The tool I found most useful to download from tube sites like YouTube is the Ask and Record Toolbar.
It is simple and runs a window which shows where your file is downloading on your computer and you can either save it or it will be deleted with other temp files.
IT WILL PRODUCE A FLV file which is adobe Flash Video and is not recognizable by many programs but it can be read in VirtualDub for editing, VLC Player for viewing and Applian FLV Player that comes with the toolbar.
This is a tool I use everyday as I view things that I want to keep on my computer for later organization.
You may have some other programs that they want to install with it but it will work without them. Super program.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Best Gif Animation Software
Although I found many programs were able to make a Animated Gif from video file. By far and away VirtualDub is the best free animator.
I also have used Super but the quality was not there. The output is very choppy and features are not available.
GIMP or the Gnu Image Manipulation Program is a fantastic program but for the life of me can't understand why the animations are all very slow (about 1/2 speed). I have changed frame rates and other tricks that I found on the web but cannot fix the problem. The program is not for novices as I spent a couple of days to figure out how to configure the program and get the add on to do animations, but it was worth the trial and find that it is a free alternative to Photoshop.
VirtualDub is so easy you can turn almost any vid file into a GIF animation in minutes.
1. Asssuming you have a standard vid clip, avi, mpg or even flv file (will explain why I brought this up in a future post) Just open VD and open file chosen file. Remember that you are doing a looping animation so it will only be 50 frames or so especially if you want to keep the size of it under 2Mbps which is a common upload limit for blogs and free upload sites.
2. You will get a canvas for the file and a scrubber on the bottom where you select the specific frames that you are animating. The best outcome is usually when the camera is still and the motion begins and stops as similar images. (It loops, duh).
3. Under the file/export menu choose Gif Animation and voila! you have just done it. Make sure it retains the .gif extension and you can view it in VD or just drag the file to a internet window. (It will not animate in programs like Paint or Picture viewer.
I also have used Super but the quality was not there. The output is very choppy and features are not available.
GIMP or the Gnu Image Manipulation Program is a fantastic program but for the life of me can't understand why the animations are all very slow (about 1/2 speed). I have changed frame rates and other tricks that I found on the web but cannot fix the problem. The program is not for novices as I spent a couple of days to figure out how to configure the program and get the add on to do animations, but it was worth the trial and find that it is a free alternative to Photoshop.
VirtualDub is so easy you can turn almost any vid file into a GIF animation in minutes.
1. Asssuming you have a standard vid clip, avi, mpg or even flv file (will explain why I brought this up in a future post) Just open VD and open file chosen file. Remember that you are doing a looping animation so it will only be 50 frames or so especially if you want to keep the size of it under 2Mbps which is a common upload limit for blogs and free upload sites.
2. You will get a canvas for the file and a scrubber on the bottom where you select the specific frames that you are animating. The best outcome is usually when the camera is still and the motion begins and stops as similar images. (It loops, duh).
3. Under the file/export menu choose Gif Animation and voila! you have just done it. Make sure it retains the .gif extension and you can view it in VD or just drag the file to a internet window. (It will not animate in programs like Paint or Picture viewer.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Freeware Rocks
This is dedicated to all that is still free in the world: Love, Excitement and Freeware
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