Teach Yourself Visually™: Digital Video, 2nd Edition

Book description

Tips and techniques for shooting and sharing superb digital videos

Never before has video been more popular-or more accessible to the home videographer. Now you can create YouTube-worthy, professional-looking video, with the help of this richly illustrated guide. In a straightforward, simple, highly visual format, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Digital Video demystifies the secrets of great video. With colorful screenshots and illustrations plus step-by-step instructions, the book explains the features of your camera and their capabilities, and shows you how to go beyond "auto" to manually adjust the settings for just the effect you want.

  • Know how to get the most out of your camera, whether it's a high definition video recorder or a still camera with video capabilities

  • Set exposure, white balance, and shutter speed to achieve optimum results for your subject

  • Learn how to edit and enhance your video with after capture softwareShare your work with friends, family, or professional colleagues on the Web, through YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Google, Yahoo, Flicker, and other sites

Jam packed with hints and simple tips, this handy, full-color visual guide will give you the tools and techniques to create better homemade videos or make the jump from amateur to prosumer.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Praise for Visual Books
  3. Credits
  4. About the Author
  5. Author's Acknowledgments
  6. 1. Understanding Digital Video
    1. 1.1. What Is Digital Video?
    2. 1.2. Understanding the Benefits of Going Digital
    3. 1.3. Discover Digital Video Cameras
    4. 1.4. The Digital Video Workflow
    5. 1.5. Essential Digital Video Terms
  7. 2. What You Need to Get Started
    1. 2.1. Explore Popular Digital Video Camera Features
    2. 2.2. Explore Consumer High Definition Video
    3. 2.3. Explore Aspect Ratios
    4. 2.4. Choose the Right Digital Video Camera
    5. 2.5. Know the Parts of a Digital Video Camera
    6. 2.6. Consider Digital Video Camera Accessories
    7. 2.7. Explore Battery Options and AC Adapters
    8. 2.8. Explore Computer Essentials for Video
    9. 2.9. Upgrade Your Mac
    10. 2.10. Explore Video Editing Applications for a Mac
    11. 2.11. Upgrade Your PC
    12. 2.12. Explore Video Editing Applications for a PC
    13. 2.13. Choose the Proper Lighting Gear
  8. 3. Preparing to Shoot Video
    1. 3.1. Explore Legal Issues
    2. 3.2. Plan a Video Shoot
    3. 3.3. Create an Equipment List
    4. 3.4. Choose the Proper Camera Bag
    5. 3.5. Know Your Recording Environment
  9. 4. Recording Great Audio
    1. 4.1. Understanding the Importance of Sound
    2. 4.2. Monitor the Sound
    3. 4.3. Adjust In-Camera Audio Settings
    4. 4.4. Use the Built-in Microphone Properly
    5. 4.5. Explore External Microphone Options
    6. 4.6. Learn to Use Lavaliere and Lapel Microphones
    7. 4.7. Get the Most out of Hand-Held Microphones
    8. 4.8. Operate Camera-Mounted Microphones
    9. 4.9. Operate a Boom Microphone
  10. 5. Controlling Exposure and Focus
    1. 5.1. Examine Types of Light
    2. 5.2. Understanding Exposure
    3. 5.3. Discover Exposure Settings
    4. 5.4. Solve Exposure Issues
    5. 5.5. Learn About Aperture
    6. 5.6. Learn About Shutter Speed
    7. 5.7. Use Focus Modes
    8. 5.8. Discover Focus Tips
  11. 6. Exploring the Color of Light and Lighting
    1. 6.1. Explore the Color of Light
    2. 6.2. Understanding White Balance for Color Accuracy
    3. 6.3. Use Auto White Balance Settings
    4. 6.4. Perform a Manual White Balance
    5. 6.5. Use White Balance Settings for Creative Purposes
    6. 6.6. Shoot Video Indoors
    7. 6.7. Use a Camera-Mounted Light
    8. 6.8. Diffuse Light
    9. 6.9. Use Three-Point Lighting
    10. 6.10. Shoot Video in Sunlight
    11. 6.11. Utilize Lens Filters
    12. 6.12. Shoot Video in Low Light
    13. 6.13. Solve Backlight Problems
  12. 7. Basic Principles and Event Videography
    1. 7.1. Explore Important Video Principles
    2. 7.2. Capture the Story
    3. 7.3. Achieve Shot Continuity
    4. 7.4. Avoid Timecode Breaks
    5. 7.5. Explore the Zoom
    6. 7.6. Get Comfortable with Camera Settings
    7. 7.7. Change Up the Perspective
    8. 7.8. Recruit Talent
    9. 7.9. Explore Event Videography
    10. 7.10. Record Amateur Sporting Events
    11. 7.11. Record Plays, Concerts, and Recitals
  13. 8. Shooting Great Footage Through Composition
    1. 8.1. Understanding Composition
    2. 8.2. Discover Rules of Composition
    3. 8.3. Shoot Talking Heads Properly
    4. 8.4. Frame the Moving Subject
    5. 8.5. Explore Shot Variety
    6. 8.6. Explore Common Shot Names
    7. 8.7. Learn About Depth of Field
    8. 8.8. Shoot for the Edit
    9. 8.9. Add Style to Your Video
    10. 8.10. Shoot Video for the Web
  14. 9. Reviewing and Transferring Video
    1. 9.1. Play Back Your Video on a TV Monitor
    2. 9.2. Connect Your Digital Video Camera to a Computer
    3. 9.3. Transfer Video from a File-Based Camcorder with iMovie
    4. 9.4. Capture Video from a Tape-Based Camcorder to a Computer with iMovie
    5. 9.5. Set Up a Project in Adobe Premiere Elements
    6. 9.6. Transfer Media from Still Cameras and File-Based Camcorders in Adobe Premiere Elements
    7. 9.7. Capture Video from a Tape-Based Camcorder to a Computer with Adobe Premiere Elements
    8. 9.8. Learn About Analog-to-Digital Conversions
    9. 9.9. Merge Events to Organize Clips in iMovie
    10. 9.10. Organize with Folders in Project View in Adobe Premiere Elements
  15. 10. Editing Video and the Postproduction Process
    1. 10.1. Explore Video Editing
    2. 10.2. Explore Video Editing Principles
    3. 10.3. Why Use a Video Editing Program?
    4. 10.4. Explore the iMovie Workspace
    5. 10.5. Edit Video in iMovie and Add Transitions
    6. 10.6. Fine-Tune Edits in iMovie
    7. 10.7. Add Music to Your iMovie Project
    8. 10.8. Pin Background Music in iMovie
    9. 10.9. Using Sound Effects in iMovie
    10. 10.10. Record a Voiceover in iMovie
    11. 10.11. Manage Multi-Track Audio Levels in iMovie
    12. 10.12. Use Still Images in iMovie
    13. 10.13. Set Up a Loops Project in Apple GarageBand
    14. 10.14. Create a Soundtrack with Apple GarageBand
    15. 10.15. Explore the Adobe Premiere Elements Workspace
    16. 10.16. Edit Video in Adobe Premiere Elements
    17. 10.17. Trim Video in the Timeline in Adobe Premiere Elements
    18. 10.18. Record a Voiceover in Adobe Premiere Elements
    19. 10.19. Mix Audio in Adobe Premiere Elements
    20. 10.20. Use Still Images in Adobe Premiere Elements
    21. 10.21. Create a Soundtrack with SmartSound in Adobe Premiere Elements
  16. 11. Creating Transitions, Titles, and Other Video Effects
    1. 11.1. Explore Elements of Video Look and Feel
    2. 11.2. Learn About Software Plug-ins
    3. 11.3. Explore Lens Filters for Effects
    4. 11.4. Create Titles for Video in iMovie
    5. 11.5. Add and Replace Video Transitions in iMovie
    6. 11.6. Create Video Transitions in Adobe Premiere Elements
    7. 11.7. Create Titles for Video in Adobe Premiere Elements
    8. 11.8. Make Your Video Look Like Film
    9. 11.9. Export a QuickTime Movie from iMovie
    10. 11.10. Export a Movie to iTunes
    11. 11.11. Archive a Project in Adobe Premiere Elements
    12. 11.12. Explore Color Correction Possibilities
    13. 11.13. Learn the Basics of Shooting for Green Screen Effects
    14. 11.14. Replace Backgrounds in iMovie with Green Screen Effects
    15. 11.15. Replace Backgrounds in Adobe Premiere Elements with Green Screen Effects
  17. 12. Sharing Your Video with the World
    1. 12.1. Burn a DVD
    2. 12.2. Create a DVD with Apple iLife
    3. 12.3. Put Your Video on the Internet
    4. 12.4. Bring Your Movie into iWeb
    5. 12.5. Publish Directly to YouTube in iMovie
    6. 12.6. Prepare a Project for DVD Burning in Adobe Premiere Elements
    7. 12.7. Create a DVD with Adobe Premiere Elements
    8. 12.8. Burn a Standard DVD or Blu-ray Disc with Adobe Premiere Elements
    9. 12.9. Share iMovie Projects to Your MobileMe Account
    10. 12.10. Send Movies to iTunes for Download to an iPod
    11. 12.11. Share to Mobile Devices with Adobe Premiere Elements

Product information

  • Title: Teach Yourself Visually™: Digital Video, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: January 2010
  • Publisher(s): Visual
  • ISBN: 9780470570975