Keeping Current with Timeline 3D
Monday, May 23, 2011
A few days ago we published update number 3.0.29 of Timeline 3D. We focussed this update on making the movie exports more stable in response to customer feedback. We have also been improving our user interface translations with each release.
Speaking of updates, based on conversations with customers and download statistics we have noticed that the majority of our customers are running a version of Timeline 3D that is not current. In fact, many of you have paid for the v3 upgrade but have not downloaded it yet. Staying up to date is simple, and Elise has put together a short video to show you how to do it:
We are working hard every day to make the software better and we want to make sure you are benefitting from these efforts!
Labels: screencast, software update, video
Mother's Day Timeline
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tony Hoffman, from Alabama, sent us this beautiful timeline his family put together for Mother's Day.
Labels: customer, family, holiday, mothers day, video
Customer Timeline: Dominican Republic Service
Friday, March 05, 2010
It is always a pleasure to hear how our customers are using Timeline 3D, especially when they are volunteering their efforts and resources to make the world a better place (many of you fall into that category).
David Price sent us this video today. It is a fine example of how to use a timeline in a video project. It is an even better example of a semester break well spent.
Sneak Peek: What I'm Working On
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
On November 6, 2009 BEEDOCS presented at MILOfest, an annual conference for Mac loving lawyers.
During the presentation we showed this video...
We want to give you a sneak peek of the things we are working on and give you an opportunity to send us feedback and direct how these features are going.
Let us know how you would use these features in your own work. We look forward to hearing from you!
New Video Posted: Bee Docs 101
Thursday, August 13, 2009
We just posted a new video to our movies page. This one is called BEEDOCS 101: Intro to Bee Docs Timeline and was made in response to customers who have asked for a movie to help them get started with the software.
This video features a custom soundtrack by musian, composer, and Bee Docs Timeline customer Chris Schlarb. If you missed the interview we did with Chris a while back, be sure to check it out. We love to have our talented customers involved as much as possible, so thank you Chris!
We can't wait to hear your feedback, so check it out then please leave a comment or a tweet.
Labels: 101, beedocs, chrisschlarb, introduction, timeline, video
Ask Bee Docs - Artisan Software
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
In this episode Adam shows off his bass guitar and answers the question: Why do you choose an artisan approach to software?
For more information on the bass shown in this video, check out the Rob Allen website.
What does “artisan” mean to you? Please let us know in the comments. Also, we need some more questions for future videos. Please send a question to us at ask@beedocs.com.
Labels: artisan, askbeedocs, bass, roballen, video
Ask Bee Docs - Customer Service
Monday, June 29, 2009
In this first episode of our “Ask Bee Docs” video series, Elise and I answer the following question: Can you describe a great customer service experience?
How about you? Do you a great customer service experience to share? If so, please tell us about it in the comments. Also, if you have a question you'd like us to respond to in a future video, please send it to ask@beedocs.com.
Labels: askbeedocs, Customer Service, question, video
Introducing: Ask Bee Docs
Thursday, June 18, 2009
We thought it would be fun to record a series of videos answering questions that you may have. Please check out this intro video explaining how it works and then ask away!
Labels: askbeedocs, beedocs, questions, video
Kennesaw State University Pre-Graduation Video
Monday, May 18, 2009
Since we posted Dale Suffridge’s Kennesaw State University Video last week, we have received at lot of positive feedback and questions about how the video was put together.
I asked Dale if he could provide some technical details on how he made the video and he was kind enough to write the following article for you! Please enjoy this behind-the-scenes peek at an creative use of Bee Docs Timeline and be sure to thank Dale if you learn something from his article.
The Creation of the Kennesaw State University Pre-Graduation Video
by Dale Suffridge
Our department was approached about creating a video that would run on the HD projection screen over the stage for the hour leading up to each graduation for Kennesaw State University (KSU). We had been impressed with the new Timeline 3D software and thought that this would be a perfect large-scale use for it.
Showing an historic timeline of how KSU got to where it is today seemed a perfect and engaging fit for a diverse graduation crowd. However, we also needed to include current facts about each graduating college within the university. So I knew that I would use Timeline as the base and “break out” of the timeline to cover the current facts whenever we shared a relevant historical fact regarding that particular college in the Timeline.
The final look was achieved using a combination of Timeline, Photoshop and Final Cut Pro.
First I created and exported the Timeline using the Cherry Pie theme. I then screen-captured the red gradient background, bottom timeline bar and burgundy info box (all blank) for use within Photoshop and Final Cut Pro (FCP). Note: To get the burgundy info box to be large enough and blank, I created one that had a period at the top and then multiple line breaks and a period at the bottom. In Photoshop I used the clone stamp to take away the periods and the year and leave a blank info box.
In Photoshop, I created all the elements that I would need to recreate and manipulate the Timeline-look within FCP for the “break out” moments. These included:
All the burgundy “fact” boxes. I trimmed around the edges to keep the rounded-corner shape of the info box and I exported all info boxes as transparent PNGs for use within FCP.
And the timeline “pole” that would rise and fall from the bottom timeline bar connecting to the info boxes.
After I shot the HD footage of campus for the video portions, I brought it all together in FCP. Then it became a simple video editing project within FCP.
First I created a video opening and video segments for each individual college that would have it’s own “break out” portion. Then I recreated the Timeline look for the opening by using the elements created in Photoshop.
For the movement of the elements I utilized the “Motion Parameters” and keyframes within FCP. The fact boxes folding in and out upon themselves was achieved by key-framing the upper and lower right corners within the Distort section. And the pole ascending and descending was a basic "Center" motion path key-framing.
The transitions for breakouts of the various college were enhanced by creating a text layer of a keyword (or words) connecting the Timeline fact to the breakout college’s title bar. These text layers were then motion key-framed across the screen from the fact box into the title bar using a “Center” keyframe (and “Scale” was also key-framed if necessary to make the word fit). I added a “Scale” key-framing to the text layer to make the word(s) appear to move closer and then farther away as they travelled. And to achieve the glow as the text moved across the screen, I also incorporated the “Dazzle” filter that was key-framed to go from 0% mix to 100%, and then back to 0%.
If you notice during the breakout segments, the pole connects to the timeline at approximately the current time on the calendar. I would love to say that this was a forethought. But alas, it was a happy accident.
If you have any other questions, or if my convoluted explanation simply caused confusion, please feel free to contact me at dsuffrid at kennesaw.edu. Cheers.
Labels: customer, education, graduation, timeline, tutorial, video
Bee Docs' Timeline Webcast Now Available
Monday, September 22, 2008
Last month I did a live hour long presentation hosted by Mac Learning Environments at Apple along with about 20 minutes of questions and answers.
The archive of that presentation is now available through iTunes U. You can click here to watch the Bee Docs' Timeline presentation in iTunes.
In the video, I give a step-by-step tutorial showing how to creating and style a basic timeline. I also walk through an example of getting a 17-page timeline to fit on one page for printing. Please check it out and let me know what you think, particularly if you are just getting started with Bee Docs' Timeline.
Labels: iTunes, maclearning, tutorial, video, webcast
ScreenCastsOnline: Bee Docs' Timeline
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
This week Don McAllister of ScreenCastsOnline features a video of Bee Docs' Timeline.
Don contacted me a few weeks ago to let me know that he wanted to use Bee Docs' Timeline in a presentation he was giving in Las Vegas and also wanted to feature the software on his video podcast. He asked if there was anything that I'd like him to include and I passed along a few of the most frequently asked questions that I get asked:
- What are the basics steps of creating timelines with Bee Docs' Timeline?
- How do you use full motion 3D timelines with Keynote?
- How do you format a timeline to fit on a single page?
I admit that my own videos and help documentation are lacking in response to these issues at the moment, but Don did a great job of addressing these common concerns.
If you are a Bee Docs' Timeline customer or are thinking of becoming one, the 37 minute video is a must watch. Especially the part where Don shows how he built his amazing Keynote presentation using 3D timelines.
Labels: Dom McAllister, keynote, screencast, ScreenCastsOnline, tutorial, video
Songs Used in Our Videos
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
I've been receiving a lot of e-mails about the song used in the original "3D Edition" announcement video. Each time I put together a screencast or video, I usually spend a few hours scouring the net for a great song that captures the feeling of the video and is available with a podsafe or creative commons license. Sometimes it takes a bit of hunting, but there is some wonderful music out there.
Here are direct links to some of the music I have used recently. Enjoy the music and please support these artists who have allowed their music to be used for creative projects.
- ditto ditto - by ditto ditto (used in the current "3D Edition")
- Wake the Sun - by The Matches (used in edited "3D Edition")
- Turn Out The Light - by The New Amsterdams (used in "RSS importer and Chart Backgrounds")
- The Blue Roses - by Rookie of the Year (used in "NetNewsWire Importer")
- Its About Your Soul - Delphinium Blue (used in "Tick Marks")
- Stop - by the Plain White T's (used in "Recently Played Songs")
- Mystic Chants - by Anne Young (used in "Lord of the Rings Timeline")
Labels: ccmixter, creative commons, ditto, music, podsafe, video
Bee Docs Timeline - 3D EDITION (video)
Friday, May 09, 2008
I am very happy to announce Bee Docs Timeline - 3D Edition! I've put together a five minute video to tell you all about it:
WEB:
DOWNLOADS:
Apple TV Optimized - 159.3 Mb (zip)
iPod / iPhone Optimized - 51.5 Mb (zip)
Labels: 3d, 3d timeline, edition, mac, software, timelines, video
About 3D Timelines - Part II.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
When I designed the first product (a web-based document management system) for Bee Documents back in 2002, I started with pen and paper and then used Adobe InDesign to complete the prototype.
Since that time I have used Apple's Keynote software to do design and prototyping for dozens of websites and desktop applications. For me it has several advantages over Photoshop, which is the classic tool of choice for this kind of work:
- I find it much faster to draw and make adjustments with Keynote.
- The effects (rounded corners, tinted fills, gradients, drop shadows) are all very Mac like.
- I can link up the Keynote presentation and add animated actions to simulate the interactive behavior of the application.
- People who are not designers can participate in the design with me since it is intuitive to drag things around and make changes using Keynote
As an example, see the following two screenshots. The image on the left is the Keynote file I used to design the "T2" website. This was one of several possible designs that I can created. When I played the Keynote file, I could interact with the links and videos as if it was a real website. The image on the right a screen capture of the real website.
However, as well as the current process is working for me, I keep thinking about cinematic software, touch interfaces, animation, motion, and "No Limits Design". The technical barriers are falling for this kind of software. I'm concerned that prototyping tools that encourage page-by-page designs may limit creativity.
To that end, I have been experimenting with video as a prototyping tool as well as some motion graphics tools such as Apple's Motion.
Several months ago, I transformed the 3D Timeline idea that I had sketched into the following video using Apple's Motion:
I wanted to be able to test readability of the timeline at distances and get a sense for whether this would be a useful feature that helps solve the challenges of presenting timelines or if it was only eye candy.
...to be continued...
Great Minds Think Alike
Monday, December 10, 2007
Here is a video demo that my brother David did for his NYC Art Gallery website:
As he was working on his video, he didn't know I was doing demo videos for Bee Docs' Timeline. When I posted my first video on my personal blog, he sent me an e-mail right away to make sure that I knew he wasn't copying the idea. I guess both of us have always been a bit sensitive towards appearing unoriginal.
In any case, David made a fun video and a maintains a good website if you are into art and are visiting New York. Check it out.
Labels: art galleries, david behringer, new york, two percent, video
Making the First Demo Video
Monday, November 19, 2007
I've been hard at work producing the first Timeline 2.0 demo video for the new website. It will show the process of creating a timeline of your recently played iTunes tracks in under a minute. At first some of the videos on the website may be ordinary screencasts, but I have a vision for making little "short films" for each demo that are more fun to watch.
Last Friday, my friend Tony J and I spent the morning running around Pioneer Square in Seattle getting video footage for the intro to the first demo. I have been building my chops on the Final Cut Pro suite and, of course, bug fixing for the big release as well.
Here are some "production stills" from our first day of shooting:
Labels: demo, pioneer square, seattle, video
Demo Videos
Monday, November 12, 2007
Along with getting Timeline 2.0 ready for launch, I have been preparing a new website for the release. The new website will feature a selection of timeline charts along with videos that show each timeline being built from scratch in a few minutes.
Here is a shot of my sketch book with some storyboard ideas for a "jazz piano" and "baby's first year" timeline videos:
Labels: launch, notebook, storyboard, video