[superfula]

I'm putting a video together for a class, and i'd like to make a nice intro.

My vision is to start out with a "snowy" tv screen...when a channel doesn't come in it's all "snowy".....do that for a couple seconds, show a quick view of a black screen, back to the "snow", so gradually the black screen takes over and the snow is gone. THEN have our group name appear on the screen. With the team name going from normal text to text with a glowing hue to it.

Hopefully you get where I am going with that explanation.

What program could i use for this?

[godzookie2k]

Well what motion graphics programs do you own? Or have access to? It sounds pretty simple, you could probably do it in anything. I would probably do it in aftereffects, but it has a pretty high learning curve.

[godzookie2k]

you said that you would like to make a nice intro for it, what are you doing the rest of the video in?

[superfula]

Originally posted by godzookie2k:
you said that you would like to make a nice intro for it, what are you doing the rest of the video in?

Thanks for the options. It will be done in a lab at school, so pretty much anything is doable as far as what software to use.

For the actual movie part, I've used imovie quite a bit, and have just started using Final Cut Pro 3, so probably FCP3 will be the main program. And if I can't figure out something in that, then imovie will come into play.

[DeathMan]

you could do all that in FCP.

Just play with the outline text options, and the keyframing in the top left window under effects or one of those.

[godzookie2k]

yeah, fcp is your solution. rtfm. what you are attempting isn't hard, it shouldn't be much of a problem, or take long.

[superfula]

So I can do that whole intro idea in FCP. Hmm, I'll have to do some messing around with it.

Thanks for the info

[dampeoples]

Originally posted by godzookie2k:
yeah, fcp is your solution. rtfm.

Agreed, I only have FCE, but it irritates me when I pay for boxed software, and still get a .pdf manual, a 700 page one at that, not very fun to print that for reference

[superfula]

Originally posted by godzookie2k:
yeah, fcp is your solution. rtfm.

Seeing as how it is on university computers in the lab, there is no manual available to read, outside of the "Help" section.

[godzookie2k]

Originally posted by dampeoples:
Agreed, I only have FCE, but it irritates me when I pay for boxed software, and still get a .pdf manual, a 700 page one at that, not very fun to print that for reference

Hmm, I tend to prefer the PDF manual for reference, as it allows for searching, but that is just me. Then again I kind of miss the stack of computer/application manuals on top of my toilet.

[dadder]

I would do this in iMovie - why strain yourself. To get your snowy effect, just hook up a VCR or Camcorder to your Mac and record the snow. Use it repeatedly. You can do all this in iMovie my man a LOT easier!

[Awimoway]

This semester, I did a 13 minute film with iMovie. It was a piece of cake except for the stability probs with iMovie 3. I would do it again. I really enjoyed it.

Anyway, you could obviously do that opening bit with iMovie as long as you already had a clip of snow static from somewhere. What's your video source? A camera? Couldn't you record some from your TV to the tape on your camera?

[DeathMan]

The only real drawback to iMovie for this project is going to be its lack of fine tuned controls.

Its hard to say which would be easier, figuring out FCP enough to make this intro, or futzing around in iMovie trying to get the feel you want. I found it difficult to use iMovie when you want to the frame control of your movie.

You can get good results in iMovie, its just more of a cut the clip, and hope for the best, type of a thing.

[Powaqqatsi]

Use FCP or FCE, they offer much more flexibility compared to iMovie. I just finished a 23 minute movie made with Final Cut Express and I didn't have any experience with the app before. You'll learn it real quick.