PapaJohn, How did you make count down clock?

[Guest]

I was browsing your web site and clicked on your count down clocks. I really enjoyed them. How did you create them? Did you need special software?
Sue

 

[PapaJohn]

Hi Sue,

The only really special software I used was Photoshop.... that was to put
the clock faces over background images and to overlay the hands on the
clocks in a different position for each of 12 'snapshots'. Any image editing
software that supports transparency would do. Or else it would be simpler
lines for hands drawn with Paint.

The basic approach was to make 12 pictures, one each with a different hand
location, put them on the timeline with one second durations, put the same
sound file on it 12 times (the pinball game has 60 sound effect WAV file
that work great) and make the movie.

I got about 75 clock faces at an art fair for a nickel each, and used my
camera to take pictures of each.

You should be able to do something similar with whatever software you have.
--
PapaJohn
Movie Maker 2: www.papajohn.org
PhotoStory 2: www.photostory.papajohn.org
..
..

I was browsing your web site and clicked on your count down clocks. I

really enjoyed them. How did you create them? Did you need special
software?

 

[Rich]

I just found them PapaJohn ("Online... Video" about half-way down the page).
I guess I have glossed over them in the past as I was expecting to just see
a big clock face staring me in the face. Nice job! Maybe I should say
Excellent!

I've been working on some countdown title pages, the old fashion ones, not
so fancy. I've been using Paint Shop Pro primarily because I've been using
it for years.

I guess you listened to all those sound effects in Pinball before finding
the correct ones I searched my entire system for .wav files one time,
amazing what you find, copied them into a sound_effects directory and just
delete the ones I know I won't need.

Rich

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Yes Rich,

I do similar to you but I don't copy them to another folder. I import them
into an MM1 collection of sound effects, listen to them there, delete the
ones I won't use and give the remaining ones descriptive names. I put the
MM1 collection in my library of collections.

Then when I'm using MM2 for something like a clock project, I import my MM1
collection of sound effects.
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org

..

 

[Johnny Boy]

Papa John:
The clock face countdown is fantastic. Are my eyes
playing tricks on me because the 12-second hand actually
seems to move between the 12 to 11 to 10 etc. How large
were the clock faces that you acquired?

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Your eyes are tricking you.... each still just sits there for a second and
then abruptly changes... the audio probably helps your brain. It's easier to
trick the eyes than the ears.

The faces are spare parts for wristwatches. sized from about 1/2 inch to
1-1/4 inch in diameter. I tried scanning first, but using the macro feature
of my digital camera worked better... with available light so it didn't
brighten the faces too much.

I've used a few of the picture but still have about 70 more.... do you want
a picture?
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org

..

 

[Guest]

PapaJohn,

Thank you so much for the explanation! I am learning so much at this forum, just reading the posts! I am going to attempt to make my own count down this weekend. I've printed your advice for quick reference!

Again . . . Thank you!

Sue

 

[PapaJohn \(MVP\)]

Thanks for the note Sue,

I'm hoping that most people get beyond their startup issues and get to where
you, Johnny Boy and Rich are, into fun projects. Good luck with it and have
fun!!!
--
PapaJohn

Movie Maker 2 - www.papajohn.org
Photo Story 2 - www.photostory.papajohn.org

..

PapaJohn,

Thank you so much for the explanation! I am learning so much at this

forum, just reading the posts! I am going to attempt to make my own count
down this weekend. I've printed your advice for quick reference!