Graphics and Compositing Articles

• Green Screen / Chroma Keying
• Mattes
• Time Remapping
• Titles

• Autodesk Maya Entertainment Creation Suite Premium 2012 3D Graphics and Special Effects Software Review
  May, 2012
  by Ty Audronis
  Autodesk Maya Entertainment Creation Suite Premium 2012 is by far the most powerful Maya suite to date. Immense improvements in the interface, dynamics,…
• Animation & Motion Graphics Buyer's Guide
  October, 2011
  by Ben Balser
  Animation and motion graphics software are packages that can create visual assets from scratch, can composite those assets with other visual assets from…
• Less is More - Editing Titles and Graphics
  April, 2011
  by Mark Montgomery
  Creating professional titles and graphics in your video production is no easy feat. As an editor, you can often be burdened for hours creating titles that…
• Green Screen Directing
  March, 2011
  by Marshal M. Rosenthal
  Anyone who desires to direct a Hollywood-like movie on an independent budget can do so, now that green screen technology has become easier to produce.
• Selling Your Green Screen Shots to Your Audience
  March, 2011
  by Mike Sullivan
  Yes, the tools to create green screen composites have changed and, yes, it is cheaper and easier to produce green screen FX shots, but that doesn't mean it is…
• Dreaming Up Dream Sequences
  December, 2010
  by Mark Montgomery
  What makes your character the person he or she has become? Dreams and flashbacks are commonplace in dramatic movies and provide a convenient way for the…
• Stock Media Buyer's Guide
  December, 2010
  by Earl Chessher
  Research is Key to Getting What You Pay for.
• Tips for a Good Chromakey
  November, 2010
  by Earl Chessher
  Editing for green screen begins before you sit down at the keyboard. A good key begins with proper lighting and shooting techniques.
• An Animation and Motion Graphics Buyer's Guide
  October, 2010
  by J. Michael Long
  Video production is mostly dealing with concepts. As a storyteller your job is to convey the concept in such a way that the viewer understands the topic. If…
• Editing for the Future: Moving to 64-bit Video Production
  May, 2010
  by Douglas Dixon
• Tips for Lower Third Titles
  April, 2010
  by Mark Montgomery
  The best way to identify your Spokesperson in your video is by using a lower third byline. Creating them is more than just making a title, they identify a…
• Branding With Bugs
  March, 2010
  by Mark Montgomery
  See that little ID icon in the bottom corner of your TV screen? That's called a "bug". It used to be, only network news shows used bugs. Now everyone is using…
• The Art Of The Title Sequence
  August, 2009
  by Edward B. Driscoll, Jr.
  Title sequences contribute both information & atmosphere to a video. A stylish title sequence when properly executed, adds an immediate air of…
• Adobe After Effects Tutorial: A Flock of Particles
  May, 2009
  by Brian Peterson
  Tutorial on how to use After Effects Particle Playground to create animations. Particles can do more than just add sparkle to an effect. You can use them...
• In Box: Best Media Storage Methods • DIY Chroma Key
  April, 2009
  by Videomaker Editors
  Video Media Archiving - investigating the best method for archiving the video... DIY Chroma Key Wall - inquiring about the chroma key green paint...
• Motion Graphics & Animation Software Buyer's Guide
  April, 2009
  by Tony Bruno
  Computer animation has come a long way. Today, 3D animation software & 2D animation software are being combined to create complex title sequences.
• How to Use Adobe After Effects & Photoshop to Create the Line-Map Animation Effect
  April, 2009
  by Brian Peterson
  Videomaker's tutorial on how to use Adobe After Effects and Photoshop to show your travels by creating a line-moving-through-a-map animation effect.
• Simple Compositing
  January, 2009
  by Morgan Paar
  Everyone loves to be awed by movie magic, and you can bedazzle your audience using our simple compositing tips that reveal the Secret of See Through Layers…
• Tutorial Rotoscoping: fix goofs, change virtual sets, or make your hero fly
  January, 2009
  by Paul Del Vecchio
  How to fix on-set goofs, change virtual sets, or make your action heroes fly through the air amidst gunfire, snowflakes, or magic dust. Rotoscoping is one of…
• Tutorial The ABCs of Chromakeys
  September, 2008
  by Tom Benford
  Without a doubt, you see chromakeys used countless times - probably every time you watch the news on TV - and perhaps you aren't even aware of it.
• Tutorial - Making Realistic Muzzle Flashes
  August, 2008
  by Paul Del Vecchio
  Stop, or I'll Shoot! Have you ever wanted to have a gun in your film? What about a cool action scene with guns blazing, people running, dishes exploding and…
• Tutorial: Burning Down The House
  April, 2008
  by Paul Del Vecchio
  In today's films, it seems everywhere you look you see Visual FX. Visual FX are powerful tools when used correctly, but they are often frowned upon when they're…
• Time Remapping
  February, 2008
  by Morgan Paar
  Changing the speed of a shot is easy... but, unless you're looking for a Keystone Cops effect, to control that shot takes more than just accelerating or…
• Cookin' with Keyframes
  September, 2007
  by Morgan Paar
• The Keys To Chromakey: How To Use A Green Screen
  September, 2007
  by Ed Driscoll
  How to use a Green Screen to create the background you want in your video.
• Coloring for Style
  March, 2007
  by Morgan Paar
  Think of your fondest memories: the orange setting sun on your vacation, the green cactus and red earth on your last desert hike, the blue of a loved one's…
• A Titillating Tickler on Titling
  February, 2007
  by Morgan Paar
  Quick, open your titler, choose a trendy font and color, then type some words and position it on the screen; done. But there is more, much more, to titles than…
• Edit Points: Flash Titler
  December, 1994
  by Mark Bosko
  Flash Titler
• Video Editing: Inserting Movie Credits
  November, 1996
  by Mike Loehr
  How to use a titler to insert cool movie credits into your video.
• Edit Suite: Choosing a Titler
  June, 1996
  by Mike Loehr
  A titler will do more than just put text on the screen--it can also give your productions a more professional look.