Skylarking

We’re all aware of the use of computers and blue-screens to add backgrounds in the movies and television shows we watch, and — thanks to low-cost digital computers and cameras — now anyone can add fantastic backgrounds to their own photos, and the key is Green Screen Wizard. This software is great for the hobbyist or the professional.

Green Screen Wizard is a software and photo package that makes it easy for you to do professional Green Screen Special Effects (also known as “ChromaKey Effects”) with your camera and computer. And, as they say, it’s as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Take a picture of someone against the provided 5′x7′ portable green screen backdrop
2. Transfer the picture to you computer
3. Match the picture to a provided background, and Green Screen Wizard does the rest.

Green Screen Test Drive. The basic trial package of Green Screen Wizard costs $79 for the next 4 days. But Skylarking readers can take 20% off ANY PURCHASE at GreenScreenWizard, where it’s easy to get started producing green screen effects for photography and video! Enter GSPP20JUNE during checkout.

The 20% off code expires on 6/30/10.

Green Screen Lite includes:

1. 5×7 Popup Screen
2. 20 Magazine Covers
3. 120 Backgrounds in six collections

Upgrade. Maybe you’re a professional or semi-professional events photographer. If you decide you like the trial package and you want to do more, you can apply $50 from your trial package purchase towards an upgrade. The full package is available as a digital download for $99, or you can have the physical package shipped to you for about $170.

Their standalone photography software runs on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. They also sell Photoshop Plugins that run on Windows and Macintosh computers.

With all the personal digital video recorders available today from cell phones to Flip Minos to digital camcorders and cameras, you’ll eventually wonder if there’s a simple way to edit your videos, and maybe even share them on a CD or DVD.

My personal favorite for editing digital video and making DVDs and editing video on my T-Mobile G1 and iPhone has been Corel Video Studio series. Truth be told, it’s called Video Studio Pro, but don’t let the word “Pro” make you think “difficult to use”. Corel’s VideoStudio Pro X3 is very easy to use, and as verstaile as you’d want it to be. Futhermore, it’s very reliable and Windows 7 compatible.

With VideoStudio Pro  x3 you can:

• Import video from camcorders and DVDs.
• Edit and convert to all the popular formats such as MPEG, Windows AVI and WMV, and MP4 which works on iPods and iPhones. This makes it easy to carry short home movies on your video capable iPod.
• Edit and convert video for sharing on YouTube.
• Burn to DVD and CD in standard resolution or high definition (HD).

Download your 30 day free trial version of Corel VideoStudio Pro X3 today! Give it a try!

Yesterday and Saturday I discussed the SANYO VPC-E2 Camcorder. What I really like about this camcorder is is color, its compact size, and its ability to shoot video under 5 feet of water without a special enclosure. If you’re in a cold place you might not be thinking abut being underwater right now, but you could always shoot in your recreation center’s pool, the shower, or lets the kids play with it in the tub. Hmm?  Okay, think about it then, and get back to me.

If you are interested this great camcorder can be had at Buy.com until Jan. 11, 2009 for $185.  In comparison, Best Buy is selling the Sanyo Xacti 8MP Digital Camcorder with 2.5″ LCD Monitor – Blue for $210, and they’re backordered on it.  Buy.com has them in stock now.

January 2009

To complement your new camcorder you might consider getting a subscription to Videomaker magazine. If you click the ad at right you’ll be transferred to the Videomaker web site, and you can get a FREE Issue of Videomaker Magazine!

Videomaker publishes useful articles for the consumer video camera market, i.e. you and I. For example, the January 2009 issue has articles about the latest and smallest camcorders, face detection technology in the new cameras (another great feature in my humble opinion), how to do inexpensive green screen effects and other effects shots (like flying through the air), and professional PC workstations. Don’t let the word professional turn you off.

So go and get a FREE copy of the #1 magazine on Digital Video or get a one year subscription and save 75% off the newsstand price of Videomaker Magazine! And please use my links so they’ll know you read Skylarking, too.

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