How to Simulate a Flashbulb in Your Video

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How to Simulate a Flashbulb in Your Video

By Le Papy - Last updated on Saturday, January 14, 2012
15574 Views :: 2 Comments ::

(Total Votes: 11)
Category: Studio 1-15 Tutorials / Edition - Previous tutorials - Associated File(s) - Associated Link(s)
Published on Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Created on Thursday, December 13, 2007 2:28 AM

How do you imitate a flashbulb in a video ?
The question is often asked. We will continue from a previous tutorial in order to refresh your memory or just to let you learn about other possibilities with Studio.

HT38/Clopin/JCGrini from the Pinnacle Forum had contributed to the development of the first tutorial on the subject. At that time Studio users had little in the way of video effects. We will assume that you have at least the Studio 10 Plus version to use this tutorial.

We will discuss the implementation of this effect in three different ways.

The 1st Method called "Simple" (using the Razor Blade)

For this tutorial we will use the third clip of the Photoshoot.mpg demo video: the ladies descending the staircase. If you do not possess the demo video distributed with older Studio version, you can download it (courtesy of AVID) in the "Associated Links" section of this page below (right click / Save Target As). Drag the clip to the time line then razor cut where you want the flash effect. I chose to cut at the 4 second point, where the two ladies are well within the range of the of the photographer's lens.
Without touching the cursor on the time line, grab the picture and add it to the timeline.
If you don't touch the scrubber, it will be added on the left side of the razor cut.
Right-click on this picture and make a copy.
Right-click on the overlay track, just below the picture you just grabbed, and paste a copy of the picture on the video track.
You should see the following result:
As the deafult, the picture you just pasted on the overlay track is always selected. You can now add the RTFX Studio Plus "Reverse" effect.
Use the default settings. The effect is immediate and the picture is "inverted".
Click on the inverted picture on the overlay track. In the window that opens, set the time to 0: 00: 00.5. (Adjust the time according to your needs). Also adjust the length of the image on main track so it exyends slightly (I chose 0:00:00.6) past the "flash" on the overlay track.
Add the sound of a camera clicking BONUS : declic-photo.zip File available in the « Associated Files » section below. The added sound will fill the "hole" on the audio track associated with the video clip.

Your clip should look like this :

Remember to save your work...

2nd Method Without Using the Razor Cut (by inserting plugins ...)

Open a new project and once again use the third clip from thePhotoshoot.mpg demo video: ladies descending the stairs. Drag the clip to the time line. To increase the difficulty a little, we will make two flashes using two effects.
Cut the video clip as follows: At 0:00:03.00, start the first flash, At 0:00:03.05 end the first flash At 0:00:03.19 start the second flash At 0:00:04:00 end the second flash
The video clip is divided into five separate clips. The first section of flash apply the RTFX Studio Plus "Light" video effect. The parameters used are provided for guidance only. Experiment and see what works best for you.
The second section of flash, apply the RTFX Studio Plus "Color Correction" video effect. Like the preceding effect, you can experiment with different parameters.
Two identical camera clicks finish the effect. Duration of the flash: 5 frames. With these settings, the image is very effective, but not entirely "flashed."

Your clip should look like this :

Remember to save your work...

Now that I have given you the basics, here is a small bonus, without the flash this time. It is designed to suggest taking a "Black and White" photograph in a scene. I will leave it to you to use what you just learned and investigate all the possibilities of your software.

Watch carefully, say "Cheese" ....

3rd method - alternative

Cuartetto has published this alternative method, very interesting:

"I expanded the timeline and did a razor cut where I wanted to have the flash. I then retarded the scrubber using the arrow to the right of the timer. I subtracted one frame, and then did another razor cut. Subtract more if you wish the flash to be longer. The reason for cutting the starting point of the flash second is that the clip is automatically selected, and you don't have to click on it. Open the video tool box and select 'color correction' from the RTFX tool box. Push the brightness slider to the right to get the flash brightness you desire. Close the tool box and that's all there is to it. With this method you don't have to worry about things getting out of sync since you haven't added any frames."

{Thanks to Loosecannon for the fine tuning}

Associated File(s)

declic-photo.zip (76.7 KB)

Associated Link(s)

PhotoshootAvidDV.mpg (37.1 Mo)

Previous tutorials

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Comments

By # Cuartetto @ Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:22 PM

This is a slight variation of one of your methods. You get all the credit.

It got me to thinking, and I just tried a flash frame, much easier than the method I described using a white title. I expanded the timeline and did a razor cut where I wanted to have the flash. I then retarded the scrubber using the arrow to the right of the timer. I subtracted one frame, and then did another razor cut. Subtract more if you wish the flash to be longer. The reason for cutting the starting point of the flash second is that the clip is automatically selected, and you don't have to click on it. Open the video tool box and select 'color correction' from the RTFX tool box. Push the brightness slider to the right to get the flash brightness you desire. Close the tool box and that's all there is to it. With this method you don't have to worry about things getting out of sync since you haven't added any frames.

By # Déclic Vidéo FX @ Monday, December 29, 2008 8:52 AM

Hello Cuartetto,

I have just added your solution to the tutorial, part "Alternative Method". Congratulations, I love this very simple solution. I also take the opportunity to add it to the french tutorial....

Thanks for your participation,
DV FX

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