New Blog…New Website
Just wanted to let you all that we’ve moved our blog over to:
http://vinegarhillcreative.com/blog
We’ll no longer be posting here. And we’ve also just launched a new website. Check it out at VinegarHillCreative.com
Things are getting festive here at VH HQ
Setting up for a shoot with the severed head…
On set today and loving it!
On location, shooting a webspot for Classic Landscaping in Frederick, MD. It should be a really neat piece, capturing Classic’s unique culture and extraordinary customer service. We’re shooting a combination of digital and Super 16mm. Can’t wait to share it with you all!
Vinegar Hill presents a 30 second spot about the dangers of hunger…
Also on Youtube.
Making DVD Studio Pro backgrounds look awesome using Photoshop!
Getting smooth + clear menu backgrounds in DVD Studio Pro has been an ongoing struggle and the subject of much debate at Vinegar Hill. It was difficult to get any clear answers online but I finally came up with a solution for our upcoming Director’s Reel. The answer to blocky/splotchy & washed out text/images in your DVD menu background stills is VIDEO. If you use photoshop CS3 or later to build your background images you can easily export a .MOV file that works wonders. (If you have time you might even be able to figure out how to animate it!)
You decide for yourself which menu looks better…
Left: High Quality .TIFF Background | Right: Correct size .MOV Background
To get a compatible movie file for DVD Studio Pro 4 in Photoshop go to File>Export>Render Video…
•Quicktime movie Settings should be set to “Animation”. Set quality to “Best” and turn off Prepare for Internet Streaming.
•I set the size to NTSC DV Widescreen, 720x480. You should make this PAL or 4:3 if that is what your project needs.
•299 frames is about 10 seconds at 29.97 fps, which is the DVD standard. Example of the export window (in CS5) below:
If you have any other sneaky DVD building tips &/or tricks send them my way!
shepherd@vinegarhillcreative.com
—Shepherd
I spent part of the weekend editing our new short film The Cosmonaut. Really excited with how it’s turning out and really excited to bring the lessons learned making this short film into our commercial work.
David
THE INTERVENTIONIST! a short film by Vinegar Hill
Jack thinks his girlfriend needs help…his help. And he’ll do whatever it takes to give her that help. ‘THE INTERVENTIONIST!’ is a comedy about assumptions and their disastrous consequences.
