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Freeframe Plugins
When I make a clip I record it in HD quality. So if you want to change the resolution in FFrend go to View then Options, frame size custom and change the resolution to 1920 x 1080( or what ever size you prefer. This is going to make a 10 gig file so make sure you have the room for it or use a smaller resolution. Also some effects look different at hd then at lesser resolutions and you may have trouble judging speeds because it is hard to display hd in real time if your using a lot of cpu heavy effects.
FFrend basic clip making example. (wmv 350 mb)
Be patient and do not exepect it to work perfectly on your first try.
Start simple and add more effects when you know what your computer can handle. FFrend can record without dropping frames which means that even if your computer cannot display the effects properly in real time it will still record it properly. It still takes longer to record, for example I record one minute segments and usually it takes 10 to 15 minutes to record. Some take longer (30 to 45 minutes) if it is really complex.
To get an idea of really complex effects chains try using a lower resolution first to gage the timing before wasting time on a longer render but remember sometimes how the effects behave at lower resolutions is not always the same as higher ones.
I guess my point is that being able to render in hd resolution is like being able to see what we will be able to do in real time with next years ($$$) computers and (open gl) effects. That is why I am so focused on the hd stuff. At lower resolutions you can add in live camera and sound reactive effects as well.
Most of the pictures in the gallery at 1920x1080 are screen captures from ffrend. I usually render to a hard drive with jmpeg compression and use Sony Vegas to make .mxf of the 10 gig files. I can't watch the 10gig files on my computer in real time (lag city). The only program that can even come close to playing them is winamp but it still isn't quite real time.
So until I convert the clip it is all trial and error.
Video Tips
Some of what I try is worth saving but sometimes only 50% is what I expected so much of the stuff is still more or less random discoveries.
Like the photo plugins (read them and tips from other sites as well) use pure rgb colors for best separation and when the colors get inversed or distorted it could still produce useful content.
Sometimes the movement in a video can be useful even if the content is not. Reduce color then colorize to render the colors as you want them.
Send the video back thru several times for added detail along the same lines some of my best stuff is from ffrend screen shots used as source for a clip. Even reiterated (2nd,3rd,4th generations) thru many times the best gets saved and sent back thru.
Plugin round up
PeteKaleidascope - used and abused, the kaleidescope effect is still fun try using it in original ways if you can find any. Many say they are sick of it but I am not. I try to do more
unusual things with it.
Any color filters can help make pretty much anything chromadepth friendly.
PeteGlow - make things crazy colorful. Try it on each new palette you discover.
Inverse - several plugins can reverse the colors saving footage that would otherwise be unusable.
Contrast - Can improve edges and thus speration of levels.