Creating Your Artifact

*a step by step guide to creating your final media file*

1. Export your animation (will create a sequence of consecutively numbered frames)
   
   • If your artifact uses your particle system, remember to toggle 'Simulate' before you generate your rendered frames.
   • Make sure the FPS slider is set to 30 frames per second.
   • File->Save Movie As...
   • Provide a name that will be the prefix for the file names of each of the frames you generate.
   • 'Ok'


2. From here on out we'll be using Adobe Premiere. You can download a trial copy from Adobe's website. The help site may be useful.
   


3. Create a new project in Premiere. Select the "General" tab and give your project a name. Now you're presented with the "New Sequence" dialog. There are a few things you want to be sure of (in the "General" tab of whatever preset you selected).
   • General->Video->Editing Mode: should be Desktop.
   • General->Video->Timebase: should be 29.97 frames/second (since that's what you exported earlier). If you exported at some FPS other than 30, make the appropriate adjustment.
   • General->Video->Frame Size should keep same aspect ratio as generated frames (e.g. 680x592)
   • General->Video->Fields: No Fields (Progressive Scan), because your input has no fields.
   • General->Audio->Sample Rate: should match your soundtrack (probably 44100 Hz)
   • I found it easiest to start with the "iPod, QVGA, Sub-QCIF" preset under the "Mobile & Devices" category, and then customize from there.


4. Import your sequence
   
   • File->Import...
   • Select the first frame in the sequence and check 'Numbered Stills'
   • 'Open'
     
     • the sequence will appear in the Project container
     • if the import was done correctly, the icon for the sequence should look like a filmstrip.
   • Drag the sequence into one of the video channels in the Timeline window.
   • Make sure its left edge is precisely at 00:00
   • Adjust the work area slider (at the top of the Timeline window) so that its length equals that of the animation you just dragged there.


5. Import any audio.
   
   • File->Import...
   • Select the audio clip you want to import.
   • 'Open'
   • Drag the imported audio clip to an audio channel.


6. Make any adjustments necessary.
   
   • multiple sequences can be added to either video channel.
   • to cut a sequence into two pieces (for compositing, or time editing),
     
     • find the Razor Tool in the toolbox in the left part of the Timeline
     • cut the sequence/file at the desired time position
   • to change the length of a sequence
     
     • find the Rate Stretch Tool (Click and hold the Rolling Edit Tool to access it)
     • drag either end of your sequence to change the length


7. Preview


8. If satisfied with the preview, export.
   
   • File->Export->Media...
   • Specify movie name.
   • Make sure the Format dropdown has H.264 selected. The difference between a well-compressed format and one that's not as well compressed can be a factor of six for a typical artifact. Make everyone's lives easier by not making your artifact larger than necessary.
   • If you completed the settings adjustments when you created a new project, the export settings should default to these but you may have to fiddle with a few things. Make sure the frame rate is correct, that the frame size is what you want it to be, and that Field Order is None (Progressive). No need to introduce fields were they weren't.
   • 'Ok


9. Now Adobe Media Encoder will launch.
   
   • This should be all set up for you, so just 'Start Queue' and wait for it to finish.
   • You might want to change the destination of the output file to someplace more convenient.


10. Make sure you check your artifact before submitting it!