FileIn just 1 frame from QT/FCP media?...clean plates, etc.
by KeithG
on
Jan 26, 2007 at 4:49:48 am
What is the best way to fileIn just one frame from a QT movie/FCP? For example, in the Clean Plate Tutorials, a fileIn of just one frame is used in part to create a clean plate. This works well for ".iff", but not QT (at least from what I see). The way I have been working now is to go back to FCP and export a still TIFF, then file this into Shake. This works, but was hoping it could be done right from within Shake. Can a freeze frame be created from a fileIn nodel of QT media, like it can with other formats like ".iff"?
Re: FileIn just 1 frame from QT/FCP media?...clean plates, etc. by Andrew Shanks on Jan 26, 2007 at 7:21:59 pm
I usually use image sequences (such as DPX,iff) with shake so haven't used quicktime much, but one way round it could be to go into the timing tab of the file in node, set the retiming to "Remap" and retiming mode to "Nearest", then set your start and end frame to be the same (e.g start=5 end=5). Then go back up the timing parameters and set your inPoint and outPoint to encompass the whole duration of your composition.
Hope that helps,
Re: FileIn just 1 frame from QT/FCP media?...clean plates, etc. by Nick Jushchyshyn on Jan 26, 2007 at 10:55:50 pm
As Andrew has mentioned in previous posts, the retiming operation in the Timing tab of the FileIn is generally the best way to alter the speed of a clip, but in the case of a Freeze Frame, using the TimeX node is about as easy as it gets.
TimeX is found in the "Other" tab (after Warp).
Just place a TimeX node after an unaltered FileIn. Expand the newTime parameter and replace the spline formula with your desired freezeframe number in and you're good to go.
One follow-up note to mention is that the timeX node affects the targeted FileIn node throughout your comp, so if you want to use the same clip elsewhere in the comp without the freeze frame, you'll need a second fileIn node pointing to the same file.
Re: FileIn just 1 frame from QT/FCP media?...clean plates, etc. by Andrew Shanks on Jan 28, 2007 at 2:18:41 am
excellent tip Nick! ...have to say TimeX has been a node I have not dabbled with (kind of that scary node that might require me to know some maths, ...and being that 1+1=3 is my usual form of dodgy logic I run away and hide rather than play with it, layerX and colorX, ....I must be brave one day, face my fears and play with these nodes rather than whimping out and using other options that are perhaps a bit more round about. :-)
Re: FileIn just 1 frame from QT/FCP media?...clean plates, etc. by Nick Jushchyshyn on Jan 28, 2007 at 11:38:40 pm
Thanks for the kind feedback guys.
Yeah, the TimeX node is a bit old-school really. The timing tab in FineIn has much better and more advanced features, but there are still a couple little places like this where TimeX can be handy.
I'm pretty new to this corner of the CreativeCow boards.
Really impressed by how friendly, constructive and useful this board is.
Hope it's OK with you guys if I hang out here from time to time. :-)
Re: FileIn just 1 frame from QT/FCP media?...clean plates, etc. by Andrew Shanks on Jan 29, 2007 at 9:43:03 pm
Hey, the more the merrier, and I'm loving the fact that we're getting some good conversations going on here, great to have some experienced contributors adding to the answers. Welcome and I hope we can help you as you help others.
