Graphic overlays

Most overlaid graphics are simple captions, or perhaps a logo in the corner of the screen. More ambitious graphics could be animated programme titles, or even computer generated characters. Whatever they may be, these can, for the most part, be treated in the same way, which is to key them on (probably using an alpha matt).

Basic text can be created with the title creator in Adobe Premiere (most programmes have something similar), or using Photoshop (I like Adobe programmes, okay?) if you want a bit more control. Doing the former will mean that your titles are set up and ready to go automatically. Animated text can be (fairly) easily created with Flash (export it as a Quicktime movie to get it into your video editor), while CG actors can be easily created by spending £1,496,368.73 on expensive software and devoting 483 hours to every 17 minutes of footage.

Whatever your graphics, and however they are created, you need to be aware of your graphics safe area. The picture you see on a TV is not the full size of the screen defined in your editor's set up (that is, picture you will see on your computer monitor when editing). The edges are cut off all round - to a varying degree ¨C on most televisions so you need to keep any text away from the edges. Similarly it is not worth devoting 3 months to making sure your CG character winks just as he disappears off the edge of the screen, because no one will see it.

Please note the figures quoted above in relation to CG actors is merely a random number. It probably costs much more to produce a truly realistic giant purple squirrel.

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