Rebel's Guide on your iPad or Kindle, DV Rebel Tools For Free
Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 10:22AM ;)
My book, The DV Rebel’s Guide, is finally available as an eBook for Apple iOS devices, Amazon kindle, and anything that reads the epub format (such as the Nook). This has been a long time coming, and I wanted to celebrate by giving away updated versions of the DV Rebel Tools scripts that I included with the original edition of the book.
These scripts create a tool palette that turns Adobe After Effects into a full-featured onlining tool. Add color correction effects to clips easily (including Colorista II if you have it installed), and check your grading continuity with a powerful thumbnail view that updates live as you work. For a full tutorial, watch the video:
To install the scripts, download this .zip file and expand it. You’ll see two folders: “Put contents in Presets” and “Put contents in ScriptUI Panels”.
Make sure After Effects is not running. Copy the contents of “Put contents in Presets” into this directory:
/Applications/Adobe After Effects CS5/Presets/
Copy the contents of “Put contents in ScriptUI Panels” into this directory:
/Applications/Adobe After Effects CS5/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels/
Now you can launch After Effects CS5 and find “rd_DVRebelTools.jsx” at the bottom of the Window menu. You can dock the palette into your workspace wherever you like.
Although I created the nerdy expressions and presets that power the DV Rebel Tools, there is a limit to my nerd powers, and that’s where Jeff Almasol stepped in and created the amazing scripts that automate the tools. A big and continued thanks to him. Check out his other handy scripts at redefinery.com.
Stu
After some Twitter responses I figured this is a good place for a quick FAQ:
Q: A lot has changed since the release of The DV Rebel’s Guide. Ever thought of doing a update?
A: No. I’m gonna make movies instead. Besides, the best parts of the book still aplly even with a new generation of camera tech.
But don’t despair, because I can’t seem to shut up either. If I were to do an update, it probably wouldn’t be a dead tree product. It would be somehow electronic, and mobile, and able to hold file and video links, and be a part of a conversation, and constantly updated.
Waitaminute… in the famous words of Madge, you’re soaking in it.
So let me change my answer. Yes.
Stu
Derps.
If you’re getting a “Divide by zero” error when trying to run the Thumbnails script, that’s because I screwed up and uploaded the wrong files. Please re-download and re-install the scripts and presets and all will be well.
Reader Comments (28)
Stop messing with your book its still awsome ;) But to be honest I forgot all about the rebel Tools. Its a good time to bring them back. Thanks Stu!
Hi Stu
I just still love your book - have even bought a second one because my first feel total apart.
But one question: Can I use this update of Rebel Tools if I still use CS4 or can I stay with the one I have now?
Anders Kjaer
The book is great I love it and the presets work like a charm, but I'm getting some issues with the Make Tumbnail Comp - when I press the button a message pops out that there is an "invalid numeric result (divide by zero?)" and it disables the expression, so basically it's not working.
Hi Georgi, thanks for reporting that. There was a bug in my initial upload—please re-download and re-install the scripts and presets. Sorry for the hassel, I can't believe I screwed up something so simple.
Anders, the new scripts will work fine in CS4, and you should upgrade, as there are improvements.
Ohh
Pardom, Excuse me or delete my comments I didnt see you commet about new download, sorry
Now it works fine.
Thanks
Hey Stu,
Just wondering, I've already bought hard copy of your book, like with paper and stuff. Do I have to pay again if i want the Ebook version or can I just punch in the barcode number or something to get it? Sorry if I'm way off here, not trying to steal your hard earned buck, just not sure what the done thing in this scenario is.
Ed
No worries Edward. I don't think Peachpit is any different than anyone else in this area—each edition is sold separately.
Hi Stu. Thanks man ...been waiting for this version.
Just had another thought...if one is to download a kindle copy will it only work in kindle or is there a fiendish way to make it play in iBooks?
very nice job.
whether it can be used in the afetr effects cs4?
ask for after effects cs4 present or where the download!
Are we getting any control surface support for Colorista II? any plans? It would make finishing larger projects that much more efficient. Love the power, would love to harness it with a control surface!
-Dane
Ahmad, yes, these scripts work in After Effects CS4.
Hi Stu, Getting the rebel book in India is still a pain but thankx for the iPad version, that will help.
Just a question on the rebel tools. To extend the same color correction across contiguos layers was simple by just extending the adjustment layer. But what if I want to apply the same color correction across other clips not contigous, maybe alternate sequences etc? Do we just duplicate the adjustment layer and move them? Thought a button to duplicate same color correction to selected layers will help :).
Thankx again for sharing your knowledge.
Tx,
Haf
Good idea Mohamed—a button to copy corrections to another shot would be very handy.
Always watching out for your peeps! Thanks.
Stu, the version of the scripts that I downloaded doesn't contain the Magnum Edit Detector script. Was that taken out or do I not have the latest version? By the way, I love the blog and have learned so much from you. Keep up the great work!
Hey this could be a little obvious but amazing none the less, what if you came up with a control interface for colorista II on ipad and 3 of this cheap game controllers ???
Fling http://tenonedesign.com/fling.php
Unless somebody already did it and I´m not aware of.
Is the material that came in the DVD available to those who bought the kindle edition?
I cant see any download materials in my amazon order page so I'm guessing it might not.
There's a link at the end of the book.
Great, thanks!
I have three questions concerning workflow with the DV Rebel Tools:
1. Ist it possible to do a 90 min feature this way?
2. Your clips have name and timecode on it. Do you replace them afterwards?
3. Do you usually precomp footage and grade on the precomps?
Kind regards and thanks a lot for sharing!
Andreas
1. Yes, although I would break it up into reels, just like DI houses do.
2. Yes. Those were Grinder proxies.
3. No, I do it just like you see there. I precomp shots if I need to add VFX.
Are the REBEL TOOLS compatible with After Effects CS6, and will the Colorista free be made available for AE CS6 as well?
Thank you - attack life!
Lindbergh
They all should work fine. Have you tried?
I purchased the Kindle version and I see I can download scripts here. Where can I get the short film "The Last Birthday Card" dvd so I can reference what you talk about in the book?
Finished the whole book and loved it even though it constantly refered to "The Last Birthday Card" and other files. These came on a DVD which does not come with the Kindle version. Then after the index on the second to last page I find information on where to get these relevant media files. Nice scene placement.
There's a link near the end of the eBook to download the materials.
Thanks Stu but as I read my books by starting at the beginning and finishing at the end the link showed up long after it was useful. Sort of like putting who did it on the first page of a who done it book. That being said I loved the book and now I'm re-reading it, this time with the context downloaded.