Cracking Swiss/french/Italian Alps ride report

[Bury_Dave]

I imagine most here are members of ADVRider forum and so have seen this report.
But, for those who haven't and are planning something, this seems to me to be a really useful reference.

http://www.ride4adventure.com/Alps/

Certainly raises the bar in how to do a report ! WAY beyond my abilities.

Dave

 

[AlanI]

Certainly raises the bar in how to do a report ! WAY beyond my abilities

+1 on that. Although I've ridden these same roads more times than I would care to remember, it was interesting to get another riders perspective and watch the videos/view the images whilst surrounded by snow and waiting to get back on the road again.

Anyone know how he managed in the opening frames of the intro video to get a m/c icon to move around the proposed map? I've never come across this before, or even the idea of it, but seems like an effect I'd like to introduce into my own videos.

 

[Wapping]

Thanks for posting the link

I wondered about the animated bike on the map, too. So, I dropped him an email to see if he would tell us how it was done. If he replies I will ping the answer here.

 

[AlanI]

Well I've subsequently been doing a spot of Googling on the subject and came across this small piece of software.......MapCreator 2.....http://www.primap.com/en/ . There's a freeware version as well as a paid for version with the only difference between the two being that the freeware version places a copyright watermark across the finished map. Personally for the few times that I will be using the application the watermark isn't too much of a distraction.

All in all the creation of an AVI video of the moving route is quite easy although having experimented with it for a few hours here's a few tips:

1. Although there are the usual 'Help' links within the application itself (like with most) I found it easier to download the separate pdf help files from the 'tutorials' menu on the left hand side of the above given link. You'll need both the pdf help files because in fact MapCreator comprises 2 separate but intergrated applications...........MapCreator for creating the initial map and MapCreator Studio that creates the finished AVI movie.

2. Once the movie has been created (it defaults to 10 seconds in length) and subsequently previewed within MapCreator or any other movie player of your choice e.g. Quick Time and Co. it abruptly ends. This is normal of course but can appear visually odd when the final moving track of your route hits a destination and the movie ends at the same time. To overcome this it's advisable to move in the slider on the time line to say the 8 second point so that when the moving route reaches it's destination the movie continues for a further 2 seconds allowing the viewer to take in the information presented. I've actually created a presentation that has 5 moving routes going from A to B to C etc etc etc.......with the moving line from B to C starting to play when A to B has completed.

You'll appreciate that this is all somewhat hard to explain but I can certainly recommend giving it a go and see what you think. If you do, and there are any areas that you find confusing or no sure how to proceed don't hesitate to either PM me (if that is allowed on this forum) or post here.

 

[Wapping]

Thank you for the news on the animated maps

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Good that

 

[LBL]

Puts my few pictures and reports to shame.

Really enjoyed that.

 

[dazchallenge]

great videos and photographs!.
Although I personally enjoy reading a ride reports with more route info, humour, sarcassem etc etc.

 

[AlanI]

@ Wapping and Johnny Boxer

Just to give you an idea of what the finished video clip 'can' look like this is something that I quickly knocked up for demo purposes. I've reduced the original file size dramatically which of course has affected the quality.......the original is a hundred times better.

That said, the video appears somewhat better when the option to 'View on YouTube is selected and viewed at full screen.

Hope this helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N00EcnyaTQ

 

[Jed]

which camera is he using

Be interesting to see what sort of head cam he is using - a lot of them seem to have that "fish-eye" effect i.e. curved edges but he does not. I am planning to do one of the Globe Riders tours year after next so i've go some time.

 

[Canuck]

Check out to GOPro hero... good little camera... I think the newer vbersion will have an lcd screen on the back... hte older version doesn't so you set up it you need to memorize a few codes that flash on the front panel lcd (miniscule).

 

[Wapping]

Be interesting to see what sort of head cam he is using - a lot of them seem to have that "fish-eye" effect i.e. curved edges but he does not. I am planning to do one of the Globe Riders tours year after next so i've go some time.

If you are doing a lot of offroad film, get a headcam.

If there is a lot of inroad (or smooth) filming, use a bike mount.

Lots of choice out there. I like these guys' gear: http://www.vio-pov.com/ It comes with assorted mounts, so can cope with on or offroad use. Reasonably waterproof, too.

Some of the newer cameras have built in GPS positioning. This might be fun if you are somewhere exotic and want to find the location again when you are back.

 

[Wapping]

Got an answer from the bod about his animations


I have already had a number of other viewers of my motorcycle video write to me asking that same question.

To create a travel route animation within your video is fairly straight forward. Most video editing software packages now include the tools to create this video effect.

For my own video editing I make use of a number of different softwares, MAGIX Pro 17 and Corel VideoStudio Pro X3

The video effect that you reference in my first video was done using MAGIX. Its just a matter of importing a jpeg image into the program, selecting the animation tool, draw the lines on the map image. The software also allow you select or import an icon like a plane, car or in my case motorcycle to trace out your selected route

http://www.magix.com/us/movie-edit-pro/plus/travel-route-animation/

Some of my other travel animations on my Alps website were generated using Corel Painting Creator

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Content/1245942827756

If you have photoshop C3 you create animations using the tools provided.

Visit the Youtube website, they show a number of example of animated route maps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tp-N8j6oSE&feature=related

Just do a search on the web for "travel route animation" there are lots of links to sites discussing this issue in more detail

Hope this has been of some help

Brian
Ride4Adventure.com
http://www.ride4adventure.com/

====

I have said, "Thank you" for his help.