by Dave Yakir - Editor/Animator
15. July 2009 10:26
An unconventional way to make your stills stand out...
Have you seen the Gatorade commercials over the past couple of years? Notice how they used photos, but there was something different about them? They almost looked...like they were moving? Well they were.... view it here (As a huge Blackhawks fan, I couldn’t resist using the hockey one).
It’s a technique gaining momentum in the commercial world that strays from the norm for how editors use photos in video. It creates a 3D effect using 2D elements and it is usually all within the same photo. It takes precision, accuracy, and a little creative manipulation.
This Is Not a Test - A Quick Overview
Using clipping paths, each element (i.e. person, basketball, hockey puck, background, etc...) is cut out and separated into layers. Using animation software, the layers are aligned in a 3D space with separation. This gives the illusion of actual 3D because each element is on a different focal plane. Using pans and zooms, a 3D-like perspective is achieved with 2D elements.
Now...back to your originally scheduled program
It may not seem like much, but the movement catches the viewers’ eye. This technique breathes life into a motionless photo and is an advanced replacement to the always popular, “Ken Burns Effect."
This trick looks easier than it is to create. It takes skill to understand which elements should be separated; and if a photo is not useable. There is an abundance of tutorials available online that go into great detail how to achieve this effect.
A person is only as good as the tools they have at their disposal, but the tools are only as good as the person putting them to work.
To view samples of Quicksilver's creative video and animation solutions, click here.
Dave Yakir is an editor and animator who works in Quicksilver's HD-capable edit suites. He has recently used the 3D effect in client videos.
