Machinima --How To in Second Life

MachinimaMajenna/TSLPia Klaar/SL

Overview

1. Setting User Preferences2. Shortcut Keys3. Using Camera Controls4. Recording Video5. Editing and Compressing

Files6. Sharing videos

#1: Setting Up User Preferences

Preference: Draw Distance

Edit/Preferences/Graphics TabThen Check the Custom tab to open

the settings Decrease Draw Distance is easier

on computer (range is 64 - 512) Set Draw Distance to : 128 or

lower Increase if:

shooting overhead scenes of landscapes

you need to see distant objects

To SetDraw

Distance

To Set Draw

Distance

Check the “Custom” box

to open the menu

To SetDraw

Distance

To increase draw

Distance-slider to right

Preferences: Mouse Sensitivity

Edit | Preferences |Input & Camera

You can increase the mouse sensitivity.

Also can invert the mouse so that when you move upwards it moves you up

IncreaseMouse

SensitivityAnd

Invert Mouse

Preferences: Chat Text

Edit/Preferences / Text Chat Under Chat Options : select

checkbox “Close chat after hitting return”.

When filming this will allow you to use the shortcut for Mouselook: M (otherwise, use View/Mouselook”.

Use Escape key to get rid of Mouselook.

How to CloseChat Window

Advanced Menu

PCCTRL-ALT-D

MacCMD-OPTION-Shift -D Or Option-Control-D

For a PCHide/Show Advanced :

CTRL – ALT- D

For a MacHide/show Advanced: CMD – Option – D

User Interface

To get rid of User Interface:Must have Advanced Menu

displayed

Hide/Show UI for PCs: CTRL-ALT-F1

Hide/Show UI for Macs: CMD-Option-1

Mouselook and no User Interface

Mouselook Mode: Chat bar must be closed Edit/Preferences/Text Chat/Chat Options/Close chat after hitting return Hit ESCAPE button or type M to return to

default view

Get rid of UI and Getting it back Again: CTRL-ALT-F1 –PCs CMD-OPT-F1 – MACs Now go into Mouselook---M Hit Escape or M to exit Mouselook, then get

back UI CTRL-ALT-F1 or CMD-OPT-F1

#2: Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Keys

Must have Chat Window Closed Edit/Preferences/Text Chat/ Chat Options/Close after hitting return

M = mouselook Escape to get back... E = to jump up C = to come back down

Shortcut Keys

1. Focus Mode/ Alt-Zoom: Hold down ALT key & left mouse button & move your mouse forward and backward

2. PAN your camera: Hold down ALT-CRTL-SHIFT keys (together) & drag your mouse on your own avatar

3. Go into ORBIT MODE Hold down ALT-CTRL keys

4. Chatcam: While chatting in a group, hold down the tab key—

moves camera to shoulder of avatar speaking.

More Shortcut Keys

ALT + clicking on something focuses it to center of screen

ALT + dragging the mouse zooms the camera

ATL-CTRL + dragging orbits camera CTRL- 0 – Zoom in CTRL- 8 ---- Zoom Out CTRL- 9 --- Reset Zoom If you are on a Mac:

ALT = Opt CTRL = Cmd

#3 Camera Controls

Camera Controls

Camera Controls

Setting Up Shots using Camera Control

View/ Camera Controls + alt-zoom - moving mouse forward or backwards)

Open up our camera controls and use them to get a close up view of our av's face.

Using left blue wheel on the camera control, use the left or right arrow to spin yourself around.

Use the + sign at the top of the zoom bar to put yourself in the middle of the window---- a close up view.

Can you see yourselves?

Advanced/ Disable Camera

Constraints

This allows the camera

to gofarther

#4: Recording Video

Video Recording Programs

Free CamStudio-PC Taski-PC WeGame.com -

PC Capture Me-Mac

CommercialPC Camtasia –$299 Fraps - $37 Game Cam –$25 Game Recorder –$39Mac IShowU –$20 Snapz Pro X - $70

Quick Overall

Set Window SizeFile menu ---Set window size to reduce

file size – 640 x 480

How to SetWindow Size

Sizer can be used to resize the window if you cannot use File/Set Window Size

http://www.brianapps.net/sizer.html

Quick Overall

Get rid of User Interface (UI)

For a PCOpen Advanced menu: CTRL – ALT- DHide/show interface: CTRL – ALT – F1

Quick Overall

Get rid of User Interface (UI)

For a Mac Open Advanced menu: Option -Control– D Hide/Show Interface: CMD – Option – 1

# 5: Editing and Compressing Video Files

Editing

After you capture footageNeed to edit into a finished movie

Can use – Windows Movie Maker • iMovie for Mac• Other

Some Editing Software

Camtasia – PC- Capturing and editing software good for tutorials

Adobe Premiere-PC Sony Vegas-PC Sony Vegas – PC MovieMaker -PC Final Cut Pro or Express-Mac iMovie - Mac

Rendering and Encoding

After editing the video, now need to compress the video size.

Many video editing software programs will do this as a flash, .avi or .mov file

I save as an .avi file, then open that .avi file in Quicktime Pro to export as a .mov file

Now ready to share

Video Hosting Sites

YouTubeBlip.tvJumpcutVimeoYahoo VideosYouAre.TVCacheFly.com

Some Tips1. Screen capture software------FRAPS

http://www.fraps.com

2. Dolly shots ----free scripted camera --- Alt-Zoom Studios http://alt-zoom.com

3. Try to isolate your action ----no extra objects or scripts in view

4. Mouselook Mode – smoother camera movements

Tips

5. Capture footage --- 640 X 480 ---has a higher quality

6. Capture extra frames in front of and at end of scene

7. Do not move camera too fast

8. Hide User Interface –UI — CTRL+ALT+F1 or CMD-OPT-F1

How to Capture Video

Using FRAPs

Pia Klaar

How to create a video with images

http://majenna.blogspot.com/

I used this online video tool. Here is an example on my blog.

Animoto.com

How long are animoto videos?

Free Animoto Shorts 30 seconds long about 12-15 images

Animoto full-length

many images Cost $3.00

Animoto Video Steps:

Sign up Create a free 30 second movie Get images Arrange the images Choose music Finished. Video is done! Upload video.

Where do I get Images for animoto?

Retrieve images from Flickr. You can retrieve images from Flickr, Facebook, Smugmug, Picasa, and Photobucket.

Or upload images from your computer

Where can I post animoto videos?

You can post the videos to MySpace, Facebook, Friendster, YouTube,your blog or web page, or your computer.

Machinima Samples

http://www.youtube.com/user/majenh

http://piaklar.blip.tv/

http://majenna.blogspot.com/