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First, we start with a text layer. In this example, we’ll simulate a lower third, so we can apply Lock Anchor Point and set it to middle left.

Next, we’ll create a new shape layer. We’ll make a rectangle and fill it with a color of our choosing. Then, we’ll bring it down by our text layer and apply Lock Anchor Point in similar fashion as before.

In order to get this shape layer to size properly if we change the text of our lower third, we need an expression. We’ll create three variables. The first one I’ll call size, and this is set to the text layer. We can use the pickwhip.

Then, we create a variable for width. We’ll call our variable size and then add dot sourceRectAtTime().width. This will return the width of the text layer. Likewise, we’ll create a variable for height to read the height.

Finally, we’ll return the width and height in an array. This will allow the shape layer to adjust to the text layer.

size=thisComp.layer(“Text”);
width=size.sourceRectAtTime().width;
height=size.sourceRectAtTime().height;
[width,height];

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In this video, I talk you through how to create a planar shockwave (as first seen in Star Trek VI: the Undiscovered Country when the Klingon moon of Praxis explodes). The opening of that movie starts with a cataclysmic event which results in two shockwaves traveling through space. It’s an awesome opening scene and the VFX was reused in the Stargate movie and the Star Wars Special Editions. While exploding rings may not be scientifically likely, they do look pretty cool, but every tutorial I’ve seen on the topic has stuck to the 2D method. It turns out it is possible and quite simple to produce a 3D expanding ring using CC Particle World.

I cover both the 2D version, which uses a combination of Fractal Noise, Linear Wipes and Polar Coordinates to get the right look. Then I go on to use the included CC Particle World to generate a shockwave in an entirely different way.

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Claudia Zimmer, CYME CEO: “During the holiday season, photographers actively dedicate time to cataloging their image collections. It was important for us to meet this deadline and deliver software capable of helping photographers in this task. We’re thrilled to announce that after 9 months of hard work, Peakto is now faster and better than ever before! With a revamped software architecture, Peakto can handle large volumes of photos with lightning speed. Throughout 2023, we’ve also added exciting new features to make the photo cataloging experience even more enjoyable. We take great pride in presenting this achievement as a valuable year-end offering to our esteemed users.”

In Peakto version 1.10, users can count on an impressive performance upgrade, demonstrated by its ability to process a catalog of 12,000 photos in just 4 minutes and 30 seconds, compared to the previous 9 minutes and 30 seconds. Peakto is designed to efficiently handle even larger photo catalogs, including those exceeding 100,000 photos.

Peakto consolidates a photographer’s entire image collection into a single, unified interface. Whether captured with an iPhone or a dedicated camera, stored within a photo editing software catalog or a regular folder, Peakto provides access to the photographer’s entire image library and empowers him to take simultaneous actions on all his photos. Peakto enables sorting, annotating, album creation, and utilizes artificial intelligence to simplify the photographer’s life. Its image recognition capabilities automatically categorize photos based on their content and introduce innovative search options, including description-based and similar-image searches. Peakto serves as an indispensable ally for efficient photo management.

Faster and Smoother: Improved UI

Peakto 1.10 incorporates additional enhancements, such as new features for sorting photos and the ability to auto-configure Peakto for optimal performance based on your computer. The user interface (UI) of Peakto has undergone significant improvements, especially regarding Smart Albums. These albums now come with pre-filled templates, simplifying organization for photographers. Users can create albums based on their photo metadata, the categories assigned by Peakto’s AI, or opt for custom criteria to craft albums that perfectly align with their needs. Whether it’s automatically gathering stunning wide-angle travel photos or assembling portraits, Peakto provides an automated and efficient solution for managing photos.

Price and availability

Peakto is a software for macOS, available by subscription or one-time purchase on CYME.io and on the Mac App Store. Peakto can be tested for free for 15 days (no credit card required on CYME.io). Peakto is available on a monthly plan at $9.99/month; a yearly plan at $59.99/year; or for a one-time purchase of $189. 

Configuration

Optimized for M2, Peakto requires macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later. Peakto is compatible with the latest macOS version, Sonoma. More info

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Find the course on the Triggerfish Academy website.

Presented by Kaya Kuhn and Dianne Makings, highly experienced animation producers and veterans of some of Triggerfish’s most ambitious projects, you’ll get to learn how to manage creative teams, project scope, budgets, and schedules, all the while working alongside a director to maximise the creative vision within the budget.

In this course, Kaya and Dianne will explain what a producer does and what skills and proficiencies are required in the role, as they guide us through each stage of a production, from bidding to broadcast.   

Best of all, it’s completely free of charge, made possible through a Triggerfish donor.

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Directed by Taika Waititi (“Jojo Rabbit,” “Thor: Ragnarok”), “Next Goal Wins” follows the infamously terrible American Samoa soccer team, known for a brutal 2001 FIFA match they lost 31-0. With the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers approaching, the team hires down on his luck, maverick coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) hoping he will turn the world’s worst soccer team around in this humorous and heartfelt underdog story.

Cinematographer Lachlan Milne, who worked with Waititi on “Hunt for the Wilderpeople,” had also worked with Cole on two back to back films, “Love and Monsters” and “Minari.” Working with Milne and Cole, Waititi focused on creating a unique feel for the film’s two distinct sequences. “One of Taika’s main directives was that American Samoa needed to lean into the world of ‘hyper real’ or ‘postcard idealized,’” said Cole. “In comparison, at soccer HQ, we were attempting to have a feeling of the more ‘normal/formal’ world of organized sports, and in particular, to enhance the ‘interrogation’ of Fassbender’s character Rongen.”

With extensive work on LUT development for production, Cole found the greatest challenge was managing the diverse lighting after the shoot. “We really tried to lean into the ‘idealized island’ for those scenes,” continued Cole. “Wrestling with the constantly changing weather conditions, which happens when you film open exteriors in Hawaii with seemingly four seasons in four minutes, was very challenging.”

Cole leaned into DaVinci Resolve Studio’s toolset throughout the project. “We used the full arsenal of Resolve tools, including keys, animated Power Windows and curves to have a consistent feel over the course of the movie,” he added. “Custom DCTLs were used to handle gamut mapping of police car lights so that they didn’t tear and look too digital. A custom film emulation was also created within Resolve and applied to the entire movie. The film’s LUTs were also developed within the grading package.”

With a wide variety of beautiful imagery, Cole particularly enjoyed grading the team mountain run. “I really loved the scene and following montage of the team running up a mountain where a delirious Rongen delivers a speech. Lush vegetation, beautiful skies, low sun and enticing beaches all added up to a beautiful couple of scenes,” he noted.

While challenging schedule wise, Cole enjoyed working with such a visionary filmmaker as Waititi. “Taika is a filmmaker who is always busy and has many plates spinning at once,” said Cole. “We began grading the film, then stopped for a year or more while he went off and shot ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’ We then came back to an editorially refined version of the film and completed the movie. Judicious use of Taika’s time during grading sessions and meetings allowed us to get inside his head and realize his vision on the screen.”

“Next Goal Wins” is now in theaters.

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Rohde & Schwarz USA, Inc. offers customers two free seats at their popular THU9 Operation and Maintenance Transmitter Training with a purchase of a THU9 Transmitter. The two-day course is held several times a month and led by veteran transmitter expert Glen Hurst at the Rohde & Schwarz U.S. Headquarters in Columbia, MD. Participants of this training session will come away with a comprehensive understanding of how to configure, operate and troubleshoot air and liquid-cooled TV transmitters as well as liquid cooled FM and FMHD transmitters.

With over 1000 transmitters installed across the U.S. and over 350 students already trained, the training sessions were at full capacity in 2023. Consequently, Rohde & Schwarz has decided to schedule more training classes in 2024 to satisfy the rising demand for the training sessions as well as to modernize the already efficient lineup of transmitters in the dedicated training room. “We believe the better trained and prepared a customer is, the more valuable they are to the entire Broadcasting community” comments Glen Hurst, Transmission Systems Engineer / AE at Rohde & Schwarz, “and we hope to exceed the 200-training mark in 2024.” he concludes.

The first day of the training starts with a test on a basic transmitter diagram and progresses to actual schematics, followed up with a show and tell on newly installed transmitters. The second part of the first day, attendees will relocate to the demo room where they learn about every aspect of the GUI of the transmitter in detail.

Rohde & Schwarz uses many instruments to ensure that the training is fast paced, but equally comprehensive and vivid. The second day is kicked off with a review of the knowledge acquired on the previous day and a deep dive into more transmitter details before the rest of the day is dedicated to gaining some profound hands-on experience. Attendees are now provided with the opportunity to learn-by-doing, and are given a commissioning scenario to manage so that they get some insight into performing this function on their own at their transmitter site. The tutoring and coaching of the two-day-training is rounded up by a hands-on common troubleshoot scenario where participants have the chance to apply the newly gained know-how. Attendees are given a simple fault plots at first, then advance to the point of multiple failures and are even given defective repair parts to manage. 

Refreshments and lunch are provided throughout the entire training. Dinner is also provided in-between the training days, which is commonly used for exchanging and sharing best practices amongst attendees and coaches.

For participation in future trainings please reach out to Glen Hurst: glen.hurst@rsa.rohde-schwarz.com

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