NLE's suitable for animating jpegs? at DVinfo.net

Graham Jones · February 22nd, 2005, 11:59 AM

As part of a broader project I have to shoot 30 seconds of animation. The individual frames are hand drawings and in JPEG format. Can you folks recommend NLE's where it's easy to dump JPEGs straight into the timeline and, obviously, allow each last 1 frame in duration??

Subsequent to animating the 30 secs, I'll be shooting it off a computer monitor to give it a pixelated, degraded, on screen effect: so it doesn't matter about output formats of the NLE - once it can play full screen on the computer.

Another requirement, actually, is that the NLE is available for a free 30 day trial!

Thanks very much, in advance, for any suggestions.

Graham

Richard Alvarez · February 22nd, 2005, 12:19 PM

Pretty much all of them from I-Movie up can import single frames. They might do it differently, but its a standard feature. In Avid for instance, you can import them with a specific 'duration'. By the way, old school animation was usually two frames a drawing.

Edward Troxel · February 22nd, 2005, 12:50 PM

Assuming they're a numbered sequence, in Vegas you just do a File - Open, pick the first one, and check the box to import a sequence. I'm sure any NLE should be able to handle this task for you.

Ed Smith · February 22nd, 2005, 12:54 PM

As Richard has already mentioned, pretty much all of them should be able to do it. You could try Premiere Pro, Vegas all available for free 30 day trial. I know in Premiere you can set the default still duration, so once set when you import each frame into your timeline and they will all be the same (correct) length. This could then be exported as an AVI for use later...

Make sure that they are the correct frame size and aspect ratio before importing them!

Cheers,

Rob Lohman · February 23rd, 2005, 04:51 AM

One tip: if possible I would save those stills in another format.
JPEG is a lossy format that throws away information which is
usually especially visible in handdrawn stuff! Why not save to
something like TIFF or TARGA?

However I just read output quality isn't too important, so this
would not matter to you as well (although I would still prefer
to maintain the utmost quality if you ever want to use it in the
future etc.).

Graham Jones · February 23rd, 2005, 05:48 AM

Thanks for these great tips folks.

Graham

February 22nd, 2005, 11:59 AM	#1
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	NLE's suitable for animating jpegs? As part of a broader project I have to shoot 30 seconds of animation. The individual frames are hand drawings and in JPEG format. Can you folks recommend NLE's where it's easy to dump JPEGs straight into the timeline and, obviously, allow each last 1 frame in duration?? Subsequent to animating the 30 secs, I'll be shooting it off a computer monitor to give it a pixelated, degraded, on screen effect: so it doesn't matter about output formats of the NLE - once it can play full screen on the computer. Another requirement, actually, is that the NLE is available for a free 30 day trial! Thanks very much, in advance, for any suggestions. Graham __________________ www.irishfilmmaker.com

February 22nd, 2005, 12:50 PM	#3
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Assuming they're a numbered sequence, in Vegas you just do a File - Open, pick the first one, and check the box to import a sequence. I'm sure any NLE should be able to handle this task for you. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

February 22nd, 2005, 12:54 PM	#4
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	As Richard has already mentioned, pretty much all of them should be able to do it. You could try Premiere Pro, Vegas all available for free 30 day trial. I know in Premiere you can set the default still duration, so once set when you import each frame into your timeline and they will all be the same (correct) length. This could then be exported as an AVI for use later... Make sure that they are the correct frame size and aspect ratio before importing them! Cheers, __________________ Ed Smith Hampshire, UK Good things come to those who wait My Skiing web www.Frostytour.co.uk For quick answers Search dvinfo.net \| The best in the business: dvinfo.net Sponsors

February 23rd, 2005, 04:51 AM	#5
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	One tip: if possible I would save those stills in another format. JPEG is a lossy format that throws away information which is usually especially visible in handdrawn stuff! Why not save to something like TIFF or TARGA? However I just read output quality isn't too important, so this would not matter to you as well (although I would still prefer to maintain the utmost quality if you ever want to use it in the future etc.). __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

February 23rd, 2005, 05:48 AM	#6
Graham Jones Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 489	Thanks for these great tips folks. Graham __________________ www.irishfilmmaker.com

February 22nd, 2005, 12:19 PM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Pretty much all of them from I-Movie up can import single frames. They might do it differently, but its a standard feature. In Avid for instance, you can import them with a specific 'duration'. By the way, old school animation was usually two frames a drawing.