Tutorial: Making a Video Screen Saver

[dannyblue]

Howdie, folks. Here is a tutorial showing you how you can make a screen saver using just about any piece of video you can get your hands on. For example, I made a lovely screen saver using the opening title cards for Supernatural.

Comments

[starmack]

Thank you for this! You explained everything so well and made very easy to understand instructions. :D I had lots of fun downloading and playing around!

edited because apperently I can't type... ;)

[dannyblue]

I'm glad I didn't totally confuse people with this.

And playing around with this stuff really is fun, isn't it?

[starmack]

It is! It's fun figuring everything out and then once you realize you've done everything right it makes it even better. :D

[mgmackenzie4]

I've always wanted to know which software you used to create those lovely screen savers. I've always wanted to ask but I never did. But now I don't have to! Thanks for the tip!

[dannyblue]

You're welcome. :-D

[ravenclawwit]

Oh this is really cool. I'm going to try it soon. Thanks for the tut! :D

[rhymephile]

Hey, I made my own, and it's all about Castiel :-) You inspired me.

I did use alternate software methods though. I chose SolveigMM AVI Trimmer to grab the clips, and VideoPad video editor to stick them all together (since it outputs in swf). The AVI trimmer was freeware but VideoPad costs. I used the trial.

Check it:

http://rhymephile.livejournal.com/428874.html

I have your original SPN Openings and came here looking to see if you had updated it for Season 6. Then I found this post and went crazy, LOL.

[dannyblue]

Nice. I'm glad to see the tut is turning out to be useful. And you picked an awesome subject. I love me some Castiel. :-D

As for updating the SPN title card screensaver, I was actually just thinking of that the other day, so it's definitely possible.

Also I'm glad you found other software that worked for you. I'm a freeware junkie though. I'm all about finding free stuff to do whatever it is I want to do. And free trials? A big tease! I avoid them because I know I might get so hooked on the software I'll end up wanting to...buy it. (Imagine a look of horror here.)

Anyway, great screensaver. This makes me want to write another tutorial now. :)

[rhymephile]

I'd prefer to use freeware too, but Windows Movie Maker isn't sophisticated enough and it has a habit of crashing too much. Do you have another alternative you use to put avis together? The Videopad worked great, but like you said, I like it but not enough to spend $30 on it! Luckily the trial worked fine. And like I said, it exported in swf so I didn't need a converter for that.

The avi trimmer works like a charm. It uses the "flag and add" method, where you open whatever avi you want, hit play, and then flag from section to section on whatever clip you want to keep. Then you export it. I'd like it to be a little more precise, but it worked okay for what I needed.

If you use other stuff I'd love to see another tutorial on your methods. :-)

[dannyblue]

I'd prefer to use freeware too, but Windows Movie Maker isn't sophisticated enough and it has a habit of crashing too much. Do you have another alternative you use to put avis together?

I've never had big problems with Windows Movie Maker. I've had problems, but nothing I wasn't able to work around in a few minutes. (Meaning I didn't get so frustrated that I went on some massive freeware hunt looking for something better. Which is often how I find the stuff I find.) Then again, I've only ever made 3 fanvids with it, and those were more "give it a try" type deals. Maybe if I'd gotten more seriously into fanvid making, it would be different.

However, I do have this free program called Avidemux. I don't think it's the best choice for vid making or anything. But I have used it to make video clips, and put different clips together.

[rohrfuchs]

Thank u very much for the tutorial!

[dannyblue]

It's good to know people are still getting something out of this tutorial. :D