Need help with adding animation to videos

[arunbg]

I am doing an introduction video for freshers joining my college. This is specially intended to motivate students majoring in Computer Science. This is a diffcult task for me, since I have little experience in video editing and almost no experience in animation.

The theme for the presentation is "Passion (for Computing)".

The opening shot features the running of a program in an ordinary IDE (done by screen capture tools). The camera then shows two students sitting before a laptop, programming avidly.
Now we need to show bright light emitting from the laptop and bits and pieces of code and other things circling the students.

Any suggestions as to how to animate the video to show light and "floating code" in the easiest possible way, are appreciated. Is there a reliable way of superimposing flash on videos? Any specific recommendation for software required and shooting technique will be very welcome.

 

[iamhere]

does this mean that your students will contribute to free and open source software?
IF so (and only if), read this:You can use Blender for doing 3D animation and Cinelerra for video editing. But you will have to do some learning, there's no getting around it. BOTH are avaialble on the Dynebolic Linux live CD.

I'll wait for what your students end up writing :)

 

[quicknote]

As a scientist with experience in video editing and animation, I would suggest using software such as Adobe After Effects or Blender to add animation to your videos. These programs have user-friendly interfaces and tutorials that can help you learn how to create the effects you want. Additionally, they have features such as particle systems that can help you create the floating code and bright light effects you are looking for.

To superimpose flash on videos, you can use software such as Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. These programs allow you to layer different elements on top of each other, giving you the ability to add animations to your videos easily.

In terms of shooting technique, I would suggest using a tripod to keep the camera steady and using good lighting to make the animation effects stand out. You can also use green screens to help with compositing the animation onto the video.

Overall, I recommend doing some research and practicing with the software before tackling your project. With some time and effort, you can create a visually appealing and motivational introduction video for your college's Computer Science majors. Good luck!