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Home ? General Discussion ? Free version of Fusion editor/effects generator

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11/11/2014 10:59:01

toonaramaMuvizu mogulExperimental user
toonarama
Posts: 661 		I don't know anything about the software but there is now a free version of Fusion

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusion
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11/11/2014 18:26:29

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		It's like After Effects, but complicated Some research and tutorials would need to be watched, but it does look promising.
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11/11/2014 18:56:46

muvizu_chapMuvizu staff
muvizu_chap
Posts: 82 		If it's anything like their hardware expect it to be solid and intuitive for those used to using this sort of stuff.
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12/11/2014 02:39:45

oziabla
oziabla
Posts: 59 		It is a seriously sophisticated bit of gear - used on hundreds of top movies.

Fusion is a "node_based" compositor. After Effects is a "layer" based compositor. It's too hard to explain the difference, but node-based compositing is far more powerful and has historically been far more expensive. (The competitor Nuke is currently $5000 a licence).

There is a SERIOUS learning curve, and expect to play with it for a least 50-100 hours before you produce anything. However you would be able to create astonishing stuff once you got a handle on it.

Here is a tutorial of a shot created in version 5 (now up to version 7). This tutorial will give you a great insight into what Fusion does and how it does it.
http://vimeo.com/9859590
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12/11/2014 14:24:15

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		Wow. Mind boggled. And he says in the video that's a simple example?!! I will be watching tutorials for a while on this one, I think, but thanks for the link Oziabla Thumbs Up
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12/11/2014 14:58:09

bigwallyMuvizu mogulExperimental user
bigwally
Posts: 399 		Let me guess, this won't run on my Sinclair ZX-81, will it?
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12/11/2014 15:16:54

DanimalMuvizu mogulExperimental user
Danimal
Posts: 477 		That tutorial had me just about completely lost by about the 4 minute mark. I'll probably snag it while it's free to download, but this really looks somewhat baffling.
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12/11/2014 19:26:29

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		bigwally wrote:
Let me guess, this won't run on my Sinclair ZX-81, will it?

I think it would run...but slowly. Simple effects, like colour correction, shouldn't be a problem, but as soon as you started to use the fancy plugins and generators then its probably going to take a while. Also, the version for download has a simpler default interface than what he was using (I guess, like most things, you configure the UI to suit your own level of skill with the program). Also, he was using nodes to brighten, darken, and then brighten again - what?! I think he was overdoing it
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12/11/2014 23:01:57

ziggy72Muvizu mogulExperimental user
ziggy72
Posts: 1988 		Damn this thing is powerful. Unfortunately, just like blender, the UI is horrible, but you can show the nodes as pictures (which helps a lot), there are some controls that look intuitive, and have colour coding and icons (so its not just a text minefield like blender), and you don't need to go into all the 3d stuff if you don't need it. Try looking at these tutorials first :

http://hollywoodcgfx.com/10-really-cool-fusion-tutorials/

The UI in Fusion 7 is much the same as 6, so the tutorials work the same. The real-time previews can be adjusted for quality, so its scalable if your PC is a little on the slow side. The weird text labels at the top are just shortcuts, most of the features of the program seem to be accessible on the right click menu and depend on context/window.

(btw, don't mean to be beating up on blender here, its just that the UI is similar and immediately reminded me of the horror, the horror... )
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13/11/2014 00:04:38

oziabla
oziabla
Posts: 59 		As you have surmised, software like Blender and Fusion are NOT tools for amateurs. The UIs are about as simple as they can possibly be, given the amazing level of complexity inherent in the tools.

Harsh truth - you will not be able to use Fusion for even basic things until you have spent 50-100 hours playing with it.

You will also have to spend a lot of time understanding what it is actually doing conceptually, before you can proceed to learn how to actually do it. (This complexity is why there are entire university level courses taught for this.)

I use Da Vinci Resolve as well, and I have an extensive background in VFX. Even so, I had to do a three-day course because I couldn't work out how to do even basic things on my own.

Tutorials for Fusion are currently thin on the ground. However with Blackmagic's recent announcement, I suspect tutorials will start appearing everywhere in the next few months.
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13/11/2014 03:16:56

primaveranz
primaveranz
Posts: 520 		At least with Blender you can go to this site and download a sensible GUI
http://blendersensei.com/
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13/11/2014 03:22:58

primaveranz
primaveranz
Posts: 520 		oziabla wrote:


Tutorials for Fusion are currently thin on the ground. However with Blackmagic's recent announcement, I suspect tutorials will start appearing everywhere in the next few months.


It will be interesting to see if this free release impacts on Hitfilm3's take up. Although I suspect not, if Fusion is so archane.
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13/11/2014 04:35:06

oziabla
oziabla
Posts: 59 		I don't think there is any competition between Hitfilm and Fusion, they are aimed at totally different markets.

Hitfilm is a cost-effective alternative to the Adobe Premiere/After Effects combo.

Fusion is competing with pro VFX tools such as The Foundry's Nuke (£2,534 per licence) and Autodesk's Flame (only sold with hardware, and a basic kit is US$160,000. Not kidding).

http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/products/nuke/buy/
http://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2013/February-1-2013/Review-Autodesk-Flame-20th-Anniversary-Edition.aspx
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13/11/2014 04:49:14

primaveranz
primaveranz
Posts: 520 		Yeah but my point is that if Fusion is free and it can do anything Hitfilm - costing $300 - can do (and if it can do it on a similar specced PC), the main blocking factor would probably be learning curve for most people.
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13/11/2014 06:36:03

oziabla
oziabla
Posts: 59 		Again, a person who is willing to learn Fusion would have very different goals from someone wanting to use Hitfilm.

Hitfilm is an "all-in-one" video suite aimed at enthusiasts. It can do everything, but only to a moderate degree.

Fusion on the other hand, is a high end, specialised VFX tool. However it cannot even edit video. It can only produce "shots" (based on a single piece of video footage) which are then dispatched back to an edit platform (eg. Premiere, Avid, Final Cut, etc).


If you aren't interested in learning advanced VFX (either for your own usage or with a view to a career in this field) then Fusion would be a waste of time. On the flip side, if you enjoy Hitfilm but eventually get frustrated by its limitations, then Fusion would be a logical next step.

(Let me add that these "limitations" of Hitfilm simply mean you couldn't use it to recreate the latest Transformers movie. It's still an amazing bit of kit).
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13/11/2014 06:45:37

primaveranz
primaveranz
Posts: 520 		oziabla wrote:
Again, a person who is willing to learn Fusion would have very different goals from someone wanting to use Hitfilm.


Yeah, they might just want to save $300.

Let's face it, no-one whose main animation software is Muvizu is ever going to need all Fusion's functionality, but lack of cash can be a great motivator.
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13/11/2014 12:25:03

oziabla
oziabla
Posts: 59 		Well you wouldn't save $300 as you still couldn't edit footage in Fusion.

If you want a full-featured all-in-one video+effects editing package that is free, then get Lightworks. There is simply nothing else around that compares.
http://www.lwks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=213

And believe it or not, I use some heavy duty professional cameras and software in conjunction with Muvizu. Animation is not my primary focus, but when I need it, Muvizu gets the job done admirably.
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13/11/2014 17:59:13

primaveranz
primaveranz
Posts: 520 		oziabla wrote:
Well you wouldn't save $300 as you still couldn't edit footage in Fusion.


I would actually, as I already have Sony Moviestudio but want a better VFX tool. I'm guessing there are others in my position.
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13/11/2014 18:53:10

DreekoMuvizu mogulExperimental user
Dreeko
Posts: 1257 		I actually like the look of Fusion! I can see a lot of green screening in my Muvizu future!
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19/11/2014 11:21:42

oziabla
oziabla
Posts: 59 		Blackmagic have just posted a large collection of free tutorials, from absolute beginner to fairly intermediate level.

Clearly they want people to start using it

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusion/training
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Home ? General Discussion ? Free version of Fusion editor/effects generator

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