ImageMatics StillMotion Creator
March 6, 2002
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Its name appears to be an oxymoron, but ImageMatics'
StillMotion Creator is indeed a very smart tool for
web designers looking to add special effects to
otherwise static web pages.
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That is because StillMotion Creator can transform static photos
into miniature movies, complete with sound, zoom, pan, fade to
black, and other features. When finished, those movies can be
exported as either an .avi file or a FlashTM .swf file or both, allowing them to easily be
used in various settings.
In this example, a property
is shown from a distance before the camera zooms in on the main
building, pans to the boat dock, and then zooms back out to
again show the overall view. It can also be set to continuously
loop. It takes a few seconds to complete the trip, and it adds a
new dimension to the web page. Below demonstrates how the
feature is implemented in HTML:
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Note: Select refresh to repeat show.
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StillMotion Creator is not a difficult program to use, nor is it
a large program. It is, however, very good at doing what it
promises. Its interface is very clean and easy to use, and the
learning curve is little more than a slight bend in the road.
The creation process is fairly simple. Load the photo you wish
to use. Using the yellow "box" — which is the camera
window and what is actually seen in the movie — select the
area with which you want to begin. Click on the keyframe control
button (on the right at the bottom of the preview window) for
the starting point of the movie.
Then, using the camera window, move the box as desired to change
the view. Sliding the corner of the camera window in or out
changes the zoom aspect of the scene. When placed where desired,
click again on the keyframe control button. Users wishing to
hold a particular view for a longer period of time can click the
keyframe control button, move the timeline where desired and
click the same button again to put a hold into the movie.
Simply moving the timeline and repositioning the keyframe
control button creates a pan, where the camera moves to other
areas of the photo.
Each frame takes about 10-12 KB. The example shown above is 38
KB, which is not much larger than the static photo would have
been. A full minute-long movie can take only 600 KB.
The program comes in three forms:
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StillMotion Creator: Creates Flash movies
from still images using pan and zoom effects. It
sells for $99.95.
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StillMotion Creator Plus: Creates Flash
movies and internet video (less than 400 lines
resolution) using pan and zoom effects. It costs
$149.95.
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StillMotion Creator Pro: Creates Flash
movies, internet video and professional
broadcast video, including HDTV, from still
images using pan and zoom effects.
The price tag: $249.95.
The various editions enable users to choose that
which most suits their needs and bank accounts.
Further, if the need exists, the program is not
really all that expensive.
| What is it called again?
ImageMatics StillMotion Creator v1.0. |
| Where can I get it?
http://www.imagematics.com
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| How big is the download?$99.95,
$149.95, or $249.95 depending on which version is chosen.
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| Do I recommend it? It may
be too expensive to just play with it, but if you have a
need for this type of program it is probably a bargain
and well worth it. |
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