Source Filmmaker

Source Filmmaker

Source Filmmaker UI, beta release[1][2][3]
Developer(s)	Valve Corporation
Initial release	June 27, 2012 (2012-06-27)[1][2][4][5]
Stable release	0.9.8.1[6] / July 31, 2013 (2013-07-31)
Development status	Ongoing (Public Beta)[2]
Written in	C++ / Python[citation needed]
Operating system	Microsoft Windows via Steam
Platform	Source (game engine)
Size	12.32 GB[2][7]
Available in	English[2]
Type	3D computer graphics software
License	Freeware[7]
Website	www.sourcefilmmaker.com

The Source Filmmaker (abbreviated as SFM) is a video capture and editing application that works from inside the Source game engine.^[8][9] The tool, created by Valve Corporation, was used to create over 50 animated shorts for its Source games, including Team Fortress 2, the Left 4 Dead series, and Half-Life 2.^[10] On June 27, 2012, Valve released a free open beta version of the SFM to the gaming community via its Steam service.^[1][2][4][5]

Overview

Unlike most movie-making tools, which only create a small part of a movie, the Source Filmmaker merges all animation and effect workflows onto a single gaming PC. With the SFM, one can create movies and posters by using assets and events from the video game world, providing creators with a "'what you see is what you get' environment".^[4][7]

The SFM gives the user a "Work Camera" that enables them to see what they are doing without messing up the scene cameras. It also uses three main user interfaces for making films with:

• The Clip Editor is used for recording, editing and arranging shots, which can contain recorded gameplay and user-placed assets. The Clip Editor also allows the user to place and arrange sound files and video filters.^{[4][11][12][13][14]}
• The Motion Editor is used for motion adjustments over time, such as seamlessly grafting two animations together. Motion presets (e.g. jittering, smoothing) can also be applied onto selected motion paths.^{[4][15][16][17]}
• The Graph Editor is used for editing motion through creating keyframes; this is extremely useful in pose-to-pose animation.^[4][18][19]

The SFM allows users to record and edit motion from gameplay or scratch, as well as record a character many times over in the same scene, creating the illusion of multiple entities. The SFM can support a wide range of cinematographic effects and techniques such as motion blur, Tyndall effects, Dynamic Lighting, and depth of field. The SFM also applies motion blur per-object.^[7][8] It also allows manual animation of bones and facial features, allowing the user to create movements that don't occur in-game (as in games, nearly all character animation sequences are stored in a set of different movements, and the amount of different animation sequences is limited).^[4]

Production and updates

Pre-release

Before the SFM's official release to the public, Team Fortress 2 carried a simplified version of the tool called the Replay feature; it is limited to capturing the actual events occurring over the course of a player's life with no ability to modify actions, repeat segments, nor apply special effects beyond those already used in-game. However, arbitrary camera angles are possible, like tracking the actions of other players in action at the time. Replay incorporates the ability to upload completed videos to YouTube.^[20]

Beta versions

On June 27, 2012, the same day as the final Meet the Team video, "Meet the Pyro", was released, the Source Filmmaker became available on a limited-basis through the Steam network.^{[4][1][10][21]} It has been in open beta for Windows as of July 11, 2012.^{[22][23][7][3]}

On April 1, 2013, Valve announced that the Steam Workshop now includes a section for Source Filmmaker assets.^{[24][25][26][27]}

Animated shorts created with SFM

Valve

^[10][61]

References

External links

• Official website
• Steam Store page

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