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Build & Save Edge Animations Filmstrips

An Edge Animations filmstrip is a compilation of videos and images that you have put together into one animation. You can choose to save or publish your video, or simply play the filmstrip immediately without saving any changes.

This article assumes your Edge Animations module is open on your workstation. See "Edge Animations" for details if you need help opening the module.

Use This Feature

Open an Existing Filmstrip / Video - Click Open from the filmstrip ribbon bar, and choose an Edge Animations filmstrip that you have saved. This clears the filmstrip viewing area at the bottom of the screen, and replaces it with your selected filmstrip.

Add Images & Videos to Filmstrip - Choose the videos and images that you want to add to your filmstrip by selecting them from the appropriate lists at the left of the Edge Animations window, or importing them from a file saved on your computer. You can also drag and drop videos/images from your desktop to the filmstrip.

Patient Images & Templates - (Edge and ViewPoint users only.) If a patient folder was active when you opened Edge Animations, open the Patient list at the left side of the window, and double-click the image you wish to add to the filmstrip. You can then choose to hard-code that image into the filmstrip, or make the image a template. If no patient folder is active, open the patient folder and go to the Imaging page. Right-click an image and select Copy. You can then right-click in your Edge Animations filmstrip bar and select Paste. Note that only images that you add to a filmstrip from the Patient tab can be flagged as image templates, as described below.

Add from Edge Animations list (template option available, described below):

Or, copy from patient Images page (no template option available):

And paste in Edge Animations filmstrip:

When you add an image to a filmstrip from the Patient list at the left of your Edge Animations window, you can choose whether to "hard code" that exact image into the filmstrip, or make the image a template. If an image is flagged as a template, when you open the filmstrip for a different patient, the template is replaced by the corresponding image type and timepoint from the active patient. To toggle the template flag, right click the image in the filmstrip and select Properties. Then enable / disable the Template option, and select the image type and timepoint you want to use. Note that when you open the filmstrip for a patient that does not have the corresponding image type / timepoint required by the template, a blank image space will appear in the filmstrip instead. Also, the template option is not available if you cut and paste the patient image into the filmstrip.

Right-click a patient image template and select Properties:

Enable / disable the Template option, and select the image type and timepoint to use.
Edge Animations Videos - Select the All tab at the left of your Edge Animations window, then double-click the video that you want to add to the end of the current filmstrip. Or, use the search box to locate a video within the list. When you search for a filmstrip or video, you can search both the name and description. Edge Animations videos that you have not downloaded appear dimmed in the list: See "Download Edge Animations Videos" for details about adding them to your computer. Note that if you have enabled the Exclude Stereo Videos setting, videos with stereo audio files will not be included in your filmstrip list, even if you download them from the Asset Manager. (See "Set Up Edge Animations" for details about enabling / disabling this setting.)
Add a Saved Filmstrip - Select the Favorites or Treatments tab at the left of your Edge Animations window, then double-click the filmstrip that you want to add to the end of the current filmstrip. Or, use the search box to locate a filmstrip within the list. When you search for a filmstrip or video, you can search both the name and description. If the filmstrip includes patient images that are flagged as Templates, those images will be replaced by the appropriate image of the currently active patient. Otherwise, Edge Animations will display the patient image that was originally added to the filmstrip. See "Edit Filmstrip Image/Video" for details.
Add Any Image or Video File - Click Import from the filmstrip toolbar, then select any graphic or video file in .jpg, .png, .wmv, .mp4, .mod, .mov, or .avi format that you want to add to your filmstrip. You can also simply drag & drop images and videos into your Edge Animations filmstrip. Note that it is prohibited to use copyrighted images in your filmstrips.

Re-Order Filmstrip Images / Videos - Drag and drop images to new locations in your filmstrip. Note that filmstrips that have been published as videos, such as those downloaded from the Asset Manager, are handled as one item in your filmstrip.

Remove an Image / Video - Right-click and select Remove Item to delete an image or video from the filmstrip.

Remove All Images / Videos - Right-click any item in your filmstrip and select Clear All to remove all images and videos from the viewing area. You might do this, for example, after playing, saving or publishing a filmstrip so that you can begin working with another filmstrip.

Current Job Properties - Click Properties on the filmstrip toolbar, then review and change the name, description, background music, and volume settings for your current filmstrip job.

Name & Description - If the filmstrip has been saved previously, the file name appears in the Name field of the filmstrip properties, along with any previously entered description.
Background music - Select a soundtrack to play along with your animation (the track will play after the video is published). You may use any .mp3 or .wav audio file available to your computer. You set up the default audio file in your general Edge Animations settings, but you can choose a different audio file for individual videos with the filmstrip Properties settings. If you have additional audio in the animation, such as recorded annotations or voice-overs, be sure to set the background volume fairly low. To clear the background music file, click the beside the settings field. Note that it is prohibited to use copyrighted music in your filmstrips. (See "Set Up Edge Animations" for details about general Edge Animations settings.)
Volume settings - Use the slider bars to set the filmstrip audio volume. The Video Volume setting controls a voice-over track; the Background Volume setting controls the background music track; the Annotation Volume setting controls any voice recordings you have made for filmstrip images. (See "Edit Filmstrip Image/Video" for details about adding voice recordings.) You set up the default volume levels in your general Edge Animations settings, but you can choose different volume levels for individual videos with the filmstrip Properties settings. (See "Set Up Edge Animations" for details about general Edge Animations settings.)

Edit and Annotate Videos & Images - Use the visual and auditory editing tools at the right edge of your Edge Animations window to edit, annotate, and morph filmstrip items to enhance your presentation. See "Edit Filmstrip Image/Video" for details.

Save Filmstrip to a File - Click Save from the filmstrip ribbon bar and enter a descriptive filename: You want to be able to recognize your filmstrip name easily when you want to open it again in Edge Animations. By default, the filmstrip files are saved in the Jobs folder of your Edge Animations data file location, in .XML format: Filmstrips saved in this manner do not appear in your Favorites or Treatments lists, described below.

Save Filmstrip to a List - Click Add to Favorites or Add to Treatments from the filmstrip ribbon bar, then provide a file name and description. The currently displayed filmstrip will be saved to the list you selected. By default, the filmstrip files are saved in the corresponding Assets folder of your Edge Animations data file location, in .XML format

Publish Filmstrip - Use the Edge Animations publisher to save filmstrips in video file format on your computer, upload video files to YouTube or Facebook, or send a link to videos via email.See "Publish & Share Videos" for details.

Saving vs Publishing - When you Save an Edge Animations filmstrip, you can later open the filmstrip with Edge Animations to view or edit it. When you Publish an Edge Animations filmstrip, you create a video file that can be played independently of Edge Animations, such as from YouTube or nearly any computer device that can play media files.