I’ve just added another weather icon look-up table to my weather icon store. This one maps my own 92-icon sets to the weather condition codes for the National Weather Service from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). read more »
Mike Afford Media BLOG
Latest news, observations, and the occasional comment
Yahoo! Weather Icons
I’ve just added another weather icon look-up table which maps the Yahoo! Weather API codes to my own weather icon sets which you can download now from my store. I have made a number of different icon packs, using my own codes which can easily be mapped to a number of different Weather Data providers. This latest lookup table maps the 48 Yahoo! Weather conditions (plus ‘3200’ for ‘not available’) to the most appropriate condition/symbol from my 92-icon packs. read more »
2 CommentsHeston’s Christmas Classics
It wouldn’t be Christmas without some Waitrose TV graphics, so it’s time to dust off the Trapcode Particular and Starglow After Effects plug-ins, and set about adding twinkles to everything!!
Because let’s face it, everything looks better with twinkles..
First up is a set of graphics for Heston’s Christmas Classics – a four-part series for Waitrose TV in which Heston Blumenthal takes on a Christmas classic and gives it his own special twist. Working with my good pals from Stepping Stone Media I produced a little animating title frame and motion-tracked recipe titles for each of the four episodes. read more »
2 CommentsFree virtual studios update
I have recently updated all of the virtual studio sets over on my virtual studio sets website. It’s a BIG update, as every single-angle and multi-angle pack now includes a complete set of layers and mattes for every camera position, all in lossless PNG format which means that they can now be used with pretty much any kind of graphics or editing package out there.
Virtual Studio Set free update
The TriCaster-ready Photoshop file is still included as standard, and now includes an extra talent Input layer, which fixes a TriCaster issue relating to overlapping keyable layers. I’ve also included a new (optional) opaque desktop which can be used to adjust (or remove completely) the reflectivity of the desk surface.
As always, the updates to existing customers are completely free to download.
1 CommentTriCaster Virtual Newsroom
I’ve recently updated Virtual Studio Set 2 over at virtualstudiosets.com to include an (optional) Newsroom backdrop behind every angle.
Virtual Studio Set with moving newsroom background
The virtual studio set still has all of the same awesome functionality and customization options as before, but now includes a special UV gradient group and a choice of HD newsroom movie loops to provide a stunning animating news room background behind every one of the 6 camera angles.
New TriCaster Virtual Studio
Here’s a sneak preview of the latest virtual studio set (Studio 2 – original name, I know!) that’s about to appear over at virtualstudiosets.com.
It’s a fully customizable semi-circular studio with drop zones for four sections of cyclorama and three optional screens on top. The set comes with a large desk and a smaller table, for news-style presentation or discussion formats. The desk and table can be hidden if required, allowing the set to be used with physical furniture or props.
You can replace the backdrop with any of your own images (16×9 format will work best) or try a pack of pre-made seamless backgrounds which are included with the Studio 2 multi-angle pack, that you can drop straight in, or customize however you like. read more »
1 CommentFree seamless textures (4K)
I’ve just added a pack of seamless tileable textures to the Virtual Studio Sets store over at virtualstudiosets.com.
These are in preparation for the forthcoming release of the latest TriCaster virtual studio set (Studio 2) which features a near 180° cyclorama behind the talent which can be customized by dropping in any set of 16×9 textures. read more »
Mike Afford Media Joins NewTek Developer Network
Mike Afford Media Joins NewTek Developer Network
to Bring More Eye-Catching and Innovative Virtual Sets to TriCaster Customers
Dublin, Ireland, September 11, 2014
Mike Afford Media, a boutique broadcast graphics company delivering high-end motion graphics and virtual studio sets to clients worldwide, announced today that it has joined the NewTek Developer Network to provide customized virtual studio sets for NewTek TriCaster multi-camera live production systems.
Virtual sets allow customers to present their on-air talent within a modern television studio set without the expense and physical space requirements associated with constructing and maintaining a static set.
Virtual studio sets designed and created by Mike Afford Media for TriCaster are available as add-ons independently through virtualstudiosets.com and are supplied as a TriCaster VSE-ready layered Photoshop document with UV gradient layers in place for each live input and real-time reflections.
A Taste of Britain (BBC 1)
I recently completed the graphics for a new BBC 1 series A Taste of Britain presented by Brian Turner and Janet Street-Porter. A Cactus production for the BBC, the show sees Brian Turner and Janet Street-Porter travelling around the country sampling some of the local produce and cooking up some tasty dishes while also taking a look at some of the local heritage and traditions of the area.
The series started today, and is on Monday to Friday for the next few weeks at 3.45pm on BBC 1.
I designed the location maps for each of the 20 episodes, as well as doing some animated illustrations for the title sequence and the programme logo (below).
And here are just a few of the many maps I made for the show, each one lovingly hand drawn with a 2B pencil, scanned and then animated in After Effects.
A Taste of Britain : East Sussex
A Taste of Britain : Norfolk
A Taste of Britain : Cheshire
TriCaster Virtual Studio set and titles
Here’s another custom TriCaster Virtual Studio running on a TriCaster 8000 for Mustard TV in the UK.
This one is the set for The Mustard Show – a daily magazine programme.
The Mustard Show