Article: Dress Up Your Videos with Digital Juice Jump Backs, Volumes
21-24
By Jeffrey P. Fisher
Jump Backs are
Digital Juice's high-quality,
seamlessly looping animations typically designed as video backgrounds over
which to float titles, graphics, PIP video, and so forth. They are an efficient
and cost-effective way to make your videos look snazzier fast. Jump Backs lend
themselves to a bevy of compositing and other creative techniques and also to
DVD authoring where their repeating nature anchors menus nicely.
Digital Juice recently released four new Jump Back volumes, JB21
High Impact VIII, JB22 Global Impact, JB23
Clean Streak, and JB24 Tunnel Vision. More
importantly, they unleashed an enticing new pricing structure for all their
products, too. Jump Backs, formerly priced at $249 per volume, are now only $99
each or you can buy a ten-pack bundles for $499.
Backgrounds and more
Each Jump Back volume includes 40 animations all built around common
themes and/or looks. With 25 volumes available today, you can choose from a
whopping 1000 animated Jump Backs. Before you start cutting your next project,
make sure you browse Digital Juice's Jump Backs for inspiration. There's plenty
here to get excited about and you just might find the high-quality video
elements you need to make your projects better.
Jump Backs come packaged in a CD/DVD wallet that slides into a compact,
sturdy case. The wallet has a full-color reference to the animations printed on
it except it doesn't indicate which files are on what discs (some volumes have
up to five discs). One small complaint, my Jump Backs cases had a funny smell,
probably from the printing process, that was unusually overpowering at first.
Each disc is a combination video/data DVD. Pop it into your computer to
preview and/or retrieve the contents or drop it into a set-top DVD player. The
DVD player versions come prefaced by a countdown -- very handy for "live"
roll-ins. However, you can't access the individual MPEG-2 files. Instead, extra
folders on each DVD hold the Jump Backs as NTSC DV (.avi and .mov formats) and
PAL PNG (.mov format). An additional folder contains first frames, saved at PAL
resolution in Targa format, that are perfect for static backgrounds (Powerpoint
users take note).
For further processing, use the Juicer 2 software included free with
your Jump Backs. Of course, if you like what you see as is, and can import a
provided format, then just grab those files you need right off the DVDs, put
them on your hard drive, and add them to your video projects. Since most NLEs
give you tremendous control over how your video looks, you can bypass the
Juicer 2 completely and rely on your NLE instead.
Get Juiced!
The Juicer 2 is a keyword searchable browser to all the Digital Juice
products you own. Always update your Juicer 2 software using the disc provided
with your latest acquisition. After that, install previews by inserting disc
one of whatever product you wish to add and then choose File > Install
previews. This adds the index to your Jump Backs and gives you the option of
placing motion previews on your hard drive. If you don't install these
previews, you'll only see stills in the Juicer 2. If desired, leave the motion
previews off, but you must remember to insert the first disc back in when using
the Juicer 2 in order to see the previews in motion.
If you do decide to use the Juicer 2 for batch processing your Jump
Backs, the software gives you control over length, playback speed, frames per
second, and resolution. Since the Juicer 2 processes the PAL 720x576 PNG
format, avoid going any higher resolution than that. The Juicer 2 software also
flips (horizontal or vertical) and rotates Jump Backs. Use the colorize
function to specify specific color values and therefore match the look of Jump
Backs to other elements in your production.
Juicer 2's element mode lets you crop, resize, and reposition Jump Backs
to create lower-thirds or other overlays. In this case, the Juicer 2 supports
rendering the alpha (or transparent) channel with control over the output
format and storage location. Best of all, you can set default processing for
all your Jump Backs so that every time you drag one to the Juicer 2 batch
window, your custom processing and render settings automatically come up.
This latest volume in the high impact category doesn't disappoint. These
Jump Backs are all about big, bold colors in constant motion. There's nothing
subtle here. This volume includes a robust mix of undulating light rays,
brilliant auroras, glowing mists, and their ilk. Few of these animation are
well-defined; most are just colorful washes perfect for backgrounds over which
to float text and graphics. Many entries in JB21 are well-suited for using
within titles via a luminance masked composite, too. With some resizing
and repositioning, this set will make several interesting lower-thirds too.
Jump Backs Volume 21: High Impact VIII
JB21-827 is a Matrix-inspired knockoff while JB21-833 is a fun countdown
complete with messed up and scratchy film effects after the "1". Unfortunately,
real countdowns stop at the first frame of 2, but that doesn't diminish the
attempt here. For a particular TV station, JB21-855 features the number 5 quite
predominantly (unfortunately, the Juicer 2 doesn't let you change it to another
number).
The animations are lengthy, ranging from 10 to 27 seconds, with the
majority around 20 seconds. That's leaves plenty of time for the Jump Backs to
evolve without seeming too loopy. Of course, you can speed up or slow them down
using your NLE and/or the Juicer 2. When you need some instant eye candy, make
sure you audition JB21 High Impact VIII first.
This volume is a wonderful collection of, you guessed it, globes. The
animations range from 10 up to 40 seconds before the seamless loop point. There
is a terrific range of styles and presentations making this single theme quite
versatile. If you can't find a good Earth graphic here, it probably doesn't
exist.
Some of these Jump Backs seem to work better in composites with other
elements, however quite a few stand on their own without needing any tweaks
whatsoever. For example, I can see the major news networks jumping all over
JB22-869, JB22-877, JB22-888, and JB22-902.
Jump Backs Volume 22: Global Impact
Two particular files, JB22-868 and JB22-879 stand out for me. Both
feature lines that arc and jump from city to city as the world rotates. This
versatile animation could represent travel, communications, the Web, etc. I'm
working on a video now about a company's global expansion and will be using
these two Jump Backs very soon. Another cool entry is JB22-885 with its
molecular model motif. This one alone is worth having and using at any price
(and the lower $99 per volume price is a steal)!
Of the four discs reviewed here, this volume is my favorite. News and
corporate video producers will definitely find JB22 Global Impact a must-have,
desert island collection.
This volume is the complete opposite of the High Impact approach.
Instead of misty, swirling backgrounds, these animations have the clean, modern
look that is all the rage today. It's one part retro and at the same time
leading edge. Colors are bold, shapes and lines are distinct, and the
animations are vivid.
JB23-906 is a field of computer-generated spring flowers that grow and
bloom in a long 26 second loop perfect for landscaping-related shows and/or
commercial spots. JB23-918 is an outstanding fly-over/fly-through of a highly
stylized cityscape. I didn't care for its default color scheme, but the Juicer
2 fixed that for me.
Several animations, such as JB23-916, JB23-917, and JB23-927, are 3D
spaces reminiscent of Escher-type rooms with constantly changing perspectives,
colors, and patterns. Many also feature the motion-blurred swish pans that look
quite interesting, especially when timed with changing titles/graphics in a
finished video.
Jump Backs Volume 23: Clean Streak
My only regret is I didn't have these Jump Backs earlier as I wanted a
clean, trendy look for a recent project and these would have filled that need
nicely.
Fasten your seat belts, this volume is jam-packed with high speed
journeys down a variety of tunnel landscapes, realistic and imagined. The
realistic category includes JB24-948, a series of vaults or hatches that remind
me of "Mystery Science Theater". The car tunnel (JB24-950), empty city
street at night (JB24-964), train track tunnel (JB24-985), and tracking over a
maze (JB24-984) are particularly strong. I feel that many of these realistic
Jump Backs work quite well as metaphorical foreground video clips instead of as
their intended background use. With the right sound effects, the dark jail
cell/dungeon tunnel (JB24-958) would be effectively eerie.
Turning to the non-realistic side, there are tunnels of lights, shapes,
smoke, and patterns that whiz by in perpetual motion. I placed a logo over
JB24-959 with its centered ball of light and shooting light rays to great
effect (and client appreciation).
Jump Backs Volume 24: Tunnel Vision
The tunnel animations fall into the very long 20-30 second range before
looping, though there are a few short entries. While some tunnels are bright
and crazy, the vast majority convey dark and mysterious moods and uncertainty.
That observation doesn't detract from their usefulness, though. Just be aware
that these images make some strong statements.
The verdict
There you have it -- a new year, four new Jump Backs volumes, and new,
lower pricing, too. Digital Juice also announced their ambitious schedule of
releasing a new Jump Backs volume every month. That's great news for all of us
who are constantly looking for easier, cheaper, and better ways to add value to
our video productions. If these four volumes are indicative of what's to come,
2005 will be a terrific year for video editors.
Contact : Digital Juice,
www.digitaljuice.com
| 
