[darren22446]

Hi

Quicktime codec matters see your user manual under image import for supported codecs – pretty much the same choice as for output

the other thing that matters is the frame size width must be a multiple of 4 (for quicktime) even if you are using Xstoner you have to resize the quicktime to the nearest multiple of 4 to allow input, eg quicktime is 475 x 396 must resize to 480 x 396 so that width is multiple of 4

From my experience if you don’t have xstoner then you can either use UNIX mediaconvert utility (search “mediaconvert” on discreet knowledge base website – password required) or you can use quicktime pro or combustion to create sequence of tiffs with a AIFF or WAV to import, I haven’t been able to find a surefire way besides Xstoner to import reliably all of the time.

cheers

Darren

[darren22446]

nt65 wrote:

Great post Darren!
What you have just described is my workplace as well.
It seems that work ethic and politics seems to be a universal thing – no matter where you work.

Could you post some of the tuts you mentioned which are free on the web.

You mentioned you are an intermediate compositor. How long does it take to get to your level? I realise its an individual thing and talent but roughly how long does it take to get to an intermediate level then perhaps Senior Compositor overlooking a team of compositors?

Thanks in advance.
nick

Hi Nick,
the way I go about learning something new is to Google it. If I’m trying to learn about HDRI or premultiplied images I just Google “HDRI tutorials” usually with about 15 mins of surfing and clicking links you can get some relevant material, then I bookmark links based on interests, COMPOSITING, PHOTOGRAPHY, etc. The Autodesk sight has extra tutorials that I believe aren’t included with the software for Combustion, If you’re learning shake I recommend the Apple Pro Training Series book by Marco Paolini (by far the best tutorial I’ve ever learned with) comes with a DVD with 14 lessons with footage and very affordable @ around $50-60 US dollars, fxshare is a great sight for Shake related things they’ve got some great Macros you can download and use, as for FFI, they all come with amazing tutorials with footage, If you have access to a box but are still an assistant just ask if it possible to load the tutorial lessons onto a partition so that you could work on them, most companies would allow you to this on off hours after they show you how not to erase real jobs!!! as for how long it takes to become an intermediate guy it all depends, on luck sometimes having a senior guy move on to another company leaving a space for you, or moving from company to company when opportunities arise. There is a principal in business called the Peter Principle, which states that within an orginization people will rise to their own level of incompetence, what this means is that you will move up until you reach a level at which you become incompetent. My advise is to take a very honest look at your own Strengths and Weaknesses as well as what Oppurtunities or Threats lie ahead of you. Use one of your senior guys as your mentor/benchmark and honestly evaluate where you stand next to him, this will give you a game plan on the specific things that you need to be focussing on improving (keying, keyframing, color correcting client skills etc) This way as you move up you are always constantly preparing yourself for the next level, it is a lot of work but a little forward thinking will help you in the long run. The next thing after you’ve prepared yourself for oppurtunity is to make yourself available to oppurtunity, what this means is letting people in key roles know that you are willing and able to take on new challenges (be patient and make sure you are prepared cause sometimes you only get one chance and you don’t want to blow your one chance) This step can be met with enthusiasm or resistance depending on the management style of your company, just roll with it, at this stage of the game making pretty pictures and having a good rapport with clients is very important so make the best pictures you can and keep learning and growing. hope that kinda helps

cheers

[darren22446]

Hi,

I’m an intermediate guy working his way up in a big facility here’s my two cents about how to be a good compositor. For beginners

First pick a tool that you have a lot of ACCESS to, doesn’t make sense to try learning Flame if you can only get on the box for an hour each week, if you have more access to Combustion or Shake then learn that first, and master this tool first, also if you are in a bigger facility your first opportunity to prove yourself will be on Combustion or Shake before they even let you touch the Infernos etc. We have combustions companions to our Infernos so learning Combustion is a great way to get into the suite amidst the clients and Senior artists to do a little over the shoulder learning whilst rotoscoping and fetching coffee.

Once you’ve picked a tool that you can spend some quality time with, master that tool, but even before that or in tandem with this I highly recommend learning everything you can about problem solving and project management (read the little black book of project management) practice lateral thinking and brainstorming creative solutions to problems, If you are in the commercial field watch every commercial you can, go to archives and watch older commercials, because these references become a major tool in your ability to communicate visually. Learn to LISTEN!!!! People don’t like repeating themselves when they are paying $$$$ an hour, Being a good compositor especially in the commercial field requires you to be a good LEADER!!! As well as a team player. Practice speaking publicly (up there with peoples number one fear) you will have to communicate visual ideas verbally long before you start making them into an actual picture. All of these things in my opinion help YOU to stand out as an individual even if your pictures don’t stand out that much (especially when you’re starting off) but don’t worry you have the rest of your career to perfect your craft. The most important thing is to be able to work with and amongst people who after working with you WANT to work with you again. It doesn’t matter much if you make the best pictures if people don’t LIKE working with you.

Okay so now that craft. I highly recommend tutorials that come with footage that you can work your way through, Combustion comes with tutorials so does Shake, work your way through those first because they are cleverly designed to teach you a bit of theory and a bit of practical knowledge as well as the specifics of the software, once you’ve worked your way through those, guess what???? Do them again!!! I guarantee you that you will learn stuff you missed on the first go around, Practice makes perfect. Once you’ve done that I would start a little scrapbook or database of tutorials, get a binder and find and printout as many relevant tutorials that you can get for free from the web, and work your way through those even if you skip more advanced ones just collecting them is getting you started with your very own BAG of TRICKS to draw from, you can take this with you this will grow with you but make it a real entity because your memory is only so good. And five years later into a high paying gig that trick you learned on whatever may still be relevant,

Once you’ve worked your way through all the freebies and you’ve hopefully got yourself an entry level gig, then with the cash you’re making you can think about investing in some quality education, Borrow if you can but buy if you must books that come highly recommended from people who know what they are talking about. I would seriously avoid purchasing anything if you are still a student because there are so many web based free resources save the book buying until you have a paycheck (my humble opinion)

Once you’ve got the basics down, start picking away at the advanced stuff but please keep in mind that working well with others is as important as working well at making pretty pictures. Share with your peers learn from your peers. Have fun with your peers!!!! There is a weird thing that happens in a bigger facility where people like you to be ambitious but not too ambitious otherwise you make them look bad… be wary of who these people are,. You will also encounter people that are in senior positions that haven’t forgotten what it was like to be a junior and are willing to help you, make these people your best friends. Figure out who the Key players are and forget about impressing them with how much you know, better yet get on their side and help to solve some of their problems with them , volunteer to help pitch in if a more senior person is ill or on vacation, arrive early, stay late. All of these things impress upon people that you are serious about your CAREER as a compositor. The thing to keep in mind is that as you get better at your craft your focus will be pulled more in the direction of the politics of the business of your craft, than the actual art of your craft and you will have to find that balance between ARTISTIC merit and FINANCIAL compensation that works for you as an individual. You will most likely not start and end your career at the same place.

In terms of what you need to know, all I can say is Learn how you as a person learn some people learn visually by seeing things then doing them some people learn better by reading a book some people learn better by having them audibly coach them you as an individual need to learn how you learn most effectively and utilize that in your approach to selecting tutors or tutorials. Obviously in this business finding a Mentor is an invaluable asset but learning to be someone else mentor also speaks volumes to your character and ability to move into a Leadership role. Fxguide is an awesome sight and there is so much emphasis on our craft I just wanted to share some of the other things besides being good at your craft that help make you into a GOOD COMPOSITOR.

Cheers

[Author]

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