Optimisation

Optimisation: 

Essentially, optimisation means making the product look the best it possibly can. You'll need t consider the purpose of the animation, and how the colour, size, Frame, compression and exported ice fit the purpose. 

You should use vector rather than bitmap for this. 

Bitmaps - When you zoom in on a faster.bitmap file, the pixels become visible as tiny squares and the overall effect is rather blurred 

Vector - Vector graphics store the image information as a series of coordinates (vectors), and when zooming in on the image, it does not blur / pixelate 

Exporting the animation 

The file format must correlate with the requirements of the brief. As this unit is concerned with producing an animation for online distribution - specifically, a phone app - you need to consider the correct export option. 

For this, you will need to compress the file you have created in Final Cut. 

.mov 

Advantages: 

Disadvantages: 

.mp4

Advantages: 

Disadvantages: 

Test plan and debugging 

once an animation has been created it needs to be tested and debugged 

the test plan allows you to check that the animation runs as expected 

A screen test could be created in order to ascertain whether what is in the animation marries with the desired outcome, for example if a zombie dog attacks a zombie cat does it actually look like this on screen? 

Screen test 

A screen test would typically be played to an audience in order to ascertain whether it is fit for the purpose. 

Video Frame Rate Essentials 

What is frame rate? 

Frame rate (frames per second or fps) refers to the speed at which individual still photos, known as frames, are captured by a recording device and/or projected onto a screen. Normal motion is achieved when the capture frame rate equals the projection frame rate E.G 24 Frames. Slow motion occurs when the capture frame rate is higher than the projection frame rate (e.g., 48/24). Likewise, fast motion occurs when the capture frame rate is lower than the projection frame rate (e.g., 12/24). 

The standard frame rate for cinema is 24fps, which means you will want you shutter speed set at 1/50th of a second.

The standard frame rate for television is 30fps, which means you will want you shutter speed set at 1/60th of a second.

Ultimately, it's dependent on what the desired effect you're going after. If you want to showcase slow motion video, you need to shoot at a higher frames per second. 

The most popular frame rates for video is 24 FPS, 30 FPS, and 60 FPS. However, this changes depending on the desired effect you're looking to achieve.

The best frame rates for videos: 

16 FPS: This movie frame rate will look choppy, but ideal for recreating the look of the silent era movie

24 FPS: Footage will not look as smooth as higher frame rates, but this is the most cinematic look

30 FPS: Often used by live TV broadcasts and excellent for live sports

60 FPS: Ideal for people walking, candles being blown out, etc.

120 FPS: Ideal for slowing down things that move fast (people running, animals running, etc.)

240 FPS: Ideal for slowing down action (balloons exploding, water splashes, etc.)

480 FPS: Perfect for fast moving objects (skateboard tricks, skiing, surfing, etc.)

How to capture slow motion:  

Slow motion video is any display of moving images that appears slower than real time. It is most commonly created by capturing frames at a higher rate than the intended display speed. 

You can slow down footage captured at 24fps or 30fps, and then time remap your footage in your editing platform, but it will come out with a choppy, unprofessional look that most people will not end up liking.

To slow down a video, you must first capture regular footage at an increased frame rate. Then. you place your footage into your Non-Linear-Editor (Premiere, Final Cut, Avid) and “time remap” the footage to the desired rate.

How to capture fast motion video: 

To speed up video, you will still prefer to capture regular footage at an increased movie frame rate. You might think that you would need fewer frames to allow a fast motion video, but the general rule is that you never want fewer frames than your medium requires.

Going from slow motion to high speed shots: 

Frame rate ramping or “speed ramping” refers to a method where footage is played at a specific speed at one point in the clip, but then “ramps” to another speed while the the viewer observes the speed transformation. 

Time Lapses: 

A great way to understand frame rates is to look at a time-lapse video. This is one of the best time-lapse videos you will find, and it took tens of thousands of photos to put together this three and a half minute video.

Hyper Time-Lapses 

Now, if a time-lapse is when you speed up a scene, a hyperlapse is when you speed up a scene, but you add heavy camera movement.

For example, you might move the camera on a dolly (or slider) if you're doing a time-lapse, but hyperlapses show you the action over considerable distances and are often much more complex setups.