Topic: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

I was interested in knowing about the camera movement and zooming that's done in post production how do you do it? Using AE CS4.

I know it's do able as people have mentioned using this method for their films.

And is it as effect as if you were to do camera movement in the production stage?

My last question is, say you've done your short animation of a scene, its complete now you wanted to slowly zoom into it while it's playing how can this be achieved? So like a slideshow only the animation is still playing and its either zooming in or panning through.

Sincerely,
Divine.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Now I'm not sure if CS4 is is similar to CS6 (the version I'm using) but if so, here's the basics. To achieve digital camera movement, you can use keyframes to animate a zoom, dolly, rotation, etc. in AE. This is found after you've turned your shot into a composition. Then, go to the clip's drop down menu and find the scale button. Click the stopwatch to set a keyframe on the first frame, then go to the last frame of the zoom, and scale the clip up/down. That should give you another keyframe. And if you want to ease in and out of the zoom, right click on the first keyframe before creating any more, and go to keyframe assistant -> easy ease. This can also be applied to the position, rotation, etc. for other camera movements. Hopefully, this makes sense.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Everything is doable in AE!

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"None practice tolerance less frequently than those who most loudly preach it."

Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Hey Legoguy501 thanks for your response, I'll plan at reading over it more when I get a chance to animate.
Sorry for my late response I've been out these last couple of days and had no internet access thanks again for your response!

EDIT: And there quite similar besides new features on AE6.

HoldingOurOwn I agree.


Sincerely,
Divine.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Also, I learned from making zooms that straight-on zooms are not as effective, and even more fake looking, than zooms that come in faster from one of the four sides.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Divine wrote:

And is it as effect as if you were to do camera movement in the production stage?

In my opinion post production camera movement is a horrible thing.  I would highly recommend not ever doing it.  It would be better if you just let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

There's a certain weird look to post camera movement which I feel gives the film a very cheap looking aspect.  If the camera is still the whole time it's doubtful anyone would notice since it's a brickfilm, though.

You can't really ever get post camera movement to look realistic.  The objects don't move properly in relation to each other.  But, if you do want to try your hand at production camera movement, I have created a tutorial upon the subject detailing my techniques for it: Link

Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Thanks for that Squid I appreciate it, I'll be sure to check out your tut!

HoldingOurOwn, I am a bit confused by what you mean.


Sincerely,
Divine.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

I agree with Squid in that post-prod camera movement looks worse than production camera movement, and should be avoided if you can.

Unfortunately for me, my uneven and creaky floorboards (which have a habit of moving underfoot) mean that for the moment, animating camera movement is far more trouble than it is worth, and looks terrible at best. I have a glide track but my tripod isn't  sturdy enough to support it. So at the moment, I do use post-production camera movement, but it's not necessarily a good thing. I'd rather have camera movement than none at all.

What I'm trying to say is don't write it off as it is still an option, but don't rely on it. Try all you can to actually animate camera movement. It looks so much better.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

So, I will agree with Squid for the most part. However, I have found that if there are really subtle dollies, it is often less time consuming to use digital camera movement. Also, for shakey cam, it's really nice. And if I already did in camera movement, and then feel there need to be a little more, I'll add it in. However, like Squid also said, digital zooms look really fake, so I'd advise to just go with actual camera movement for those.

Squid wrote:

There's a certain weird look to post camera movement which I feel gives the film a very cheap looking aspect.

Normally I agree. However, I have seen a few exceptions, like this I believe has some, and even this has a little bit incorporated into a lot of in-camera movement.
So anyways, I will agree with the two others to try to do in camera movements, as they look more genuine.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

I have found that there are ways to make post production movement work. First, don't overdo it. Some subtle moves are best, and they work well when combined with movement done in animation. Second, I have noticed that many people will use two key frames and that's it. The camera zooms out or moves from left to right. Cool. But if you watch actual films, camera movement isn't perfect. There are bumps and jolts that are subtle, but noticeable. Don't be afraid to add some "grit" to your post production movement by utilizing more key frames. Also, study how cinematographers use movement in good films. Many times I have noticed that a move will look hideous when used in one situation, but will work fine when timed with the animation correctly.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Thank you for these great responses.

I understand why you use em and then why you should avoid it.

However my main concern for using it was the fact I am using a C920 but the thing is I don't know how to create a dolly setup that will allow me to slightly move the camera into a different position, nor know how to do a shaky cam or any other camera movements for that matter. For this reason I was asking about the use of Post Production camera movement and to my surprise I thought a lot of people were using it!

So my main question is what is the best advice or tips to create an effective camera dolly setup so I can adjust my camera without any hassles or worries.

Parts/video/tutorial any of these would be sincerely appreciated.

It was more for over the top shots, such as camera panning in or camera panning out from a top view.

Then another camera movement of a camera following the minifigs while they are walking. I would love to know how to achieve especially these two movements. Which I am sure for the more experienced people this is quite a basic camera movement.

Sincerely,
Divine.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

C920's are easy to build dolly rigs for, it's only the more complex motions that get tricky.
Just take Squid's tutorial copy the rig, and instead of having a huge camera platform on the end, just widen the track after a few studs, make it 4 wide, and put your camera on some 2x4's. Done. (Do you need pictures, or did that explain well-enough?)

You can do zooms, and dolly shots in all sorts of directions. It's great, and easy to animate.

Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

The only post production camera work I do is wiggler. Like in this video http://youtu.be/1mMIvPYldKc Every things else should be done in camera. Plus as a bonus camera movement can also hide accidentally bumping things.

Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Divine wrote:

Thank you for these great responses.

I understand why you use em and then why you should avoid it.

However my main concern for using it was the fact I am using a C920 but the thing is I don't know how to create a dolly setup that will allow me to slightly move the camera into a different position, nor know how to do a shaky cam or any other camera movements for that matter. For this reason I was asking about the use of Post Production camera movement and to my surprise I thought a lot of people were using it!

So my main question is what is the best advice or tips to create an effective camera dolly setup so I can adjust my camera without any hassles or worries.

Parts/video/tutorial any of these would be sincerely appreciated.

It was more for over the top shots, such as camera panning in or camera panning out from a top view.

Then another camera movement of a camera following the minifigs while they are walking. I would love to know how to achieve especially these two movements. Which I am sure for the more experienced people this is quite a basic camera movement.

Sincerely,
Divine.

For saved I did a spinning shot coming down to a person and what I did was I put my set on gears so it could spin and propped it up like a wall and then put my camera on a stand and moved it forward just slightly each frame as I also spun the set. I had to retake it a few times but in the end it ternd out prity cool. Also for walking just make a point on the camera for were you want your minfig to be and then just as he is walking just keep on moving the camera with him so he is alwase on that point. And camera movement rigs like Prichard was talking about also really help.

Hope this helped. 
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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Divine wrote:

Thank you for these great responses.

I understand why you use em and then why you should avoid it.

However my main concern for using it was the fact I am using a C920 but the thing is I don't know how to create a dolly setup that will allow me to slightly move the camera into a different position, nor know how to do a shaky cam or any other camera movements for that matter. For this reason I was asking about the use of Post Production camera movement and to my surprise I thought a lot of people were using it!

So my main question is what is the best advice or tips to create an effective camera dolly setup so I can adjust my camera without any hassles or worries.

Parts/video/tutorial any of these would be sincerely appreciated.

It was more for over the top shots, such as camera panning in or camera panning out from a top view.

Then another camera movement of a camera following the minifigs while they are walking. I would love to know how to achieve especially these two movements. Which I am sure for the more experienced people this is quite a basic camera movement.

Sincerely,
Divine.

Shaky cam is dine with a tripod and the c920 has a tripod screw so you can do it in camera. also I have made a dolly that works for webcams so you don't need post for that either.
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/ENDfilms/dolly/picture_1.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/ENDfilms/dolly/picture_4.jpg

Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

AquaMorph wrote:

Plus as a bonus camera movement can also hide accidentally bumping things.

I guess I'm not the only one who thinks this way. mini/tongue

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Pritchard Studios Thank you for the youtube tutorial I watched it and it was great.

platform on the end, just widen the track after a few studs, make it 4 wide, and put your camera on some 2x4's. Done. (Do you need pictures, or did that explain well-enough?)

I'm still a little confused with what you mean by widen the track (is that the set?) what do you mean by 4 wide? Some pictures would be very helpful as I get a better understanding visually. Sorry man new to camera movement.

AquaMorph yes I saw the video that effect worked well for your video. I will look more into it as I am unaware of many camera movements.

osomstudios

Also for walking just make a point on the camera for were you want your minfig to be and then just as he is walking just keep on moving the camera with him so he is alwase on that point. And camera movement rigs like Prichard was talking about also really help.

Thank you! I will try that.

For saved I did a spinning shot coming down to a person and what I did was I put my set on gears so it could spin and propped it up like a wall and then put my camera on a stand and moved it forward just slightly each frame as I also spun the set. I had to retake it a few times but in the end it ternd out prity cool.

Thats an awesome idea man! I have seen your film Saved it was well done just don't remember that part with the set spinning I'll have to see it again!

END films: That's good to know, and thank you for the Dolly pic do you know the part's by any chance so I know what to get to make it?
My only main problem is I don't have any of the circle things or the small holders.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped out so far its very much appreciated getting all this great and resourceful information.

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Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

Ah, yeah...Sorry about the confusion. I meant track as in the thing the camera sits in.
Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4.

That about as clear as mud now? mini/wink

Re: Post Production camera movement/zoom questions

As Pure as the driven snow mini/smile

I meant track as in the thing the camera sits in.

Ahh got ya!

Thanks for the pics Pritchard appreciate it man.

I had a look at the two different rig setups you had so thank you for that. Just a quick question in regards to your rig are they used to replace the tripod or are they actually versatile as in moving forward side to side?

Also how did you guys make these rigs? Like honestly I wouldn't have a clue were to begin, for a simple rig just to keep the camera still I would be fine to make but for one that has the little handler to operate with I mean honestly is their like a site or a video that explains how to make it? Not just what it's for and how to use it. Otherwise I would be happy to pay for the instructions and parts list if it came to that.

Once again,

Thanks to everyone that has helped me out so far and Pritchard thanks for clearing it up mate.

Sincerely,
Divine.

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