Tips+for+Using+Pinnacle

As you create your one minute movies in Pinnacle, note software tips on this page! GETTING STARTED 1. Put everything in a folder can be in your s-drive. 2. I used a jump drive and the desktop to save my work and it made the process really easy. ~hs 3. If you want to use video but don't have a digital video camcorder use a regular digital camera on the motion/video setting to film short 20-30 sec clips then put them together in Pinnacle. ~hs 4. If you change an already rendered movie, DO NOT write over the original until you are sure that you like the new version better!!! AT 5. When you capture your video, if your source material is long, capture shorter, individual clips. For example, using six 30 second clips is better than using one 3 minute clip. TW

STORYBOARDING DOs & DON'TS 1. Note cards are a good way to go with the storyboard. 2. Make sure to note when you are going to add music and transitions to the movie. ~hs 3. It helps to be specific with the storyboard so that you are not guessing as you make the video. CL 4.Have between six and ten transitions, and number them on your storyboard. JF 5. It is better to be too specific then too vague on a storyboard. KY

ABOUT ADDING MUSIC ...

Lock your music as soon as you can. Must have it in a mp3 Be careful not to move your music too much, or it may "split" into two segments. Lock it quickly! JF You can adjust your music volume. (If it is too loud, it will sound distorted.) AT To adjust the volume at a specific time on the timeline, click on the sound track, and double-click on the blue line to create a point of volume loudness. Add points at various points on the timeline and move them vertically to adjust the volume at that instant. The space between two points will be filled with a gradual increase or decrease in volume. WS

MISC. TIPS & TRICKS To mute the sound from your video, click on the blue line and pull it all the way down. JF If you click on two places on the blue line for your music, you can drag the one on the right down, and that will make it fade out. JF Using photos can be simpler, but just as artistic. If all else fails, there's always Mr. Kurz! If you get a ?, show the computer where the file of the question mark is. If you get a !, you need Mr. Kurz. 1. Go through the tutorial first 2. Don’t wait till the last minute to upload video in the digital dropbox. 3. Save all pictures and music on desktop a-n-d on S drive. 4. Make sure to save throughout the entire video making process. CL 5. To convert youtube vidoes, use zamzar.com. CL 6. Make sure all of your font is legible! JF 7. Don't panic. The end results are pretty neat. JF 8. When adding a photostory, use the "razor" to separate it into different scenes. It is much easier to add transitions and text if all the pictures are separated. AT 9. Make sure the color of the font does not blend into your backround. KY