Ask Eric - Your Personal Video Expert
November 14, 2007
Episode 8: How to Turn Your Videos into Motionbooks
Ever wanted to free your videos from the digital world and make them look great on paper? Now you can! Grab a 15-second clip from any of your Motionbox videos to create a Motionbook -- a new twist on the classic flipbook.
In this episode of Ask Eric, learn how to shoot or select a video that will make the best possible Motionbook. Check it out:
Ready to make your Motionbook? Get started!
Too lazy to watch the video? Read the recap after the jump!
Some videos look way better on paper than others. Here's a quick primer on how to choose the best clip for your Motionbook.
Bright colors and good lighting always look great on video and in Motionbooks. Make sure that your subjects (people or objects) aren't lit from the back unless you want them to look like shadow puppets!
Videos with a lot of fast movement tend to look really choppy in Motionbook form, so choose a clip where the movement is clear and slow. Videos that show people or objects moving closer and closer to the camera are particularly cool.
Remember that Motionbooks are silent, so pick a video that is visually interesting. Try turning the sound off on your computer when you're picking a video: that can help you to see if it'll work or not!
The videos that are the most fun are the ones that tell a story - anything that brings us into the world of that video. A single, complete action is best, especially if it has a surprising ending!
To recap, here's what makes a great Motionbook:
- Bright colors
- Lots of light
- People who are close to the camera
- A great story
Once you pick your video, making a Motionbook is simple. There's a link on every video play page, and the process of selecting your clip and personalizing the cover is easy and fun.
Ready to make your Motionbook? Get started!
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Comments
What are my options for the Custom Book Covers? Can I upload my own cover art? Can I include a title page or an ending message?
Do you have a gallery of examples that I can review?
Thanks.
Posted by Bruce | December 18, 2007 11:19 PM
where is the mixer
Posted by callum ward-kendall | December 21, 2007 11:40 AM
Hey there Bruce,
Unfortunately, we don't currently offer custom flipbook covers. We currently have 14 different cover choices, and there'll be even more to choose from in the near future!
You can check out the ones we have right now once you select a video to turn into a flipbook (so, at Step 2 of making a flipbook). Once you choose a flipbook cover, you'll be able to customize 3 lines of text on it. You can write a title, a subtitle, and the date for example.
You should check it out! Hope this helps. =)
- Eric
Posted by AskEric | February 14, 2008 3:44 PM
Hi Callum,
You can get to the Mixer by clicking on "My Motionbox" at the top of any page, and then selecting "my mixer" from the drop-down menu. It's as simple as that!
You also might wanna check out the 9th episode of Ask Eric, entitled "The Mixer." =) You can watch it here: http://askeric.motionbox.com/2007/12/episode_9_the_mixer.html
Enjoy, and let me know if you have any questions more about it!
- Eric
Posted by AskEric | February 14, 2008 3:59 PM