http://library.creativecow.net Creative COW Library of tutorials, articles, reviews and more for media professionals world wide. en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT PHP Script webmaster@creativecow.net webmaster@creativecow.net http://library.creativecow.net/hurwicz_michael/3dsMax-Particle-Flow/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/hurwicz_michael/3dsMax-Particle-Flow.php In this Autodesk 3ds max 2014 tutorial, Creative COW leader Michael Hurwicz looks at two features that are now a standard part of the product: The Data Operator allows you to use math, via a graphical user interface, to manipulate particles. Presets allow you to save and load Data Operator setups pr Thu, 23 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Apple-Motion_9/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Apple-Motion_9.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe continues his look at the Canvas by talking about creating lights, and the ins and outs of figuring out and adjusting their parameters. He also starts out the lesson by creating basic geometrics inside of Motion 5 to work with, to create realistic lighting effects i Wed, 22 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/hofmann_jerry/Squeeze-9-review/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/hofmann_jerry/Squeeze-9-review.php Sorenson Media launches Squeeze 9 with industry-first HTML5 optimization, streamlined user experience, higher quality and faster speeds - and Jerry Hofmann takes a look. Wed, 22 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_80/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_80.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe answers a viewer's question about how to create client approval Quick Time files in MC/Symphony. To take things to the next level, Kevin also shows you how to create HD YouTube files ready to upload to show your work to the masses. Mon, 20 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/zelin_bob/Blackmagic-Design_SmartScope-Duo/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/zelin_bob/Blackmagic-Design_SmartScope-Duo.php Stop using the high price of HD waveform/vectorscopes as an excuse for not checking your video. Join Bob Zelin for a closer look at a real-world installation of Blackmagic's new SmartScope Duo, a practical, flexible, and yes, affordable approach to broadcast-quality monitoring. Mon, 20 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Apple-Motion_8/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Apple-Motion_8.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe continues his look at the canvas, and talks about the most important tool in your Motion 5 work, and that is the HUD (Heads Up Display). He also discusses Camera basics, and how to get the best positioning in your scenes by using Motion's viewports. Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:57 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mize_rob/AE-Fireworks/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mize_rob/AE-Fireworks.php Rob Mize shares his techniques for using After Effects to create a variety of fireworks displays. All you need is CC Particle World, a few expressions and a reason to celebrate and you can light up your world with dazzling pyrotechnic effects. Fri, 17 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/behind-the-lens-king-of-summer-with-ross-riege http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/Behind-the-Lens-Ross-Riege.php Ross Riege just finished shooting his first feature film, The Kings of Summer. Currently working on a feature-length documentary with director Greg Kohs, Ross took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with Creative COW about his career path as a young cinematographer and his experiences shooti Sat, 18 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Apple-Motion_7/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Apple-Motion_7.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe continues his tour of the canvas by looking at the transport controls inside of Motion 5, and the tutorial takes a turn to look at keyframing with the introduction of the "Record Keyframes" button that is tucked in right beside the Play button. Thu, 16 May 2013 19:39:05 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/ray-harryhausen-remembering-the-genius http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/Ray-Harryhausen.php "When we grieve Ray Harryhausen's passing, we are at least in part grieving perhaps the last living link to the earliest days of movie visual effects," says Creative COW's Debra Kaufman. She spoke to many of today's VFX giants who were inspired by Ray, including Phil Tippett, Richard Edlun Thu, 16 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/reilly_michael/CDAT-History-Videos/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/reilly_michael/CDAT-History-Videos.php Lanier High School students work with 3D Studio Max creating a real world project thanks to a collaboration between Biscardi Creative Media Principal Walter Biscardi, Jr. and CDAT teacher Mike Reilly. Instead of just working on a class assignment, these students are creating something that will be p Thu, 16 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_79/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_79.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe continues his talk about Power User keyboard settings and you'll quickly see that you don't need to remap the entire keyboard to speed up your workflow. In most cases, it's simply about choosing the right tools to have at the tip of your fingers to get the job done Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_78/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_78.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe uses a Linkedin forum discussion about what keyboard settings are useful for an editor to not only show you his settings in depth, but also explain in detail what each customized setting does, and why you're going to want to add it to your editing workflow. Wed, 15 May 2013 07:10:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/HitFilm-review/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/devis_andrew/HitFilm-review.php HitFilm have just launched a KickStarter to bring their 3D compositing, visual effects and video editing software to Mac. Andrew Devis looks at the software package for Creative COW. Tue, 14 May 2013 21:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/Premiere-Pro-CC-110/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/devis_andrew/Premiere-Pro-CC-110.php In this tutorial, Andrew Devis goes through a new option that will be coming with the next release of Adobe Premiere Pro called Lumetri Looks - which gives you the option to apply .Look files created in Adobe SpeedGrade directly to your footage in Premiere Pro. While this option at first glance seem Tue, 14 May 2013 20:01:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/devis_andrew/Premiere-Pro-CC-109/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/devis_andrew/Premiere-Pro-CC-109.php In this short tutorial for Premiere Pro's new CC version, Andrew Devis goes over some of the changes and improvements to the timeline panel for the next version of Premiere Pro so that you can get up and running with it quickly and smoothly. Mon, 13 May 2013 10:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/garber_michael/FCPX-News-Editing/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/garber_michael/FCPX-News-Editing.php Michael Garber has spent hundreds of hours learning the ins and outs of editing broadcast news features with Final Cut Pro X. He describes a workflow that takes advantage of the best that FCPX's new approaches have to offer, while being honest about its limitations. Every editor already working with Mon, 13 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/iron-man-3-behind-the-scenes-with-marvels-victoria-alonso http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/VFX_Victoria-Alonso_Iron-Man.php Victoria Alonso, Marvel Studios Executive Vice President of Visual Effects and Post Production, began her career in the early days of the digital visual effects industry. We had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Victoria about the Iron Man movies, post production's evolution, remote dailies an Sat, 11 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_77/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_77.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe shows you another real-world example of how to create "Hollywood-Style" effects right from within your timeline, by creating the "24" commercial break bumper. With some very simple title work, and a little forward thinking with the 3D Warp Tool, Fri, 10 May 2013 18:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/review-genarts-releases-sapphire-7 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/GenArts-Sapphire_7.php Frequent COW Contributing Editor Kevin P. McAuliffe reviews the latest version of GenArts Sapphire plug-in effects filters for both Adobe After Effects and Avid AVX versions, with ratings for current and new Sapphire users. Kevin also observes Sapphire's ability to plug into other NLEs and finishing Thu, 09 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_76/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_76.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe shows you the basics of tracking a background plate, and applying that information to a title you create in your timeline. Then he shows you, with the power of the fantastic Animatte effect, how to create a realistic effect of a car driving in front of a title. Adva Tue, 07 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/iron-man-3 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/VFX_Alessandro-Cioffi_Iron-Man_3.php Seventy artists from Trixter worked an entire year to create a formidable 208 VFX shots for Marvel's Iron Man 3. Each new episode in the Iron Man saga details a slick new technology created by the ingenious Tony Stark, and the new installment does not disappoint! Combining the hard surface geometry Mon, 06 May 2013 19:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_75/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_75.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe answers a viewer's question about creating a video viewfinder effect. There are different plug-in packages that you can purchase that have this effect, but why spend your hard earned money, when the effect is something that is easily buildable inside of Media Compos Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:13:53 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-ryan-salazar-wraps-up-his-favorites http://library.creativecow.net/articles/salazar_ryan/NAB-2013_Wrap-Up.php This year's NAB proved to be an overwhelming success. Ryan Salazar had a great time meeting new friends and greeting old friends, finding the Show's best-kept-secret, and getting up on the best of the best at NAB Show. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/previsualization-part-four-when-to-use-previs http://library.creativecow.net/articles/cline_gare/Previs-4_When-to-Use-Previs.php In this fourth chapter of Gare Cline's tutorial series on Previsualization, we focus on when is the best time to hire a previsualization artist. We begin by looking at the various stages of filmmaking and then concluding with making the decision as when is the best time to hire a previs artist. Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/previsualization-part-three-how-previs-works http://library.creativecow.net/articles/cline_gare/Previs-3_How-Previs-Works.php In this chapter of Gare Cline's series on previsualization, the art form for conceptualizing a project, we focus on how the process of previsualization works. We begin by finding the look for the picture, and then proceed through blocking, coverage and finally end with determining the time and cost Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/previsualization-part-two-why-previs http://library.creativecow.net/articles/cline_gare/Previs-2_Why.php In part two of Gare Cline's ongoing series on Previsualization, readers are transported to examples of cinematic genius such as George Lucas and Alfred Hitchcock to truly understand the compelling reasons as to why previs is crucial to conceptualizing and demonstrating your storyline. Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:39:30 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-sony-creative-software http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-Sony-Creative-Software.php Sony Creative Software offered some important updates with its Vegas Pro 12 software. Chief among the upgrades was native support for 4K and support for Panasonic's P2 cameras. Sony Creative Software also highlighted SpectraLayers Pro and Sound Forge Pro Mac, which were shown as a technology demonst Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:00:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_74/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_74.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe answers another viewer e-mail from someone who's having quality issues when importing into Media Composer. Kevin goes over some importing tips, and shows you how to make sure you're monitoring the highest possible quality in the NLE application, and then he discusse Sat, 27 Apr 2013 05:33:29 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-matrox-video-systems http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-Matrox.php At NAB 2013, Matrox Graphics' new Mojito 4K is a quad 3G-SDI 4K video monitoring card aimed at Adobe professional editing on the Windows platform. Also new is Matrox Monarch HD, an under-$1,000 compact video streaming/ recording appliance designed for users who need to simultaneously stream a live e Sat, 27 Apr 2013 03:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-jmr-electronics http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-JMR.php Chatsworth, California-based JMR Electronics came to NAB with an expanded suite of SilverStor Desktop products, a cloud-ready SAS/SATA/SSD RAID solution, server and workstation. Starting at $5,000, the SilverStor family now includes SilverStor's 4-Bay and 8-Bay SAS/SATA JBOD/RAID systems, 3-slot and Sat, 27 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-jba-sns-square-box-telestream http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-JBA-Telestream-SNS-CatDV.php At JB&A's annual Pre-NAB Special Event, the media management company brought together a range of companies representing the entire production/post pipeline, to show off a range of workflow solutions. Some of those companies included Christie, which showcased its new Phoenix content management system Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:32:49 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-aja-video-systems http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-AJA.php AJA Video Systems debuted its Ki Pro Quad solid-state portable video recorder for 4K camera-to-editorial workflows with Apple ProRes and RAW data. The new Ki Pro Quad supports 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 recording at HD and 2K resolution and real-time scaling from 4K/Quad HD to 2K/HD among its many other featur Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:30:00 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_73/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_73.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe answers a viewer's e-mail about creating a countdown inside of Media Composer and Symphony. Most people would think a plug-in is required, but with a little forethought, this is something that can be created in no time flat! Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:24:42 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-atto-technology http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-ATTO.php ATTO Technology celebrates its 25-year anniversary at NAB 2013, and showcased its portfolio of products, including its latest 16Gb/s Fibre Channel products such as the Celerity Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs). Also on show were the FastFrame line of Network Interface Cards (NICs) and Converge Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/cut-the-cord-with-wireless-hd http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kobler_helmut/HD-Video-Teradek.php Recent wireless HD systems have gotten way better and much cheaper. DP/cameraman Helmut Kobler takes a look at two systems from Teradek and Paralinx that show just how impressive these units have become. Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:29:44 GMT http://library.creativecow.net/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_72/1 http://library.creativecow.net/articles/mcauliffe_kevin/Avid-Media-Composer_72.php In this lesson, Kevin P McAuliffe shows you how simple it is to create the effect made famous by film's like Schindler's List and Pleasantville, but he doesn't do the effect as a color correction effect. Instead, he gives you a great introduction to an included Rotoscoping effect called Animatte. On Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:21:24 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/what-is-previs http://library.creativecow.net/articles/cline_gare/Previs_intro.php Previs. You may or may not have heard of it. If you have, you may have heard conflicting or more often muddled definitions. Many assumptions have developed around this often misunderstood word. Join Gare Cline, Previsualization Storyboard Artist, in this series of articles as he defines what previs Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-newtek http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-NewTek.php At NAB 2013, NewTek unveiled 3Play 4800, a multi-camera server for live sports production that features real-time uses, redundant capture, high-end visual effects and slo-mo, as well as live replay switching and social media publishing. 3Play 4800 is the latest in the 3Play series of replay server t Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:35:23 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-panasonic http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-Panasonic.php Panasonic used NAB 2013 to unveil a number of new products and technologies. Chief among them was the third generation VariCam, the first to incorporate Panasonic's new AVC-ULTRA video codec for native 1080/60p operation. The company also unveiled the AJ-PD500, its first P2 HD recorder with native A Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:45:27 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-bob-zelin-the-evolution-revolution http://library.creativecow.net/articles/zelin_bob/NAB_2013.php Calling Bob Zelin one of the industry's most respected voices of engineering and systems experience is an understatement. (We might also have to add "most feared.") For over 20 years, he has been at the leading edge of building next-generation post houses and broadcast facilities using the Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:40:04 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-antonbauer http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-Anton-Bauer.php Anton/Bauer came to NAB 2013 to celebrate its Scientific and Engineering Award from AMPAS earlier in the year...and to introduce three new products: the Anton/Bauer Gold Spectrum Wireless Series, the result of a collaboration with sister Vitec company Integrated Microwave Technologies; the DIONIC HD Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:22:16 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-canon http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-Canon.php Canon highlighted an end-to-end 4K workflow at NAB 2013, showing a digital intermediate suite and a live 4K broadcast with "Ultra-Zoom" applications. The company also debuted two new, entry-level professionals video cameras, the XA25 and XA20. The cameras feature Canon's first-ever Organic Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:43:08 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-arri-upgrades-alexa-shows-off-anamorphic-lenses http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-ARRI.php ARRI made good on its promise to plan a long-life path for Alexa; at NAB 2013, the company offered the XR Module and several components of the Alexa XT configuration as upgrades. The first three focal lengths of the ARRI/ZEISS Master Anamorphic lens series are slated to ship next month, and ARRI sho Sat, 20 Apr 2013 04:42:03 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/cinematographers-journey-rightfooted-in-ethiopia-goodbye http://library.creativecow.net/articles/megalos_bill/Rightfooted-Documentary_7-9.php Saying Goodbye, April 7th & 9th: Bill Megalos, cinematographer and documentarian, is in Ethiopia with first-time documentary feature director Nick Spark on a mission to "make a film that makes a difference." Raising money on Indiegogo, they're following Jessica Cox, a 29-year old woman wit Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:38:13 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/cinematographers-journey-rightfooted-in-ethiopia-april-6th http://library.creativecow.net/articles/megalos_bill/Rightfooted-Documentary_6.php April 6th: Bill Megalos, cinematographer and documentarian, is in Ethiopia with first-time documentary feature director Nick Spark on a mission to "make a film that makes a difference." Raising money on Indiegogo, they're following Jessica Cox, a 29-year old woman without arms who is a bla Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:37:26 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/cinematographers-journey-rightfooted-in-ethiopia-april-5th http://library.creativecow.net/articles/megalos_bill/Rightfooted-Documentary_5.php April 5th: Bill Megalos, cinematographer and documentarian, is in Ethiopia with first-time documentary feature director Nick Spark on a mission to "make a film that makes a difference." Raising money on Indiegogo, they're following Jessica Cox, a 29-year old woman without arms who is a bla Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:36:51 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-quantel http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-Quantel.php Quantel introduced a range of products that empower UltraHD/4K and even 8K production. Partnerships with AJA (for its Corvid Ultra video card) and NVIDIA (for its Tesla accelerator) have made Pablo Rio capable of high resolution work, including 4K at 60 fps. The company also enabled broadcast and po Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:20:05 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/nab-2013-blackmagic-design http://library.creativecow.net/articles/kaufman_debra/NAB_2013-Blackmagic-Design.php At the Blackmagic Design, UltraHD/4K reigned supreme. The company not only introduced a 4K camera, the Blackmagic Production Camera, but a range of products that create an entire UltraHD workflow. Blackmagic Design has been focusing on 6G-SDI technology for multiple products including the ATEM Produ Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:00:00 GMT http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/cinematographers-journey-rightfooted-in-ethiopia-april-4th http://library.creativecow.net/articles/megalos_bill/Rightfooted-Documentary_4.php April 4th: Bill Megalos, cinematographer and documentarian, is in Ethiopia with first-time documentary feature director Nick Spark on a mission to "make a film that makes a difference." Raising money on Indiegogo, they're following Jessica Cox, a 29-year old woman without arms who is a bla Fri, 19 Apr 2013 23:18:07 GMT