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| Import and Organize Media |
Published by: Autodesk Creative Finishing Training
Category: Project & Media
Skill: Beginner
Skill: Beginner
These are the steps to import images and clips inside the Smoke Library. Tools used in this exercise: Library, Import.
| Tutorial Steps | ||
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1. Download provided clips 2. Import media in the Smoke Library 3. Organize the Library 4. BONUS: Copy footage across Smoke libraries | ||
1. Download provided clips |
You can download these sample clips to use in the exercise, or you can import your own images.
1. Click on the link below to download the file.
2. Double-click the file to uncompress it.
2. Import media in the Smoke Library |
In this video:
Create a library
Import footage
Video: Import media inside Smoke (2:45)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
The Smoke Library contains tools for managing and organizing project media into folders.
Each project contains at least one default library. Although it is not necessary you can decide to add more libraries inside your project to organize your media.
For example, a project can be dedicated to a client and each job for that client kept in a separate library.
Create a new library:
You can create a library on the EditDesk or inside the Library menu.
1. Press the New button on the EdiDesk to add a new library.
2. Type a name for the library (such as My_footage) and press ENTER.
3. The library is added to the project.
4. Press Open to access the Library menu.
Library Browser:
1. Have a look at the Library Box.
2. You have two types of entries in the Library browser:
A. Smoke libraries that only Smoke can access and manage.
Such as the library you just created.
As well, the tutorials library “Smoke Footage” and, if you are in a new project the “Default_Clip_Library” are Smoke local libraries.
B. A file browser that allows you to navigate your computer drives.
This entry is also called the Gateway.
The default path is /Volumes on the Mac system.
Import footage inside the Library:
Here we want to copy footage from the drives to the smoke library.
1. Choose the Dual View mode.
2. Select the Copy on Drag option.
3. Click the top browser and select the new smoke library you just created.
4. Click the bottom browser and select /Volumes to navigate your drives.
5. Navigate to the location of your media.
6. Click the triangles to expand and collapse the folders. The scroll bar is on the left side.
7. In this example, my footage is on the Mac desktop.
8. So I must find my Mac user and open the Desktop folder that contains the clips I need.
9. Select the clips you want to use in Smoke; press CTRL to select multiple clips.
10. Drag these clips to the Smoke library.
11. You can also select and drag an entire folder to the Smoke library.
The footage is now available inside the Smoke Library.
But we haven’t duplicate media, as the load option Store Local copy was not activated; the clips in the Smoke library are linked to the original footage.
In the next video we will organize the footage inside the library.
| Tip |
You can import image sequences, movies and audio files inside Smoke. RGBA images are split into front and alpha clips once imported inside Smoke.
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| Tip |
When the option Store Local Copy is activated, the clips are duplicated inside the Smoke Library. This copy process is a background task so you can continue to work in Smoke while the clips are copied. If Store Local Copy is deactivated, the clips in the Smoke Libraries are not duplicated and are pointing to the original footage.
3. Organize the Library |
In this video:
Create new folders
Organize the media
Load clips to the EditDesk
Video: Organize the Library (2:07)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
To create a new folder inside the library:
1. Click on the Smoke library window to put it into focus.
2. Choose the Single View mode.
3. Select the Move on Drag option to prevent duplication.
4. Press New Reel to add a new source folder.
5. Enter a name for it.
6. Drag the clips into the folder.
7. Add as many folders you want; move them around if needed.
Play clips inside the Library:
1. Swipe the cursor to the right side of the interface.
2. This displays the player.
3. Click on a clip to play it.
Load footage to the EditDesk:
1. Select the elements or the folders you want to work with on the EditDesk.
2. Select the topmost folder at the root of the library to load everything.
3. Select the option Tile in the Arrangement Box.
This will position the clips in a tile pattern on the Source Area.
4. Then click Load to Desk.
5. The clips are loaded to the EditDesk.
6. You can also organize footage from the EditDesk.
7. Remember that you have to save the EditDesk folders to the Library if you change them.
Save elements to the Library:
1. You can select ALL to save everything, or just select a folder.
2. Then press Save Selected.
3. As well you can save a single clip by dragging it to the Library Box.
4. Go back in the Library.
5. To delete elements inside the Library, select them.
6. Then press Delete and Confirm.
7. WARNING: there is no UNDO in the Library!
8. The original clips on your drives are not deleted.
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| Tip |
REMINDER: There is no UNDO inside the Smoke Library!!! Be careful when you delete clips.
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| Tip |
To create a new library inside the Library menu: click on the browser and choose <Create New Library>.
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| Tip |
Import options: different import options are available depending of the media type you are importing. Choose the media Format under Import Preferences. As well, you can drag & drop XML or AAF timeline in Smoke. Choose the import settings fro these format under FCP XML / AAF tab.
4. BONUS: Copy footage across Smoke libraries |
In this video:
Copy media between Smoke libraries
Copy media across the Smoke Network
Video: Copy footage across Smoke libraries (1:57)
(click on image to open video player)
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Lesson in written form |
1. Select the Dual view mode.
2. Select the Copy & Drag option.
3. Set the top window to your local library.
4. Set the bottom window to the remote library.
5. You can copy an entire library, folders or clips.
6. Select the media you want to copy and drag it to the local library.
Copy media across the Smoke Network:
You can copy media across local or remote Smoke projects.
Open a remote Library:
1. Click on the Network tab inside the Library.
2. If you have several Smoke or Flame systems in your facility they will be visible in this menu.
3. Your Smoke system is the first one on top.
4. There are two entries for it:
5. The Stonefs entry, which gives you access to the Smoke libraries.
6. And the Gateway entry that is used to navigate the computer drives.
7. We used this to import footage earlier through the /Volumes path.
8. Open the storage folders and find the Smoke project that contains your footage.
9. Hold CTRL to keep your current selection, and select the library you need.
10. Exit Network.
Copy footage:
1. Select the Dual View mode.
2. Select the Copy & Drag option.
3. Set the top window to your local library.
4. Set the bottom window to the remote library.
5. Select the media you want to copy and drag it to the local library.
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| Tip |
You can access remote Libraries from other Smoke and Flame stations in your facility.
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| Tip |
If you select smoke Network folders without holding CTRL you could lose the default selection /Volumes path. To re-select that directory; go in Network, expand the Gateway entry of your system and select /Volumes.
