Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
billboard programmer? Each of these people has extensive knowledge of their
craft, but probably not very much knowledge of your craft. It's your job to learn
from them what specifications they demand before you deliver your project to
them. You don't have to educate them how you do your work - you simply
want to determine the best method to build and deliver your project.
How Will My Project Be Used?
How many people know the difference between an Alpha Channel and a
Keyable Mask? Or how about a Straight vs a Premuliplied keyable movie?
What's a 3:2 Pulldown? Can Progressive Scan footage or animation be
intermingled with Interlaced Field footage? Am I allowed to say intermingled in
an internationally distributed topic? These are just a sampling of file formats
you'll be generating when you render your finished project. Few people know
(nor do they need to know, but I'm going to teach them anyway) what a
Premultiplied movie is or how a 3:2 Pulldown works. All they want to know is
that the finished project will work flawlessly to their specification.
This all may seem like rudimentary information, but as I explain these and other
concepts, keeping your project's 'who' and 'how' in mind will help you know
better how to apply the lessons in this topic.
Project Setup - Target Your Project Settings
For most examples in this topic I'll be using either HDTV 1920
1080 Comps
at 24 fps or USA Digital TV 720
486 at 29.97 fps. Generally, for those of you
who use DV, PAL or Film, the concepts still apply, only the screen sizes and
frame rates have been changed to protect the innocent.
Media Formats - Knowing What to Look for in a File
Each type of media file has its own special qualities that make it unique to the
Import dialog and how it's used in your projects. There are generally five kinds
of media you'll be importing:
Bitmap Images
- BMP, CIN, JPEG, PSD, PICT, PNG, RLA, TGA, TIFF.
Movie Clips
- QuickTime, DV, AVI, MPEG, OMF, SWF.
Vector Images
- AI, EPS, PDF, PICT.
