Blog Archives

Here’s how to create a cast shadow of a Apple Motion element from scratch, which be animated and colorized separately from the object creating the shadow.

Video compression is essential to all media today, from social media to broadcast to streaming. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to use Apple Compressor to crop or reframe a video clip prior to media compression.

Video compression is essential to all media today, from social media to broadcast to streaming. In this video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to apply both still and moving watermarks to compressed video using Apple Compressor.

In this Apple Motion tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create a burning effect using particles, blend modes and the world’s most amazing light saber.

Here’s a summary of the new features introduced at Adobe MAX (Oct. 2020) for Adobe Premiere Pro, with a link for more details.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan illustrates why correctly setting the HDR Graphics White Point for HDR HLG media is important when adding graphics or SDR media to an HDR sequence. This is a new feature in Adobe Premiere Pro v.14.4.

Motion graphic templates are created in After Effects for use in Premiere. This illustrated tutorial explains how to add, find, edit, modify and delete these templates.

New with the 5.4.6 update to Apple Motion is support for 3D Objects. This illustrated tutorial shows where they are, how to use them and what you need to know to import your own USDZ objects into Motion.

Smart Conform, the new re-framing feature in Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.4.9, is a good start. It does what Apple says, but there are limitations. Here’s an illustrated tutorial showing how this works.

Apple Motion is a very fun way to explore and experiment with motion graphics. Here’s how to create a motion graphic generator (background video) you can use inside Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Examples of how blend modes can add texture to colors and scenes, along with how to use them to fix problems with exposure or color. This is created in Adobe Premiere Pro, but applies to all NLEs.

A LUT (LookUp Table) is a conversion table that instantly changes pixel values from one setting to the next. Final Cut provides two different ways to apply LUTs to your footage: the Inspector and the Custom LUT effect. This article describes how to use the Custom LUT effect.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan answers a question on how to get rid of “fuzzy edges” in a chroma-key using Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan answers a question showing how to use Apple Final Cut Pro X to match the color between video clips shot using different cameras, one of which was an iPhone.

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan answers a question on how to use LUTs to color grade HDR or Log video in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Adam Wilt shares his thoughts on why Blackmagic Design released a camera recording 12K frame sizes. And, it isn’t the reason you expect.

There is difference in how the same color is displayed in Premiere, Final Cut and QuickTime. This made worse when looking at media on a P3 display. Here’s what you need to know.

Unlike “normal” still images, working with a layered Photoshop (PSD) file in Adobe Premiere Pro provides a variety of options that can be useful in a video edit. This illustrated tutorial explains what they are.

Unlike “normal” still images, working with a layered Photoshop (PSD) file in Apple Final Cut Pro X provides a variety of options that can be useful in a video edit. Here’s what you need to know.

The Ken Burns effect makes creating moves on still images fun and easy. When used properly it can quickly bring a still image to life. Here’s how to use it in your next Apple Final Cut Pro X project.

In an ideal world, all your green-screen source files are perfectly lit. This illustrated tutorial deals with reality – green-screen source files that are badly light, poorly saturated and with gear lying all around the frame. Sheesh!

In this short video tutorial, Larry Jordan shows how to create a clean green-screen (chroma) key from really bad source footage in Adobe Premiere Pro. This also shows how to use masks.

I’m impressed with how Image Capture simplifies moving files between iPhone and Mac. It is easy to use, capable, fast and secure. And, best of all, it’s already installed on your system.

In this short video excerpt, Larry Jordan demonstrates a very fast technique to copy files from an iPhone to a Mac.

A fast, automated method to optimize grayscale (exposure) settings to video clips in Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates how to display and color grade ProRes RAW media in Apple Final Cut Pro X. (This also includes a bonus technique on using the Balance Color effect for HDR media.)

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan illustrates the different color spaces between SDR (Standard Dynamic Range) and HDR media.

An explanation of how Apple Final Cut Pro X handles ProRes RAW images, along with a link to an Apple white paper to learn more.

An illustrated, detailed tutorial on how to create an effect in Apple Motion to be used as a template inside Final Cut Pro X.

Color correction and color grading are part art, part science and part applied technology. In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan demonstrates how to adjust grayscale values and use the video scopes to improve the look of your images.

Color correction and color grading are part art, part science and part applied technology. In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to use the video scopes in Adobe Premiere Pro to evaluate skin tones.

Color correction and color grading are part art, part science and part applied technology. In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to create two color effects using masks in Premiere Pro.

Match Color does more than simply match colors between clips. Once you understand what it is REALLY doing, you can use it to create some fascinating effects.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows two different ways to remove color casts from skin tones and improve color accuracy in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to use the Hue and Saturation Curves in Final Cut Pro X to replace and adjust a single color in a clip.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to use the Balance Color and Match Color tools to quickly fix color problems in your clips.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows faster ways to trim, move clips and create freeze frames – all with the keyboard – in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to use the Focus blur to simulate depth-of-field in your video in Apple Final Cut Pro X.

Here’s a preference setting and a detailed blog on how to improve color display in Adobe Premiere Pro.

In this short video demo, watch as Larry Jordan shows how to add and modify gradients to elements in Apple Motion.

An illustrated tutorial on how to import, modify, adjust and export captions in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

An illustrated tutorial on how to create a grid in Motion that can be used in Final Cut, with adjustable line widths and color. These are very useful for performance videos.

This technique works as well or better than any other color correction technique I’ve seen in Photoshop in removing color casts. Best of all, it’s easy! (And, this also works inside Adobe Premiere Pro CC!)

Tips to improve how you look on camera, especially in home environments. Written by Jonathan Barkan.

An on-going challenge for traditional filmmakers is integrating vertical video into a horizontal timeline. Here’s a fast and easy option when you need something that looks good and need it right now.

An on-going challenge that traditional filmmakers face is integrating vertical video into a horizontal timeline. While there is no “perfect” way to do this, here are two easy options to consider.

The DataColor SpyderX Elite calibrates computer monitors for accurate color. It is easy to use, but has limited tutorial, limited help, and was not able to match colors between two monitors attached to the same computer.

Color temperature is the measure of the perceived color of white light on a scale from warm (gold) to cool (bluish). We work with it every day in lighting. Here are some interesting facts about it that you may not know.

A step-by-step illustrated tutorial on how to fly through text to discover the video beneath it using Motion 5.

Final Cut can create cast shadows, especially with green screen footage. Here’s how to create them, along with tricks to make backgrounds look more believable.