Posted by RP on 07/02/06 02:52

Richard Crowley wrote:

> The ones I've seen (mostly on the History Channel)
> appear to be achieved by carefully "cutting" out the
> foreground content (frequently one or more people)
> and then using "rostrum camera" (aka. "Ken Burns
> effect" although I find the term silly) pans/zooms
> where the foreground image is moved slightly faster
> than the background. I used three (parenthetical
> expressions) in the previous sentence! Sorry, we
> now return you to your regular programming.
>
> Anyway, you frequently see zoom-ins or outs, and
> sometimes horizontal pans. Sometimes you even see
> a "pedestal up" (where the camera appera to rise).
> But, clearly, in any of these artifical "moves", you
> can't go beyond the limits of the original photo.
> Unless you have the resources (talent/time) to re-
> create the "hidden" content behind the foreground
> objects. It is quite a "whizzy" effect and really
> brings old still shots to life. And the effect is well
> within the capability of most anyone with an NLE
> system.
>
> Although I have not done it myself, I am quite confident
> that it can be done in PP with the movement functionality
> and putting the background in track 1 and the foreground
> part in a higher (overlaying) video track.

<snippage>

> I didn't get the part about "cross dissolves"? That is a
> very common built-in function of most NLEs including
> PP, and seems pretty straightforward and self-explanitory.

Yeah, being new to this makes me unsure of how to characterize some of
my questions, but I think your guess is on the mark as to how I was
using that term. Thanks for the explanation/suggestion regarding the
foreground/background thing, I'm going to have a lot of fun playing
with that capability and yes, the Ken Burns effect was exactly was I
was envisioning, but didn't even think to articulate that way -- great
example!

> Welcome aboard. Just ignore the messages that appear
> stupid/silly/idiotic/abusive (like the PC vs. Mac wars).

Yeah, I'm a Usenet veteran so I've been down that road. I'm going to
try and stay out of the controversies and focus on the content (for
now, at least). ;-)

> Ask about anything you don't understand. And good luck
> with your production.

Thanks!

> Technically speaking, NLE is more the domain of the
> other newsgroup: news:rec.video.desktop, but they have
> become pretty much interchangable in recent history
> (for better or for worse). Many (most?) of us read
> both of them. Theoretically r.v.p is chartered more
> for production (i.e. staging, lighting, shooting video)

Ah, ok. I'll keep that in mind for my next questions. I wasn't at all
sure but I thought that Desktop might be dipping pretty low into the
mass market and get me a low signal to noise ratio (based on my
experience with other NGs). I figured you production guys would be more
.... professional. But I'll certainly abide by the protocols of the
domain.

Thanks again, I'm having a ball with this technology. Why did I wait so
long to get started?

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