Tag: DMS Help

Interactive Media: Flash, pt 3 – Get Started with Flash

Once you’ve found yourself a place to work with Flash, either here in the DMS or at home on your brand new copy of Flash, you need to learn how to use it. Before you can animate or make games, you need to learn how to draw in Flash. Games and animation require characters and … Continue reading “Interactive Media: Flash, pt 3 – Get Started with Flash”

Once you’ve found yourself a place to work with Flash, either here in the DMS or at home on your brand new copy of Flash, you need to learn how to use it.

Before you can animate or make games, you need to learn how to draw in Flash. Games and animation require characters and backgrounds.

As it happens there’s an excellent hour-long tutorial on just this subject.

Most of the tutorials on CartoonSmart cost money, but not this most basic one on drawing in Flash. Watch it and you’ll be ready to roll for the next step in no time.

Todd’s Tips: The Best Format for Apple Video Editing Software

Apple video editing software loves .dv files. A .dv file is a fairly uncompressed video format which is commonly found on the Macintosh platform. Despite its size it works seamlessly with both iMovie and Final Cut Pro. By seamlessly I mean that it is not necessary to render your footage in Final Cut Pro and … Continue reading “Todd’s Tips: The Best Format for Apple Video Editing Software”

Apple video editing software loves .dv files.

A .dv file is a fairly uncompressed video format which is commonly found on the Macintosh platform. Despite its size it works seamlessly with both iMovie and Final Cut Pro.

By seamlessly I mean that it is not necessary to render your footage in Final Cut Pro and cuts take no time at all in iMovie.

How do I get my footage into .dv format you ask? Not a problem, you’ll use Visual Hub of course. And here’s how:

DMS Help: Cheap Software for AU Students

If you use a lot of multimedia development software and you don’t know about JourneyEd you have been missing out. JourneyEd offers HUGE discounts on common software to university students. The downside is that your university has to be enrolled in their program. But, for those of you who are AU students, not to worry. … Continue reading “DMS Help: Cheap Software for AU Students”

If you use a lot of multimedia development software and you don’t know about JourneyEd you have been missing out.

JourneyEd offers HUGE discounts on common software to university students. The downside is that your university has to be enrolled in their program. But, for those of you who are AU students, not to worry. AU IS enrolled.

You can save up to 75% on Adobe applications, the Microsoft suite and a large variety of other software used in coursework.

The only catch to the site is that you’ll have to prove that you’re a student at a participating university which involves little more than entering your student ID.

Check it out and save BIG!

Interactive Media: Flash, pt 2 – Get Flash

In order to do some work on Flash you’ll actually need Flash. Unfortunately it’s a very expensive program. However, I have a few ways around that for you. All 8 computers in the DMS have Flash installed on them. So you can, of course, come here and use Flash. Not only that, I’m a bit … Continue reading “Interactive Media: Flash, pt 2 – Get Flash”

In order to do some work on Flash you’ll actually need Flash. Unfortunately it’s a very expensive program. However, I have a few ways around that for you.

All 8 computers in the DMS have Flash installed on them. So you can, of course, come here and use Flash. Not only that, I’m a bit of a Flash guru and I can offer you expert assistance.

You can download a trial version of Flash on your Mac or PC from Adobe’s website. The trial lasts for 30 days. The downside to this is the fact that Adobe is wise to folks downloading the trial over and over. Unless you know how to change your IP address you can only do this once. Oh, did I say that out loud…?

Your last option is to buy Flash. It normally retails for $700. But, if you are an AU student (or a student at many other universities) you can buy Flash from JourneyEd for $178. Not a bad price reduction.

Once you’ve got some Flash, come back and learn how to use it.

Interactive Media: Flash, pt. 1 – Introduction

If you’ve been on the internet at all in the past five years, you’ve used flash. Most of the time it manifests itself as the Flash Player, a plugin for your browser which allows you to view Flash content online. But what if you’re not just interested in viewing Flash content, what if you’re interested … Continue reading “Interactive Media: Flash, pt. 1 – Introduction”

If you’ve been on the internet at all in the past five years, you’ve used flash. Most of the time it manifests itself as the Flash Player, a plugin for your browser which allows you to view Flash content online.

But what if you’re not just interested in viewing Flash content, what if you’re interested in creating it? If that’s the case you’re in the right place.

For starters it’s important to understand what Flash is and what it can do.

Flash is a development environment acquired by Adobe when they bought Macromedia. It allows users to do two distinct things: animate and create interactive media (usually games). Flash is also the basis for many popular websites, YouTube, most notably.

But there are a lot of other websites out there that feature Flash content. For animation it’s worth looking at Newgrounds. There is a HUGE amount of Flash animation on this site and most of it is fairly well done.

As for games the best place to see a lot of excellent Flash games is Addicting Games.

Stay tuned to learn how you can start churning out some animation or Flash games.

DMS Help: Media Services Gets an Infusion of Video Production Gear

The merger of many parts of the CTRL with the library has been a huge boon for Media Services. Beginning on Friday, June 17th, Media Services will be circulating a widely increased array of multimedia production equipment: FlipCam Camcorders Flip ultraHD Camcorders Kodak Zi-8 Camcorders Cannon Vixia HD Camcroders Tascam Audio Recorders Microtrack II Audio … Continue reading “DMS Help: Media Services Gets an Infusion of Video Production Gear”

The merger of many parts of the CTRL with the library has been a huge boon for Media Services.

Beginning on Friday, June 17th, Media Services will be circulating a widely increased array of multimedia production equipment:

FlipCam Camcorders

Flip ultraHD Camcorders

Kodak Zi-8 Camcorders

Cannon Vixia HD Camcroders

Tascam Audio Recorders

Microtrack II Audio Recorders

Cannon Power Shot Digital Still Cameras

All this as well as several different models of mini-DV camcorders and tripods will be available for 3 day loan in the Media Services department. Come check them out.

DMS Help: The DMS Welcomes the iGrabber

Geniatech’s iGrabber is one of the more revolutionary gadgets to come to the DMS in a while. The iGrabber is a video capture device which allows users to capture video from camcorders, VHS tapes, DVD titles and TV. Simple to use, it will make class clip-mash up projects simpler than they ever have been. These … Continue reading “DMS Help: The DMS Welcomes the iGrabber”

Geniatech’s iGrabber is one of the more revolutionary gadgets to come to the DMS in a while.

The iGrabber is a video capture device which allows users to capture video from camcorders, VHS tapes, DVD titles and TV. Simple to use, it will make class clip-mash up projects simpler than they ever have been.

These excellent little devices have been, along with their easy to use software package, installed on all 8 DMS macs.

Stop by and try one out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Also, for those of you who are less familiar with video capture technology in general, here’s a handy video tutorial which will show you exactly how to use it.

DMS Help: Need to edit and image? Don’t have photoshop?

Not a problem. Just hop on over to Aviary and use their online image editing software, Phoenix. No, really. Basic Photoshop functions in a Flash app. And the quality is outstanding. All you need to do is upload a photo and get right to work. Obviously it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of … Continue reading “DMS Help: Need to edit and image? Don’t have photoshop?”

Not a problem. Just hop on over to Aviary and use their online image editing software, Phoenix.

No, really. Basic Photoshop functions in a Flash app. And the quality is outstanding.

All you need to do is upload a photo and get right to work. Obviously it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of photoshop, but if you’re in a pinch or just need to make some minor adjustments I highly recommend it.

There are also a couple of other neat online editing products they offer:

Talon – for screen capturing

Raven – for vector editing

Toucan – for color palette editing

Todd’s Tips: Best Place for Free Stock Images

Google the term “stock exchange” and the first response that comes up is the New York Stock Exchange. However, the second is NOT the NASDAQ, nor the Nikkei, nor even the London Stock Exchange. It’s a website called stock.xchng, the largest free stock photo site on the web. Seriously. And it really is free. All … Continue reading “Todd’s Tips: Best Place for Free Stock Images”

Google the term “stock exchange” and the first response that comes up is the New York Stock Exchange. However, the second is NOT the NASDAQ, nor the Nikkei, nor even the London Stock Exchange. It’s a website called stock.xchng, the largest free stock photo site on the web. Seriously.

And it really is free. All you need to do is create an account and you’re in.

There are nearly 400,000 images available on the site, most of them taken by experienced Pro-Am photographers. The only thing you need to pay attention to the various rights the different artists attach to the images. Most of the time all they want is credit. Not a bad deal for access to a ton of VERY HIGH QUALITY images. Check them out.

Todd’s Tips: Stock Footage for Free!

Sometimes there’s footage you need that you just can’t get. Suppose you’re making a PSA and need a shot of a woman rollerblading near the beach. Or maybe and airplane taking off. Or a horse and buggy riding by. Well, I have a solution for you: Stock Footage for Free. Stock Footage for Free is … Continue reading “Todd’s Tips: Stock Footage for Free!”

Sometimes there’s footage you need that you just can’t get.

Suppose you’re making a PSA and need a shot of a woman rollerblading near the beach. Or maybe and airplane taking off. Or a horse and buggy riding by.

Well, I have a solution for you: Stock Footage for Free.

Stock Footage for Free is an awesome online repository of stock footage. Their catalog boasts 1,000’s of clips and you can download as much as you want for NO COST. None at all.

The only hitch is that you have to register an account. That’s free too. So there really is no hitch. Check them out and get the footage you need now.