Messages in this topic - RSS

Home ? Feedback ? Muvizu is a joy

the topic is closed
25/02/2016 22:27:25

braj
braj
Posts: 286
I come here to ask questions and to make requests, and I thought maybe some praise is due. I love working in Muvizu, it is a joy more than a chore unlike most other animation tools. And with its flexible layered output, it is pretty easy to get around some of its limitations. Not to blow my own horn but I often find the scenes I'm making rather stunning. As long as I think they are, that's enough. Thank you to all the Muvizu team members, you brighten up my life every single day.
permalink
26/02/2016 00:00:07

PatMarrNCMuvizu mogul
PatMarrNC
Posts: 1738
I agree... Muvizu provides a lot of bang for the buck... and that would continue to be true, even if it cost a lot more. I like not having to work at the nuts and bolts level, designing every movement and eye blink. That level of control is useful, but it sucks the joy out of the creation process.

Indeed, I find that to whatever extent I have to deal with the TECHNOLOGY of animation (in other software), it forces my attention from right-brain creative mode to left brain analytical mode and the magic bubble bursts.

And Muvizu's canned actions are better than I would be able to duplicate myself in another program where I have complete control.

As Muvizu users, we notice when our videos are similar to someone else's because we all use the same canned actions... but our primary audience never sees other Muvizu projects as a basis for comparison. To them, our projects are indistinguishable from totally original works.

Its absolutely PERFECT for what I do. I have no aspirations of making the kind of cinematic masterpieces so many of the gurus here make. I just want to make 1 or 2 minute presentations of absurd ideas, put some original music to it and hope it goes viral. And I don't want to spend a lot of time doing it. Muvizu EXCELS at that!
permalink
26/02/2016 00:09:16

braj
braj
Posts: 286
I'd like more access to the nuts and bolts while simultaneously making the app even easier for everyone. I think that can be done Sometimes the challenges are in the work arounds. Maybe they could make a list of the most popular/necessary workarounds and streamline those things. I noticed today Sony has some animation tool for the PS4 out, I think this market is going to be pretty competitive very soon, Valve's animation tool is getting going too. Which I guess to a degree results in me making feature requests like a madman, I just want Muvizu to be competitive and maintain a healthy development. I'm wondering if a 2.0 with a newer engine is in the works.
permalink
26/02/2016 00:25:59

braj
braj
Posts: 286
Well, this is my first test of the MP4 output, but you can see the sort of scenes I'm after with this. I think it looks OK but the set is unfinished, no birds, no music... but Muvizu really is letting me get what I want across. I need to use more cameras but hey, I don't think it is half bad.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9300947/FarmSceneTest.mp4

And I just watched that, the compression is horrible! I'll try some other settings... and.... new version is up.
edited by braj on 26/02/2016
edited by braj on 26/02/2016
permalink
26/02/2016 02:34:32

PatMarrNCMuvizu mogul
PatMarrNC
Posts: 1738
looks fantastic to me, Braj!
permalink
26/02/2016 06:30:40

ukBertyMuvizu mogulExperimental user
ukBerty
Posts: 975
Looking good Braj. In fact looking very good....
permalink
26/02/2016 07:15:40

MrDrWho13Muvizu mogulExperimental user
MrDrWho13
Posts: 2220
That does look very good Braj! I can see the compression you're talking about, and you need to whack up the bitrate to 100%. (This still has some compression, but there's less of it).

Edit: are you using linear keyframes? Have you tried automatic keyframes because the transitions between movements seem a little clunky there. I'm only nitpicking now though
edited by MrDrWho13 on 26/02/2016
permalink
26/02/2016 07:33:36

braj
braj
Posts: 286
Yeah, definitely using linear, the automatic give unpredictable results, maybe I need more practice, but I won't be doing the fly around the characters like that, more cameras, more cuts, simplest movements possible. I was mostly trying to see if I pull off the larger environment feel, that's a challenge IMO, I want cinematic drama I want a big world. I'll try getting more control over the automatic keyframes though, but if they had ease in ease out interpolations I would be in love. That's what the camera really needed to get the movement I want.
permalink
26/02/2016 07:34:36

braj
braj
Posts: 286
Automatic interpolation causes the camera to 'bounce' maybe I just need more practice with it though.
permalink
26/02/2016 13:05:06

mrmuviz
mrmuviz
Posts: 51
@Braj Very nice set!!!

Hesh
permalink
26/02/2016 18:22:02

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988
Nice trees braj, nice vista overall. I'd recommend a bit of depth of field to lessen the sharp edges on the distant buildings, but it's looking good.
permalink
26/02/2016 23:30:17

braj
braj
Posts: 286
Oh I wanted to say that I wasn't working with the smooth interpolation correctly before, it is 'bouncy' by default but that can easily be cured by watching the angles displaying the path. Derp. Here's a castle flyby test I just made on one try in one minute or so. I got nearly all the moves just as intended, and with a little effort and camera settings like depth of field, I think it will look really sharp. I'll redo that other scene soon once I actually have the script ready, but here's one of the castles in my story world. There will be a dragon eventually flying around in these scenes

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/9300947/Castlescreentest1.mp4
edited by braj on 26/02/2016
permalink
27/02/2016 03:57:20

PatMarrNCMuvizu mogul
PatMarrNC
Posts: 1738
Braj, your midieval village and landscape are both amazing... did the same guy who was recently asking how to use blender make all this stuff already? You must be the fastest learner in the world!
permalink
27/02/2016 04:36:57

braj
braj
Posts: 286
Oh, I bought some models, I have to fix them up but I figured filmmakers in the real world don't go building skyscrapers, probably not even virtual ones, so I looked for low_poly models that could have lots of iterations in Muvizu without causing too much slow down. It is still a challenge and I am spending a lot of time in Blender still, but I've only modeled a few things I'm actually using from scratch.
permalink
27/02/2016 04:38:39

braj
braj
Posts: 286
I got lucky finding just what suited my style though, otherwise I would probably be making models.
permalink
27/02/2016 16:39:13

PatMarrNCMuvizu mogul
PatMarrNC
Posts: 1738
there are multiple learning curves in the making of video stories, and model creation is just one of them. I like the way you are keeping your momentum up by buying the things that would otherwise slow you down, and focusing on the learning curve of using the software and how to present your images to the audience etc. You're well on your way to being a power user.

Can't wait to watch your finished movie.
permalink
27/02/2016 19:03:58

braj
braj
Posts: 286
Yeah, I'm disabled, there are parts of the day I can't even use a mouse, my attention span is extremely short. I ften... Oh look, a BIRD! ... get distracted by nearly anything, especially my own body. I'm just considering I have outsourced the work to a contractor or something I'm a multimedia mogul! But I'm doing all the voice and music myself.
permalink
27/02/2016 19:21:38

PatMarrNCMuvizu mogul
PatMarrNC
Posts: 1738
very impressive!

This brings up one of the things I've noticed about the definition of "success" in the course of my 63 years on the planet...

I USED to see "success" as simply whether or not the end result matched the creator's intent. And to a certain extent, that's still a pretty good working definition.

But now I also factor in the obstacles a person has to overcome in order to create the work in the first place. Anybody who has to overcome all of the usual learning curves involved in any given endeavor... PLUS the unique obstacles involved with a personal disabilty or other challenge (be it physical, mental, economic etc) ... the sum of their accomplishments in getting from point A to point B is greater.

My respect for the person who overcomes more obstacles is directly proportional to the number and severity of the obstacles they overcame in order to create their work.
permalink
the topic is closed

Home ? Feedback ? Muvizu is a joy