The chroma key effect has long been used to superimpose subjects over a colored background which is replaced with another image. “Chroma” refers to color, and the idea is that a background that uses a specific color will be replaced electronically with another image. The replaced image provides the illusion that the subject is in another locale or standing in front of graphical images such as weather maps or other news-related graphics. Thanks to sophisticated computer video editing software, the chroma key effect is now achievable with less expense and effort than in the days before digital video technology.

1. Choose your colored background. Either a green or blue screen has become the most popular choice for backdrops used in the key effect.
2. Step 2

   Construct the backdrop. The chroma key backdrop will need to be large enough to provide complete coverage for the desired scene. If using a canvas or muslin backdrop, the material should be free of any wrinkles or folds. The key backdrop should be as flat and smooth as possible.

3. Step 3

   Light the backdrop. For the chroma key effect to work, the backdrop must be lit as evenly as possible. Use broad lighting sources that provide consistent coverage of the backdrop.

4. Step 4

   Place the subject far enough in front of the backdrop to avoid shadows from the subject falling on the backdrop, or light from the backdrop reflecting onto the subject.

5. Step 5

   Videotape the desired scene with the camera position so the key backdrop fills the viewfinder.

6. Step 6

   Import the video into your video editing software.

7. Step 7

   Import the desired background image you wish to use to replace the colored background. Place this image below the key effect track.

8. Step 8

   Select the chroma key effect from the list of available filters or key effects.

9. Step 9

   Adjust the key controls for color range, cutoff and threshold until the colored backdrop is removed to reveal the background image. Use the effect controls to insure the edges of the foreground subject are free of any key color artifacts.

Your computer probably makes a variety of beeps, dings and clicks to accompany different actions, provide warnings or notify you of something. If there is a certain sound effect that you hear coming from your speaker from time to time and you do not like it, or if you simply want to mix things up a little bit, you can change the sounds associated with computer events. How you do so depends on which version of Windows you use.

How to Change Computer Speaker Sound Effects in Windows XP

1. Step 1

   Click the “Start” button and open the “Control Panel.” Make sure the “Control Panel” is in “Category View.” If it is in “Classic View,” select “Switch to Category View” in the left pane.

2. Step 2

   Open “Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices.” Select “Change the Sound Scheme” under “Pick a Task” in the left pane. The “Sounds and Audio Devices Properties” dialog box will open.

3. Step 3

   Click on an event in the “Program Events” section of the “Sounds and Audio Devices Properties” dialog box. Click “Play” to listen to the current sound effect for that event.

4. Step 4

   Open the “Sounds” drop-down list to select a different sound effect. Click “OK” to change the sound for that event.

5. Step 5

   Click the “Save As” button under “Sound Scheme” after you have changed as many sound effects as you choose. Enter a name for your sound scheme and click “OK” to save it. Click “OK” to close the “Sounds and Audio Devices Properties” dialog box.

How to Change Computer Speaker Sound Effects in Windows Vista or Windows 7

6. Step 1

   Click the “Start” button. Type “Sound” into the “Start Search” box at the bottom of the “Start” menu.

7. Step 2

   Select “Sound” or “Change System Sounds” under “Control Panel” in the list that results in the “Start” menu. The “Sound” dialog box will open.

8. Step 3

   Go to the “Sounds” tab of the dialog box.

9. Step 4

   Select a program event for which you want to change the sound effect. Change the sound effect by selecting another option in the “Sounds” drop-down list. Click the “Test” button to hear the sound effects through your computer speaker.

10. Step 5

    Click the “Save As” button under “Sound Scheme” after you have changed as many sound effects as you choose. Enter a name for your sound scheme and click “OK” to save it. Click “OK” to close the “Sounds and Audio Devices Properties” dialog box.

If you would like to add video effects of light sabers clashing or showing a flash of light when they meet, these instructions will show you how using the Lsmaker software.

1. This is really the second part of a tutorial on “How to Create Light Saber Effects with Lsmaker” and assumes you already have Lsmaker. However, you can apply these instructions on any existing work from Lsmaker or any video in AVI format.
2. Step 2

   If you already have a Lsmaker project file with lightsaber action, follow this step:

   Run Lsmaker and click on File and select Open. Select the lsm file (Lsmaker project file) that you want to add clash effects. You may get an Access Violation error. If you do, just ignore it by clicking OK.

   Skip to Step 4.

3. Step 3

   If you have any AVI video file with live action and light saber video effects from Lsmaker or any software, follow this step:

   What you basically do is go to File and select New. This will open up the choice for light saber color and blade look up front. Select your video import method and then click on the Add button to add your video. Continue to the next step.

   (If you do not have light saber video effects in your action clip, go to the eHow tutorial on How to Create Light Saber Effects Using Lsmaker).

4. Step 4

   
   

   On the lower left corner of the Lsmaker software, add another unused layer. In the video example above, Layer 4 was used to draw the flashing clashing effects because Layer 0 and 1 has swords. Layer 2 and 3 has additional flashing circle effects for experimenting other effects.

   If you are working on any video that already has scene with no clashing effects, the first (Layer 0) will do.

5. Step 5

   
   

   On the upper left of Lsmaker window, Effects Tab, and to the right of the Color label, click on the “…” button and select a clash picture for your clash. Repeat for the blade. You must select the same clash icon as your blade. Later on you can experiment with other combinations of colors, blades, and clash shapes.

6. Step 6

   Advanced the frame by clicking on the Right Arrow Key. Go to the frame where the swords first contact each other. Draw a starting point of the clash with a right click and an end point of the clash with left click. You will be basically creating an oval shape clash.

7. Step 7

   
   

   Draw additional clash points about one or two frames before and after the contact. It won’t look good if the flash shows on just one frame. It will be barely noticeable. Exaggerate the size of the clash. It will look much better than a small one. Depicted here is an example of the white (start) point and black (end) point of the flash oval. Play around with the First Width and Second Width values in the upper left corner to change the shape.

8. Step 8

   
   

   If you are working with an existing Lsmaker project with the Keyframe checked in the Settings Tab, follow these directions. Otherwise, skip Step 8 and go to the next step.

   After you created one clash, click on Don’t Interpolate in the Interpolate button on the left. Otherwise, the software will continue to add flashes between the two separate clashes. When the first tutorial was described, the “Keyframe” was checked. This function will be applied to all layers, unfortunately. The Don’t Interpolate function will get us around that problem.

9. Step 9

   Advance the frames with the Right Arrow Key and repeat the process for the next clash. (After the swords clash, always remember to select Don’t Interpolate in the Interpolate Mode button if you have Keyframe checked in the Settings Tab).

10. Step 10

    
    

    To check your work and see if the clashes are done correctly, go to the first frame and click on the play button. Click on Autopreview to see the render of the current layer each time you advance the frame or playback. Click on Autorender to see the render of all layers each time you do a frame advance or playback.

11. Step 11

    Once you are satisfied with the work, click on Export on the Main Menu and save the final rendered film.

12. Step 12

    
    

    Playback the rendered film to test. Add other effects such as sound and music to enhance the movie.

Have you ever made comments or markups on an Adobe Acrobat PDF file and wanted to print the file with your markups. Read on to see how.

1. So you’ve made some markups on a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat. Whether its for personal use or for work you may want to print out the PDF file with your markups to show someone else.
2. Step 2

   
   

   So the first step to printing out your markups after you’ve completed them is to either hit the “CTRL & P” or go the the “File” menu in the upper left hand corner and choose the print function.

3. Step 3

   
   

   Once you’ve done this you go to the the “Comments & Forms” field under the properties tab and select “Document & Markups”. Then all you have to do is Print and you’re all set!! You can also print without any markups by selecting the “document” option in the “Comments & Forms” field.

Photoshop is a powerful graphics program. One of the basic tricks to learn with Photoshop is how to create 3D or three dimensional effects. Once you master this simple technique, you can quickly make all your graphics “pop” visually. The example is going to use text as the graphic object but the directions work equally well with other graphics.

1. Open the Photoshop program. Create a new document. Set the document to have an opaque background (#FFFFFF.) The size optimum size for this project is 500×200 pixels.
2. Step 2

   Click on the “New Layer” icon. Select a text color. Next select the “Text” icon. Choose a thick font to get the maximum 3D effect. Type in the text you want to use.

3. Step 3

   Make a copy of the current layer. Drag this layer to the “New Layer” button. Next move the newly made layer under the first layer.

4. Step 4

   Choose the copied layer. Click on the “F” icon. Choose “Bevel and Emboss.” Select “Inner Bevel” style, “Chisel Hard” technique, “91%” depth, “Up” direction, “5 px” size and “0 px” soften. Click “OK” when you finish these selections from their drop-down menus.

5. Step 5

   Select the “Eye” next to the original text layer. Click on the “Move” tool. Simultaneously press “ALT+UP.” Next press the “Right” arrow key. Repeat this key sequence as many times as necessary to get the depth you want on your text.

6. Step 6

   Reactivate the original layer. Make sure you are working with the original layer. Click on the “Move” tool. Carefully move the text slightly to the right and up.

7. Step 7

   Create optional shadows and layer effects if you wish. Experiment to get the 3D graphic you want.

Ironman, Batman, Hancock, the Incredible Hulk – the public fascination with super heroes will never go out of style. But how can us mere mortals be super heroes in our every day lives? Read more and find out!

1. Conquer evildoers at every turn.
2. Step 2

   Continuously sacrifice yourself for the sake of others, preferably strangers.

3. Step 3

   Wear your brooding, tortured soul on your sleeve – evidently the public loves a troubled person with special powers.

4. Step 4

   Speaking of special powers, only use yours for good, never for evil.

5. Step 5

   Remain on a never ending quest to “find yourself.” Re-invent yourself if you have to, just so you’ll have to find out who the new you really is.

6. Step 6

   While you’re trying to find yourself, be sure your past remains somewhat of a mystery as well.

7. Step 7

   Never disclose your true identity.

8. Step 8

   Always save the day.

You have a video with light saber action that needs those recognizable searing light saber sounds. Here’s how to accomplish this task.

1. In this example, Windows Movie Maker or WMM will be used to add in the lightsaber sound effects to video. You can use practically any video editing software to do the same thing. Ulead, Pinnacle Studio, and Adobe After Affects are just a few examples but you have to purchase them. WMM is free.
2. Step 2

   If you don’t have light saber sound effects, find them on the internet. On the google search engine for example, just type in “light saber sound effects download” and you will find plenty of choices. Find a download that has a package of different light saber sound effects. A good link (still available in 2009) to several sound effects can be found in the resources below. All downloads assume that the files did not come from a questionable site and are scanned to be virus free.

3. Step 3

   To guide you on what sounds you are looking for, you must identify the files that must match the basic light saber actions:

   1. Light saber turning on and off (you can use the same sound).
   2. Light saber swinging
   3. Light saber clash or hit
   4. Light saber not swinging. (Just steady and humming).

   The filename should help identify the sound effects. If it doesn’t have a good filename, click on the file to playback the sound and rename the file to something better.

4. Step 4

   Run Windows Movie Maker. From the Main Menu, create a New Project and click Import Into Collections to import the video. Import all the sound files into the project work space. It is best to have all the sounds you need in one folder so you can select what you need and import them.

5. Step 5

   Select the video file icon on the workspace and drag it into the timeline at the bottom of WMM. Make sure that the timeline mode is shown instead of the storyboard mode. Just click on the name “Timeline or Storyboard” to toggle between modes.

6. Step 6

   Select the video in the workspace area of WMM and with the mouse drag it to the timeline. Click on the zoom in button (+ magnifying glass) so you can see the timeline for each second.

7. Step 7

   In this example, the light sabers are already on and swinging. Drag one of the sound effects for the swinging blade to the audio music track in the timeline.

8. Step 8

   Advanced the frame by clicking on the next frame button on the right below the preview video. You can also click on play or drag the vertical line to any frame. Go to the frame where the swords meet.

9. Step 9

   If the sound clip is too long or too short on the timeline, drag the end of the clip with the mouse and make the size line up to where the swords meet.

10. Step 10

    Drag the clash or hit effects sound clip to the WMM audio/music track. Again, if it is too long or too short, resize (but don’t move) the clip with the mouse. Don’t make the clash clip too short. It should be at least half a second, even if the blades touch for only one frame.

11. Step 11

    
    

    Drag another light saber swing sound effects and repeat the process until the end of the video clip. Playback the work once in a while to make sure the sounds line up correctly with the video.

12. Step 12

    Before you create a finished video with sound effects, play back the entire movie in Windows Movie Maker to check your work. Resize any sounds that don’t synchronize with the video. If you need to shift the entire sound track, use the CTRL or SHIFT button with the mouse to select the tracks that you want to move to make room for other video clips in the same project.

13. Step 13

    When you are satisfied with the playback, go to File, Save Movie File, and create a file for the finished film.

“Rotoscoping” is the process by which effects of various sorts can be added, frame by frame, to video footage, allowing the effect to move along with the on-screen object that it is associated with. The most well-known example of this can be seen in the lightsaber effect, in which the actor “wields” a glowing plasma sword that follows his or her movements. The glowing blade in this effect has been added in post-production using a program like Adobe After Effects. This article will show you how to produce this effect in After Effects.

1. Go to Creative Cow and download the Adobe After Effects Preset, which you will need for this project. Right-click the file and select “Cut”. Now go to the “Programs” folder, select the Adobe After Effects Folder and then open the “Presets” folder. Right-click and paste the file into the folder.
2. Step 2

   Launch After Effects. Select “File” and open a project containing video of your actor pretending to swing a sword. The actor should have a lightsaber prop handle in his hand during the filming. Go to the menu and click “Layer”, “New”, and then “Solid.” Name the layer “lightsaber” to keep things organized.

3. Step 3

   Go to the “Effects and Presets” panel on the right. Select “Animation Presets”, then “Andrew Kramer” (the person who made this preset) and click “VFX.” Below this you will see a “Light_saber” effect listed. Drag it to the video.

4. Step 4

   Place the “Start” base of the blade effect on the end of the prop in the actor’s hand. Place the other end where you want to end of the sword to be.

5. Step 5

   Drag the slider in the bottom right panel to get to the next frame. Move the two tips of the blade effect to match the movements of the actor. Repeat this for each frame.

Adding Transitions

1. Step 1

   Locate the two clips you want to transition between.

2. Step 2

   Select both clips by holding down the “Shift” key and clicking on both clips.

3. Step 3

   Click on “Editing.”

4. Step 4

   Click on “Transitions” at the top of the Editing window.

5. Step 5

   Click on a transition from the list. You will see a preview in the monitor area. You can continue to click on transitions to see previews.

6. Step 6

   When you find the transition you want, you can use the speed slider to adjust how long the transition will take. (The preview will adjust as you move the slider.)

7. Step 7

   Click “Add” when you have selected the transition and speed you want.

8. Step 8

   Repeat between each clip (video and/or photo) that you want to transition to.

Adding Effects

9. Step 1

   Click on the video clip that you want to add an effect to. (If you only want to add an effect to a portion of a movie clip, you can use the pointers to select a portion of the video. The part in yellow is the part that will have the effect applied to it.)

10. Step 2

    Click on “Editing.”

11. Step 3

    Click on “Video FX” at the top of the Editing window.

12. Step 4

    Click on an effect from the list. You will see a preview in the monitor area. You can continue to click on effects to see previews.

13. Step 5

    When you find the effect you want, you can optionally use the Effect In and Effect Out sliders. (This changes the speed at which the effect fully starts and fully ends. Try different speeds to see which one you like.)

14. Step 6

    Click “Add” when you have selected the effect and speed you want.

15. Step 7

    Repeat on additional video clips as needed.

Adding Titles

16. Step 1

    Click on “Editing.”

17. Step 2

    Click on “Titles” at the top of the Editing window.

18. Step 3

    Select a title style from the titles list. You will see a preview of the title in the monitor area.

19. Step 4

    Type the text you want in the text fields. Some title styles have + (add) and – (delete) so that you can add or delete extra text boxes.

20. Step 5

    Use the editing tools to change the size, font and color of the title text.

21. Step 6

    Use the speed and pause sliders to change the length of time the text stays on the screen.

22. Step 7

    To add a title over black, check the “Over Black” box. (Some titles cannot be used over black. The check box will be grayed out on those title types.) Drag the title from the Title’s List to where you want it to appear in your movie. The clips will move out of the way.

23. Step 8

    To add a title over a clip (video or still), make sure the Over Black box is unchecked. Drag the title from the Title’s List to the left of the clip you want the title to go over.

Installing two video cards on your PC offers the advantage of expanding your computer desktop to include two monitors. You can use one monitor to display full-screen video or presentation slides while the other displays the control menus for the software. If you run multiple programs at one time, you can keep these programs in view by arranging their windows between the two monitors. Depending on the screen size of each monitor, you can achieve a much larger viewable screen area for less money with two smaller monitors than one large monitor.

1. Confirm a functioning monitor is plugged into both video cards and powered on.
2. Step 2

   Click on the “Start” icon in the lower left corner of your desktop.

3. Step 3

   Select “Control Panel” from the Start menu and locate “Adjust Screen Resolution” under the “Appearance and Personalization” category heading.

4. Step 4

   Choose the monitor’s screen resolution you want to adjust using the Display pull-down menu. If both video cards are properly configured, you will see each connected monitor listed in the menu.

5. Step 5

   Click on the Resolution pull-down menu to display a list of available resolutions available for the video card. Use the slider to select the desired screen resolution.