the indisystem rails for the camera.

I also broke down and got their follow focus system.

the focus wheel.

Yeah, it’s a very simple design, but it works nice.  The gearing is tight without alot of play.
For the money, it’s a great value, I think.

ready to go.

The camera, ready to go.  I will be posting some sample footage with and without the adapter.
It’s all about where I can smartly put my $ to deliver the best product I can.

Ok, back to writing…

Rough draft of something cool.  Thing very retro/mod/sci-fi fairytale.

So I shot some video of Hilary when she came over to watch the game sunday. I sat down last night and edited out the stuff I didn’t want. Premiere loaded and handled the 6 minute clip easily, but AE7 just did not like that clip at all.
The computer kept bogging down as I tried to work thru the video.

After applying Magic Bullet, it took 42 minutes to render out a 640×480 18 second clip!
I came to the realization that I most likely need a new PC if I am going to be able to edit video of any great length in AE.
I also have been wanting to build a new machine that was designed around 3D as well.

My personal saying has always been that if I have a PC that can play the latest games smoothly, then that is good enough for anything else.
I am going to build up a custom rig over the next 2 months, and I will document the steps here.

First, I guess I need to outline what this machine must do.
I want to run Maya, and my other 3D apps and deal with some high poly count scenes, so it must be first and foremost a 3D juggernaut. I don’t want some $5k custom gaming rig, just something that can run my graphics applications fast.
It must also have alot of storage, for working with raw video.

So the list so far is:

• 3D intensive
• Storage

Possible candidates:

CybertronPC X-Cruiser

I will have to research this model more, but for the price, it looks like a great deal. The only thing I am unclear on is the Vista Business OS installed on it.
I have been avoiding Vista like it was the plague, but maybe it’s finally time to give it a try.

Anyhoo, I am going to talk about the tools I am using for creating the various projects I work on, the methodology’s involved and work flows for getting the finished product out the door.

Let’s start off by listing the software used:

Image editing:

• Adobe Photoshop CS3

3D

• Poser
• Carrara
• Maya

NLE

• Premiere Pro CS3

Motion Graphics

• After Effects 7 & CS3

Ok, so no big surprises for the most part. I would say if you don’t know at least some basic Photoshop, you are really missing out on a powerful tool. I don’t want to sound like a infomercial for Adobe (and I am sure there are some great Linux/Open Source alternatives out there, but I am a windows guy. sue me) but the integration between all the tools they have is really getting tight.

Probably the odd ducks in the mix are Poser and Carrara. Poser gets a horrible rap for its plastic looking people and super high poly counts. And the list of strikes Carrara has against it compared to other 3D apps is longer than most child star’s rap sheets.

But they are in my list because I know how to use them. I have been working with 3D apps nigh on a dozen years now.
Back in the day, you had to hand crank the PC’s to get them started, and actually cut out tiny bits of construction paper in the shape of tiny triangles to stuff into the computer for the 3D apps to use to build your models.

ok, so maybe not, but I did have to carry my lunch to school in a bucket.
A peach and a biscuit.
an old biscuit at that.
but anyhoo.

The rambling point I am getting to is that since I have these tools, might as well use them.
Poser is very good for me to use in blocking out storyboards, or blocking up scenes.
Sure, you can use stick figures on notebook paper, to each his own.
I like getting the sense of spatial proportions, and can easily create a virtual camera that will help me figure out not only the best angle for the shot, but also in how I would light the shot.

*My* method involves using Poser to get an idea of what would look good to the camera.
The mock up for the initial “Last Girl in Texas” poster was done using Carrara.
Creating the whole comp from start to finish took about an hour.
Again, because I know Carrara.

Too many people get hung up on this tool over that tool, or this app doesnt have this whizbang feature, so I will wait for the next iteration.

Huh?
You dont have a feature you probably wont use, so you arent going to create anything, but just sit and bitch that the app is useless?

I think you have to visit this site to get an idea of what can be done with a 3D package that costs less than $300 bucks (and these were done with Carrara 3, Carrara 6 is the latest version!)
If you can create images like that with a $300 buck program that you know, imagine what you can do if you actually learned something like Maya (or Max, C4D, whatever)

Learn the tools, and as your knowledge grows, so will your ability to evaluate new tools.
Like my choice to move to Maya for my 3D work.

Learn the tools!
Ok, next time, I will be alot more focused on the posting usable data, now that I have that rant out of the way.