Pixel2Life

This will be a kind of long tutorial, since there are many things to be done.
I will provide you with 2 files that I've used in my project. be aware that ALL the settings need to be changed if you take any other timings then me.

- ZIP FILE
- Live Example can be found on the last page

PreStep 1: So let's start with a new composition with a size of 320x240px and a length of 10 seconds.
Import the 2 mpeg files included in the ZIP package.

PreStep 2: First of all we need to prepare the 2 footage files:
- solidpowder_part1.mpg - Doesn't need any editing :)
- solidpowder_part2.mpg - MarkIn: 00:03 - MarkOut: 04:13

How do you create a markin and markout?
- Doubleclick on the video you want to "cut" in the library, and you will see that a new window will open up.


Here you can set the in & out marks easily with this two parentheses at the end of your cutting work, the video can be pasted into the timeline with the button on the far right of the window.
Here a screenshot for better understanding


You don't need to insert the video file right now, the settings will be saved as soon as you open the video again.
I've just wanted to give you this advice at the beginning of the tutorial :)

Now let us start doing some serious work. The creation of the title

Step 1
Just create some nice text for the beginning of the video, I've used the film title and where you can grab it :)


This can be done either by doing a right-click on the timeline and choosing New -> Text or by selecting the type button on your tools palette, I prefere the first method since the text will be automatically centered.
Set the length of the text to 3 seconds by dragging the last handle of the layer to the left.

I already mentioned in one of my older tutorials that you should not re-invent the wheel, AE 6.5 has some nice text presets use them. they will make your life easier :) Presets can be found by pressing CTRL+F5, you will also find a preview of all the presets by going to the help menu and selecting the "text preset gallery"

On our video I've used the HorseFly Preset, just drag and drop the effect in our textlayer, now when you press the U key, you will see that the effect created several keyframes on your textlayer, if the timing is correct then the animation will end just before the 3 seconds mark, otherwise you will have to select ALL of the last keyframes and drag them to the position you want by holding the ALT key.


When you press 0 on your numerical keypad, the movie will be rendered, and you will see that our letters will be flying around for a while and build up our title, this looks good already, but I want to add some Blur into the effect.
For that select the text layer and press the F3 key to open up the effects window, do a right-click on that window and choose Blur -> Fast Blur, I've created a few keyframes on the blur effect.
Keyframes can be created by clickin on the small stopwatch icon beneath the effect


1st Keyframe at 00:00 with a blur value of 20
2nd Keyframe at 00:22 with a blur value of 20
3rd Keyframe at 02:12 with a blur value of 0

This will make our letters blurry and unreadable but then a fast change to readable and clear.

Here a screenshot of my blurry type:


Ok, the title animation is now done, Let's move on to the most advanced but the coolest part of this turial the time remapping part.