New Update for DVD Extraction Tool

Thursday, August 31, 2006 Filed in: Other

We often get DVDs from clients who own video files (we're talking about productions they paid for). When we ask for a beta or DVCAM master, they look confused and panicked. It's certainly best to go back to a master tape to rework video, but you may not have the time or means on every job.

My favorite app is Cinematize, a cross-platform tool designed to extract non-copy-protected material from a DVD. This can also come in handy if the deck just ate your dub master and you have to get a copy out. Although you'll be dealing with a compressed file, it's better than no file at all.

Miraizon has now released a free update that makes the application Universal, which means it will run natively on both PowerPC and Intel chips. The application is also available to Windows users. Be sure to give it a try.

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Photoshop World Show Floor Action

Saturday, August 26, 2006 Filed in: Conferences

Planning on coming to Photoshop World in Vegas? Even if you can't attend the whole conference, you should check out the trade show floor. The Photoshop World Expo floor will be open to the public on on September 7th. The event is held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and is a great chance to catch up on the latest in digital photography and digital imaging.

You can come check out many different vendors as well as attend free educational sessions. You can get your free pass by signing up in advance or you'll have to pay $20.00 at the door.

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Tips & Tricks– New Area Launched

Saturday, August 19, 2006 Filed in: Adobe

Thanks to the fine folks at CMP Books, we've launched a new area of our site called Tips & Tricks (creative.. I know... its late). You'll find fourteen techniques that you can use in Photoshop and After Effects. While these tips are optimized for video use, you can easily adapt them for other purposes as well.

These tips come from the recent book, Broadcast Graphics on the Spot. So if you like them... consider getting the whole book.

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New P2 Utility Makes Field Production Easier

Sunday, August 13, 2006 Filed in: Other

We've been experimenting with the Panasonic HVX-200 on some of our recent shoots. This camera offers the ability to use P2 cards from Panasonic to store the video clips without ever going to tape. Sounds great, except you'll need to transfer those cards multiple times during an average shoot. This usually leads do a data assistant which is similar in function to a film-loader.

Leave it to Anders Holck to come up with a great solution. We already profiled the useful utility called FCP Rescue on this blog. Now he's released P2 Genie which automates several of the media management aspects when working with the cards.

• You run it on a Mac Laptop with a CardBus slot (This means PowerBooks only)
• P2 genie can be used as an automatic P2 store, or you set manual options
• It can also be used offload a P2 store or HVX-200.
• You can also choose to datestamp all your ofloaded P2 cards for easier sorting

We'll be putting it to test on a week-long shoot next week. P2 Genie costs $33 (US) or €25.

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New EVDO ExpressCard Arrives (and is Perfect!)

Friday, August 11, 2006 Filed in: Other

So... you may have picked up on my love of all things EVDO. These great cards let the business traveler or mobile blogger kill off the expense of logging in at coffee shops, hotels, and convention centers (I've had months where access has run me $225). Unfortunately, the new Macs and Dells required an ExpressCard (which was not available until today). But I have mine, and thanks to the card... I am mobile and plugged in (in fact that is how this very entry was posted!)

Hats off to EVDO Info for shipping as promised and getting it to me overnight. Note, their website references a high demand... so if you need one... pre-order.

“The demand is huge for the ExpressCard. We sold out of our first shipment (which is being sent out to customers on 8/11/2006). Our next shipment is currently scheduled for 8/23/2006.”

Boy... do I love wireless internet.... *GRIN*

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The Truth About Laptops, Cell Phones, and the TSA

Friday, August 11, 2006 Filed in: Personal | Business

As a person living in target number one (Washington, D.C.) the news of a recently foiled terrorist attack greatly bothered me. As the frequent business traveler, I was stymied by the news reports that all sorts of items such as laptops, cell phones, and iPods were being banned. I thought... how could they? Could you imagine a flight where no business traveler got any work done no child could watch a movie, those of us who like quiet time couldn't ignore the world by drowning it out with an iPod?
Read More...

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The Request Line is Open - UPDATED

Thursday, August 10, 2006 Filed in: Adobe | Training Products

Well, the new Photoshop book is several months away (my goal is NAB 2007). But I'd like to take some requests from you the reader. I've already received a lot of input for the next edition of Photoshop for Nonlinear Editors but I'd like even more. What topics would you like to see greater coverage on? Any techniques you'd like to see in-depth tutorials about? Now is your chance to have your voice heard. Leave a comment below on what you'd like to see in the next edition.

If you have great artwork (that you have the rights cleared on) or a tutorial you'd like to contribute, I welcome them. Contributors will receive fame, gratitude, and a free copy of the book. If you have something to share, drop me a line.

If you're sitting on the fence about buy now or later, don't. I always update the video training on the disc and get a ton of freebies like fonts and photos that are unique to each edition. Work your way through the current version on the book and by the time you're feeling comfortable, the new book will be out with in-depth coverage on the next version of Adobe Photoshop.

UPDATE: We've gotten requests for the following
• More HD
• Apple Motion and Adobe Premiere Pro coverage
• Mixing Aspect Ratios

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Apple Deems Photoshop Podcast "New & Notable"

Thursday, August 10, 2006 Filed in: Adobe

Well... the masses have spoken. The new podcast is off to a great start.
• Apple and Yahoo accepted us into their listings
• We've cracked the Top 10 for Software How-To
• Apple has placed us in the First Row of their New and Notable section for Technology

The podcast is free... and we are moving into the fun topics in coming weeks (the early episodes focussed on technical issues).

Be sure to subscribe using the portal of your choice.

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Great Piece of Freeware for Producers/Directors/DPs

Sunday, August 06, 2006 Filed in: Business | Resources

If you need to put together a storyboard, you have lots of options. But the process of laying out the pages and dealing with changes to shot order or selection can get tedious. Fortunately there is a free solution called Directors Boards which alleviates most of the challenges (no, it won't draw for you).

This great program is based on Filemaker, but doesn't need you to have the full program installed in order to run. You essentially load in information regarding the shots including the audio and video columns, shot number, and a thumbnail image. Directors Boards then allows you to organize the shots as well as create a sldieshow presentation or print out professional looking storyboards. The product is cross-platform and free... what more do you need? Well there is a more robust version called Directors Notebook, which we are putting through its paces and will have a detailed review soon.

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New Resource Page - Free Images

Sunday, August 06, 2006 Filed in: Business | Resources

We've added a brand new page to our Resources section. Come search for “free” images at various government agency sites. Several websites offer images that are either public domain or have very generous usage rights. Be sure to read usage terms at each site.

We call them “free” as they were paid for with U.S. tax dollars (which means they are now free to use). Start to explore now and find images for your next project (many of these are high-resolution as well!) Please share this page with your friends or students.

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T.W.O.M. - August 2006

Sunday, August 06, 2006 Filed in: Other

Welcome to our new series... Technology Word Of the Month. I encounter a lot of overly plugged-in folks each month and they often have their own language. In my efforts to keep you a member of the techno-elite, I bring you the word of the month for August.

MACDINKED – verb: When a designer (or client) continues to tweak a project beyond an appropriate level because they are technologically capable of doing so.

This word was brought to my attention by my Dad (and yes... I felt slightly aghast that he was more plugged in). Feel free to comment or add your own. Email submissions welcome and there will be a prize for the best word each month.

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Mighty Mouse Goes Bluetooth

Saturday, August 05, 2006 Filed in: Apple

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.

Read More...

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Listen to Digital Production Buzz this Week

Thursday, August 03, 2006 Filed in: Adobe

Richard Harrington is a featured guest on the Digital Production BuZZ show which airs live tonight (August 3). You can listen to the show live from 6-7 pm (Pacific) by visiting their website. This week's show features a live report from the UFVA conference to find out what "Storytelling for the Digital Age" is about. Then off to Newcastle Australia for "The Big Shootout" before heading back to find After Effects @ Work! There's also a great “BuZZ in Depth” segment that will look at the Net Neutrality debate - what it's about and what it might mean for video distribution.

The show is available by archive and podcast shortly afterward. Subscribe in iTunes and have the BuZZ delivered to your iTunes or, if you have one, iPod automatically every week.

To listen to the show, you can download the file from their site.

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The Podcast is Live

Tuesday, August 01, 2006 Filed in: Adobe | Education

It’s time for an experiment. We are going to take some of our tutorials that are ‘in the can’ and launch them as a Podcast. We’ll release a new one each week, and it will stay live for just the week. When the new episode goes up, the old one will go down.

If the podcast proves popular (and we get enough viewer mail) we’ll start to produce an original tip each week. The podcast launched today, and you can sign up here.

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