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Smoke Essentials
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Getting Started
- 3. Timeline Editing
- 4. Timeline Effects
- 5. Timeline Compositing
- 6. Action Compositing
- 7. Project & Media
- 8. More Resources
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| Basic Editing |
Published by: Autodesk Creative Finishing Training
Category: Editing
Skill: Beginner
Skill: Beginner
In this exercise you will perform basic operations on the timeline: remove unnecessary frames using interactive trimming, insert new clips, cut shots and add dissolve transitions. Tools used in this exercise: Timeline editing functions.
| Tutorial Steps | ||
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1. Trim clips interactively 2. Trim clips using shortcuts 3. Add cut and dissolves 4. Insert a new clip | ||
1. Trim clips interactively |
In this video:
Set the editing options
Trim clips interactively
Video: Trim clips interactively (01:44)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
The edit that was previously created needs to be tightened up. We will use interactive trimming to remove unnecessary frames.
Before you edit the shots on your timeline, check the editing options:
. Enable Trim.
. Enable Focus to interactively see the frame you are trimming.
. Enable Ripple End.
. Disable Lock.
When Lock is enabled, the head and tail values show as black numbers.
This locked mode can be useful when you want to prevent trimming the in-frame of a shot or when you slide a shot in the timeline but we don’t want to use it now.
To trim shots on the timeline:
. Approach the edge of a clip; a red trim cursor appears.
. Drag the left and right edge of the shot with the trim cursor to add or remove frames.
Frames that you remove are still available in the heads and tails of each clip.
1. Go ahead and trim the first clip head and tail while monitoring the player.
2. Park at the beginning of the second shot and trim the head until the talent gets out of the shadows (around 10 frames).
3. Continue to trim the three first shots on the timeline to create a more dynamic sequence.
| Tip |
To undo an operation, click on the undo button located on the right side of the interface. Shortcut is COMMAND+Z.
2. Trim clips using shortcuts |
In this video:
Trim clips using shortcuts
Video: Trim clips with keyboard shortcuts (0:58)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
The positioner determines which element will be trimmed.
To trim the clip's tail:
1. Navigate to shot "07_Entrance_Attack" on the timeline.
2. Scroll the shot and stop just before the gladiator’s spear gets out of frame.
3. Press Shift+E+Up on the keyboard.
The frames are trimmed from the tail of the clip (about 12 frames).
To trim the clip's head:
1. In the next shot “08_Tilt_Up_Left”, scroll the positioner until the left foot of the gladiator touches the ground.
2. Press E+Down on the keyboard.
3. The frames are trimmed from the head of the clip (around 7 frames).
4. Play the record clip to see the result so far.
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| Tip |
Remember that the hotkeys are based on the user profile, in this case Final Cut Pro user. This profile can be changed in the Preferences menu, Edit User. Press "Ctrl+Alt+F8" to display the Hotkey editor.
3. Add cut and dissolves |
In this video:
Cut a shot
Add a dissolve
Video: Add an editorial dissolve (01:45)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
1. Park the positioner where you want the cut.
2. For example in the middle of shot 07.
3. Press B on the keyboard.
To add a dissolve:
You can transform a cut transition into a dissolve between two clips.
But you need to have enough frames available in the heads and tails of each clip.
1. Navigate to clip “08_Tilt_Up_Left”.
2. Trim around 10 frames out of the tail of clip 08.
3. Trim around 15 frames out of the head of the next clip, “09_Attack_LS_Right”.
4. Make sure you are parked on the transition between the two shots where you want the dissolve:
5. Use the previous-next controls in the player or the Up and Down Arrows to navigate the timeline.
6. Look at the transition menu at the left of the timeline.
Note that you will not see the transition options if any other element is selected on the timeline.
7. Click on the grey area of the timeline to deselect elements.
8. Select Dissolve from the transition menu, or press the T key on the keyboard to add a dissolve.
Note that a 0 frame dissolve will be added if the clips do not have frames available in the heads and tails.
To modify the dissolve:
1. You can modify the dissolve length by dragging the dissolve numerical field.
2. You can also trim the dissolve.
3. As well you can modify the dissolve curves if you press the E on the dissolve button and access the editor.
4. To exit the editor, press exit.
5. Play the result in the record player.
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| Tip |
To see the dissolve controls on the timeline; select the dissolve segment (a selected element is yellow).
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| Tip |
You can type a value in the numeric keypad before pressing "T" to specify the duration for the dissolve on the record clip.
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| Tip |
You can delete a dissolve, or any other timeline segment, by dragging the icon at the bottom of the screen until you see the recycle sign.
4. Insert a new clip |
In this video:
Insert a clip in the timeline
Save your timeline
Video: Insert a new clip / Save your timeline (01:38)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
1. Navigate to the shot “06_Raise_Sword”on the record timeline.
2. Park on the middle of the shot, just before you see the shadow of the sword on the gladiator.
3. Expand the “Extra_Clips” source folder in the EditDesk Library on the left.
4. Select the clip “Spin_Fork".
5. Scroll the Source clip in the left Player until the gladiator holds the spear firmly in his hand.
This becomes the implicit In point.
6. Press the Insert button on the editor operators (between the two players).
The clip gets inserted after the positioner in the record timeline, the following clips move towards the end because of the Ripple End option.
Save your timeline to the Library:
1. Select the record folder in the EditDesk folders.
2. Make sure that the “Smoke_Footage” library is selected in the Library box.
3. Press Save Selected.
4. Choose Replace to overwrite the previous saved timeline.
5. The Record Area is saved in the currently active Library.
