, December 02 ,2007
- Optimize system performance
- Create impressive titles with Generators, Motion, LiveType, and Photoshop
- Work quickly with buttons and keyboard shortcuts
- Color correct to save vital shots, and keep them broadcast legal
- Fix and mix for professional-quality audio
- Design and import graphics seamlessly
- Integrate with other applications including Motion, Soundtrack Pro and Color
- Manage media and backup strategies
- Export and publish finished projects to tape, DVD, or the Web
Get the book here for the best price.
Charts and Graphs with Keynote
Tuesday, November 27 ,2007
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
FireWire – A Technology with Many Names
Tuesday, November 20 ,2007
The technology is identical, what is at play here is a resistance to use the FireWire logo and name which is closely associate with Apple, Inc. which co-developed the technology. Adding to the confusion is that there is FireWire 400 and FireWire 800. The technology called FireWire 800 uses a 9-pin connection type and is much less common. It is generally used for higher-speed hard drives and is usually not found on cameras.
Photoshop CS3 & Leopard Bug
Thursday, November 15 ,2007
1. Choose Photoshop > Preferences.
2. Click the File Handling tab.
3. Uncheck the Enable Version Cue box.
4. Quit and re-launch Photoshop.
5. Enjoy.
.mac Has Got Your Back
Tuesday, November 13 ,2007
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
In-Depth Review of Mac OS X Leopard
Sunday, October 28 ,2007
If you are a Mac user, take the time and give it a read. You'll learn a lot about some of the less obvious changes.
New Books on iLife 08 and iWork 08
Monday, October 22 ,2007
New Book on iWork ‘08 is Ready to Ship
Tuesday, October 09 ,2007
Book Description Apple's enhanced iWork productivity suite is poised to allow Mac users to create, present, and publish their work with style. iWork '08 offers three powerful applications—Pages ’08, Keynote ’08, and the brand-new spreadsheet program, Numbers ‘08—for creating everything from newsletters and stationery to polished business presentations to graphics-rich spreadsheets. This self-paced learning guide, which includes a companion CD jam-packed with practical media files, takes readers step-by-step through essential, real-life tasks for home and office that cover all aspects of iWork '08. The book is both a self-paced learning tool and the official curriculum of the Apple Training and Certification Program, used by schools and training centers worldwide, and is ideal for users of all levels.”
The Insomnia Film Festival is Back
Wednesday, October 03 ,2007
The Insomnia Film Festival is back—and while the world sleeps, you could be making film history. Calling all high school and college filmmakers.
At 9:00 a.m. on October 13, you’ll get the green light: The requirements for the 2007 Insomnia Film Festival will be posted at www.apple.com/go/insomnia, and your team will have 24 hours to write, cast, shoot, edit, score, and upload your movie.
Once the films are in, your friends, family, and adoring fans will be able to watch them online and rate their favorites. The 25 entries with the highest rating on November 9 at 12:00 a.m. EST will be screened by industry professionals, including Barry Sonnenfeld, James Mangold, and Nora Ephron.
If your film is the biggest hit with either the public or the pros, each member of your team will receive a MacBook Pro, Final Cut Studio 2, Logic Studio, and Shake so you can get started on that first sequel. How’s that for a Hollywood ending?
iDisk Tip
Monday, October 01 ,2007
Get Your iPhone Rebate
Thursday, September 27 ,2007
Thanks to Terry White for saying this so well:
”Apple released the details on getting your $100 Apple Store Credit if you bought AND activated an iPhone before August 22nd. I have to admit that I was expecting Apple to make it harder than this. I was expecting to download a PDF, fill it out, mail it in and wait 4-8 weeks for a snail mail certificate. Apple could teach the world how to do rebates! Go to the link above on your computer and you basically enter your iPhone phone number and serial number. You then get a SMS text message on your iPhone with your code. You input your code on the same page you were on above and a couple seconds later your rebate certificate is there in your browser (on your computer) for you to print!”
Kudos Apple, the whole process took about 15 seconds and now I have two $100 store credits (for our two iPhones) in my hands!
Learn More in iWork 08
Monday, September 24 ,2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
A New Blog on Digital Video
Thursday, September 20 ,2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
I’m Back in the Pasture
Tuesday, August 21 ,2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
Got a Broadcast Monitor? Then Use It!
Tuesday, August 14 ,2007
All of the major applications in Final Cut Studio support the use of an external video monitor. However, each application is a little different in how you set it up and not all applications will support every configuration of hardware cards or decks. Be sure the hardware is powered on and properly connected before launching an application.
Color
Note: Color currently does not support FireWire monitoring of any kind including DVCPRO HD and AJA IO devices.
Motion
Soundtrack Pro
DVD Studio Pro
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Final Cut Pro
- Choose Final Cut Pro > Easy Setup. Pick the profile that matches your hardware.
- Choose View > External Video > All Frames (Command + F12).
- If you have more than one device, you can specify it by choosing View > Video Playback > and choosing the device.
Color
- Choose the Setup Room by pressing Command + 1.
- Locate the Video Output menu toward the right edge.
Note: Color currently does not support FireWire monitoring of any kind including DVCPRO HD and AJA IO devices.
Motion
- Choose Motion > Preferences and click the Output tab.
- Select an Output path based on your active hardware.
Soundtrack Pro
- Choose Soundtrack Pro > Preferences and click the Video Out tab.
- Select a device from the popup menu.
DVD Studio Pro
- Choose DVD Studio Pro > Preferences. and click the Simulator tab.
- Choose a Video and Audio path for the Simulator and click OK.
- To invoke, click the Simulator button and use the virtual controls on the Simulator window.
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Windows and Mac Users Agree – Type is Good
Friday, August 03 ,2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
Dock Options
Thursday, August 02 ,2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
Producing Video and Animation for Multiformat Delivery
Wednesday, August 01 ,2007
Podango, the online video and audio network that enables publishers and advertisers to “get heard” by today’s hard-to-reach, niche audiences, is heralding a wide range of topics and speakers. They include: new media pioneer Scott Bourne, host of The Apple Phone Show; Paige Heninger and Gretchen Vogelzang, hosts of MommyCast; as well as Jason Van Orden, David Lawrence and others. Speakers will share ideas for building and monetizing audiences in today’s niche-oriented, interest-driven new media marketplace. Read More...
Motion Graphics Resource Site
Thursday, July 26 ,2007
Interested in Motion Graphics? The check out the evolving MographWiki which has a nice collection of user contributed content and articles. Its a great place to browse for ideas and talent. There's a lot of useful things up here including:
Cool Free Fonts
Sunday, July 08 ,2007
True Uber-Geekdom: FSCK
Tuesday, July 03 ,2007
FSCK stands for “file system check,” and the –fy you’ll type just says to go ahead and fix any problems it finds. Here’s the drill:
- Restart your Mac.
- Immediately press and hold Command + Option + S. You’ll see a bunch of text begin scrolling on your screen. (Cool, you’re now a geek.) Soon you’ll see the Unix command line prompt (#). Don’t cry; it’s still your Mac—you’re just a true Unix god–well, demi-god.
- Type fsck -fy (that’s fsck + space + minus + f + y).
- Press Return.
The FSCK utility will do its magic, running some text across your screen. If there’s damage to your disk, you’ll see a message that says: “FILE SYSTEM WAS MODIFIED.”
If you see this message, it found some problems and fixed them—repeat steps 1 and 2 until that message no longer appears. It’s normal to have to run FSCK more than once; the first run’s repairs often uncover additional problems.
When FSCK finally reports that no problems were found and the # prompt reappears, type reboot to restart or type exit to start without rebooting. Then press Return.
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Saving Space on a Mac
Wednesday, June 20 ,2007
For more information click here.
A New Windows Browser
Friday, June 15 ,2007
In case you missed it... Apple released a public beta of Safari 3.0 for both Mac AND WINDOWS! To be honest, I never saw that one coming... With great new features, its a worthy upgrade for both platforms. I've seen an occasional hang-up, but the program is faster and adds some great features.
Inline find – Search within a web page by pressing Cmd+F (Ctrl+F)
Resizable Text Fields – More room when working online
Improved Security – Shoo!
Pick up the tabs – Rearrange tabs with drag and drop ease
PDFs Control – Zoom, Save, or Send to a PDF app
Get the free download here.
Layered TIFFs Save Time
Tuesday, June 12 ,2007
While it’s useful that you can import layered PSD files into Final Cut Pro, it’s unfortunate that not all features carry over. On the other hand, when you need to change a graphic (such as a spelling mistake) it’s very useful to have those layers...Have your cake and eat it too—hmm.
Okay, this is easy. In Photoshop, save your files as LAYERED TIFFs. Final Cut Pro will read it in as a flattened file, but you can make changes. Better yet, if you use the Open in Editor shortcut, you can open and modify the file. In fact you can add, delete, move, and rename layers with no ill effects (try that with a PSD file you’ve imported and watch what craziness breaks loose).
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Convert Your Fonts
Friday, June 08 ,2007
I just had a need to pull out TRANSTYPE SE. This useful utility comes in handy when working on a design project and getting client-provided materials? Oftentimes fonts come over (which is great), except they are for the wrong platform (which isn't so great). Instead of rushing out to buy the font again, you can usually convert it.
This shareware application converts Mac fonts to PC fonts, or vice versa. Simple in concept, clean in execution--this tool has been a lifesaver that has kept many a motion graphics project on track.
Motion TIps (A Little Old – But Still Useful)
Monday, June 04 ,2007
I present a slightly old (but still relevant) article on Apple Motion. Here are Ten things you should know about Apple Motion (thanks to DV.com).
For example:
DIRTY ALPHA
Not happy with the alpha channel you get when you cut a Motion project into a Final Cut Pro timeline? Well, your alpha may be off. Final Cut Pro sometimes misinterprets the alpha channel data, expecting you to have a straight alpha channel, when in fact you may have a premultiplied alpha.
1. Select the Imported Motion project file in your Browser.
2. Choose Modify > Alpha Type Black.
Quick Switcheroo
Tuesday, May 29 ,2007
- Command 1 = Viewer
- Command 2 = Canvas
- Command 3 = Timeline
- Command 4 = Browser
- Command 5 = Effects Tab in the Browser
- Command 6 = Favorites Bin in new Window
- Command 7 = Trim Edit.
- Command 8 = Log and Capture Window
- Shift Command 8 = Log and Transfer Window
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
New Book on Final Cut Studio that I want to Read
Sunday, May 27 ,2007
Apple Pro Training Series: Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Studio
“This practical book focuses on just the parts of Final Cut Studio that editors and designers need to create motion graphics in their daily work. Using footage from the BBC archives along with Motion, Final Cut Pro, and Live Type (all included in Final Cut Studio), you’ll build broadcast-quality titles, motion menus, show bumpers, and news opens. As with the other titles in the Apple Pro Training Series, each chapter in this Apple-authorized guide represents a complete lesson--with projects to complete and a review section to reinforce the lessons. Author and video editor/producers Mark Spencer and Jem Schofield begin by introducing the basics of creating an animated title sequence with Final Cut Pro. From there, you’ll learn everything from text animation, compositing, and keyframing to 3D set creation and camera animation. Step-by-step exercises and a DVD with project and media files will have you creating stunning motion graphics in no time.”
You can order it here
Understanding Apple's ProRes 422 Codec
Sunday, April 29 ,2007
For those who want the tech-know-how.... check out the white paper. It’s only 11 pages and is filled with great info for video pros who need to create video or motion graphics for mac-based systems.
New Final Cut Express Title
Thursday, April 26 ,2007
I just finished a new training title on Final Cut Express. It's called Final Cut Express HD 3.5 Essential Training (but it will work for just about any version of the application). It is priced at $99, or you can view it as a member of the lynda.com online library.
Here's the official blurb:
Instructor Richard Harrington covers each detail of using Final Cut Express HD 3.5 to effectively edit, organize, and publish digital video and audio files for DVDs, web-based projects, and iPod productions. From understanding the finer points of the workspace to using the tools to their full potential, Final Cut Express HD 3.5 Essential Training teaches the complete process, using hands-on examples. Exercise files accompany this tutorial.
Duration: 6 hours
On 1 DVD
I hope you enjoy!
Illustration Done Easy
Tuesday, April 24 ,2007
We’ve always wished that we were incredible illustrators. Alas the whole hand-eye coordination thing never really worked out. However, we have a nice, happy medium.
- Choose a clip you’d like to effect.
- Choose Effects > Video Filters > Stylize > Line Art. Whoa! Isn’t that cool? Your footage has instantly been transformed into a moving illustration!
- Load the clip into the Viewer and click on the Filters tab. Here you can adjust paper color and opacity, and ink color.
- You can also control threshold and smoothness to adjust what is included as a line and the blend between the lines and the paper.
- Use the Mix control to blend in your original image.
Like this tip? It comes from the book
Final Cut Studio On the Spot from Focal Press.
Final Cut Pro Update
Friday, February 16 ,2007
Render File Compatibility – Render files created on both PowerPC-based and Intel-based Macintosh computers
now work properly on either type of computer. This means you can move machines without having to re-render.
Keyboard Layout Issues Resolved – Several commands to the default keyboard layout that were missing in the previous version.
Issues with Cross Dissolves in Nested Sequences Resolved – Resolves cases in which cross dissolves did not work as expected in nested sequences containing still images with adjusted motion parameters.
You will need to be running FCP 5.1 to install this update. You must have loaded it from the DVD-ROM update (it is WAY too big to download). The 5.1 update is a paid update as Apple has to ship you new media (but it is a really big update for a 'dot release' and is worth it.) Apple offers $49 upgrades and crossgrades that start at $99. This is a phenomenal opportunity to bump up to the whole studio for a bargain price.
For more information about all of the updates, visit this detailed overview.
Looking for FCP support news as it breaks? Check out the official RSS Support Feed.
Apple Recognized for Good (Architectural) Design
Thursday, February 08 ,2007
Just saw this cool blurb over at MacRumors (it’s a rumor/news site). The American Institute of Architects named two Apple retail stores to its list of the 150 best works of architecture. You can view the entire list here, which is also a great chance to look at good design.
• The 5th Avenue Apple Store in New York City was the 53rd favorite example of architecture
• The Apple SoHo in New York City took the 141st spot
Head on over and explore some great works of design.
Aperture to Final Cut Pro Utility
Saturday, February 03 ,2007
Fortunately I am not the only one who thinks this way. The fine folks over at Connected Flow have released Aperture to Final Cut Pro. This free plug-in allow you to export images, pick a format, specify transitions, and send it all from Aperture to Final Cut Pro as a sequence with media. This is a super flexible exchange that allows for changes (including scaling) within Final Cut Pro.
Oh... it's free too. If you use Aperture and Final Cut Pro, be sure to check it out.
Cool OSX Widget for Aspect Ratio
Monday, January 22 ,2007
Be sure to stop by and visit the Editblog for lots of news for video pros. The blog is frequently updated and a source of excellent information.
Thoughts on the iPhone
Sunday, January 14 ,2007
I was there... I oohed and aahed with the rest of them... then I asked questions. Is the phone really cool? Yup. Will I buy one? Yup. Is it perfect? Nope... and here's hoping that Apple will listen to some of the criticism.
First off... if you haven't looked at the online demo on Apple's website, be sure to check it out. It is both informative and an impressive use of the web for an interactive demo.
Cool... huh? I agree... but here's my list of gripes.
1. The battery is not user changeable. I travel a lot and carry three cell phone batteries with me. I've also run my iPod dead while on a plane. See the math? What also happens when the battery stops charging all the way? Currently Apple needs to service iPod batteries and it takes a few days.
2. They say it runs OSX and "desktop class" applications – but that doesn't really mean any application and no they won't let third-party software develop titles independently. Rather, it'll be more like iPod games, just a few titles and tight control.
3. It looks to have none of the following items – no iChat, no AIM, no Games, no GPS, no Java, and no Flash (yet most carriers and phones offer these).
To be fair... here's what's great about it:
1. You iPod accessories and chargers work with it.
2. Apple has confirmed that they can (and will) release updates for it like the iPod.
3. Apple i supporting third-party hardware development.
4. The map features is really cool.
5. It has an "airplane mode" so you can turn off wireless but leave the unit on.
6. You can see all your voice mails as a list and check them out of order.
7. Widescreen video playback.
8. A great looking web browser.
9. It's really thin!
David Pogue has lots of great info on his blog | post 1 | post 2
And hey... the release date isn't until June. So maybe they'll continue to tweak it a bit.
Free Online Class on Designing HD Graphics
Sunday, January 07 ,2007
Enjoy!
Great Deal on Shareware for a Good Cause
Thursday, December 14 ,2006
Some of my favorite tools are on sale this week as part of a great shareware bundle (deal ends this Sunday). Over at MacHeist (an online game) they have a shareware developer bundle. For $49 you can get the following programs.
1. Delicious Library (allows you to catalog music and DVDs)
2. Foto Magico (a cool slideshow application)
3. ShapeShifter (for changing the Mac UI)
4. Devon Think (a database application)
5. Disco (a disc burning application)
6. RapidWeaver (the blogging tool I use for this site)
7. iClip (a clipboard organizer that is very useful)
8. A game from Pangea software (several to choose from... I like Bugdom)
9. Newsfire (a RSS reader)
10. TextMate (a great text editor - unlocked if they raise 100K for charity)
Plus... 25% of the purchase price goes to a charity (of your choice). This is just a great example of geeks doing good... I am ordering mine today and suggest that other mac users take this great deal up before it is gone.
Aperture Update – Lot's of Tweaks
Tuesday, December 12 ,2006
Aperture 1.5.2 addresses issues related to overall reliability and performance in a number of areas, including:
• Contact sheet printing (useful for sending to clients)
• Smart Albums
• Watermarks (useful for clients you don't trust)
• Lift and stamp
• Image export (Cuts down on artifacting when converting)
This part is essential
If you haven’t already done so, it is strongly recommended that you also download the Digital Camera RAW Support Update 1.0.1, which is available on the Apple Downloads support page at http://www.apple.com/support/downloads.
The Digital Camera RAW Support Update addresses the following issues:
• Handling of large Canon RAW files (.CRW)
• DNG compatibility on Intel-based Macintosh computers (Important for Adobe users)
• Lines sometimes appearing in images exported from Aperture (sometimes? try all the time)
A Colloborative Note-taking Tool – SubEthaEdit
Wednesday, November 15 ,2006
I was talking with some software developers over a great dinner last night and we got on a favorite topic, collaboration. I brought up one of my favorite tools, SubEthaEdit ($35 from www.codingmonkeys.de). You can collaborate on one open document across your network. It's also Apple Rendezvous (aka Bonjour under OS 10.4)-enabled, so it's easy for other Mac users to join in. Nice features such as color-coding for each user and time stamping make this a flexible tool. If you need some group-think without the use of a projector, this is a perfect tool.
For more on great shareware, see this useful article.
When Camera Memory Cards Go Bad
Thursday, November 09 ,2006
I’ve found a great tool for rescuing photos from your digital camera. Accidentally delete an image? Picture Rescue can save the day. In fact it can even work with reformatted or damaged cards. It works with all types of camera media, compact flash, memory sticks, SD cards, and more. It really works well and I used it to recover 3GB of data recently with no hitches. The best thing is the try before you buy. You can download the demo and scan your cards... if the demo version sees the pictures it can recover them. Be sure to give it a shot.
New Video Screen Capture Tool – iShowU
Sunday, November 05 ,2006
New Training DVDs Released
Saturday, October 28 ,2006
We've also significantly updated two of our best sellers: An Inside Look at the HVX-200 and a guide to working with HD Media. There are these and several more available at VASST.com. We hope you enjoy them!
Great Tee-Shirts for the Mac Oriented
Tuesday, October 17 ,2006
New iMac is Breath-taking
Tuesday, October 10 ,2006
We found ourselves 'hardware-crunched' due to recent project deadlines. To get by, we picked up one of the new iMacs. For the money, these machines are very impressive. Here's the features that matter to pro designers.
Set-up
• Plugged in the power cord and network cable, it was up an running
• In less than 5 minutes the computer was un-boxed and running (sure.. installing the Apple and Adobe collections took longer.... )
System Specs
• 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (very fast at encoding DVDs!)
• Comes with 1GB memory (more is nice... but this was enough to 'just go')
• A robust and fast 250GB Serial ATA 7200-rpm hard drive
• 8x SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) (yes... does just about everything)
• High-speed 802.11g, Bluetooth, and Ethernet built-in
The Display
• A HUGE 24-inch widescreen LCD (everyone from staff to clients stares and comments on how nice the screen looks... everyone)
• Very bright and crisp with a wide viewing angle
• a reasonably powered NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics processor with 128MB of GDDR3 SDRAM using PCI Express (fast enough for Motion and After Effects).
• Support for external display in extended desktop
Other Nice Things that come in handy
• Built-in iSight camera
• One FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800 port
• Three USB 2.0 ports
• Internal 24-watt speakers (not bad sounding.... but use monitors for real audio work)
What's really cool is the system is actually approved for running Final Cut Studio. I highly recommend if you are in a system crunch or need an extra machine to check the iMac out.
iDisk Tip
Sunday, October 01 ,2006
A Universal Media Player
Monday, September 18 ,2006
My Laptop Backup Strategy
Saturday, September 16 ,2006
3. Remember to plug-in the backup drive weekly, and keep it in the bag of your laptop.
That's it... much less stress for the road warrior.
Automating FCP Project Backups (Works for others too!)
Saturday, September 16 ,2006
Over at RHED Pixel, we've finally come up with a reasonable backup strategy for our FCP systems. Figured I'd share for those of you who need it
1. Target One Folder – We save all FCP projects to an FCP folder on the internal drive.
2. Use Backup Software – We've started using Data Backup from Prosoft. I like this package because its affordable and I have had great experiences with the company's other software like Data Rescue and Picture Rescue. This package allows you to pick a folder for backup. My favorite feature is its robust scheduling tools.
• Simply purchase a 1-4 GB USB thumb drive and plug it into your system.
• Then set Data Backup to automatically open as a login item (right click on its icon in the Dock at choose Open at Login).
• Then choose to set a schedule for backup and target the thumb drive.
May your project files find a safe haven.... All for about $150 a machine (software plus thumb drive).
1. Target One Folder – We save all FCP projects to an FCP folder on the internal drive.
• Simply purchase a 1-4 GB USB thumb drive and plug it into your system.
• Then set Data Backup to automatically open as a login item (right click on its icon in the Dock at choose Open at Login).
• Then choose to set a schedule for backup and target the thumb drive.
May your project files find a safe haven.... All for about $150 a machine (software plus thumb drive).
Why You Must Download iTunes 7 Today
Saturday, September 16 ,2006
The short answer... it rocks.
Apple has taken a nearly perfect piece of software and made it better. There's a full write-up on Apple's site, but I'd like to share some standout features and what they really mean to the end user.
Movies – So they're only from Disney-owned companies (for now)... someone had to be first. What's nice is Apple upped the quality to 640X480 which looks great on a laptop and playing off an iPod to a TV set via the AV cable. By the way... it's you buy movies (and everything else) from the iTunes Store (they dropped the word Music).
Cover Flow – You can now flip through all of your 'albums' by cover.... it's a cool 3D effect that encourages browsing and helps put a face back on those 'virtual' albums. Missing artwork? No problem... iTunes will now download artwork for free and add it to any song in your library (provided the album is listed in the iTunes store).
New User Interface – The Source List allows you to view and manage all of your files and devices. It really lets you take control of your collection (especially if you have multiple iPods). iPod Games – Just what I need... a waste of time... but I've already bought three. So far Cubis is my favorite, game-play with the scroll wheel is enjoyble and at $4.99, it wasn't a hard sell. The games only work with the 5G (or video iPods) but no problems for me as my nearly year-old iPod worked fine.
Device Management – You know get total control over each iPod, including which elements sync. I particulary like the visual interface that displays the contents of an iPod.
Download Manager – You can now control the order of downloads (useful when you want to hear the music you just chosen and its stuck behind a HUGE movie file. What is even better is the ability to pause (or stop) a download and resume where you left off. This was helpful while riding the Amtrak Acela to New York as my Internet connection kept dropping (hey... tunnels... Hudson River... I understand).
Onscreen Video Controls – Straight out of QuickTime, you now get a great controller that floats over the picture (when you move the mouse). Convenient controls are easy to reach (including a useful full-screnn button). I find this most useful as my keyboard shortcut database has no room left in the brain.
Library Backup – Having lost music... I really appreciate this feature. You can now initiate a “Back Up to Disc” command. This quickly allows you to back up your entire iTunes library to CD or DVD.
Reverse Sync – If you plug your iPod into another computer that has been authorized for your iTunes account (up to 5 machines), you can now transfer music OFF the iPod. It only works with music purchases... but its flawless.
To get the new update... visit the iTunes page.
Paralells Gets Even Better
Friday, September 15 ,2006
Long time readers will know that we are big fans of Parallels Desktop solution for running Windows on a Mac. No need for multiple partitions or rebooting, you can have both Operating Systems going at the same time. Plus you can install the optional Tools that allow you to copy and paste between systems and even access folders on your Mac. The good news... their trial is still available and a new update has been released.
Recent improvements include:
- Support for new quad-processor Mac Pro towers outfitted with up to 3.5GB of RAM
- Experimental support for Windows Vista
- An improved Parallels Tools package
- Better video output improvement and acceleration
- Added isochronous USB devices support (including WebCam devices)
- Keyboard support improvement: Eject CD key support and more
- Clipboard synchronization tool
- Sound playback and recording improvement
Final Results of the NLE Survey
Friday, September 01 ,2006
The polls are now closed for our August survey.
We asked: Which NLE do you prefer to use the most?
We set an all time record for responses. All said, 510 users weighed in... and the results were surprising.
1. Apple Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express (36.27%)
2. Avid Nonlinear Editing Systems (31.96%)
3. Sony Vegas (14.12%)
4. Adobe Premiere Pro (13.73%)
5. Media 100 (3.92%)
Given the number of respondents, we have determined that the survey is accurate within +/- 4%... That means Final Cut Pros lead was slim, but it still took the top spot.
We asked: Which NLE do you prefer to use the most?
We set an all time record for responses. All said, 510 users weighed in... and the results were surprising.
1. Apple Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express (36.27%)
2. Avid Nonlinear Editing Systems (31.96%)
3. Sony Vegas (14.12%)
4. Adobe Premiere Pro (13.73%)
5. Media 100 (3.92%)
Given the number of respondents, we have determined that the survey is accurate within +/- 4%... That means Final Cut Pros lead was slim, but it still took the top spot.
Useful Shareware – Art Directors Toolkit
Thursday, August 31 ,2006
- A Scale Calculator to help you determine percentages for resizing to a specific target. - A text-preview window so you can see source copy in a variety of fonts. - A symbol-conversion pane to unlock specialty characters in your fonts. - A Swatch Book for viewing Pantone colors and finding related colors. - A Blend window to find a third color that will work well with two others. - A Units Converter to calculate different measurement conversions. - A very robust RGB color picker.
Omni Dazzle – A Great Tool for Teachers and Presenters
Sunday, August 13 ,2006
Now some of them are downright cheesy, but educators should really check out the following effects:
• Flashlight – Which points a spotlight on the area of focus and dims the screen
• Focal Point – Which darkens all but the active UI element
• Scribble – This gives you four colored markers to draw on the screen like a NFL commentator
• Zoom – My favorite, which lets you marquee a selection, which is then magnified full-screen
So yes... its version 1.0 and Mac-only (and requires OS 10.4.6 and Core Video)... its still worth checking out. It's $14.95 and you can download a demo from the Omni Group website.
Microsoft Kills Virtual PC for Macintosh
Monday, August 07 ,2006
At this time is corporate speak for never, in fact never ever. Recent competition from Parallels and VMWare have made the Windows on a Mac space a bit cluttered. Additionally, Microsoft alluded that rewriting Virtual PC to run on Intel Processors would mean having to essentially rewrite the program.
"The (Macintosh business unit) still recognizes that customers need access to Windows applications from their Intel-based Macs and feels confident that alternative solutions offered by Apple and other vendors, combined with a fully packaged retail copy of Windows will satisfy this need," the company said.
Anyone else find it ironic that Microsoft which started as a company that made Mac software, has decided that it is too difficult to get their software to run on Intel chips. Go figure. Guess they're too busy getting Vista out the door.
For more details, head over to CNET.
Mighty Mouse Goes Bluetooth
Saturday, August 05 ,2006
It was only a matter of (too much) time. First, Apple launched wireless mice and keyboards (for those who hate the clutter of cables). Then Hell froze over and Apple released a two-button mouse called Mighty Mouse (do they have to pay royalties to the cartoon character?). But it appeared the two products would never meet. But like all good mice, they eventually created off-spring, and the Mighty Mouse has gone wireless.
I am glad that this has finally happened for several reasons.
• When I use pro video and graphics apps the right-click is a huge time saver as it unlocks many features
• When running Windows on my Mac (don't hate the player) I find myself need to right-click a whole lot
• Trackpads aren't great for precise control such as illustration or design
So, is it worth buying? The short answer is yes (if you need a multi-button mouse). Getting the mouse to pair with a computer is easy (provided you have Bluetooth). The tracking is accurate (with an improved sensor over original models) and the product appears to have good battery life. The buttons are programmable and most users will find the control button on top of the mouse useful for scrolling and panning. The only annoyance (which is an easy fix) are the side buttons. These are a bit too easy to trigger for my taste as my larger hands tend to trigger them easily. By default, this launches Exposé which will re-arrange your windows on screen. A quick visit to the Keyboard & Mouse System Preference Pane allows you to deactivate these buttons. If you need additional control, then pick this mouse up online or at your local Apple store.
Great Tool for Presenters Using Keynote
Thursday, August 03 ,2006
UPDATE – The new version also works with PowerPoint
Windows Media Works on New Macs... Finally
Friday, July 28 ,2006
Macintosh Clippings made Useful
Saturday, July 08 ,2006
Everyday Software has released ClipEdit so you can modify both text and image clippings. The program is free and very useful if you collect bits of knowledge/trivia. For best results try the following.
1. Right-click (Control-click) on a clipping file and choose Get Info.
2. Change the Open with: drop down menu to ClipEdit
3. Click Change All…
ClipEdit is now set as the default editor for all clippings… much more useful and all it’ll cost you is a visit to Everyday Software.
iPhoto Books Tip
Wednesday, July 05 ,2006
1. Select the photos you want in the browser (pick more than you think you'll need)
2. Click the Book icon in the Toolbar
3. Flip from page to page (choosing layout options from the Toolbar)
4. Drag photos in and scale and position using intuitive controls.
Mini books start at $4 and larger books range between $20 -$30 depending on soft or hard covers. It really makes a nice keepsake for friends or even a new way to build a portfolio. But what about 'proofing?' Well you can share the book before you print it.
1. In iPhoto, choose File > Print.
2. In the Print Window, choose Save as PDF.
3. Pick a destination, then name the file and click OK.
4. Send the PDF to those who need to review it.
The mini books make great leave behinds for clients or potential employers.
Richard Harrington on Inside Mac Radio
Sunday, July 02 ,2006
I got a chance to appear on the July 1 edition of Inside Mac Radio. I was on to promote the new book on iWork ’06 and to offer some tips on using iWork and iLife. It was a quick interview, but I think we got some good information out for the loyal listeners. If you'd like to hear the episode (it's free), just click here. Inside Mac Radio offers both a daily version that's a short news blast on all things Mac and a two-hour Saturday program that airs live in some markets and is ready to download in others. Take Our Monthly Survey – Hardware
Sunday, July 02 ,2006
My Favorite Case for a Video iPod
Monday, June 26 ,2006
• This hard shell case doesn't significantly increase the size of the iPod
(its still comfortable to hold)
• The price is reasonable (it lists for $25, but I bought it at Target for $19)
• The switch and dock connectors are easy to access
• It’s simple to snap it on and off
To find out more, click here.
Saving Space on a Mac
Tuesday, June 20 ,2006
For more information click here.
Windows vs. Mac – the OS Showdown
Tuesday, June 06 ,2006
With a sense of humor firmly intact, New York Times columnist David Pogue reviews Microsoft Windows Vista. David takes a look at several of the new features in the latest version of Windows (set to ship next month). His mission... prove that “Microsoft did not steal ideas from Mac OS X.” Does he succeed? It all depends on your perspective so you'll want to judge for yourself. You can take a look at the quick video for free online.
Another way to run Windows on an Intel Mac
Sunday, June 04 ,2006
1. It requires you to not have your drive partitioned when starting the install. This doesn't work as I keep my laptops split into 2 or 3 partitions for media management purposes.
2. I really hate having to reboot.
3. Just cause I'm in windows doesn't mean I want to run another email client, give up access to my iCal, etc.
The solution? Its called Parallels Desktop. It functions just like Virtual PC did, allowing you to run windows in, well a window, or go full-screen. Why do I like it?
1. It's FAST. it uses hardware, not software emulation.
2. It's easy to install and tweak.
3. Windows is installed into a virtual machine... if things go 'bad' you can just trash the virtual machine or create a new one. Its just a disk image file.
4. Its affordable. During public beta its only $39. Later it'll go up to $79. (You do need to provide your own legal copy of windows - but it runs nearly all flavors of windows, not just XP).
Download and Evaluate Parallels Desktop Release Candidate 2 for Mac.
New Book on Apple’s iWork
Tuesday, May 30 ,2006
For a free handout, click here.
For more information, click here.
MacBook Pro Thoughts
Monday, May 29 ,2006
Pros:
- It's fast as heck
- The Dual layer DVD and FW800 port are back in
- The screen is beautiful from almost any angle
- Running apps under Rosetta (like Photoshop) is pretty smooth
- The built-in iSight camera makes it easier to see my family while on the road.
Cons:
- After a while, it feels like you can cook an egg on it (with great power comes great warmth)
- My Wireless Internet card doesn't fit as Apple felt the need to adopt a new Express Card format which no one has released wireless cards for
- Can't get any spare batteries and Apple's site says shipping in 2-3 weeks (no luck in stores either)
All in all... very happy and I suspect with time the missing hardware will come available and the charred flesh on my lap will grow numb
FCP Resuce Saves the Day
Monday, May 29 ,2006
• User preferences
• Audio/Video settings
• System settings
• Windowsettings
• Keyboard setup
• Easy setups
Free download