Best way to make video loops

neanderthal wrote on 2/14/2005, 3:14 PM

I am trying to create some seemless video loops of about 10 - 30 seconds each.

The loops are mostly natural phenomena, like clouds & water so it's not too obvious they're repeating.

So far I'm taking the clip, splitting it, then moving the first half to the end. That way at least the "end" loops perfectly around to the beginning. The problem is obviously matching things up in the middle.

So far I'm just shuffling and chopping around in the middle of the clip trying to find a reasonably similar match, then giving it a very quick dissolve so the film doesn't "jump".

Is this the only way to get a seemless loop ? Or are there some other techniques that would help ?

Any thoughts most appreciatated.

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 2/14/2005, 3:23 PM

You’re doing it right but don’t use a quick dissolve. Use a rather long dissolve and it will be less noticeable. (especially with clouds and water which change slowly naturally)

~jr

Chienworks wrote on 2/14/2005, 3:34 PM

Yep. If i'm making a 30 second loop of something like clouds or water i'll usually start with 40 seconds, split it in the middle, swap the pieces, and then overlap them 10 seconds. Playing with the fade type can help a lot too. Often the fade that is gradual - steep - gradual works best for this, but it may vary depending on the footage you have.

neanderthal wrote on 2/14/2005, 10:06 PM

thanks, I'll try that :-)

epirb wrote on 2/15/2005, 4:28 AM

sometimes if the shot is right you can take the clip, duplicate it, then reverse the duplicate clip and work with those 2 with long disolves too.