[Animated title - moving from top-left to center]
I'm sure you can tell by the title what this feature is all about! Key-Frames! Don't know what a key-frame is? No problem. Check out the definition:A key frame in animation and filmmaking is a drawing that defines the starting and ending points of any smooth transition. They are called "frames" because their position in time is measured in frames on a strip of film. A sequence of keyframes defines which movement the spectator will see, whereas the position of the keyframes on the film, video or animation defines the timing of the movement. Because only two or three keyframes over the span of a second does not create the illusion of movement, the remaining frames are filled with inbetweens.
In other words, you can now position and animate your videos and images anywhere on the screen. While you're at it, you can still have masks and transitions, and they are also interpolated into the key-frame animation!
There is a new "Clip Properties" screen, which you can access by right clicking on a clip and choosing "Properties". On this screen, there is a tab which let's you set a variety of key-frame related settings for the "Start" and "End" of a clip. The rest is simply magic.
Still don't understand? Hopefully the pictures and video below will help demonstrate the power of key-frame animation.
There is a new "Clip Properties" screen, which you can access by right clicking on a clip and choosing "Properties". On this screen, there is a tab which let's you set a variety of key-frame related settings for the "Start" and "End" of a clip. The rest is simply magic.
[Key-frame screen in OpenShot. Just right click on a clip, and choose "Properties"]
Still don't understand? Hopefully the pictures and video below will help demonstrate the power of key-frame animation.
Feature Highlights:
- Set 'Start' and 'End' key-frame properties of a clip
- ...Height
- ...Width
- ...X
- ...Y
- ...Alpha (i.e. transparency)
- Ability to layer many videos together on the screen (Brady Bunch style):
- Animate clips moving across the screen
- Grow & shrink clips
- Combine with the razor tool (i.e. multiple cut points), you can create a very advanced animation
- Supports any # of transitions
- Supports masks
- Supports alpha channel for compositing
[Set both the "Start" and "End" key-frames of a clip to create an animation]
[Here is the timeline for the demo video]
OpenShot Key-Frame Demo! from Jonathan Thomas on Vimeo.
July 14, 2009 4:08 AM
Wow, this feature looks REALLY nice! I tried OpenShot Videa Editor with my Ubuntu 8.04 but wasn't so lucky (it kind of crashed when I tried to import videos into my project). Anyway I think I'll try again when I'll upgrade to Ubuntu 9.10.
July 14, 2009 4:26 AM
runningtracker, i have the same problem and i have 9.04
July 14, 2009 5:53 AM
Wow. I'm very impressed. This looks incredible useful, and I'm sure I don't even understand all the possibilities it will open.
Very impressive. Thank you again, Jonathan. I'm also happy to see so many people commenting on your blog. It kinda tells how much demand there is for OpenShot.
I would like to see OpenShot as "the video editing software" for Linux - leading example of how it should be done. And I'd like to see it stimulating other free video editing software projects. It's not just that OpenShot will be good program, it'll propably have positive effect on other projects also.
It looks like you're happy with MLT framework, Jonathan?
July 14, 2009 8:50 AM
How come the lower clips are now on the top and the keyframing doesn't work?
http://kahvi.nurkka.us/i/aaaa1_4a5c8cd63109d.png
http://kahvi.nurkka.us/i/aaaa3_4a5c8d0823ce0.png
http://kahvi.nurkka.us/i/aaaa2_4a5c8d0c4dc6c.png
July 14, 2009 9:45 AM
Since you've introduced key-FRAMES, so what about displaying the timecode on frames basis (SMPTE)? ;)
July 14, 2009 10:11 AM
Hello reinhard,
That sounds a good idea to me.
Another idea for future development of the timeline has occurred to me, particularly as I'm about to splash out on a Zoom H4N solid state sound recorder.
That is the inclusion of syncing sound through the time channel on Broadcast Wave (.bwv) sound files.
These Zoom sound recorders are really catching on in the arts world, and are used by professional broadcasting companies as well (eg BBC).
Helen
July 14, 2009 11:03 AM
tjh, I'm very happy with the MLT framework. =) The only real problem I've ever had with MLT is the difficulty in installing it. Just about every bug submitted to me is related to installation problems with MLT (and FFmpeg). Hopefully soon I'll have some .DEB installers for everyone to try out.
July 14, 2009 11:05 AM
Hohoo, good catch. I'll take a look at this tonight. It should be easy to fix. In theory, MLT can only apply key-frames to clips that are not on the bottom track, and that have a clip lower than themselves.
However, I think I can just add a "black" image as the bottom track (and just not show it to anyone). That should fix the problem you are seeing... hopefully. I'll let you know once it's fixed.
July 14, 2009 11:06 AM
reinhard, I will look into using the SMPTE timecode. Thanks!
July 14, 2009 12:48 PM
I think I broke this again by reinstalling and choosing FFMpeg option 3 and now melt -query producers doesn't have avformat in it.
July 14, 2009 2:58 PM
Great! Can't wait to use OpenShot!
I'm waiting for a .deb package since I don't want to mess up the system.
July 15, 2009 10:20 PM
Wow man I'm really impressed with this program which installed flawlessly on my Ubuntu 9.04 (I tried it first, and it seemed to fail right away, but that was because my synaptic was open and it didn't return any error [maybe some error checking to implement?] ). Just wanted to say that's it's really coming along nicely, and will be looking forward to the next greatest release! Keep up the good work! :D