Formats for multilayer graphics/alpha/lower thirds in video? - Wikivideo-l

Manuel Schneider

13 Nov 13 Nov

5:57 a.m.

New subject: Formats for multilayer graphics/alpha/lower thirds in video?

Am 12.11.2014 20:47, schrieb Andrew Lih:

Wondering if anyone has addressed the issue of Commons-friendly formats for exchanging on-screen graphics or lower-third graphics with alpha channels for video? Seems like the .xcf format used by GIMP is the way to go, and it's supported in Commons, but I'd like to find out if anyone has any experiences with this.

XCF was the first idea I had before I read the last paragraph of that mail. So basically +1 from me ;-) /Manuel -- Wikimedia CH - Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens Lausanne, +41 (21) 34066-22 - www.wikimedia.ch

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Brion Vibber

9:09 a.m.

New subject: Formats for multilayer graphics/alpha/lower thirds in video?

I'd avoid XCF for a couple reasons: * limited import/export support outside of Gimp * No editable vector or gradient layers (you can save paths and re-rasterize them to layers manually, but it's kinda awkward to, say, change a blue gradient to a red one with otherwise the same settings) SVG is actually a pretty good choice; anything vector-y and things like colors and gradients can be modified at will; and you can still embed raster graphics if you need them via embedded PNG or JPEG. And of course SVG is spoken by both standard free tools like Inkscape, and standard professional tools like Illustrator. Not sure if Photoshop can export its vector/shape layers as native SVG, but if it can that'd be a win. Sounds like another trial installation in my future! -- brion On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 2:30 PM, Jan Ainali <jan.ainali(a)wikimedia.se> wrote:

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XCF is alright. For videos we do in Wikimedia Sverige I have started some SVG templates. Mostly because I think text handling is much nicer in Inkscape than in GIMP. *Med vänliga hälsningar,Jan Ainali* Verksamhetschef, Wikimedia Sverige <http://wikimedia.se> 0729 - 67 29 48 *Tänk dig en värld där varje människa har fri tillgång till mänsklighetens samlade kunskap. Det är det vi gör.* Bli medlem. <http://blimedlem.wikimedia.se> 2014-11-12 22:57 GMT+01:00 Manuel Schneider <manuel.schneider(a)wikimedia.ch

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Am 12.11.2014 20:47, schrieb Andrew Lih:

Wondering if anyone has addressed the issue of Commons-friendly formats for exchanging on-screen graphics or lower-third graphics with alpha channels for video? Seems like the .xcf format used by GIMP is the way to go, and it's supported in Commons, but I'd like to find out if anyone has any experiences with this.

XCF was the first idea I had before I read the last paragraph of that mail. So basically +1 from me ;-) /Manuel -- Wikimedia CH - Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens Lausanne, +41 (21) 34066-22 - www.wikimedia.ch _______________________________________________ Wikivideo-l mailing list Wikivideo-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikivideo-l

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Brion Vibber

10:33 a.m.

New subject: Formats for multilayer graphics/alpha/lower thirds in video?

Hmm, I actually can't get Premiere or FCPX to import SVG directly, but you can convert them via Illustrator or Inkscape to PNG or something else 'flat'. (It's also easy to get a PNG of an SVG or an XCF that's on Commons without extra tools by downloading the rasterized thumbnails.) -- brion On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 5:41 PM, Andrew Lih <andrew(a)andrewlih.com> wrote:

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Thanks Brion, Seems like folks have created scripts to do just what you described -- export PSD paths as SVG: http://hackingui.com/design/export-photoshop-layer-to-svg/ Though, it seems that while working with SVG is not ideal, at least SVG is a supported type by Adobe Premiere and other stock editors, whereas XCF isn't. -Andrew -Andrew Lih Associate professor of journalism, American University Email: andrew(a)andrewlih.com WEB: http://www.andrewlih.com BOOK: The Wikipedia Revolution: http://www.wikipediarevolution.com PROJECT: Wiki Makes Video http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Wiki_Makes_Video On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 8:09 PM, Brion Vibber <brion(a)pobox.com> wrote:

I'd avoid XCF for a couple reasons: * limited import/export support outside of Gimp * No editable vector or gradient layers (you can save paths and re-rasterize them to layers manually, but it's kinda awkward to, say, change a blue gradient to a red one with otherwise the same settings) SVG is actually a pretty good choice; anything vector-y and things like colors and gradients can be modified at will; and you can still embed raster graphics if you need them via embedded PNG or JPEG. And of course SVG is spoken by both standard free tools like Inkscape, and standard professional tools like Illustrator. Not sure if Photoshop can export its vector/shape layers as native SVG, but if it can that'd be a win. Sounds like another trial installation in my future! -- brion On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 2:30 PM, Jan Ainali <jan.ainali(a)wikimedia.se> wrote:

XCF is alright. For videos we do in Wikimedia Sverige I have started some SVG templates. Mostly because I think text handling is much nicer in Inkscape than in GIMP. *Med vänliga hälsningar,Jan Ainali* Verksamhetschef, Wikimedia Sverige <http://wikimedia.se> 0729 - 67 29 48 *Tänk dig en värld där varje människa har fri tillgång till mänsklighetens samlade kunskap. Det är det vi gör.* Bli medlem. <http://blimedlem.wikimedia.se> 2014-11-12 22:57 GMT+01:00 Manuel Schneider < manuel.schneider(a)wikimedia.ch>gt;:

Am 12.11.2014 20:47, schrieb Andrew Lih: > Wondering if anyone has addressed the issue of Commons-friendly formats > for exchanging on-screen graphics or lower-third graphics with alpha > channels for video? > > Seems like the .xcf format used by GIMP is the way to go, and it's > supported in Commons, but I'd like to find out if anyone has any > experiences with this. XCF was the first idea I had before I read the last paragraph of that mail. So basically +1 from me ;-) /Manuel -- Wikimedia CH - Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens Lausanne, +41 (21) 34066-22 - www.wikimedia.ch _______________________________________________ Wikivideo-l mailing list Wikivideo-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikivideo-l

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