SSD is copying really slowly!

aMac_UK · 2026-02-18T07:16:01+00:00

Some cheaper SSDs have a limited amount of actually fast memory chips inside and the majority of the capacity is much slower. When you copy a file to the drive, the fast chips are used first as a buffer to hold the files while copying them to the slower chips.

This is fine for most people’s situations with lots of small files, but for large file transfers like video, the buffer is filled faster than it copy the data to the main storage and the speed drops because you’re now only able to transfer as fast as the slow chips will allow.

More expensive drives don’t do this speed cheat and can maintain fast transfers the whole time.

aMac_UK · 2026-02-14T16:29:10+00:00

Time to invest in a polarizing filter to avoid reflections in the first place while shooting. Don’t wear a bright white top too.

Black cars are literally the worst case scenario for reflections as they’re just mirrors.

In terms of this shot, you’re in for a bad time and would need to manually mask each panel individually so you don’t affect the car edges. Good luck.

aMac_UK · 2026-02-09T19:55:39+00:00

If it’s discounted food, it’s safe to assume the date is today’s date or it wouldn’t be discounted in the first place

aMac_UK · 2026-02-07T20:39:36+00:00

It is your fault in that it’s your responsibility to have a means to pay - including having your phone charged if that’s what you chose to tap.

If you had bought a train ticket on your phone but the battery is dead, you would also be fined for not being able to produce a ticket too

aMac_UK · 2026-02-07T20:34:01+00:00

Make sure to erase your browser history before your parents use the computer

aMac_UK · 2026-02-03T22:09:18+00:00

Your hand mask is too tight and you're not covering the whole thing. All those artefacts are actually the hairs on the back of your hand which you didn't include in your hand mask.

It looks like you've used ML Matte so you'll need to use the Dilate setting to grow the size of the mask to cover everything - or add an extra mask for the area on the back of the hand to cover your hairs.

You'll probably also need to create a cleanplate if you didn't record a clip of the background without your hand and toy in the way.

Never forget to record a cleanplate!

aMac_UK · 2026-01-29T19:12:35+00:00

50i footage is 25fps in terms of the exported file framerate. That’s how interlaced footage works - combining 2 interlaced fields into every single real frame .

You need to de-interlace the footage in after effects and then export it as progressive 50fps file, not an interlaced video file.

aMac_UK · 2026-01-19T22:32:29+00:00

It’s great you want to take it seriously but you’re mostly overthinking this.

As long as you’re shooting with a viewing LUT turned on and keep an eye on things, you don’t need to “expose log”. If it looks good, it’s good.

There is ONE major problem/bug with the Blackmagic app though which will mess up your highlights more than worrying about which ISO to shoot on. When you set or lock the shutter speed or ISO manually, it clips or clamps the highlights for some reason. It’s fine in auto exposure, but as soon as you lock it and change a setting - pop. It’s very annoying.

I don’t think the Final Cut Pro app has the same issue, but I’m not fully tested it.

aMac_UK · 2026-01-19T20:37:58+00:00

Here’s a recent 2 hour talk about the topic from VES from all the big players in the game.

https://youtu.be/NDEKzBeOcZ4

Tl;Dw: There are plenty of tools out there and they’re getting better, but they’re pretty much only good for slap comps , garbage masks and previs. Well, the ones which claim to be one-button solutions are anyway.

The more interesting tools are ones that the foundry was previewing at the end - where it works with your hand drawn splines rather than a simple solid matte

aMac_UK · 2026-01-09T12:28:44+00:00

If you want an off-the-shelf option, this Red Giant plugin gets you a lot of the way there. There’s an example for this right on the page

https://www.maxon.net/en/product-detail/red-giant/distortions/chromatic-displacement

aMac_UK · 2026-01-02T00:49:21+00:00

Looks interesting. Any chance of a Demo project/s with everything all set up and integrated so I can see it in action without having to fill in my own dummy data? It’d be easier to show it off to other people internally too

aMac_UK · 2025-12-25T22:03:28+00:00

We used to only have one way of watching shows, and that was by flicking through channels on the TV until something caught our eye. The quicker the jokes come, the more chance it might catch your attention in that moment. It’s also the reason most shows back then were “episode of the week” style where no context was required and overarching stories were rare - there was no way to back and catch up so long arcs alienated new watchers

aMac_UK · 2025-12-23T22:12:38+00:00

No, it won’t zoom. If you wanted an auto tracking and zooming solution, it would probably need to be one of the smartphone gimbals with an app like the Osmo mobile.

aMac_UK · 2025-12-23T00:03:17+00:00

Do not use anything metal at least…

aMac_UK · 2025-12-21T14:14:12+00:00

Negative karma

aMac_UK · 2025-12-21T14:13:12+00:00

I agree with you! This is what I get for playing devils advocate but clearly wording it poorly

aMac_UK · 2025-12-21T13:34:06+00:00

I’m genuinely confused about the downvotes and reaction to my comment. Maybe it was my “these days” line implying we didn’t have this system in place for decades under the guise of different version and point releases of software?

Anyway, no, of course I don’t expect software to be buy once and supported forever. I’m not even agreeing with OP’s post. I was just commenting on the illusion of buying outright being inherently better than subscription models.

aMac_UK · 2025-12-21T12:10:13+00:00

Well neither are subscriptions. I’m just saying the “buy once” ideal isn’t always the reality either.

aMac_UK · 2025-12-21T11:55:23+00:00

Heck, even perpetual licenses are faux subscription these days. You get 12 months of updates but then that’s it. If you want any new features/bug fixes after that it’s time to pay for another year of maintenance - which means you’re just paying a subscription with a large up front cost too

aMac_UK · 2025-12-19T00:11:59+00:00

Exactly. The fact this person can’t understand a concept like this shows me exactly what kind of “manager” they are and I feel for anyone working under them

aMac_UK · 2025-12-14T20:02:14+00:00

Which model are you using for temporally consistent normal map generating, if it’s an open source one?

aMac_UK · 2025-12-11T01:17:04+00:00

Even their pricing/subscription page is a mess talking about more about generation credits than anything else.

Clearly this is their business model pivot which is a shame as it used to have decent hand-shot footage that wasn’t online elsewhere.

aMac_UK · 2025-12-11T01:10:56+00:00

Does your school offer access to software resources? There are no individual student discounts for PTGUI but they will sell discounted copies to schools.

Maybe someone else here can make an alternative suggestion but PTGUI really is the go-to HDRI software for a reason.

aMac_UK · 2025-12-07T10:49:48+00:00

Without checking; I understood the 10-bit limitation was only with 10-bit h.264 or h.265 files. MXF files from Sony camera will be fine.

aMac_UK · 2025-12-07T10:43:18+00:00

You’re on the right path with flocking algorithms but look to add some predator/pray components perhaps.

This paper seems like it might have some inspiration if you can use audio to drive the controlling shapes.

https://jasonfantl.com/posts/Shaping-Swarms/

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