Hi Steve,
Thanks a lot for getting back to me. I really appreciate it.
I'm a designer and a graphic artist. What I want to do is create a music short (3 mins) and the best pointer I could give you is that it might well fit into the same category as the sort of stuff you would come across at
http://www.onedotzero.com/new/frames.html. I'm pretty clear about using AE to get what I want visually - it's the tech stuff regarding set up/final output that i don't want to screw up on (and think I might).
The source material would be graphics created by me in Photoshop and Ai with some quicktime coming from Cinema 4D. It wouldn't really involve the use of live-action footage but I might want to bring in short footage clips here and there (shot on mini-DV) and use them after doing some heavy graphic treatments.
On completetion I would want to be able to:
Show it on a top-end MacBookPro (as a quicktime movie)
Post it on an FTP
Post it on a Website
Publish it on DVD
Be in a position (if the opportunity arose) to submit it for broadcast.
I'm aware that submitting something for broadcast involves a different set of criteria from say, posting for web use and that there are big issues like NTSC v PAL, transfer to tape and all the rest of it. I'm trying to find the best compromise that will offer some room for manuvere. If I can't do that then I just want to drop in with best option and take it from there.
If this were an A4 brochure keyart print job for example, and I knew maybe it was going to be used as an ad in several diffrent magazine formats and maybe a billboard, a roller banner and a webgraphic, I might do it as A2 (with plenty of breathing space) at 450dpi in 16bit. That would be my 'best-shot' master and everything else would sort of spin off from that. That's kind of what I'm trying to get to here - the equilvant sort of position. I think my computer could handle a 720p project but don't know about 1080. (my machine is G5 DUAL PPC 2.5GHZ/8G/1T/OSX10.4.9)
I guess that in terms of its function it would be a showcase piece and that I would be using it to attract interest in my work and as a vehicle to allow me to get new business in an area I getting really excted about. The other thing that this would do is give me a sizable project to get me 'bedded in'. I find I work/learn/create best if I set myself significant challenges.
My general level of expertise/experience with creative software is very high. I have a good understanding of the core issues and an ability to adapt quicky to new working concepts - but with motion graphics, this set-up thing just has kind of got me a bit stumped. I can see it's not as simple as 'choose a size and go' but as I said I just want to be able to make a decision and know that it isn't going to park me in a corner later.
Right now I trying to fill in the general sort of picture so as to get to a position where I can start producing artwork for import into AE. I'm becoming aware of issues like 'broadcast safe colours' and what happens when a 16:9 project shows up in a 4:3 situation etc. My position is roughly analgous to where I might be if I was a green-ish designer who had a big job going to a commercial printers. Maybe I heard all about stuff like 'direct-to-plate' and 'laser die-cutting' at college but when the print guy turns up at the studio I don't feel so sure about how sure I am ( if you see what I mean ! ).
There also seems to be a fairly heated debate going on about 720p v 1080i which, although I undertstand the technical arguements, I frankly find bewildering in the context of what I've laid out above.
I hope this helps to clarify...
Thanks again
All the best
Graham
