• Location: Canada
  • Joined: May 28, 2011

Topic: FX Program advice.

Hey Brickfilmers.
I have been learning on the fly and self teaching myself since I began doing brick films back In November of last year. I started with Movie maker, then Imovie 11 and now moved onto Final Cut Express.
But I have not yet used any FX programs.
I need to know what is a good and inexpensive FX program to get?
I know a good FX program will help me take my films to another level.
Thanks I look forward to all and any help.
Just a note my computer is a Apple Mini Mac running the latest version of snow Leopard.

mini/XD

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Antonio Ferrara's Website

  • Joined: December 26, 2008

Re: FX Program advice.

I'm not knowledgeable about good budget visual effects software for Mac, but it might help folks if you had an idea of what kind of effects you want to accomplish.  In the realm of cheaper video software I tend to come across more programs that specialize in a specific sort of thing, like compositing, color grading, etc.

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  • ZP
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  • Location: The Burg
  • Joined: July 16, 2010

Re: FX Program advice.

I don't know much about Mac software either, but I do know that all of the Adobe products are cross-platform.
Other than that, Apple Motion, Final Cut Pro and AVID are all the ones I know of.

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ZP's Website

  • LASF
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  • Location: !
  • Joined: June 21, 2011

Re: FX Program advice.

I use a Mac and I suggest these products:
iMovie
Framed X
Photoshop or GIMP

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  • BWJC
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  • Location: The Icy North
  • Joined: March 18, 2010

Re: FX Program advice.

Now, many of the cheaper VFX programs are Windows only, though you could probably find a few.  You can actually make due with only FCE and a image editing program, such as Photoshop, or a free option, Gimp.  It is a bit more work, but you can do it.  If you want more specific explanations, I can help you out by explaining specific effects you might want to achieve.  I also use FCE, and have PS CS5.
If you want to spend more money, Adobe After Effects is a great program, but will cost you a bit of money.

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"Eh" - Bertl
  • Joined: January 6, 2009

Re: FX Program advice.

I suggest AE. Look online and find After Effects second hand for mac. Probably CS3 and below would be good.

welp
Formerly LegoDudez
  • Location: The Copacabana
  • Joined: December 26, 2008

Re: FX Program advice.

If you've got $500+ lying around. Otherwise, keep looking.

  • ZP
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  • Location: The Burg
  • Joined: July 16, 2010

Re: FX Program advice.

An academic discount for After Effects CS5.5 is only $350.

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ZP's Website

  • Joined: January 6, 2009

Re: FX Program advice.

No, second hand AE is cheaper; about >£130

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Formerly LegoDudez
  • Location: The Copacabana
  • Joined: December 26, 2008

Re: FX Program advice.

That's still ~$200 USD, which is plenty to cough up.