Animated Text and Graphics at DVinfo.net

Bob Costa · February 3rd, 2005, 12:52 PM

I am slowly learning Vegas, but am frustrated by the quality of what I am turning out for graphics and moving text effects. Does Vegas do a great job at this, or should I consider another product? It could be that I just need to spend a lot more time on it, but I am wondering if I would be better off putting the time into a program like After Effects or some other program? My thought is that AE likely has a lot more options and add-ons that can get me up to speed quickly. Opinions?

Edward Troxel · February 3rd, 2005, 01:01 PM

If you have Vegas 5, you should also already have Boris FX (The titling subset of Boris Red). However, the built-in titling in Vegas does a good job. What exactly are you trying to do?

Bob Costa · February 3rd, 2005, 07:49 PM

I guess it keeps coming back to education. Gary's DVD set just showed up, so I guess I need to go there first. Maybe some of this is covered there. I tried to do an animated logo leader last weekend, and it just looks like crap with no idea how to fix it. My hope is that a different product will have more sophisticated presets or even some real educational material and resources about how to do advanced graphics and motion stuff. I look at a TV ad for a car dealership, and don't even know where to start to do something similar.

I like Vegas, but am not married to it. Before I spend tons of hours learning how to do mediocre work in Vegas, I want to be confident that I am spending my time well. Not just titles, but other kinds of animation appropriate to corporate and instructional videos as well. I was just wondering if looking at some other tools would be appropriate before I bang my head against the wall too hard and hurt myself. I have the AE demo on order, so when it shows up I guess I will just have to evaluate that.

But I am curious what other Vegas users are doing once Vegas runs out of steam (or if it does)

Edward Troxel · February 3rd, 2005, 08:46 PM

Perhaps if you post your VEG file and an explanation of what you're trying to accomplish, one of us could show you how or point you in a better direction.

As for car dealership titles, Vegas can easily create those garish titles.

Philippe Gosselin · February 3rd, 2005, 08:57 PM

You know what John , I am actually seeking an animator that will do all my intro's/outro's

Vegas is good with text though . I got a bucketload of new fonts and they do wonders , remember you can play with them as you would with images eg: drop transitions , color effects, compositing etc...

Personnally I want stunning intro's , the like which you can find here : www.ladyxfilms.com.

This is Rob's project and every intro is the same and it is of the utmost quality. Go check it out

Maybe there is a way to do that in Vegas but I am sure a good desgner will achieve something beyond your wildest dreams in a shorter than it would take you doing it in vegas.

In my first project I actually manage to make cartoon-like bubbles which were quite nice. The old batman tv series kinda stuff.

So yes it is possible.

Barry Rivadue · February 3rd, 2005, 09:11 PM

Where did you get your new fonts?

Bob Costa · February 3rd, 2005, 09:22 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Philippe Gosselin :
Personnally I want stunning intro's , the like which you can find here : <site removed by wrangler>.

-->>>

So rather than force me thru all the dozens of links on this PORN site, could you provide some direct links to some "stunning intros"?

Philippe Gosselin · February 3rd, 2005, 09:32 PM

Ooops.....

Sorry about that John and Rob, here it is:

http://www.ladyxfilms.com/

Just click on any short and you will the common intro they all have.

I am actually browsing the Boris FX website right now and they have some pretty nifty effects that can be accompish through their product(s).

Phil

Bob Costa · February 3rd, 2005, 09:38 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Edward Troxel : Perhaps if you post your VEG file and an explanation of what you're trying to accomplish, one of us could show you how or point you in a better direction.

As for car dealership titles, Vegas can easily create those garish titles. -->>>

Well I am sure Vegas can do lots of things that I can't do, but I am constantly faced with not knowing where to start. Here is a link to what I built, but I don't think it looks very professional. Yet I am not even smart enough to know what to ask next, or what I want to do to it to improve it. There is always this point in learning a new subject, where you are not yet smart enough to ask intelligent questions. I DO know that the red and green primary colors need to change to a more pleasing combination. When my graphic artist and I settle on logo colors, I will use those. That is not what I am worried about. It's everything else. It is just not something I am proud to show.

My logo

It's like I am trying to paint a picture of a landscape, and people keep asking me if I want to draw a circle or a square. Maybe the only way to learn this stuff is to keep posting ugly looking crap and hoping someone will take pity on me and teach me how to be better. But it does not seem a very productive way to learn this aspect of video production. Maybe I am wrong.

If I ever figure this stuff out, I am gonna do the training video I wish I could buy now.

Philippe Gosselin · February 3rd, 2005, 09:38 PM

Barry ...

Right here ... don't lose yourself in there , there is a LOT of fonts on this website , all free :)

http://www.1001freefonts.com/

Bob Costa · February 3rd, 2005, 09:48 PM

Thanks for the better link Phillippe. :) That one did seem kind of odd for you to post. And that is a nice intro there. I just have to wake up that part of my brain.

Rob Lohman · February 4th, 2005, 04:41 AM

I can't take credit for the series just by myself because it was
created by:

Ken Tanaka, John Locke, Paul Sedillo and myself.

Ofcourse all the great people who made the movies really kicked
the series into gear!

The opening intro was made by Roger Yamauchi in a 3D program
if I remember correctly (been a long time since we where working
on the intro as you can imagine).

Philippe Gosselin · February 4th, 2005, 02:47 PM

Hi Rob ,

Do you think it would be possible to get me in touch with him , i'd just like to know which program he used.

email would be fine

Thanks

Phil

Bob Benkosky · February 5th, 2005, 11:43 PM

Zaxwerks Proanimator does awesome 3D titles. They look pretty much hollywood looking if you render to good resolutions, then downsample back to DV or DVD.

It works outside of Vegas but obviously you can import it into Vegas. Ulead 3d cool is like it, but not quite as sharp looking in my opinion. I have both.

Peter Jefferson · February 6th, 2005, 03:47 AM

i used to use Xara, but now im really into Bluff Titler.. :)
mix that with Particle Illusion and......... hehehehe

February 3rd, 2005, 12:52 PM	#1
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	Animated Text and Graphics I am slowly learning Vegas, but am frustrated by the quality of what I am turning out for graphics and moving text effects. Does Vegas do a great job at this, or should I consider another product? It could be that I just need to spend a lot more time on it, but I am wondering if I would be better off putting the time into a program like After Effects or some other program? My thought is that AE likely has a lot more options and add-ons that can get me up to speed quickly. Opinions? __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 3rd, 2005, 01:01 PM	#2
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	If you have Vegas 5, you should also already have Boris FX (The titling subset of Boris Red). However, the built-in titling in Vegas does a good job. What exactly are you trying to do? __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

February 3rd, 2005, 07:49 PM	#3
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	I guess it keeps coming back to education. Gary's DVD set just showed up, so I guess I need to go there first. Maybe some of this is covered there. I tried to do an animated logo leader last weekend, and it just looks like crap with no idea how to fix it. My hope is that a different product will have more sophisticated presets or even some real educational material and resources about how to do advanced graphics and motion stuff. I look at a TV ad for a car dealership, and don't even know where to start to do something similar. I like Vegas, but am not married to it. Before I spend tons of hours learning how to do mediocre work in Vegas, I want to be confident that I am spending my time well. Not just titles, but other kinds of animation appropriate to corporate and instructional videos as well. I was just wondering if looking at some other tools would be appropriate before I bang my head against the wall too hard and hurt myself. I have the AE demo on order, so when it shows up I guess I will just have to evaluate that. But I am curious what other Vegas users are doing once Vegas runs out of steam (or if it does) __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 3rd, 2005, 08:46 PM	#4
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Perhaps if you post your VEG file and an explanation of what you're trying to accomplish, one of us could show you how or point you in a better direction. As for car dealership titles, Vegas can easily create those garish titles. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

February 3rd, 2005, 09:22 PM	#7
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	<<<-- Originally posted by Philippe Gosselin : Personnally I want stunning intro's , the like which you can find here : <site removed by wrangler>. -->>> So rather than force me thru all the dozens of links on this PORN site, could you provide some direct links to some "stunning intros"? __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 3rd, 2005, 08:57 PM	#5
Philippe Gosselin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Montreal , Canada Posts: 197	You know what John , I am actually seeking an animator that will do all my intro's/outro's Vegas is good with text though . I got a bucketload of new fonts and they do wonders , remember you can play with them as you would with images eg: drop transitions , color effects, compositing etc... Personnally I want stunning intro's , the like which you can find here : www.ladyxfilms.com. This is Rob's project and every intro is the same and it is of the utmost quality. Go check it out Maybe there is a way to do that in Vegas but I am sure a good desgner will achieve something beyond your wildest dreams in a shorter than it would take you doing it in vegas. In my first project I actually manage to make cartoon-like bubbles which were quite nice. The old batman tv series kinda stuff. So yes it is possible.

February 3rd, 2005, 09:11 PM	#6
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	Where did you get your new fonts?

February 3rd, 2005, 09:32 PM	#8
Philippe Gosselin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Montreal , Canada Posts: 197	Ooops..... Sorry about that John and Rob, here it is: http://www.ladyxfilms.com/ Just click on any short and you will the common intro they all have. I am actually browsing the Boris FX website right now and they have some pretty nifty effects that can be accompish through their product(s). Phil __________________ Still lost in Vice city My website: www.production24fps.com/english.php

February 3rd, 2005, 09:38 PM	#9
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	<<<-- Originally posted by Edward Troxel : Perhaps if you post your VEG file and an explanation of what you're trying to accomplish, one of us could show you how or point you in a better direction. As for car dealership titles, Vegas can easily create those garish titles. -->>> Well I am sure Vegas can do lots of things that I can't do, but I am constantly faced with not knowing where to start. Here is a link to what I built, but I don't think it looks very professional. Yet I am not even smart enough to know what to ask next, or what I want to do to it to improve it. There is always this point in learning a new subject, where you are not yet smart enough to ask intelligent questions. I DO know that the red and green primary colors need to change to a more pleasing combination. When my graphic artist and I settle on logo colors, I will use those. That is not what I am worried about. It's everything else. It is just not something I am proud to show. My logo It's like I am trying to paint a picture of a landscape, and people keep asking me if I want to draw a circle or a square. Maybe the only way to learn this stuff is to keep posting ugly looking crap and hoping someone will take pity on me and teach me how to be better. But it does not seem a very productive way to learn this aspect of video production. Maybe I am wrong. If I ever figure this stuff out, I am gonna do the training video I wish I could buy now. __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 3rd, 2005, 09:48 PM	#11
Bob Costa Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 850	Thanks for the better link Phillippe. :) That one did seem kind of odd for you to post. And that is a nice intro there. I just have to wake up that part of my brain. __________________ You are either growing or dying.

February 4th, 2005, 04:41 AM	#12
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I can't take credit for the series just by myself because it was created by: Ken Tanaka, John Locke, Paul Sedillo and myself. Ofcourse all the great people who made the movies really kicked the series into gear! The opening intro was made by Roger Yamauchi in a 3D program if I remember correctly (been a long time since we where working on the intro as you can imagine). __________________ 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 4th, 2005, 02:47 PM	#13
Philippe Gosselin Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Montreal , Canada Posts: 197	Hi Rob , Do you think it would be possible to get me in touch with him , i'd just like to know which program he used. email would be fine Thanks Phil __________________ Still lost in Vice city My website: www.production24fps.com/english.php

February 5th, 2005, 11:43 PM	#14
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	Zaxwerks Proanimator does awesome 3D titles. They look pretty much hollywood looking if you render to good resolutions, then downsample back to DV or DVD. It works outside of Vegas but obviously you can import it into Vegas. Ulead 3d cool is like it, but not quite as sharp looking in my opinion. I have both. __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.

February 6th, 2005, 03:47 AM	#15
Peter Jefferson Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Aus Posts: 3,884	i used to use Xara, but now im really into Bluff Titler.. :) mix that with Particle Illusion and......... hehehehe