You know how powerful Photoshop is, but have you used Photoshop Elements? This is the junior or consumer version. It cannot do everything Photoshop can do, but it is perfect if you have photos that just need a bit of very quick help. This powerful little program is simple and very fast to use. I recently finished a scanning job consisting of 5000 slides. Part of my service is to clean up some of those slides which can be easily helped with Photoshop Elements.

There are a handful of tools in Photoshop Elemens that do most of the work. Smart Fix can improve colors and contrast in a heartbeat. It takes a second to try its slider so you can give more or less “Smart Fix.” Another control called Levels has three choices: Shadows, Midtones, and Highlights. I use Shadows a lot when a face is too dark. One reason this happens is that a scan or photo of a photo tends to build contrast. If that face was in shadow or dark before the scan, it becomes worse when scanned or photographed. Just a touch of Level/Shadows lightens the dark face enough to make it recognizable without changing the rest of the photo. This takes two seconds.

Another tool I use a lot is the Spot Healing Tool. In 60 year-old slides, you will often find that dust and dirt are baked into the photo. This baked in dirt cannot be brushed out. There may be a chunk of this baked-in dirt in the sky portion of the photo. The Spot Healing Tool removes that defect in a second. Just be careful not to remove flying birds from the sky who may look like a spec of dirt. A similar spec of dirt on a face requires caution. You might want to save a untouched version of the photo. Work on a copy. And for a face, you will want to enlarge the photo and use a smaller brush taking care not to save until it is right.

Photoshop Elements can do layers and other sophisticated manipulations. It offers a Quick Mode which is what I use. Only occasionally do I need to click on the “Expert” mode. I use this mode to rotate an image just a few degrees rather then 90 or 180 which are the choices in Quick Mode. In fact, dig into this app and you will find it can do all kinds of things you might have assumed could only be done in Photoshop. But I love a tool I can use quickly without reading the manual and accomplish 90% of what I need. Should you need help, the built-in online manual is good and there are many YouTube tutorial videos.

All of these tasks can be done in Photoshop, but they take longer to do and are somewha more complex. Photoshop Elements is intuitive so you may never read the manual. It does not require expertise in image manipulation like its big brother. And unlike the current Photoshop, Photoshop Elements is offered as a one-time purchase — no subscription required. CS6 was the last standalone version of Photoshop that did not require a subscription. It is still available on eBay if you search. eBay is where I bought my Photoshop Elements version 12. It’s about 10 years old, but it works great and does not try to nag or upsell you like so much in our digital world.

You can save even more by using free clone versions like Photopea or GIMP. In fact there are many options for photo editing software these days.

The post Photoshop Elements Fast and Easy appeared first on VideoUniversity.

I was surprised when a client gave me what looked like a small audio cassette to transfer. It was about half the size of a MiniDV tape. I had to Google it and discovered that it was, in fact, a video cassette. MicroMV was a proprietary videotape format Sony introduced in 2001. It is the smallest videotape format — 70% smaller than MiniDV or about the size of two US quarter coins; It was the first helical scan tape system using MR read head introduced to the market. Each cassette can hold 60 minutes of video.

The MicroMV format does not use the “DV25” codec used by the very popular DV & MiniDV formats. Instead, it uses 12 Mbit/s MPEG-2 compression, like that used for DVDs and HDV. Footage recorded on MicroMV format initially could not be directly edited with mainstream DV editing software such as Adobe Premiere or Apple Final Cut Pro; instead Sony supplied its own video editing software MovieShaker (for Windows PCs only). None of this made it very popular.

There were also MicroMV cameras which were sold exclusively by Sony. The format and the MicroMV camcorder models were discontinued in November 2015. Since I had never before been asked to transfer this format, I decided not to buy one of the used MicroMV camcorders I found on eBay.

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When you are talking to a prospect about producing a video, some smart questions will help you make the sale and create the video that will truly help your client.

One of the first questions to ask is “Should we include any other decision-makers in our conversation?” It is very easy to spend a lot of time talking to the wrong person in a corporation. Ideally this conversation should include anyone who could kill the deal. And certainly anyone who has the power to say “yes.”

What goals should we make for this video?
What’s your approximate budget for this project?
When would you like to start using this video?
Who is the audience for this video?

These are some of the questions I use when meeting with a corporate marketing person or other decision maker interested in having me produce a video. These videos typically fall in the marketing or training categories.

Ask The Right Questions And Listen Carefully

One of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced sales people is that they talk too much about themselves and their business. One of the keys to sales success is to keep the focus on the client, not on you. People like to talk about themselves and their work. So if you have a big ego like I do, just remember that your goal is to get a signed contract, not to boast about or explain your entire business. So ask leading questions like why they want a video, rather than a static webpage or printed piece. Ask if they think a video on their website would help make sales and why. Then listen carefully to their answers.

Listening carefully is important to sales success. By listening you will learn who they are, what they want and what they want to buy. Listen very carefully and they’ll give you a world of vital information. Then it’s a fairly simple matter of giving them what they want in your proposal.

You are gathering information so you can help this company. So when you visit a company, keep your eyes open. While sitting in the reception area waiting to meet your prospect, look at what’s hanging on the walls. Awards, testimonial letters and the like can give you a lot of important information about this company. Many times these details will end up in the video. Browse through the trade magazines on the table. While you’re waiting, ask the receptionist if there’s a company brochure you might have. There are clues all around you.

When you meet the person, look them in the eye, smile and give them a good business handshake (firm, but not overbearing). Be sure to use their name in your greeting. If you have any doubts about how to pronounce the name, ask. It’s very important to remember this person’s name and pronounce it correctly. And don’t forget all the social courtesies your mother taught you. Open a door for a lady, take your hands out of your pockets, don’t chew gum and all that other stuff she tried to drill into your head. I do hope you remember it all because now’s the time you need it.

First impressions mean a lot. I believe that many sales decisions are subconsciously made in the first couple minutes of a meeting. If that’s true, then from that first meeting until you have a contract everything you do must reinforce that initial positive impression.

Excerpted from Professional Video Producer

The post Smart Questions Help Sell A Corporate Video appeared first on VideoUniversity.

When you originally signed up for internet access, you probably got email service and an email address like hallanden44@cox.net. That’s fine, but you can do much better. Here’s how to move to a good email service. But before you choose a new email provider, you need a business strategy.

My internet provider started giving me terrible service about a year ago. I desperately wanted to change to another ISP, but I was intimidated by the number of customers, friends, business accounts, and new clients I might lose touch with. I was afraid I could lose too much business. So I stayed with the ISP. Many tech support phone calls later, our relationship became strained to say the least.

You may have had an old @twc.com or @aol.com email address ever since you signed up for cable internet years ago. It has served you well. But those cable company-provided email services are not the best. In some cases, they can disappear if you move or switch to a different internet provider. This can take years of history and saved emails with them. Fortunately I had my web site email video@videouniversity and a Gmail address. I’ll explain later how to get addresses like those.

Some internet service providers like Comcast and AT&T allow you to keep your email address when you leave, but many others will disconnect your email service the moment you jump ship. Some may forward emails to a new address, but read the rules carefully. One of the first things I did was to look at my long list of passwords and various accounts. Think of all the places you have entered your email address. This included some very important accounts. I had some 70 pages of notes and accounts.

I went through them one-by-one and changed my contact email from the old Cox address to my Gmail account. Some were difficult to change. Some use your email address as your user name whether that was a live address or not. But I was persistent. It took quite a while, but I still had my Cox address so there was no rush.

Even if you aren’t thinking about leaving your provider now, you may be forced to do so in the future. You would almost certainly be better served by a more modern, feature-filled email service like Gmail, Outlook or others. Portability is vital. Unfortunately, choosing a new email address means you’ll need to figure out what to do with all your old messages. And set up a new email account that isn’t tied to your internet service.

You’ll need to pick a new email service. There are many choices, but most will probably want to go with one of the following:

Gmail:
Google’s Gmail is a top choice for many. It offers a user-friendly interface, powerful search capabilities, and excellent spam and malware filtering. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with other Google services like Google Drive. It provides 15 gigabytes of storage for free, but you can also create a custom email domain for your business. Gmail is, however, well known for collecting a lot of user data, though it does offer some control through its privacy settings.

Outlook
Microsoft’s web-based email service, Outlook.com, is a modern and clean option. It offers 15 gigabytes of storage and integrates well with Microsoft’s Office tools. It’s worth noting that Microsoft doesn’t scan your emails for ads, although it does scan for spam and malware.

iCloud
If you’re an Apple user, iCloud may be a good fit. It works smoothly with Macs and iPhones, and there are no ads. However, it has a smaller storage limit of 5 gigabytes, which is shared with other Apple products. It isn’t as feature-rich as other options.

Fastmail
For those concerned about privacy and control, Fastmail is a paid service (between $3 and $9 per month) that offers a secure and ad-free experience. It allows you to create an email account with your desired domain like john@johnsmith.com, and it’s an excellent option for those who want an alternative to big tech companies.

ProtonMail
If privacy is your top priority, ProtonMail is a great choice. It provides end-to-end encryption for maximum security. However, it requires some setup and both you and your recipients must use ProtonMail for full privacy benefits.

Once you’ve picked the right provider for you, sign up for your account. Choose a user name you’ll want to stick with for the long haul. When you get your new email address, start using it exclusively. Send emails with it and include a note or signature with all emails you send. Please change your address book to replace my old email “hallanden44@cox.net” to my new email “video@videouniversity.com” (or the new Gmail address.) Email everyone you know in the BCC column, so hopefully they will change your email in their address book.

Migrate Your Old Emails to Your New Inbox

Do you want to keep all your old emails? I’ve been using an email client called Pegasus Mail for decades. My inbox had 6000 emails, but it is easy to search and find a person or an email. This is a very good time to delete the unneeded emails. Try sorting them by “From” or by “Subject.” You’ll find hundreds you can easily delete. Making this list of emails smaller is going to help in this transition. In my case I disconnected Pegasus Mail, but kept it on my desktop so I always had an easy way to search for an email or person.

You may want to import them all to your new email client, but there’s no rush. Eventually you will have just one email client and one place to check and send emails. There are a few ways to do this. Some email providers, like Gmail and Outlook, allow you to fetch emails from more than one account. This uses a protocol called POP, and your old I.S.P.-supplied email address has to support it — many should — though you will have to read through its help documents or call customer service for instructions on setting it up with your new account’s fetcher.

When I started this transition I set up a new email client “Mozilla’s Thunderbird” and have been very happy with it. I use it only for my new emails. For the old ISP I check emails on their website. I sometimes have to forward one of those emails to the new address. But this messes up “from sender” field and has other negatives. But as time goes on I do not need to do much manual forwarding.

My goal was to not lose any new customer emails, any accounts or relationships. It is looking good. Thunderbird will soon become my sole email client. Pegasus is seeing a lot less action.

Forward New Messages From Your Old Account

Even if you tell all your family, friends, and business associates about your new address, occasionally someone may forget and email you at your old address. If your old account has become overrun by spam over the years, you may want to keep that account separate and check it only from time to time to make sure you aren’t missing anything important. If your inbox is pretty clean, though, I recommend setting up email forwarding, so any new messages sent to your old account will appear in your new inbox. I find that forwarding is not 100%, but is pretty good.

Not all I.S.P.(Internet Service Provider)-provided email services support this feature, but many do. Comcast, for example, allows you to forward emails automatically using these instructions. AT&T uses Yahoo Mail for its email service, so you can find information about forwarding email in Yahoo’s knowledgebase. Again, check the help documentation for your ISP-provided email. Some ISPs can put your account on “seasonal” mode for a couple months which saves money and allows forwarding.

In any case, this is a good time to future-proof your email account. Get a new independent email account that you control and can move to any I.S.P. in the future.

See next The Best Life Hacks Ever.

The post A Better Email Service Strategy for your Business appeared first on VideoUniversity.

Old family photos may be some of the most valuable possessions you have. They are the first thing many people grab when their house is threatened by water or fire. Old photos are one thing that cannot be replaced. Natural disasters are not the only threat to old photos. They can fade until the picture is nearly invisible. For both of these issues there is a great solution. Digitize the photos. This is something we have a lot of experience with.

Digitizing or scanning is the first step in preserving old photos. We have a variety of scanners for every situation. Some photos or documents are very fragile and must be scanned a certain way to prevent them from falling apart. We have options for scanning to suit your needs, But first let’s look at the how old photos are damaged in the first place.

The most common damage is fading and that is caused by light. It is called photodegradation. If you have photos on a wall that gets direct sunlight in the morning, you have probably seen this. The colors fade and over time can make a photograph disappear completely. In addition to light, dust, mold, air and smoke can also degrade a photo. Keeping a photo behind glass or in an album helps protect it.
Anything acidic that touches an old photo may harm it. Scotch tape will turn dark and may be impossible to safely remove from a picture. Paper clips or staples can leave a rust stain on a picture.

The first step to preserve your photo is to digitize the photos. That stops the degradation in its tracks. Put the original away. The next step is to Photoshop the digital image. This can easily fix many minor problems which detract from the appearance. If you want to try Photoshop yourself, there’s an inexpensive and simple version of Photoshop called Photoshop Elements. Adobe makes a new version of this program every year, but it is really not necessary to buy the latest version for this kind of work. You can find earlier versions of Photoshop Elements on eBay for $30 – $40. Be sure you are looking at the program and not one of the many books about the program. On eBay they look alike.
There’s no risk for you to try improving a digital photo if you save the new version of the digital photo with a new name e.g. Grandma1, Gradma2, etc. This is like an undo option.

We can scan and restore your photos and slides Click here for details or call 401 253 2800.

The post How to Preserve and Restore Old Photos appeared first on VideoUniversity.

In the era before consumer video formats like VHS, film on reels was the only medium for making home movies. If you’re fortunate enough to have a collection of these vintage films, you may have footage of yourself and your family as young children, and of loved ones who have since passed away. This can be a treasure trove of poignant family memories.

Kodak introduced 8mm film in 1932, which was followed by Super 8. 16mm film came earlier. These film formats were popular from the 1930s until the 1980s. While many films hold up remarkably well over the decades, imperfect storage and chemical breakdown can take their tolls on these old films. Converting films to digital stops the disintegration process.

If you want to convert your film to digital, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, inspect the film for tears or breaks, particularly in the sprocket holes before projecting it on a projector. If you find any damage, repair it using a splicer and splicing tape. Then, check the projector to ensure it’s working correctly and not tearing the film or creating its own sprocket holes. Make sure the threading path is clear and free of dirt or dust to prevent scratching the film. Avoid stopping or pausing the film when the projector lamp is on. This can burn or melt the film. If possible use a five-bladed projector for this type of transfer. Engineers created these projectors specifically for film transfers.

The shutter speed of the video camera is another variable you can adjust for making good film transfers. Set the shutter speed of the video camera shutter to roughly the frames per second (fps) speed of the projector. So, if your projector is running at 18 fps, you can set the camera shutter as low as 1/18 second or a little faster. Mount the camera on a tripod.

When the projector and film are working well, the next step is to set up the projector in a dark room. Use a smooth, white projection surface no wide than 24 inches. A white wall can work well.
Set up a digital video camera or smart phone camera and position it on a stable surface close to the side of the projector. Record some footage as a test to see if there are any problems.

Troubleshooting Tips
Flickering is a common issue in DIY transfers. To correct this some projectors have a variable speed control. Adjusting the shutter speed to 1/60 second or less often solves the problem. Experiment to find the best combination.

Most video cameras meter light automatically and continuously which can cause over or underexposure. If your camera has the option of manual exposure, try setting it to a fixed exposure to help prevent this problem.

DIY Digitizing Film Reels vs Professional Service
The best way to convert motion picture film is frame-by-frame scanning which is how the professional services do it. Here at Oak Tree Press we use a professional scanning system for 8mm, Super 8 and 16mm films.

After inspecting and repairing the films, we apply a non-abrasive film cleaning solution that not only removes years of gunk. Not only does this make the film look better, but it also restores the film to a pliable condition so that it will run smoothly through our frame-by-frame film scanning system.

Using a reputable scanning service to convert 8mm, Super 8 or 16mm film will not only save you time and aggravation, but produce far better results than the commonly-used DIY method discussed above.

The post How to Convert Films Reels to Digital appeared first on VideoUniversity.

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or just starting out, there are always ways to improve your photography (and video) skills. By experimenting with some easy camera tricks, you can take your photography to the next level and create stunning images that capture the essence of your subject. Here are some simple camera tricks to try:

Play with Composition

One of the easiest ways to improve your photography is to experiment with composition. The rule of thirds is a great place to start. Imagine a grid of nine equal squares on your camera screen, then place your subject on one of the four intersecting points. This creates a more interesting and dynamic composition than simply centering your subject. Many cameras have a grid over the shot that shows you exactly where those points are.

Use Natural Light

Good lighting is key to great photography. Whenever possible, use natural light also called available light instead of artificial light. Try taking pictures during the golden hour, which is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. During this time, the light is soft and warm, creating a beautiful, natural glow.

Get Low or High

Change up your perspective by getting low or high. Try crouching down or lying on the ground to take pictures from a low angle, which can make your subject appear larger and more dominant. Alternatively, try shooting from a higher angle, which can make your subject look smaller and more vulnerable.

Create Depth with Foreground

Adding foreground to your shots can create depth and interest. Look for elements in the foreground that can lead the viewer’s eye into the main subject. This can be anything from flowers to rocks to architectural details. Sometimes you can move flowers or a branch or something into the foreground. Ask a friend to hold it or use a stand.

Use Leading Lines

Leading lines are a great way to draw the viewer’s eye into the photo. Look for natural or man-made lines in your environment, such as roads, rivers, or buildings, and use them to create a sense of depth and movement.

Experiment with Focus

Playing with focus can create interesting effects in your photos. Try focusing on a specific part of your subject and letting the rest of the image blur out. Or, try using a shallow depth of field to create a bokeh effect, where the background is blurred and the subject is in sharp focus. You need a long lens to get this effect. Or use a wide lens close to the subject and far from the background, although this approach can be more difficult depending on the focal length of the lens, f-stop and distances.

Shoot from Different Angles

Finally, don’t be afraid to move around and shoot from different angles. Try taking pictures from above, below, or even from behind your subject. This can create unique and unexpected images that stand out from the rest.

To summarize, these easy camera tricks are a great way to improve your photography skills and create stunning images that capture the essence of your subject. Camera tricks do not have to be difficult nor do they require additional gear. So grab your camera and start experimenting!

The post Easy Camera Tricks to Enhance Your Photography Skills appeared first on VideoUniversity.

During the 1990s, Blockbuster was a dominant movie distributor, particularly for VHS tapes. I have a fond memory of visiting my mother in central Pennsylvania, and one evening we decided to visit a Blockbuster store. As I perused the shelves, I stumbled upon two films that I had worked on as a cameraman. To my delight, my name was listed on the credits displayed on the slick VHS movie cases. My mother was amazed and proud, and it was a moment that has stayed with me ever since.

Blockbuster, the iconic movie rental retailer, closed most of its operations in 2014 but still has an active website. A recent tweet by the company joked about reopening and using VHS and DVDs as currency, sparking nostalgic memories for fans who shared their favorite childhood memories of picking out movies and video games with family and friends. The website blockbuster.com only has one page, the graphic above this article.

In the early 2000s, Netflix proposed a strategic alliance with Blockbuster to strengthen the movie rental market. However, Blockbuster rejected the offer to acquire Netflix for 50 million and did not embrace the idea of offering DVD rental services through email and streaming. Blockbuster’s resistance to change caused it to lose the chance of a lifetime, as video rentals became obsolete in the US a year later. The success of Netflix’s streaming service caused Blockbuster to lose customers, leading to its eventual downfall.

In 2011, the Blockbuster brand was acquired by DISH, a satellite TV company, for a whopping $320 million, as reported by Variety. Following the acquisition, DISH owned the licensing rights and created Blockbuster On Demand, a vast library of thousands of movies that were available to DISH customers and also as a standalone app. However, despite its initial popularity, the Blockbuster On Demand app is no longer available for download.

The Blockbuster story serves as a reminder that businesses must be willing to adapt and embrace change to remain relevant in a constantly evolving market.

The Last Blockbuster is a documentary that explores the story of the movie rental retailer that dominated the industry in the 1990s. This film can be seen on Amazon Prime. See the movie trailer.

The Last Blockbuster store, located in Bend, Oregon, is the only remaining physical location, which has made it a popular tourist destination for fans of the brand. The documentary features interviews with former Blockbuster employees and explores the cultural significance of the store. The film has also inspired nostalgia in many who remember the experience of visiting Blockbuster stores to rent movies and games. Blockbuster grew from a single store in Dallas to a chain of 9,000 locations over two decades.

The post The Last Blockbuster appeared first on VideoUniversity.

If you have a collection of old videotapes gathering dust in a closet or basement, transferring them to disk or a digital format may be a wise decision. Here are four good reasons why:

1. One of the best reasons to transfer your videotapes is to preserve precious family memories: Videotapes can degrade over time, causing the images and sounds they contain to become distorted or lost. By transferring your videotapes to a digital format, you preserve the precious memories captured in the videos, such as family gatherings, weddings, and other special events.

2. Reduce the clutter: By transferring videotape contents to a digital format, you can free up space, but more importantly this make it easy to view the videos.

3. Make videos playable again: Older playback equipment such as VCRs and camcorders do not last forever. These devices are often impossible to repair since parts are no longer available. Transferring your videotapes to a digital format allows you to easily watch and share your videos on modern devices, including TVs, phones, and computers.

4. Edit and enhance the videos: Once your videotapes are in a digital format, you can easily edit them using video editing software. Now the video can tell a story using music, narration, and titles. Simply cutting out some bad footage makes it a pleasure to view. And the best part is that editing the videos doesn’t erase the original footage, so you preserve both the original and edited versions. Of course there is no obligation to edit and you can do it long after the transfer is made.

At Oak Tree Press in Bristol, we transfer and edit all formats of videotapes. All work is done in house. Nothing is sent out. For more information or to schedule a transfer, please call Hal at 401-253-2800 (sorry, no texting). Or email video@videouniversity.com

The post 4 Good Reasons To Transfer Your Videotapes appeared first on VideoUniversity.

Handbrake is a free and open-source video transcoder program that will convert video files from one format to another. It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Handbrake was first released in 2003 as a DVD ripping tool. It was originally developed by Eric Petit and was based on the open-source libraries of other projects. Handbrake evolved into a more versatile tool. In 2006, the project was taken over by a team of developers who continued to update and improve the program.

Handbrake is like a grandfather program spawning a number of transcoding programs which are based on Handbrake. Here are some of the most popular offspring:

VidCoder is a Windows-based program that is based on Handbrake. It allows users to convert video files into a variety of different formats and also includes a range of advanced features for customizing the output file. I use this program a lot in my video transfer business.

RipBot264 is another Windows program that is based on Handbrake. It allows you to convert video files into a variety of different formats. It also includes advanced features for customizing the output file.

FFmpeg is a command-line tool that can be used to convert video files from one format to another. It is based on a number of different open-source tools, including Handbrake. Unlike the others, FFmpeg is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How To Use Handbrake

Download and install Handbrake from https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php the official website. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the program on your computer.

When the installation is complete, launch Handbrake.

Click the “Open Source” button in Handbrake to find and select or drag the video file you want to convert. It will automatically detect the file’s information including the resolution. You can leave it on the default which is Fast 1080p 30.

In the “Output Settings” section, choose the output format you want to convert the video to such as MP4, MKV, or AVI.

You can adjust the video settings from the “Video” tab. Change the resolution, frame rate, and other settings as you wish. Be sure to click the constant frame rate option because the peak frame rate is variable and is known to cause issues.

Go to the Video tab and set the codec to H.264 and use the one that’s first in the list. For frame rate choose 30. Go to the audio tab and select AAC.

Click the “Preview” button to see what it will look like.

When you’ve made all the necessary choices, click the “Start Encode.” The time it takes for conversion will depend on the length and size of your video file.

When it is done, the converted file will be saved to the location you specified in the “Destination” section.

That’s it!

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