Sky Replacement video Test

[Daviskw]

Hello all

This is just a test of Google’s FREE VIDEO hosting. I have no idea if you will be able to see it but thought it was worth a try.

The video quality is not the best. The original uploaded video was of much higher quality and display size. Google resizes I guess for storage.

Viewed through Google when labeled at the original size it is clear but hard to see the keystrokes and when enlarged it becomes blurry.

It is better than nothing I guess but could be better.

As to the tutorial itself I am certainly not a pro as you will see!!:rolleyes:

Please let me know first if you can even see it and then if you think the Google format is worth the trouble.

Butch

Replace Sky with clipping mask
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2394785904425489887&pr=goog-sl

[kayser]

Hi Butch!

I tried the video. When you just click on the video on the google page, it's too small to really follow along. I think the people who are very familiar with PSE and the drop down menus and various options would know what you're doing, but for those newer to PSE, they'd be lost.

I then downloaded the google player and then the video and viewed it that way. It's blurry at both double the size and full screen, but you can certainly follow the steps and learn from it.


I'm sure others will weigh in as well.

[Red Sky]

Hi Butch- The tutorial worked for me. It was a good size to view, a little blurry, but I could see what was going on. I enjoyed it, and thanks for taking the trouble to do it.

[Daviskw]

Thanks Kay

I agree….. the original was 960 by 740 pixels in size and excellent quality easy to see the strokes, but it was also 66 meg Mov file. I guess it would be too much to expect a free service to store that size.

Butch

[Daviskw]

Red

I love the wolf in the avatar

Butch

[Wendy]

Hi Butch ...

Its a shame that they don't use a better quality but it worked OK apart from that ...

... Thanks for trying it out :)

Wendy

[Robyn]

Butch,

Shame about the quality, but that was a brilliant video.

Your commentary was excellent and the whole video was easy to understand and follow. I loved your clock striking in the background by the way.

You've missed your calling in life - you must make more. I assume that you don't have the filming facilities that some of the other forum members have - Ray, for example.

Forgot to add - I loved the tip about the dappled lighting effect.

[Valerie]

Butch, video work's for me...a little blurry, but it was easy to follow if you are already familar with drop down menu's. Good job. Look forward to any others you may plan to do. Also like the clock chimming in the back ground.

[TonyW]

Butch - Excellent - I really didn't find the quality too bad at all - particularly considering the cost :) . Was very easy to follow and I could read most of the menus (but then I am am very familiar with the screen). I did play with the settings some and found that (viewing in IE6 with Full Screen on (F11)) it looked best at double size (which looks to be about 700 x 550 pixels) and with Smooth Video turned off - whatever the latter does turning it off does seem to make it a bit easier to read.

Certainly watching video tuts like this makes you realize that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Well worth investigating further - I don't know how Google Video works - can you upload a shorter but higher res movie? - or if you film in a Google acceptable resolution to start with would it look better? Anyway you're a lot further ahead than I am - I don't even have a video capture program - which one are you using?

Tony

[Daviskw]

Hi Tony

I tried viewing other videos on Google and it seems all are reduced in size and resolution. I am using a capture program called Snagit for windows. It will capture good quality video but only in AVI format. The files are huge and must be converted.

I found a freeware program called Super V2006. It does an excellent job of converting from a 158 meg Avi to a 66 meg Mov or Mpeg4. These are the formats Google require.

Butch

[rtronick]

Nice video Butch. Very informative...Thanks for sharing!

Randy T

[CarolLHB]

Butch-
That was just great! You have the ability to convey a lot of information succinctly-the steps were easy to follow. Thanks so much for taking the time!:)

[dohearne]

Butch,

I concur with many of the comments already made. The video itself was very good and I personally found the tutorial of interest and will probably use it in the future. The resolution quality was only a minor drawback if one is already familiar with the menus.

This and another thread (regarding the two new videos (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8406)) have made me wonder if an area of this website could be set up for subscriber made tutorial videos?

Dave

[Norm F]

Butch,

The very clear verbal instructions make up for the lacking video quality. I was able to grasp every action you took and I'm confident that I will be able to use your technique. As far as the lesson itself, it was one of the best I've seen and I can't wait to try it. Thanks for taking the time.

[Carbone]

Butch,

One trick you can do (if your recorder supports it, that is), it's to zoom in on the menu items when you need something to be read. Some video recording software will allow you to zoom up to 100% on the current area of the mouse of the real size, when your output is less then 100%.

Ray

[GaryK]

Butch

Thanks .. great job!!!

[BettyC]

I learned a lot from your video, as I have frorm the many tips and instructions that you've given previously. I especially appreciated the part near the end, where you explained how to put the dappled effect on the rest of the picture. Very good!

[Pauline]

Butch great video. Very easy to follow and understand.

[Ward Grant]

Butch,
Just curious on the mechanics-I think I have to download the Google viewer to see the file, correct? I did see a download button, but the format ends in something like GVL. Will this play on another video player-Windows or Real? Not a big deal either way-I've got some many files on the unit now I'll never figure out what they all do.

[Norm F]

Ward,

I didn't download the player but it took a while to run for me the first time. Just kinda stalled so I refreshed and started over.

[Dorrie H.]

Butch, I like everyone else compliment you on your video. Good information. My only question is: Can it be saved to my hard drive for future use.

Dorrie

[Ward Grant]

Ward,

I didn't download the player but it took a while to run for me the first time. Just kinda stalled so I refreshed and started over.

Thanks Norm. I'll try again. (I want patience and I want it NOW!):twisted:

[Daviskw]

Hi Dorrie and Ward

I am not sure what the download file represents I'll go back and read thru the help screens.

But Dorrie it is not going anywhere and you can view it as many times as you like..if you don't get to dizzy trying to see things...:p

Ray my little sagit software does not have the zoom capability... If it isn’t free its not mine…..I am cheap I'm afraid.

Butch

[Carbone]

Butch,

I didn't want to make it sound as if you are cheap... if I did, then I am sorry. I just thought you might not have known about this possibility since you just posted I believe your first tut.

Ray

[Daviskw]

Ray

No.... I really am cheap!!!!... you took it wrong..:D

Butch

[Carbone]

I'm relieved :D

Cheap has been know to be the mother of creative inventions!

Ray

[vawitt]

Just chiming in with a thanks, Butch! As someone commented earlier, the verbal instructions make up for the lack of crystal-clear visuals, and I loved the "dappled" effect at the end.

FYI - SnagIt has an older brother - the entire Camtasia Studio, which will record the screen while you narrate, allow you to zoom in and out, add callouts and titles...it rocks. I downloaded the free trial for 30 days and used it to death to do videos for my Excel and Access classes before convincing my Dean to buy me a copy - $150 ed pricing.

But you can do it all with the free trial! www.techsmith.com if you are interested...

~Val in chilly IL

[Daviskw]

Thanks Val i will check it out. I was going to downlaod that program but at the time I only had a dial up and that is a big program

Butch

[ME100FINN]

Butch thanks for the video - I picked up a couple little tips! Thanks!! i found it a bit fuzzy, but even so...you can see the general location of the menu options and figure it out. Keep 'em coming! :)

[Norm F]

FYI - SnagIt has an older brother - the entire Camtasia Studio, which will record the screen while you narrate, allow you to zoom in and out, add callouts and titles...it rocks. ~Val in chilly IL

Val,

Just picked up Camtasia today. It looks really good. I wondered if you've hit on any good learning resources for the program. I'm totally green.

Thanks.

[druhl]

Butch - Congratulations! what a great video.

I wasn't able to acces it via the link in your original post but went to the google video page and then searched for 'sky'.

I'm genuinely impresses and it comes just as I'm trying to give Pittsburgh a blue sky (yeah, I know, Pittsburgh -blue sky - no one will doubt it's a Photoshopped picture!). The 'compressed' sky and dappled sun effects will be especially useful / realistic.

Thanks Butch - sincerely hope your planning some more videos.

Donn

[Edmund]

Hi Butch, I viewed the video it was a little blurry but was a little too much for me to grasp as a beginner in PSE 4. Maybe if I watch it 10 times I'll start to grasp some of the procedures. Thanks a lot for all your trouble.
Eddie

[aquatic11]

I find your videos to be well thought out and very helpful. I have looked at two of them and I have learned a few nice Photoshop tricks that I like. Yes the videos are a little blurry but with your instructions they are fine.

Thank you,
Frank

[pixlbandit]

Wow! Good job. I'm gonna go back and take notes. Yes, the images were somewhat blurry, but the execution great. I'm at work where there is big time broad band and all I did was click on his link and it started full speed, bigsize right away (wide Google bar at the top, then the screen was 2/3 of what was left of the space). I can use that information right now--at least after I go home and get some sleep! :)

Vicki

PS: At this time, your video has been viewed nearly 1400 times!

[peaches]

Great job, as a fairly new user I found the instructions easy to follow. Hope you do more
sue

[Hatter]

As a newbie to this site, I've only just seen these videos. They're excellent - thanks very much, Butch.

Gareth