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Creating Video for the web |
| (1) Movie Task Menu (switchable to/ from collections list via icons below (4)) | (2) Collection view frame (if use pull down bar above can jump to video transitions or effects menues) | (3) Video playback window |
| (4) Menu options and icons | (5) Edited video timeline |
However it has many limitations. It doesn't support quicktime or real video files. It can only export as either windows media video (.wmv) or DV quality .avi file (not practical for web video). Whilst creating small web clips is easy saving DV quality footage back to your video camera can take hours.
We're not going to teach you all the features of this software. It is quite feature laden so you can fiddle around yourselves. We'll run through how to create quick web clips
You're going to need to have a video capture device (e.g. camcorder, digital camera or web cam- for more on these choices).
With a video camera things are relatively straight forward in transfering your footage to your computer, provided you have a suitable connection. Most digital video cameras have a high speed DV out socket which will allow connection to a firewire (IEEE 1394) port on your computer (for more on this or how to get this). Other video cameras (especially analogue ones) will require a you to connect to your computer through a video capture device (for more on this)
If you open Windows Movie Maker and Click file -> capture video, (or select this option from the on screen menu (1)), you may be able to automatically capture your video file via Windows Movie Maker. If this isn't the case make sure you have installed the relevant drivers, software etc for your camera and/or capture device. If this doesn't work try using the software with the capture device to save the file (preferably in .avi format).
If you use another capture device make sure it captures video in suitable format (.asf, .avi, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, and .wmv). It won't take quicktime movie files (.mov) for example. Simply select either file -> import into collections and locate your file or use import video (1) option from the on screen video. In all cases it is worth backing up your video files in case of accidents.
If you have a long video file (e.g. video camera footage), windows movie maker may offer to cut the clip up for you automatically. If not you can right click over the video file in the collection window and select create clips.
You can now simply drag and drop file clips down onto video line in (5) the editing pane. You can cut these files by either clicking clip -> split or using the split button in the view window (3). You can right click and select delete over unwanted sections (if you slip up select edit -> undo..). Right clicking over your sections also allows you to mute sound, fade in and out or add effects etc. You can also drag other clips dowwn onto your timeline.
You can add video effects, transitions and titles by either clicking relevant option in menu box under 2.Edit Movie in (1) or click tools or use the pull down menu at (4). You either follow on screen instructions or you can drag and drop the option onto your video timeline (5). You can drag and drop your clicks around to resequence and you can also add stills and music files (just import them as above but with relevant options)
Once you've made and checked your masterpiece, you can create suitable file to be placed on line. Either click file -> Save Movie File and select My computer (the web option well discuss later) or click save to my computer option in 3. Finish Movie in (1). You'll be prompted to give your file a name (remember all one case) & select a location to save it to (e.g. your website folder). You'll then be given a range of options.
Select Other Settings (A) and pull down to select a suitable file type These are based on estimate download or network speeds if the file was being streamed but will reduce your file size down. If you look at setting details you'll see the file type resolution and frames per second rate. Beside it you will see movie file info. Remember video files even with compression can be huge. You may need to select a slower speed file option or reduce your video's length. Most people with a modem (56Kbps or less) won't want to download files bigger than a few 100 Kb unless they have a really good reason.
Once you're happy click Next >.
Just create a link to your file as described elsewhere in this tutorial area and upload your video file and relevant webpages to your site.
We skimmed by the Save to the Web options. Microsoft had put this option in to allow you to upload directly to a video web host. As no host in the UK are signed up to this we can't comment on it, but it's likely to be a quick easy way of creating a video on the web who don't have a web site or are unsure about adding video.
