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My Panorama

An issue found with the My Panorama program not being able to find matching parts in two obviously overlapping photos that need stitching is solved. I had found that the 2 images need to be relatively the same size. The solution is to Resize one or the other images to match pixel size as closely as possible with either the height or the width (whichever is the matching side of concern).

Competition: ScanDigital

Thanks for asking about ScanDigital….it gave me a challenge to have a quick look at what they do.  I had a little further look at ScanDigital and from their description it appears that they may use claw and sprocket based technology and it seems to imply their 0.34 per foot is SD and 0.44 is HD (BTW that is USD!).  It really does not state what they use and what technology…except they say projection and LED technology.  My guess is that they use a projector with LED light source.  The quality of the output  is vague and they have no examples.  They do state that they do all their work in a facility in Indianapolis, Indiana but in a number of other parts of their website they talk about scanning in Los Angeles (conflicting info).  They certainly do not do 2K or 4K.

Creating Presets for Video/DVDs

Creating Presets for Video/DVDs When creating DVDs we are limited to roughly 4.4 gigs of space on a disk. This means that the variety of video tapes destined for DVD will need to be re-sized by way of re-rendering thier bit rate. If for example they are captured as AVI's, the size will be much too large for DVDs. A 2 hour video will be some 27.5 gigs!! And that would require a re-compressing of the video with a preset of 4.42 mps.

Within Ultimate S in Vegas there are a number of the usual presets already made for our purposes; but sometimes we may need a preset that more suits our needs.

Proceedure to create a preset:

1. If within Ultimate S the preset does not exist in the drop-down list then we need to go a step prior to Ultimate S and go to File/Render As...

2. In the box of selections, as an example, find "Program Stream NTSC

3. The "Customize Template..." button will now become available. Click on it.

4. Most times you will only need to change the "Average (bps):" And even so, only needing to change the top digits of the 6,000,000 (to corespond to the say 5.7mbs that you need); so it would become 5,700,000

5. Now it is necessary to re-create this preset within Ultimate-S. Select one of the standards (ie.: NTSC DV with AC3 audio - or the widescreen version, ), click Edit List, from the Template drop down, select the preset created in Vegas; make sure "Save Project markers in media file is selected", click ADD!! Then select OLD template (you may need to expand column to confirm) and remove it. Click OK, then change the title in the Preset drop-down window(IMPORTANT), Then click on the Save icon (mouse-over says "Save the current preset"). Click OK on the dialog box. Warning: IF you didn't change the title you would have inadvertently obliterated the old preset of that name.

6. This newly created preset should now be at the bottom of the list within Ultimate S.

 

ISSUE: No Chapter Marks in Scene Selection in DVD Architect!!! The problem stemmed all the way back to creating the preset and not selecting the check mark "Save project markers in media file" in the dialogue box that comes up in Ultimate S when clicking on the Edit List... button. The clue will be that Markers will be listed as "False" in the list on the Render panel of Ultimate S. Be warned!!

Virtual Dub Capture2

The Capture2 station has a "batch" executable on the desktop called VHS NTSC.bat - Shortcut which is used for both VHS and SVHS tapes. Clicking this will call up a script within a command prompt window, press any key to initiate the script. In the following dialogue box click Yes. This script resets all required registries to run Virtual Dub.
The system is set up to capture FFMpeg-v1 via the Blackmagic card which includes the SDI box that further conditions the signal. The FFMpeg-v1 codec is a highend archival format which we then upgrade to FFMpeg-v3 later once transfering files to R:/ (Thor has the required MyFFMpeg application installed to do this)
Main Keys to Operate:
F2 will call up the file system in order to name and place the video to be captured.
F5 will initiate capture
Esc will terminate capture

Canopus - Computer Connections

Capturing with the Canopus capture box is the alternative to using the BlackMagic box; this is used when the customer requests an AVI container whereby we do not need to capture with FFV1 or FFV1.3 and then convert to AVI. When dealing with VHS or SVHS there are two ways to connect to the Canopus. VHS Connection:

With the VHS deck, where there is no S-video out, the video out is simply connected to the Video In on the front of the Canopus, as are the Left and Right of the Audio. The Canopus is then connected to the computer via Firewire, thereby including both video and audio.

S-VHS Connection:

The S-VHS deck has S-Video OUT. An S-Video cable thereby is connected to the S-Video IN on the front of the Canopus. Again, the Canopus is then connected to the computer via Firewire (video and audio included).

This post will continue...

Issue with the Canopus on Capture 2

If Vegas does not recognize the  Canopus device - try powering everything down. Then disconnect the  Canopus firewire as this is powering the  Canopus, it will then re-set the  Canopus when powering back up. This has seemed to solve this issue.

The Armstrong Experiment

The Armstrong Experiment - For Use With: Overblown Extreme Overexposure
This is an example of an extremely overblown capture of an extremely over-
exposed film that had to be sent away for a customer to get developed. The
Developers in this case send us the film back as a negative and black/white. You
will note that the film is very dense, dark, opaque (much emmulsion on the film;
which stands to reason being that it is a negative of overexposed film).
As such we capture with vegas as a positive and invert it once on the vegas
timeline. With this test we have captured the film (Armstrong) with gamma set to
zero, and in 4 captures set the exposure to 10 o'clock, 12 o'clock, 2 o'clock,
and the extreme 4 o'clock. In each case each showed as very black on the
timeline. Then when inverted, they all showed as very white.
Then next step was to capture again at 4 o'clock and also push the gamma to +30.
A faint ghostly image is now captured. It dose not seem to matter whether the
gamma is added during capture of after on the timeline. Only the customer could
fully appreciate the ghostly image knowing the context of the shooting.
In the extreme a capture was done with the exposure set to 4 o'clock and the
gamma set to 40 whereby on the timeline a very pixelated image can be determined
on some parts of the film. The image is better seen by not inverting the clip
and watching the contrast in the darker rather than lighter form as the textures
are more distinguishable.
Black and White issue:
When attemping to use the Sony Black and white plugin in the mix it only appears to remove definition,
flattening the image, and providing less contrast. Which makes one wonder why the developers bother developing the film in B/W.
Other settings in Vegas:
On the levels, the Input Start adds darker contrast, and for this example was set to 0.463
The Input End was set to 0.816; the more (less than initial setting) that is added the more broad became the arch of the histogram,
also more disperse was the Waveform, and more disperse became the Vectorscope.
The Output Start was left at zero as it did the opposite of the above, and washed the image to a grey and flat image.
The Output End was set to the mid-point, where the 0 turned the screen black, and the extreme right dispersed the
vector scope and waveform beyond a useful image.
Gamma if not set during capture with the Retro was best set to about 1.967; whereby when the Retro Gamma was set to 30,
the gamma on vegas was only set to just below the 1.0 initial setting to about 0.975. This also tends to flatten the histogram and
disperse the vectorscope and waveform when the slider is moved to the right.
In the end these settings can be set to your liking, ie. to adjust for contrast and texture to better determine the ghostly image.
In another attempt to capture, we used stab on, gamma 24, exp 4 (max), and sensor at 12. This proved better results.

Recording Audio At Wrong Speed

Overview We were switching back and forth between recording DAT tapes and audio cassettes.  In the process one needs to change the Echo Console to to use a different clock timing source.  For the DAT tapes the clock needs to be set to "S/PDIF" and for the analogue inputs (audio cassette, etc) the clock needs to be "internal".

When recording analogue we forgot to change the "clock" back to internal and this resulted in all the analogue (audio cassette, reel-to-reel) captures being to fast!

Solution

Adjust the speed of the audio by adjusting the "Time stretch / pitch shift".  This can be found on the Vegas audio track properties (right click on the audio track in Vegas and select properties).  Change the method to "classic".  Check the "Lock to stretch" box and enter  -8.15

Umatic Cassette Repair

Overview Need to repair a Umatic tape.

Note

Use the scotch tape from the dispenser.  Just make sure that no sticky surface is "showing".

References:

Great photos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ubarchives/sets/72157646823472698/with/14952658907/

Good video (same video on youtube....but the audio is very poor):

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2t8rti

RetroScan Capture Problems and Solutions

General Conventions Invariably each filming situation inherently comes with it's own prescribed settings needed for capture. With this list a collection of problems and solutions will be examined, described, and provided a solution with the most recent convention used. As the proficiency with the RetroScan increases updates to these solutions will be fine tuned.

The RetroScan comes with basic recommended settings which in cases that do not meet correctly shot film standards adjustments to the settings are made to suit the footage in question. Firstly, the Sensor Knob is set to the point just after (clockwise) where the film has stopped and is now moving smoothly. The sensitivity knob is used to calibrate the RetroScan to the sprocket holes and is referenced with the strobing green light that is to pulse every time a sprocket hole is counted. It should be rare that the sensitivity knob need be adjusted, and should be positioned (currently) at about 8:55. The setting of the sensitivity knob is just clockwise of the "chugging sound" that occurs when it is trying to keep up with the number of sprocket holes, you will note that dropped frames are noticeable when "sped-up action" occurs on the screen.

Next, the exposure knob is optimized at the noon (the 12 o'clock) position and normally should be kept as close to this position as possible (currently 11 o'clock works right now) given optimum footage.

The big brass "Cam Knob" is used to alter the very slight difference needed to adjust for the sprocket holes. While this appears to adjust the framing it is meant to be used for the sprocket hole calibration. However, it is safe to use in this regard when Image Stablization is not in use. Otherwise the "Framer" lever should be used for framing. It is implied that when Image Stabilization IS used that the Cam Knob NOT be used.

As well, the exposure knob needn't  be changed once set. It is conventional thinking that leaving a richer image from the RetroScan machine side of things allows for more fine tuning at the capture, and later the vegas timeline side of things. this rationale seems to work especially for over exposed footage.

Problem: Over exposed footage.

Solution: use recommended settings on the machine, minimize the use of gain so that there will be substance to work with in Vegas. Once in vegas adjust with Ultimate S's Sony Levels and raise the output level to 0. Then increase the gain if needed.

Problem: Under exposed footage.

Solution: Hmmm....

Item: Clear edge film does not process well with Image Stabilization ON.

 

Problem: Ripped / Damaged Sprocket Holes

Solution: One recent job had a slight rip from sprocket to sprocket, for a stretch of 3 to 5 sprockets. This would cause a capture that jumped up out of frame and/or jump to the left/right. It was necessary to capture this film with stabilization OFF. Little could be done to correct the remaining bumps and or jumps of the capture - they had to be edited on the timeline.

Create a Film Project with DVD Architect Pro

  1. Select a previously made custom LHF theme/template specifically made for either DVD's or Blueray disks depending on the project. In effect this "reverse engineering" of a previously completed project saves a lot of time.
  2. Within the first "Scene Selection" page copy the "attributes" of the first film, ie. the upper left film.  Then delete all but the lower right film which will then be used for alignment of the right-side list of films. The attributes copied will position the then "insert(ed) media" as a list from the upper left position. This makes it easy then to Control-click that first position in the list to leave it in position, then do the same for the others in the list as they are placed in their appropriate spots on the page. Remember, the page is treated as two columns from top to bottom, left column, then the right column.
  3. When selecting multiple films while "Insert(ing) Media" DVD Architect will place the items in a list starting with the most recently chosen item. This means you need to select the films in reverse order to that which you want them to appear on the page. For example: instead of selecting film 01, film 02, film 03, film 04, etc.., select (to have typically 6 on a page) Film 06, Film 05, ..., to Film 01. Holding down the Control Key and selecting each film individually allows for this kind of control in creating a 'reverse list'. By replacing these new films for the current project and deleting the prior films from this template in effect the PLAY ALL on the main menu page will automatically be depleted and can be repopulated as in step 11.
  4. Having referred to the "My Films" text file generated by the customer (placed in the Bin folder), and already having organized the pages (by creating spaces in the list to itemize pages and subsequently DVD's), you will easily be able to correspond the Scene Selection pages and DVDs accordingly. Pay close attention to the "Sort Id" column as this is the order as prescribed by the customer; this will not always be the order of the films as they had been scanned, or the numbered order as per the render folder.
  5. Of the files within the renders folder only the "mpg" files needed be selected, it will pull along with it the required audio file.
  6. Fine tuning of the aligning of films on the scene selection pages can be done with the Align Left and the Align Top tools. Also, when moving films and slightly overlapping them with corresponding films will show a highlighting of the films that you would like to align with; this with proficiency can eliminate the need for the align tools altogether. Also, "Control" + an arrow key will give fine nudge tuning. Do not leave the items overlapped, a warning will be listed regarding this when burning.
  7. Adding a Menu Page can be done by right clicking on the Scene Selection folder in the directory list to the left. Arrow links to subsequent pages will be included automatically.
  8. Aligning the "Scene Selection" text on the page can be done by copying attributes from a previous page, this way all pages become uniform. Paste (all) attributes to the new page item.
  9. Once the films are aligned and in the prescribed order titles can then be copied from the My Films text file and placed with the corresponding film on the Scene Selection page(s). Usually this is comprised of a year followed by a string of text chosen/confirmed by the customer.
  10. A check of the flow through from the Scene Selection page to page can be done to assure that a logical sequencing and complete access to all films and pages are possible.
  11. The "PLAY ALL" button can now be populated by "inserting" a "playlist" to the PLAY ALL button link. This is done on the lower half of the screen by clicking on the "PLAY ALL" in the directory, ALSO selecting PLAY ALL in the drop-down list in the lower part of the screen, then click on the PLUS sign to "insert playlist ITEMS". Choose "Select All" and OK. This will populate the list below. Be sure to compare this list with the order that is shown in the directory to the left of the screen. Correct the playlist item order if it is not.
  12. The project should be ready to burn to disc. From the "Make DVD" button at the top menu, a dialogue box will appear. Usually "Burn" is selected to immediately burn a disk. Prepare can be selected to only create the VIDEO_TS folder and VOB files. This prepare can then be burned at a later date. Otherwise select "Burn". A Prepare location for the files will need to specified, usually within the project folder. Click Next. The next dialogue box will specify any errors that may need to be corrected before proceeding; such as broken links. When fixed click Next. The next dialogue box will ask what speed to burn at. Choose the speed one step lower than the maximum speed available.
  13. When discs are burned they are ready to have the Disc Surfaces printed on them. There are other Knowledgebase articles that cover this process of preparing and disc surfaces, dvd case covers for this purpose.
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Fonts - master group for LHF

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We store a master group of fonts in the folder: U:\User Data\All Users\Fonts

This has all the fonts that we've come across over the years.

In order to update the fonts of a PC:

1) Open control panel

2) Select the Fonts icon

3) Go to the master fonts folder, select all fonts, copy, and paste into the Fonts window opened in the previous step.

NOTE:  Some fonts will not copy...so monitor the copy so that you can answer the prompts (otherwise it will stop and not finish until you do).

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Website Roksprocket Mosaic Services Process

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Mosaic process: C-A-M  (CAM is the process used for publishing on Joomla)

C- first there has to be a category (stay away from K2!!!) For each of Film, Video, Photo, and Audio I created a root category for each.

A- then there has to be an article; this article will be blank, more a placeholder than anything else, but because we want to be able to  switch between all mosaics this article will need to show the shortcode buttons for each respective Service category: Film, Video, Photo, Audio. This makes these mosaics all look alike and interact with each other.

M- then the Menu creation will tie everything together, uniting the article with the menu, the menu is the driving force whereby calling any other module on the page; ie. the header, everything else that goes on all pages, including the specific mosaic. The menu type is single article. Each mosaic will only be assigned to it's menu page; otherwise there will be a rocksproket error on the pages it is not meant for.

-The details tab must be finished first and then saved before moving on to the Modules Assignment tab, otherwise the correct menu page for the modules to be assigned will not show up when following through and clicking on their link in the list of various modules need for that page. If you link specific modules to other pages as well, an error will result on those pages that module is not intended for, these pages will need to be unlinked within in module manager; as an error page will show up and will try to direct you back to the Control Panel.

-So again, remember to associate the menu location and Parent (menu) Item, and then SAVE before moving on to the modules.

-in Page Display tab; DO NOT  Show Page Heading! It will already be in the headerbar, and so is not needed.

 

 

Style Customization of Effortless (A Yootheme, including Warp 7 documentation)

http://yootheme.com/themes/documentation/customizing/directory-structure-explained http://yootheme.com/themes/documentation

None of these documentation files helped.

Creating custom themes for the Effortless Template.

1. Navigate to: Joomla! administrator/template manager/ Effortless - Default/ Options page

2. Under "Layouts" click the "Add" button to create a new layout.

3. Give it a name meaningful to your site: I used LHF

4. Then select a "Style" from the dropdown menu under Style. I chose sun-flower

5. Then and ONLY THEN (after doing the above) will you be able to "see" the newly created "box" BELOW (!!!) at the BOTTOM OF THE PAGE! In this box you MUST check all the pages that you want effected by the choices you have made regarding the style you have chosen.

Other avenues investigated regarding this problem:

turn off the "magic quotes gpc" for Joomla 3.x. This was a problem with other Joomla 3.x installs that I've done and had corrected the problem. While this did not affect the site or solve the current problem of 'style' I left the changes I've made in regards to changing/editing the htaccess.txt to a .htaccess file and creating a php5.ini file in the "administrator" folder. A backup of the htaccess.txt file was created and saved in a folder of the same name. This solved a prior login problem on other Joomla 3.x sites.

Support page for Yootheme:  https://yootheme.com/support/new-to-yootheme

This page may prove to be useful in the future for this Effortless template: http://www.woorank.com/en/www/effortless-theme.com

This page from BDThemes was useless:  http://www.docs.bdthemes.com/joomla-templates/effortless-joomla-template/fixed-menu-bar/

Yet another term "Profiles" (!): http://writenowdesign.com/blog/wordpress/wordpress-plugin-reviews/review-joomla-wordpress-framework-and-templates-yootheme-warp/3/

Once mastery of the "Warp" framework is reached this "Master Theme" might be useful: http://yootheme.com/blog/2014/01/20/warp-7-master-theme It boast being able to craft whatever site is desired (within the parameters of Warp 7).

Download: http://yootheme.com/themes/downloads Free apparently...?

Vegas Sound Sweetening En Masse Notes

Vegas 12 Procedures for Audio project Feschuk: Whereby Feschuk was recorded onto four (4) tracks as was possible on the reel-to-reel tape used, within Vegas:

  • Normally there will be only 2 tracks used (ie. Stereo Left/Right)
  • on occasion there will be both A and B sides of the reel-to-reel tape used; therefore there will have been 4 tracks used (A/B)
  • When all tapes have been digitized within their own folders the "sweetening" begins to take out "machine hum or room noise"
  • All tracks (left/right) are then placed into a new instance of Vegas onto 2 tracks
  • All four tracks from within Explorer are dragged and dropped onto the first track
  • the 2 tracks not used will be obviously not used and can now be deleted
  • the 2nd track of the recording (right?) can then be dragged to the track and directly below it's counterpart (left?)
  • leaders at the front and at the backend of the clip can now be trimmed appropriately
  • then by double-clicking the "region" and pressing "R" on the keyboard the "region" can now be labelled placing the Folder name above ie. "004" or "089"
  • With an example of the "Event Attributes" saved at the beginning of the track then copied and applied via "paste Event Attributes" on the right-click of the clip or selected group of clips
  • It is a good idea to have the "trimmed" clips in place before naming regions
  • Loop regions - can be collapsed to get rid of them. Up to this point this is the only solution

SEO notes for Lifetime Heritage Films

Screaming Frog SEO Spider Toolhttp://www.screamingfrog.co.uk/seo-spider/

Currently used for LHF: Lifetime Heritage Films blog, Lifetime Heritage Films Eastern

SEO keywords for film2hd.com :

"transfer, film transfer, high-definition, HD, Digitzation, Processing, Conversion, Telecine, Restoration, Film, Regular 8, Super 8, 16mm, Super 16, Blu-ray"

Keywords for competition in California - film2video.com (Milestone Media):

"film 2 video, milestone media, dvd, DVD-R, CD, author, broadcast, video production, edit, video tape, videography, videographer, camera, hidef, high definition, film transfer, home movie, 8mm, super 8mm, 16mm, millimeter, projector, duplication, replication, copy, copies, telecine, m2sight.com, music video, media, conversion, beta, betamax, vhs, cassette, audio, reel to reel, mini dv, dv, dvcam, rental, digital, web design, riverside, sanbernardino, loma linda, orange, fontana, corona, moreno valley,"

Keywords for competition in Ontario - mediahouse.on.ca

"Video productions, dvd and cd duplications, video editing, 8mm and 16mm home movies to dvd, video to dvd, records and tapes to cd, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Brantford, Ontario,"

Vancouver competition:

http://www.transfertodigital.ca/     <!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast WordPress SEO plugin v1.5.5.3 - https://yoast.com/wordpress/plugins/seo/ -->

http://www.deenamedia.ca/  "video production, video production services, vancouver, videography, company, companies, production, productions, bc, canada"

Keyword Generator: http://www.wordstream.com/keywords

Scanning Project Guidelines

While scanning large projects (such as the Palma project) there are many complications to consider, thus requiring an approach and process to the project with the following guidelines  that will help clear away or prepare for project anomalies that may occur.

  • assess the project and potential complexities involving any duplicates or multiples of slides, photos, prints, negs, positives, or whatever the media needed to be scanned
  • note and remember the defaults that are reverted to when powering on the Epson Scan program, ie. the "checking" of the "digital ice" option when needed
  • when powering up the scanner on a new day of work or after a re-boot RE-CHECK that "digital ice" is CHECKED!
  • normally there will be a prefix and number applied to the file name; duplicates or multiples will be appended with "b", "c", etc.
  • negatives and positives will be placed in the slide holders with the emulsion side up
  • folders will be created associated to binders, envelopes, boxes that have been itemized by the client
  • the Epson scanner will take the first drawn marque as the first scan to be done; so while this marque can be duplicated, give note to where the duplicated marque is positioned (ie. the neg to be scanned next should be the next logical scan that will be placed in order when re-sleeving the neg to go back into the binder)
  • with large scanning projects the 2 scanners can used in tandem
  • when using 2 scanners at once - the project should be split up evenly within the current page, set, or group of items to be scanned to keep on top of the correct numbering. This is so that should a numbering error or otherwise be made a correction can be made as soon as possible
  • a sheet can be used with 2 columns dividing the page for Epson A, and Epson B - or Epson 1 and Epson 2 to keep a running tally of the scans that are completed, this sheet can easily be transported between both scanner locations to verify numbering
  • a sheet of paper can also be used for each scanner can be used to place the negative/positive sleeves in the same position to "mark" the position of the top/bottom of the page that those sleeves came from (for example if they came from a sleeve page from a binder brought in by the client. This process helps to return the slides/negs to the same position as they were in when received from the client
  • the obverse side of prints will be scanned then of those that do not have any identifiable notation will be deleted later

Slideshow

Tracks: 1)  Media/photo track

2)  gradient track

- sony color gradient 1,

-  light grey color - R 148, G 148, b 148, a 255

- Gradient Type: Elliptical

3)  Music track

Process:

1) Create tracks

2) Drop photos on the track

3) Change the pan/crop of the first photo so that "stretch to fill frame" is NO.

4) Copy the photo with the pan change.

5) Select the next photo and all the photos to the end.  Then paste attributes (right click).  (all the photos should now have stretch to fill frame set to No.

6) Go to UltimateS photomotage and set to the follow.....

PST self assess - Quickbooks

PST self assess PST needs to be paid on certain items that get used in the business but are NOT part of the final product sold.  For example a camera, a duplicating tower, or a lens must all include PST, whereas blank DVD’s, CD’s, cases, etc are PST exempt.

PST self assessment occurs when one purchases something that does not have PST charged and should have.  For example if we order something from the USA or out of province, the PST is not charged.  In this situation we need to self assess the PST.

Process is……

In the “enter bills” or “cheque” or “enter credit card charges” windows there are “expenses” and “items” tabs.  Enter taxable item under the correct tab and use the tax code (either S or P) that will cause the PST to be generated in the tax box at the bottom of the form.  Then under the “expense” tab enter the PST using the “PST Payable” account, the negative PST amount and a memo such as “PST SELF-ASSESS”.