It can. Make a new video preview image - same size as your vid. Tools>This photo>replace video preview The next screen will give you the precise size. Replace the image with the new one, and make SURE that your gallery is set in gallery settings for 'original' thumbnails.
Too much work. As I said, I never did this for my other vids. The thumbs were automatically original. And I wouldn't mind just having the thumb & preview I have, as long as the words weren't chopped off. I obviously don't have a still photo of it, & am not up to going to yet another outside program, learning how to screen-grab, etc. Couldn't we just make this simple and go back to allowing original thumbs on videos? In this gallery they're still allowed: http://www.winsomeworks.com/Music/Mu...03319394_U5DgU Is it because they're not Animoto, or is this new policy? I didn't have to go through extra steps to make them that way.
And they will be if you have original set in the gallery, too, when you upload 'em.
Umm-- I have, and have had, original thumbs set in all galleries in question, the second I had any option to do so. Remember, the Animoto vids automatically download themselves originally into a gallery called "Animoto private", within the "Other" category. We don't have a chance to do anything with this gallery until it's all downloaded. If that's the problem, well then we're back to the original problem of Smug defaulting to square thumbs-- it was never a good idea, and here's just one more example of it. Thumbs should especially not be set to square on these galleries you're partnering with outside sites in setting up. Could you not figure something out with Animoto? --Have those galleries default to original, rather than square, thumbs? Almost none of the videos are going to be in a square format, and if the titles are what shows & they will all be cut off, square is just always going to look bad.
At any rate, I moved that video almost immediately to another gallery that was set to original. That should have re-set the thumb, or there should be an option to re-set it like we do for photos, w/o going through a bunch of uploading, outside sites, cropping elsewhere, etc.... And this is all because square thumbs are the default? Yikes.
OK Anna Lisa, make sure "Animoto Private" gallery is set for original thumbs an then transfer the video from Animoto to SmugMug - that'll do it, too. Or download the hires vid from Animoto and reupload it to any gallery on SmugMug you like - making sure the thumbs are set to Original before you upload the video.
You can also do this as soon as you hit the export button on animoto, just go back to your site, /Other category, click settings for Animoto Private gallery and change the thumbs to Original.
Moving the video to another gallery won't reset the thumbnail, sorry.
OK Anna Lisa, make sure "Animoto Private" gallery is set for original thumbs an then transfer the video from Animoto to SmugMug - that'll do it, too. Or download the hires vid from Animoto and reupload it to any gallery on SmugMug you like - making sure the thumbs are set to Original before you upload the video.
You can also do this as soon as you hit the export button on animoto, just go back to your site, /Other category, click settings for Animoto Private gallery and change the thumbs to Original.
Moving the video to another gallery won't reset the thumbnail, sorry.
Ok, well, originally I didn't even know where my video was going to go, exactly. (this is the first one I downloaded from Animoto). So I think you're saying that any future vids I make there will now go into that same "Animoto Private" gallery? (i.e., they won't set up another one?) Ok, if that's the case, that's good... I'll go set the thumbs on that gallery now, because I do plan to make other vids.
Ok, well, originally I didn't even know where my video was going to go, exactly. (this is the first one I downloaded from Animoto). So I think you're saying that any future vids I make there will now go into that same "Animoto Private" gallery? (i.e., they won't set up another one?) Ok, if that's the case, that's good... I'll go set the thumbs on that gallery now, because I do plan to make other vids.
Answering my own question-- in case anyone else is wondering: YES!! You can set your "Animoto Private" gallery to originals. Future videos will go into that same gallery. I do not know if you can be pro-active by setting up your own "Animoto Private" gallery, & setting thumbs to original before you ever make any Animoto videos??? Smuggy heroes? Will Animoto find that gallery if you've made it yourself? I don't know. Some other pieces of useful info. I found along the way:
1. You can't "make a copy" of your video here on Smug.
2. You can, however, do "collect photo" on it, to place a copy in another gallery, if you don't feel like moving the original copy from the "Animoto Private" gallery.
3. Visitors will have no problem seeing the collected video, even if the original copy is in that unlisted gallery for Animoto.
4. Even if you keep the thumb as "original", it may or may not display the exact same preview that your Animoto video did. For me, here's what happened: a video made in original Animoto style did show the same preview here as on Animoto. A video made in "Sky" style did not. It showed a sky with my video title over it. On Animoto, that's not the preview.
One more Animoto question, then I think I'm good to go for awhile . I really do enjoy this service, btw, when I've finally gotten some of the bugs or details of it figured out... yikes. (Some of that could have been streamlined, imho, rather than all the trial & error & 100s of questions). But anyway-- can Animoto use a gallery full of collected photos to make a video? (I mean virtual copies such as we can now make here on SmugMug) Thanks. Wanted to ask before I collect them.
can Animoto use a gallery full of collected photos to make a video? (I mean virtual copies such as we can now make here on SmugMug) Thanks. Wanted to ask before I collect them.
No, they do not. We're seeing why this is the case.
No, they do not. We're seeing why this is the case.
Ok, thanks... good to know. Also, I forgot to tell you that the problem I was having where I couldn't make that one video go full-screen simply disappeared. I don't know why. I made another video, had no problem making that one go full-screen, and then went back to try the first one yet one more time (about the 5th time I'd tried) and then it went full-screen. So-- am gonna hope it was just a fluke. In that case, I will try to link people here to see them rather than Animoto. PS.... here's the gallery I've started for travel videos in case anyone wants to see an example: http://www.winsomeworks.com/Travel/Travel-Videos/14454711_SAiXs#1072488498_ngT3 . The Tibet video (the only one there right now) is only 30 seconds... would have been a freebie except I paid $5 to make it hi-def. I've now gotten the $30 level that will allow me to make longer videos. But I'd still have to pay $5 to make any of them hi-def. (wait a min... hi-def., hi-res... is that the same thing, or not?)
More Animoto questions:
Just made a new Animoto video and for some reason, this one kept my watermarks on all the photos in the video. I'm wondering why. The galleries I used for the other two HQ videos I made did not have watermarked photos in the finished product, even though the galleries were entirely watermarked as well. The videos are not supposed to show up w/ watermarks, right?
Is it best to have the gallery you're creating the video with set to "originals" temporarily (while the video is being made) or something? Or doesn't that matter? I didn't know if Animoto could access originals either way, or not. This video also doesn't look very sharp, and I wondered if that's why. (it's HQ)
I don't think that would have been the difference with watermarking though, because I believe I would have had every gallery I've used for videos set at "X3Large" in gallery settings. The watermarked video is here: http://www.winsomeworks.com/Travel/Travel-Videos/14454711_SAiXs#1086519068_tcf6Q It's the "Chimney Rock" one.
More Animoto questions:
Just made a new Animoto video and for some reason, this one kept my watermarks on all the photos in the video. I'm wondering why. The galleries I used for the other two HQ videos I made did not have watermarked photos in the finished product, even though the galleries were entirely watermarked as well. The videos are not supposed to show up w/ watermarks, right?
They will, if your photos are watermarked. Use unwatermarked photos to make your videos.
Is it best to have the gallery you're creating the video with set to "originals" temporarily (while the video is being made) or something? Or doesn't that matter? I didn't know if Animoto could access originals either way, or not. This video also doesn't look very sharp, and I wondered if that's why. (it's HQ)
I really want to get to the bottom of this, because this is very bad news to me (that watermarks might show up). For me to un-watermark a gallery just to make a video can represent a LOT of work!! I don't place all watermarks in the same place. Having to place them all correctly again, and also deal with the problem of watermarks not always showing on every size.... arrrggh. There's got to be some factor we're over-looking. I don't think it would be just random behavior. There must be some setting that allows photos to get used on Animoto without their watermarks appearing. Any ideas?
Animoto is a Bad Deal
So, I had purchased a Sub to animoto for $250/year with the hopes of being able to make slideshows/HD DVDs of my work and utilize ALL the great things they like to promote themselves for. Came out Pixelated every single time,EVEN with the conversion to 720-1080*.As far as customer service,NOthing, no help, no support, in some cases no response at all. So, doing some of my own research, I followed Animotos directions specifically (on YouTube/MAC os) for rendering a HD Dvd disc after creation of my slideshow, and its ALWAYS Pixelated Garbage that is completely unusable. If I pay $250.00 I refuse to pay Another $30. for a HD-Dvd to be mailed to me,THAT, is a scam. Im currently asking for a refund from Animoto,and I will never use their products or services again. Just a heads up to everyone else out there !!!! --Scorcho
So, I had purchased a Sub to animoto for $250/year with the hopes of being able to make slideshows/HD DVDs of my work and utilize ALL the great things they like to promote themselves for. Came out Pixelated every single time,EVEN with the conversion to 720-1080*.As far as customer service,NOthing, no help, no support, in some cases no response at all. So, doing some of my own research, I followed Animotos directions specifically (on YouTube/MAC os) for rendering a HD Dvd disc after creation of my slideshow, and its ALWAYS Pixelated Garbage that is completely unusable. If I pay $250.00 I refuse to pay Another $30. for a HD-Dvd to be mailed to me,THAT, is a scam. Im currently asking for a refund from Animoto,and I will never use their products or services again. Just a heads up to everyone else out there !!!! --Scorcho
Hi Scorcho. I've emailed you for more details so I can help you with this. Please reply so I can make sure you're taken care of.
Comments
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
And they will be if you have original set in the gallery, too, when you upload 'em.
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Umm-- I have, and have had, original thumbs set in all galleries in question, the second I had any option to do so. Remember, the Animoto vids automatically download themselves originally into a gallery called "Animoto private", within the "Other" category. We don't have a chance to do anything with this gallery until it's all downloaded. If that's the problem, well then we're back to the original problem of Smug defaulting to square thumbs-- it was never a good idea, and here's just one more example of it. Thumbs should especially not be set to square on these galleries you're partnering with outside sites in setting up. Could you not figure something out with Animoto? --Have those galleries default to original, rather than square, thumbs? Almost none of the videos are going to be in a square format, and if the titles are what shows & they will all be cut off, square is just always going to look bad.
At any rate, I moved that video almost immediately to another gallery that was set to original. That should have re-set the thumb, or there should be an option to re-set it like we do for photos, w/o going through a bunch of uploading, outside sites, cropping elsewhere, etc.... And this is all because square thumbs are the default? Yikes.
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
You can also do this as soon as you hit the export button on animoto, just go back to your site, /Other category, click settings for Animoto Private gallery and change the thumbs to Original.
Moving the video to another gallery won't reset the thumbnail, sorry.
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
Answering my own question-- in case anyone else is wondering: YES!! You can set your "Animoto Private" gallery to originals. Future videos will go into that same gallery. I do not know if you can be pro-active by setting up your own "Animoto Private" gallery, & setting thumbs to original before you ever make any Animoto videos??? Smuggy heroes? Will Animoto find that gallery if you've made it yourself? I don't know. Some other pieces of useful info. I found along the way:
1. You can't "make a copy" of your video here on Smug.
2. You can, however, do "collect photo" on it, to place a copy in another gallery, if you don't feel like moving the original copy from the "Animoto Private" gallery.
3. Visitors will have no problem seeing the collected video, even if the original copy is in that unlisted gallery for Animoto.
4. Even if you keep the thumb as "original", it may or may not display the exact same preview that your Animoto video did. For me, here's what happened: a video made in original Animoto style did show the same preview here as on Animoto. A video made in "Sky" style did not. It showed a sky with my video title over it. On Animoto, that's not the preview.
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
No, they do not. We're seeing why this is the case.
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
Just made a new Animoto video and for some reason, this one kept my watermarks on all the photos in the video. I'm wondering why. The galleries I used for the other two HQ videos I made did not have watermarked photos in the finished product, even though the galleries were entirely watermarked as well. The videos are not supposed to show up w/ watermarks, right?
Is it best to have the gallery you're creating the video with set to "originals" temporarily (while the video is being made) or something? Or doesn't that matter? I didn't know if Animoto could access originals either way, or not. This video also doesn't look very sharp, and I wondered if that's why. (it's HQ)
I don't think that would have been the difference with watermarking though, because I believe I would have had every gallery I've used for videos set at "X3Large" in gallery settings. The watermarked video is here: http://www.winsomeworks.com/Travel/Travel-Videos/14454711_SAiXs#1086519068_tcf6Q It's the "Chimney Rock" one.
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
I really want to get to the bottom of this, because this is very bad news to me (that watermarks might show up). For me to un-watermark a gallery just to make a video can represent a LOT of work!! I don't place all watermarks in the same place. Having to place them all correctly again, and also deal with the problem of watermarks not always showing on every size.... arrrggh. There's got to be some factor we're over-looking. I don't think it would be just random behavior. There must be some setting that allows photos to get used on Animoto without their watermarks appearing. Any ideas?
DayBreak, my Folk Music Group (some free mp3s!) http://daybreakfolk.com
Not sure - let us investigate more, please write our Support Heroes and let us help from the help desk, thanks Anna Lisa.
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
So, I had purchased a Sub to animoto for $250/year with the hopes of being able to make slideshows/HD DVDs of my work and utilize ALL the great things they like to promote themselves for. Came out Pixelated every single time,EVEN with the conversion to 720-1080*.As far as customer service,NOthing, no help, no support, in some cases no response at all. So, doing some of my own research, I followed Animotos directions specifically (on YouTube/MAC os) for rendering a HD Dvd disc after creation of my slideshow, and its ALWAYS Pixelated Garbage that is completely unusable. If I pay $250.00 I refuse to pay Another $30. for a HD-Dvd to be mailed to me,THAT, is a scam. Im currently asking for a refund from Animoto,and I will never use their products or services again. Just a heads up to everyone else out there !!!! --Scorcho
SmugMug Technical Account Manager
Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
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