Difference between revisions of "Source Filmmaker"

From Team Fortress Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Cleaned up the article a bit)
(External links)
 
(84 intermediate revisions by 50 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{stub}}
+
[[File:Filmmaker blank-1-.png|thumb|right|500px|A preview of the windowed Source Filmmaker menus.]]
[[File:Filmmaker blank-1-.png|thumb|right|180px|Source Filmmaker]]
+
{{Cleanup|general reorganization, more info and simple focus}}
  
'''Source Filmmaker''' ('''SFM''' for short) is a tool used to create most of the videos running the Source Engine. Source Filmmaker is a video capture and editing application that works from inside the Source engine. It allows users to record themselves many times over in the same scene, creating the illusion of many participants, as well as supporting a wide range of cinematographic effects and techniques such as motion blur, Tyndall effects, Dynamic Lighting, and depth of field. (Motion blur has now been added to the games themselves, though only when the view is moving at high speeds—not per-object as in the film-maker.)
+
{{Quotation|'''Source Filmmaker''' FAQ intro|The Source Filmmaker is the movie-making tool built and used by Valve to make movies inside the Source game engine. It is how we have been making all of our animated short movies. Because the Source Filmmaker uses the same assets as a Source-engine game, what goes into the game can be used in the movie, and vice versa. By using the hardware rendering of a modern PC gaming machine, the SFM allows storytellers to work in a �what you see is what you get�{{sic}} environment so that they can iterate in the context of what it will feel like for the final audience.}}
 +
 
 +
'''Source Filmmaker''' ('''SFM''' for short) is a program and tool used to create most of the videos running the [[Source Engine]]. Source Filmmaker is a video capture and editing application that works from inside the [[Source]] engine. It allows users to record themselves many times over in the same scene, creating the illusion of many participants, as well as supporting a wide range of cinematographic effects and techniques such as [[vdc:Source Engine Features|motion blur]], [[w:Tyndall effect|Tyndall effects]], dynamic lighting, and depth of field (motion blur has now been added to the games themselves, though only when the view is moving at high speeds – not per-object as in the filmmaker). Per-object motion blur is in the replay system of ''Team Fortress 2''.
 +
 
 +
The tool was leaked in the original ''[[Team Fortress 2 Beta]]'' release. Following the discovery of the program's files inside ''Team Fortress 2 Beta'', the community succeeded in creating a (mostly) stable version. Since then, many fan videos have been created with the tool. Valve officially released a closed beta version of the program on June 27, 2012, following the release of [[Meet the Pyro]]. On July 11th, the Source Filmmaker beta became public. The Source Filmmaker tool does not only allow you to record yourself in a scene over and over again but also allows the creation of pose to pose animations, posters and image sequences. There is also an audio editor below the timeline allowing the user to add audio files into their project such as music or lines from the Team Fortress 2 in-game characters, these are built in to the Source Filmmaker tool by default. Models, sounds, maps and a wide variety of custom content can be found on the [https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/about/?appid=1840 Source Filmmaker Community Workshop].
 +
 
 +
{{Get on Steam|app = 1840|placing = 0}}
  
The tool hasn't been publicly released by Valve, but was leaked in the original Team Fortress 2 beta release. After a few years of TF2 community members working on it, they succeeded in creating a (mostly) stable version. Since then, many fan videos have been created with the tool.
 
 
== Features ==
 
== Features ==
 +
[[File:Meetthepyro art.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Example of an SFM poster, made from a Meet the Pyro scene.]]
 +
 
SFM allows you to:
 
SFM allows you to:
  
 
* Record footage into:
 
* Record footage into:
:* uncompressed AVI file
+
** Uncompressed {{code|AVI}} files
:* TGA files
+
** {{code|TGA}} files
::* Frames of Footage, user defined
+
*** Frames of footage, user defined
::* Single Frame, similar to a ScreenShot
+
*** Single frame, or a "poster", similar to a Screenshot
:* WAV files of sounds
+
** {{code|WAV}} files of sounds
::* All can be done simultaneously
+
** (All can be done simultaneously)
* Record yourself performing one part, then rewinding and record yourself performing another
+
* Record yourself performing one part, then rewinding and record yourself performing another.
* Publish videos directly to Steam (option is available in-game, but nothing happens when selected)
+
* Publish videos directly to [[Steam]]
:* This option was most likely used by Valve, does not work for current, unofficial version.
+
* Publish videos to [[wikipedia:YouTube|YouTube]]
 
* Control camera placement and movement
 
* Control camera placement and movement
 
* Add per-object motion blur and depth of field
 
* Add per-object motion blur and depth of field
 
* Import choreography scenes
 
* Import choreography scenes
* Ability to modify bone placement and facial expressions of characters
+
* Modify bone placement and facial expressions of characters
  
==Recording with other games==
+
==Public release==
By importing files from other Source games, it is possible to use Source Filmmaker with games beyond Team Fortress 2. However, due to the complicated nature of the program, many problems may be experienced by users attempting to film with other games.
+
Source Filmmaker's public release was officially announced on June 27, 2012 as part of Day 3 of the [[Pyromania]] update<ref>[http://www.teamfortress.com/pyromania/ Pyromania release page]</ref>. A closed beta began on the same day, allowing select users who completed a survey access to the program. The initial release features an updated UI in comparison to the version of Source Filmmaker leaked years prior, and also allows users editing access to [[Meet the Heavy]]'s assets. An open beta began on July 11, with [[Meet the Engineer]] assets added.
  
== Gallery ==
+
==Official Valve productions==
 +
Valve has used Source Filmmaker for their own game trailers and short films, most significantly the ''[[Meet the Team]]'' series of videos, and the intro videos for ''Left 4 Dead'' and ''Left 4 Dead 2''. It is mostly used when the film contains something outside of the game's capabilities, like new facial expressions and cinematic animations. Besides ''Team Fortress 2'' videos, Valve has used Source Filmmaker with ''Left 4 Dead'' and ''Left 4 Dead 2'', ''Day of Defeat: Source'', ''Portal 2'' as well as ''Half-Life 2'' for announcing the game's arrival on the Macintosh.
 +
 
 +
{{youtube|xG02JftoiLU|hd=1|width=640|ratio=16x9}}
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
Image:Filmmaker_blank-1-.png
+
File:sfm old.png|Original Team Fortress 2 Beta Filmmaker interface.
 +
File:Sfm new menu.png|Filmmaker interface after [[Meet the Pyro]].
 +
File:SFM You now have Beta access.png|The message a Steam user got when they were accepted into the Source Filmmaker beta.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
* [http://sourcefilmmaker.wikia.com/wiki/Source_Filmmaker_Wiki Source Filmmaker Wikia] - Unofficial wikia dedicated to Source Filmmaker.
+
* [https://www.sourcefilmmaker.com Source Filmmaker] - Official Source Filmmaker Website.
* [http://sourcefilmmakermachinima.blogspot.com/] - A site dedicated to archiving development and tutorials, made by Spwee1494
+
* [[vdc:Source Filmmaker|Source Filmmaker]] on the Valve Developer Community.
 +
* [https://steamcommunity.com/app/1840 Source Filmmaker community] on Steam.
 +
* [https://www.sourcefilmmaker.com/post.php?id=8375 Source Filmmaker is LIVE!] - The official Source Filmmaker blog announcing the open beta.
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
<references/>
  
 
[[Category:Valve]]
 
[[Category:Valve]]
 
[[Category:Videos]]
 
[[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 10:51, 9 May 2024

A preview of the windowed Source Filmmaker menus.
The Source Filmmaker is the movie-making tool built and used by Valve to make movies inside the Source game engine. It is how we have been making all of our animated short movies. Because the Source Filmmaker uses the same assets as a Source-engine game, what goes into the game can be used in the movie, and vice versa. By using the hardware rendering of a modern PC gaming machine, the SFM allows storytellers to work in a �what you see is what you get�(sic) environment so that they can iterate in the context of what it will feel like for the final audience.
Source Filmmaker FAQ intro

Source Filmmaker (SFM for short) is a program and tool used to create most of the videos running the Source Engine. Source Filmmaker is a video capture and editing application that works from inside the Source engine. It allows users to record themselves many times over in the same scene, creating the illusion of many participants, as well as supporting a wide range of cinematographic effects and techniques such as motion blur, Tyndall effects, dynamic lighting, and depth of field (motion blur has now been added to the games themselves, though only when the view is moving at high speeds – not per-object as in the filmmaker). Per-object motion blur is in the replay system of Team Fortress 2.

The tool was leaked in the original Team Fortress 2 Beta release. Following the discovery of the program's files inside Team Fortress 2 Beta, the community succeeded in creating a (mostly) stable version. Since then, many fan videos have been created with the tool. Valve officially released a closed beta version of the program on June 27, 2012, following the release of Meet the Pyro. On July 11th, the Source Filmmaker beta became public. The Source Filmmaker tool does not only allow you to record yourself in a scene over and over again but also allows the creation of pose to pose animations, posters and image sequences. There is also an audio editor below the timeline allowing the user to add audio files into their project such as music or lines from the Team Fortress 2 in-game characters, these are built in to the Source Filmmaker tool by default. Models, sounds, maps and a wide variety of custom content can be found on the Source Filmmaker Community Workshop.


Features

Example of an SFM poster, made from a Meet the Pyro scene.

SFM allows you to:

  • Record footage into:
    • Uncompressed AVI files
    • TGA files
      • Frames of footage, user defined
      • Single frame, or a "poster", similar to a Screenshot
    • WAV files of sounds
    • (All can be done simultaneously)
  • Record yourself performing one part, then rewinding and record yourself performing another.
  • Publish videos directly to Steam
  • Publish videos to YouTube
  • Control camera placement and movement
  • Add per-object motion blur and depth of field
  • Import choreography scenes
  • Modify bone placement and facial expressions of characters

Public release

Source Filmmaker's public release was officially announced on June 27, 2012 as part of Day 3 of the Pyromania update[1]. A closed beta began on the same day, allowing select users who completed a survey access to the program. The initial release features an updated UI in comparison to the version of Source Filmmaker leaked years prior, and also allows users editing access to Meet the Heavy's assets. An open beta began on July 11, with Meet the Engineer assets added.

Official Valve productions

Valve has used Source Filmmaker for their own game trailers and short films, most significantly the Meet the Team series of videos, and the intro videos for Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2. It is mostly used when the film contains something outside of the game's capabilities, like new facial expressions and cinematic animations. Besides Team Fortress 2 videos, Valve has used Source Filmmaker with Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, Day of Defeat: Source, Portal 2 as well as Half-Life 2 for announcing the game's arrival on the Macintosh.

Gallery

External links

References