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Post by Chicago Jake on Nov 21, 2007 16:35:16 GMT -6
Whenever I'm at Hedo (as I'll be in two weeks), I stare out at the beautiful bay, with sail boats, parasailers, and kayaks lazily drifting past, along with the sparkling of the sun on the waves and the occasional pelican, and I think, "This would make a great screen saver!" So I'm planning to bring my camera and capture enough video to put into an endless loop for a desktop screensaver. My only problem is, how do you go from a video file (I think the camera captures .mpgs, but I'm not sure) to a .scr file or whatever it is that you need? Anyone have any experience or advice in this area? A quick search at Download.com provided some free programs that sound like they might do the trick, but I haven't had time to try them out yet. They are: www.download.com/Video-Screensaver/3000-2409_4-10718250.html?tag=lst-0-4www.download.com/Video-2-Screensaver/3000-2409_4-10653584.html?tag=lst-0-8www.download.com/Vial-Video-Screensaver/3000-2409_4-10620004.html?tag=lst-0-5If I get this thing to work, of course, I'll distribute a copy to anyone who wants it. Thanks!.......Jake
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Nov 21, 2007 18:12:36 GMT -6
So I'm planning to bring my camera and capture enough video to put into an endless loop for a desktop screensaver. My only problem is, how do you go from a video file (I think the camera captures .mpgs, but I'm not sure) to a .scr file or whatever it is that you need? Anyone have any experience or advice in this area? I'll tell you up-front that I've never actually done this before, so take everything I'm about to say with a grain of salt (as you usually do): It looks like with the software you've found at download.com, you don't *need* to convert it to an .scr format -- IOW, these things look like they are just screensaver players ... meaning, you point it to the AVI, MPEG or QTW file that you select and it will play it as a screen saver. Basically, it would appear that these utilities take over for the Windows screen saver utility built into the OS. Now, if you want to use the screen saver utility built into the OS, then you *will* need to convert your video to a .scr format. To do this, you will need a program that edits video files and recompiles them for what are known as Windows sprites (animation). I don't know of any free ones, but maybe you might find one by doing another search. Sorry I couldn't be more informative than that.
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Nov 21, 2007 19:16:02 GMT -6
Jake, I recently played around with a program called "Ultra Video Converter," which you can find HERE!.It will convert most any type of video format into another, though I don't specifically see .scr formats listed (what is .scr anyhoo?? Is that specific to windows?). The downside of the program is that while there is a fully functional free download, it will only convert half of the video you are converting. Just make sure you record twice as much as you want, and it should work OK!! However, I agree with Beeb that it looks like the programs you saw at download.com will do what you want without having to convert them. ............Bob
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Nov 21, 2007 21:27:42 GMT -6
(what is .scr anyhoo?? Is that specific to windows?). They're uncommon in Mac (only used for scripts executable by another program), but can exist in that format for Windows. More commonly, they exist in Windows as screen saver format files: File Info
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Post by Chicago Jake on Nov 22, 2007 0:55:05 GMT -6
Apparently my camera takes .mov (Quick Time Movie) video files. A little bit more data there for you.
Thanks for all the input, guys!........Jake
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Post by Irish Stu on Nov 22, 2007 5:34:38 GMT -6
Jake We make screensavers for some of our clients, as well as the files that play in digital adverting hoardings that you see in sports stadiums (sorry but got to get a plug in for my business ) so I asked my digital media guy about this and here is his reply : METHOD 1Import the .mov into Flash Export it as a .swf file Import the swf into a program called Screenswift which will turn it into a screensaver. METHOD 2Try a program like www.sharewareconnection.com/avi-mpg-screensaver.htm that will turn the .mov directly into a screensaver. Hope this helps. Simon
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Post by Chicago Jake on Nov 22, 2007 9:22:35 GMT -6
Cool, Simon! Always good to hear from a professional.......Jake
P.S. - plug away!!
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Post by Irish Stu on Nov 23, 2007 14:23:54 GMT -6
I've been having problems converting videos I've got on my computer from various sources, including from YouTube, to play on my new iPod Touch (which BTW I have fallen in love with for its beautiful ease of use) and I came across this site which offers a number of freeware applications for converting movie files. One of them will convert video files into Flash .swf files, the format required for one of the options I suggested above. The iPod conversion programme works perfectly and is very fast and easy to use too... it's nice to now have porn on my Touch along with my music files for when I'm using public transport dvdvideosoft.com/free-dvd-video-software.htmSimon
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Nov 23, 2007 16:44:36 GMT -6
... it's nice to now have porn on my Touch along with my music files for when I'm using public transport Gives a whole new meaning to the name iPod Touch.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 9, 2007 22:36:20 GMT -6
I'm back from Hedo, with about fifteen minutes of excellent footage. Some is from the nude beach, and some from the prude beach, but that doesn't really make much difference; the view is pretty much the same. Some has backs of beach chairs in the low foreground to give it that authentic feel, some does not. Some has leaves and shit on the sides to frame the action. There are lots of sailboats, jet skis, and rippling waves, and a few parasailers.
I'm going to try to edit it down to a rock-solid ten minutes or so, and then work on getting it into screen saver format. I'm not sure if I should add sound or not. Maybe a sound version and a silent version would be appropriate.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, suggestions are welcome! And, if anyone wants a sneak preview, just ask, and I'll email you the .mov files that I have so far. I've been watching them over and over, and I think they rock......Jake
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Post by Captain Gary on Dec 11, 2007 13:27:51 GMT -6
Jake,
Please send me what you took while down there. If nothing else, I'll just play it and stare at the screen.
Gary
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 11, 2007 13:45:48 GMT -6
One is on its way. It's pretty big.....Jake
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 11, 2007 14:08:09 GMT -6
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 22, 2007 19:26:16 GMT -6
Well, I hit a little snag on the way. I want to edit the video, to take out recognizable people, and the jiggly sections at the beginning and end of each segment where I am positioning the camera, etc. But.... turns out my video editing software (Windows Movie Maker) cannot handle .mov files! Arghghggh...
So, a little search for a converter turned up RAD Video Tools, a free converting program. I think it can also convert directly to a .scr file, but I'm not up to that point yet. Stay tuned......
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 22, 2007 20:36:36 GMT -6
Hey hey! Success!! Well, I don't mean that the screen saver is finished, but my initial tests seem to indicate that the methodology works. I converted a small video to a .scr file, and it runs fine. It still needs editing, and I may well leave this file out entirely as the horizon is at a slant. Also, it is a pretty big file (20 MB) for a short loop. I need to experiment with the compression ratios. Also, it doesn't fill the screen. I'm not sure I want it to, but I want to check it out. I also haven't stripped the audio out yet, which I probably should. And please note this is only a small fraction of the footage I have available. Anyway, feel free to download the file right here. Then copy it into your Windows directory. When you next go to your screen saver selection tab, it should show up as Test Hedo View Saver. Let me know what you think!!......Jake
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Post by Guinea Pig Bukkake on Dec 22, 2007 21:23:44 GMT -6
Got it to work -- looks OK for a test. Thanks for the preview...
BTW, nice shot of the palm of your left hand. You may want to consider shaving that thing before you photograph it next time, though ...
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Post by Chicago Jake on Dec 22, 2007 22:22:54 GMT -6
Thanks for testing it. Good to know it's working.
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Post by pixiedust on Dec 25, 2007 22:53:37 GMT -6
Cool Jake! Worked for me - I just downloaded it and chose to run it.
I'll be interested in the finished product...Great job!
Colleen
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Post by pixiedust on Jan 12, 2008 12:33:38 GMT -6
So what's the progress on your screensaver Jake?
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 12, 2008 13:03:36 GMT -6
Well, no progress, actually. My "big iron" computer is down, so I'm limping by on my laptop. If I can find some time, I'll work on the screensaver, but most of my computer time these days is consumed trying to fix the big Dell........Jake
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 14, 2008 6:29:53 GMT -6
What happened to it Jake?
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jan 14, 2008 9:34:00 GMT -6
I'm guessing it got hit with a virus when downloading porn.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 14, 2008 10:44:56 GMT -6
I was referring to his computer
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jan 14, 2008 10:51:56 GMT -6
Sorry -- I thought "big iron" was his nickname for Jake Jr.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 14, 2008 10:59:07 GMT -6
You should know better than to fall for his delusions
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jan 14, 2008 11:05:23 GMT -6
If I knew that, I never would've registered for all of those message boards.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 14, 2008 11:08:45 GMT -6
What message boards would that be?
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jan 14, 2008 11:37:21 GMT -6
The ones I never should've registered for.
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Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jan 14, 2008 11:38:25 GMT -6
Oh yeah, dont forget to send in your dues for those too.
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Post by ♥ COVID-19♥ on Jan 14, 2008 11:39:37 GMT -6
Not until we get our screesavers.
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