Memory Videos

Memory movies require expensive computer equipment and years of skill development to make the best video possible. Creative Infusions has surpassed all of these in a multitude of technologies. We stand ready to provide your with the best memory movie possible, but we need a director. That is where you come in. By following simple steps, you can make your video as powerful and effective as possible:

1. What is the video suppose to accomplish?
   Successful memory movies are created exactly like a great movie or book. A story is decided upon and a direction is chosen to let that story unfold. If your video is to be a chronological tale of a person's life, you may want to choose a timeline to layout the movie. If it is a single event, such as a graduation, then your memory movie will probably be more focused on the person and the order of events seem less important. Instead this video may group topics such as the ceremony, friends, gifts, and a segment where people give audio or video to be added to the memory movie for the occasion. As you are the director, only you can know what exactly is needed to make sure the story is told the way you have envisioned it!
   
   Above all we recommend taking notes and setting some goals.
   
   
2. Organize your photos, songs, and videos.
   Memory movies are most effective when key elements are combined in just the combination. As you organize your images look for key pictures which captured the emotion and the moment. Once you have all the pictures in front of you (either on a clean and dry table top or your computer):
   • Try to put the images in the order of your story, by grouping them in categories.
   • Boil down the images by choosing the best of similar pictures.
   • Keep track of the key pictures in each category.
   
   
3. Video clip placement
   Video placed into memory movies can be a very powerful or distracting force. If you have video you would like placed into a memory movie make note of the audio. If the audio is unnecessary, then we can easily digitally remove it and allow the video to flow within the time line you have created. If your video has important audio then we would suggest placing the video between songs. or at the beginning or end of the memory movie. Also, keep in mind that the over all length of a video clip may become excessive and take away from the over all effect you are trying to create. For each video clip you want included:
   • Place the video in the order of your story, by grouping them in categories.
   • Set the video at the correct starting point for us to process.
   • Make note of the length of time we are to process, as well as a description of the first and last words or action to be inserted into the memory video.
   • If multiple videos are to be included in the memory movie:
     • Number each video to identify them
     • Depending on type of equipment you are viewing with, double check that the counter resets to zero for each new video inserted
     • If multiple clips from the same source are used, it is imperative your times and descriptions are accurate (also keep in mind each counts as a separate clip).
   • Memory movie clips are the most interactive portion of your video production as we will need each clip we have processed to be verified by you. We will provide you a link to a reduced quality rendition on our web site for this purpose.
   
   
4. Music
   Memory movies have an individual feel and mood which typically is set by the music chosen to be heard while the video plays. Some events may require slower more distinguished music, while others are more upbeat. As a general rule of thumb we have found to have a little of both in most memory movies to acquire just the right feel for the moment. Music has been included in memory movies for many reasons: favorite songs, situational demands, overall theme, etc. Sometimes a song can say what we have difficulty saying, for example a marriage proposal. As all songs have differing lengths we offer the following as a very loose guide:
   • Fast paced songs can have 10 - 15 pictures shown for each minute of the song (approximately 5 seconds / image)
   • Slow paced songs can have 9 - 12 pictures shown for each minute of the song (approximately 9 seconds / image
   Due to the legal issues with using copyrighted materials in memory movies, please note the following:
   • Music can only be used for personal use. Commercial memory movies may need to address licensing issues
   • We will need commercially produced cd's sent for each song you wish to include in the video. These will be returned with your memory movie
   • Electronic versions are not legally usable. (Please read EFF's article)
   • You can find a list of sites offering music available for free use or easily licensed by visiting the EFF article above.
   • Music produced and recorded by yourself is also usable
   As the owner of the commercially produced cd you are allowed to make backups, format shift, and time shift your media. Format shifting is taking the purchased media and converting for use in another medium. You maintain these rights until you sell any of the media in question. Creative Infusions does not sell the media and uses your purchased media. This should keep the copyright holders happy.
   
   
5. Pick Titles
   Each memory movie DVD produced by Creative Infusions may include a digital photo album and your movie. These DVD's will have a Title screen and a main menu. We also include copyright notices and respective notifications at the end of the video. As the director for your memory movie, we need you to choose the over all title which will appear at the front of your video. You may also want to provide the category titles as well as a appreciation / recognition to appear in the credits, for those individuals who made your life easier during this process. If you provide category titles for your memory movie, Creative Infusions, will split the movie so as to provide easy access to the individual sections from the main movie.
   
   
6. Submitting your materials
   If you are sending us your photos...
   • Please try to keep your images clean and unbent
   • Try not writing directly on the photo with a hard tipped pen or pencil. A very soft felt tip may work for you, please test on the back of an unimportant photo. It is best to use fresh Post-it notes.
   • We suggest covering a clean and dry work area with a cloth
   • A note pad will be highly beneficial at this time
   • Large gallon sized freezer bags will be needed
   • Layout your first group of pictures face up and spread apart from each other to allow you room to work
   • Check the order of the pictures
   • make a final decision if any other pictures need to be removed and do so at this time
   • In step 2 we mentioned to keep an eye out for key pictures. Take these pictures and turn them 90 degrees or do something else to remind you its a key photo
   • Starting with the first picture:
     • Flip photo face down to use / mark the white back side
     • First part of the number will designate the group. The first group will be 'A', the second group will be 'B', and so on.
     • Next the image number. The first picture will be 001, the second will be 002, etc. The first picture should be numbered like: A001
     • You can also include other images in this series such as slides, refrigerator drawings, awards, diplomas, etc. They would follow the sequence as laid out above. If the second item was an award for example it would be numbered A002.
     • If an image is a key photo them add a asterisk after the number, such as A001*
   • Continue this process until the the whole group is marked and upside down on the table.
   • If you find an image out of order later, or want to add another photo into the middle of the group. Find the image you want this new image to come after and number the new image based on the previous picture followed by a lower case letter. Example: a picture is needed to be added after the first photo (A001) and the award (A002). The new picture would become A001a. This allows your 26 slots to sneak things in in needed (or more if you had to resort to A001aa.. A001zzzzz)
   • Mark the freezer bag with the title of the song to be included.
   • Carefully place the photos (keeping the sticky notes attached) in the freezer bag
   • Seal the freezer bag and place it aside to be prepared for shipping.
   • On the note pad you may want to write down the group name, number of pictures, song title, category title, video information (as outlined in the Video section above). Basically, write enough notes for someone who has never seen your photos before and hasn't sat down to hear your goals for your memory movie: because we haven't and want to do it right the first time for you.
   • Continue to the next group changing the group letter and starting over with image 001. Continue until all groups have been finished.
   • Pack your photos and music CD's in a box with bubble wrap with enough packing that the box closes snug.
   • Finally ship your images via Priority Mail, UPS, Federal Express, or Airborne.
   • Your photos and CDs will be returned to you when your video is shipped.
   
   If you are digitizing your photos yourself:
   • If you are sending us digital files...
     • Create a folder on your desktop named group1-name of song
     • Scan each photo and save it in JPG format with settings set to 100% quality into this folder. Save it with a three digit number indicating the order that you would like it to appear in the video (e.g. 001.jpg, 002.jpg).
     • If you need to add another picture into the middle of the order, label it with the number of the previous photo followed by a letter (example: 001a.jpg would now belong between 001 and 002).
     • A note about resolution: The higher the resolution the longer it takes your scanner to scan each photo. The lower the resolution the worse the image will appear when shown in your memory movie. As a guide never go below 150dpi for your scans. Also, you will almost never need to go above 600dpi. We have found that 300 dpi (dots per inch) is usually a good place to balance quality and scan time
   • Each group will need its own folder created with a group number and name of song.
   • Once you have finished your photo grouping and scanning you can send us a CD-R of your images, along with the CDs needing to fulfill your music requirements. All materials will be returned to you with your order.