Unit 64: Motion Graphics & Compositing Video

Task 1: Blog Article

This blog article will analyse and comment on the current uses of motion graphics and compositing video in film and television production, including relevant examples and images.

Motion Graphics are types of footage or animation which editors use to create the illusion of motion. It is unlikely to see adverts or introductions to film/TV shows which are not using motion graphics. Motion Graphics are also used to create subtitles and credits, and also for 'lower thirds' which are prominent in news broadcasts.

The use of Motion Graphics is a good way to appeal to the audience. Creating aesthetically pleasing and eye catching graphics creates a major impact.

Compositing is the use of combining visual elements from different sources, and combining them into single images. This creates the illusion that all of the elements combined are the same part of a scene. This may include overlaying of text and titles on video clips. Green Screens are a form of compositing, by using raw footage of a person behind a green screen background.

A cluster of BBC News opening titles.

DVD Interfaces 

Frequently use graphics and typography.

(Typography - the art and technique of arranging type to make written language most appealing to learning and recognition.)

My chosen example of a DVD Interface is the film The Avengers. The interface uses short clips from the film, portraying each of the main characters without giving major plot points away. This makes the viewer curious about the movie itself, and keeps them guessing, and entertained.

Idents

TV Idents are used as a means of branding their logo so that audience become aware of the channel. In terms of TV Idents, Channel 4 has a recurring Ident of the number 4, shown in different ways.



Idents within the media industry promote brand identity. Their purpose is to grab the audiences attention, and to let them know what channel/show they are watching/about to watch.

String

Usually occuring in advertisement breaks, a string a similar to an indent, though Idents are usually longer and seemingly more welcoming. Strings are used to advertise, they are short, and usually colourful and unique.

Interactive Menu

These occur just before watching a DVD. Interactive Menus give a list of things on what extras you can do before watching the movie (for instance, skip ahead to a certain part in the movie). These often play a Motion Graphic, reminding you of the Film being watched. The video used for the DVD Interface is also Interactive. The purpose of this is to make the audience excited for the film, and gives the clips they use with the interactive menu give them a sneak peak of what they are about to watch.

Technology Issues

Frame Rates:

There are three main systems for analogue television: PAL, NTSC, and SECAM.

• PAL - Phase Alternating Line, 25 fps

• NTSC - National Television System Committee, 29.97 fps

• SECAM - Sequential Color with Memory, 25 fps

The difference in frame rates is how smoothly they run. The higher the frame rate, the smoother it will run.

The Hobbit trailer, shown in both 24 fps and 48 fps.

Video Format



There are a wide range of video formats, which use different codecs to encode and compress video data. Video is almost always stored in a compressed form, to reduce file size. This generation has brought in a wide range of video formats; video streaming from a smartphone, or even game consoles.

Common video file extensions include .MPG, .MOV, .WMV, and .RM.


QuickTime (.mov or .qt) – Apple developed QuickTime it supports a wide variety of codecs.
Advanced Video Coding, High Definition (AVCHD) – AVCHD is a very common for data compressed with the H.264 it comes to us between Sony and Panasonic as a format for digital camcorders. It’s a file based format, meaning that it’s meant to be stored and played back on disks or other storage devices (such as compact flash drives or SD cards).

Codecs

Windows Media Video (.wmv) – Over the years the WMV format has defiantly grown and progressed to support high-definition 720 and 1080 video. To make things less complicated, files that end in .wmv are usually stored in an .asf container.


H.264 – The H.264 will send highly compressed low resolution video across the web and then happily encode your high definition movie at super high bitrates for delivery to a High Definition television. This is a very common codec for camcorders and digital video cameras.

Screen Ratio

The screen ratio (Aspect Ratio) of an image will describe the equal relationship between its width and height. For example, a 16:9 aspect ratio means that for a width of 16 units, the height must be 9 units. A common aspect ratio is 4:3, which is used for an average TV screen. 16:9 is a ratio used for flat screens. Movies are often filmed with a ratio of 21:9, resulting in black bars at the top and bottom of the picture. To combat this, manufacturers are producing televisions with a 21:9 format.

Aspect Ratio		Uses	TVs
4:3	1.33:1	Standard Channels	Old TVs
16:9	1.77:1	HD Channels	The majority of HDTVs
21:9	2.35:1	Most movies	Very few TVs

Resolution

The number of pixels needed to create an image. The more pixels - the better the resolution of the image. Usually termed as width x height, with the units in pixels. For example, "1024 x 768" means that the width is 1024 pixels and the height is 768. Although there are many different resolutions, there are 6 that are used commonly:

144p

The lowest resolution commonly used. This lack of pixels makes the image very blurry, so much so that text is barely visible.

240p

Still not enough pixels for the image to be clear enough to read, though the image's major details are easier to make out.

360p

A common resolution used for many default Youtube videos. 

480p

Clearer, though imperfections still remain. 

720p

The second highest common resolution. This resolution can come in HD. All details are shown and the image is very clear and brighter.

1080p

The highest common resolution. HD. The image is incredibly clear, and fine details can be seen. 

Compression

Compression helps lower the memory of a file, giving more space to access. Better quality videos can be made by changing the compression setting on any video editing software. Some compressors are built into the software, so compressing the footage, render, and upload it without loosing quality.



References 

http://mattrogerounit64.blogspot.co.uk/

http://www.rtings.com/info/what-is-the-aspect-ratio-4-3-16-9-21-9-cinemawide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1egvwVWFaTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfjaObWrgHg

https://www.google.com/search?q=channel+4+idents+compilation&espv=2&biw=953&bih=927&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=gLhqVNL1CM_WaqqpgMgK&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#tbm=isch&q=channel+4+idents+collection&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=4uybhs5ym30tZM%253A%3B5L1Kka1CZGxmAM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftheident.gallery%252Fc4%252F2004%252FC4-2007-ID-HAY-3.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftheident.gallery%252Fc4-2004.php%3B439%3B247

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