So today I am working on a corporate video for Trane Corporation. Right now I am converting H264 video files into ProRes using a program called 5DtoRGB. It’s an amazing program and is free, however they do have a version for 50 dollars that has a batch list which would be great to have here.

Last year I designed a system for our production pipeline. It’s for file management and really helps for when the time comes to edit. When the director says, I want this shot here, blah blah blah, here and here… I will know exactly where it is at. The beauty of this system, is that any editor could jump into the project and know exactly where to find everything they require.

Now that I am using Final Cut Pro X, organizing has become even better, and with my system I designed, it’s flawless!

I know I know, your thinking, “but Final Cut Pro X can convert h264 files while you edit, why convert beforehand?”

Well, I have noticed that 5DtoRGB converts better, and you get a much nicer picture from it. I am not too sure how it does it, but it does.

I am not sure if I will be able to post this video on here or not once its done, but if I get the go ahead, you can pretty much bet on it that I will.

Thanks for reading…

Mark

So here is the Red Riding Hood breakdown. Its been a long time coming and I finally got a chance to put it together. There are some artifacts however. The photoshop file some how got corrupt, but I was able to save most of it. I put this together using both Motion 5 and Final Cut Pro X. Together, these two apps really make things easier. For a pro user, that means more work in the same amount of time it would have taken to do less before.

Anyways, Check out it and also full screen it to see it in better detail.

First off, I have to say that Terry Lesniewicz shot all the video I will be posting in the next few days. All shots were taken using the Canon 5D MKII with the Technicolor Cinestyle profile. The Cinestyle profile shoots flat, allowing you more control over your color correction in post. The 5D MKII only shoots in a 4-2-0 color pallette, so the amount of color information is rather limited. Shooting flat will help with color banding, and other issues that may pop up in post production.

There are a few different programs out there that will convert the footage to 4-2-2 or even 4-4-4, and when I convert it, I use a program called 5DtoRGB by reVision. I find that you get a better sharpness in the reds, but overall you wont actually gain any more information, but it will help with filters and other effects you may apply, giving them an extra boost in clarity.

In this shot, I color corrected in After Effects and used the “real particles” from Video Copilot. Andrew Kramer is pretty brilliant, using cooking flower to create real world particles.

Currently as you can see, I have the eyeball looking out of a box. as clever as it is, and to me awesome, its not something that everyone would like. At least I don’t think so, I could be wrong, haha. Anyways, I am designing a new one.

First I am designing a new logo that should be pretty cool and get the point across, then after that I will be working on a vector based version that will work with black and white print. If your logo does not print well, it sucks!

Being on the web, you can have all sorts of colors and shadings, but when you print black and white, thats all you have, so you have to make it work both ways.

Here is what I have so far.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks…

I have been working for a few months on a new website for 2 of my uncles. World Peace Army Volunteer

So far the design is coming along really well, still have lots to do yet but figured I would share what I have so far. They will be selling shirts, with the idea that world peace can be achieved if everyone volunteers to do their part I guess.

The main logo was created almost 30 years ago and then updated sometime last year for their venture into the business world.

I got them started on wordpress, found a kick ass template called sliding doors and then modified it, a lot. Other than the code for the sliding door header, there is nothing else that is left from the original template. I created all the artwork on the site, minus the original logo. below this text are some samples that I created for the site, and some of these designs may not be final.

Check out the site and come back soon to buy your shirt.