Clickwheel video format

Will Simons · Joined: 15 Dec 2005 Posts: 27 Location: UK

Although iTunes can play a variety of .mp4, .m4v, and .mov video formats, the video iPod is less forgiving and will only play .m4v files. Given that we are a comics to iPod service, there seems little point in bucking the trend and using the more widely available .mov format so, from today, Clickwheel will be standardizing around the .m4v format. To save your movie as a .m4v file, you’ll need to download QuickTime Pro, which has an easy-to-follow option for saving out work for the video iPod. If you need further help, the following link will provide you with a step-by-step guide to creating video for the iPod.

tommythefly · Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 1:38 pm Post subject: Is this really the way forward?

Admirable as this move to video is, I can't go along with it. One of the things that make comics unique is the fact that you can spend all the time you want poring over one panel before moving on to the next... Without this viewers' prerogative they become nothing more than unanimated animations... without sound! Although this is an exciting step forward for clickwheel, I can't shake the feeling that we're abandoning what makes a comic strip a comic strip in favour of bigger audience - in other words, we're selling out!

What are the advantages of this method vis-a-vis comics? (Not distribution or iTunes compatability, but actually for comic strips as a form). I'm anxious to know.

Tom
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Will Simons · Joined: 15 Dec 2005 Posts: 27 Location: UK

Hi Tom - and sorry it’s taken me an age to get back to you.

I agree it’s a risky step, but to my way of thinking the results more than justify the means. I think there’s some great work on iTunes, work that challenges and pushes forward the boundaries of our art … and god only knows they need the occasional shove. In an ideal world, you would step through a comic poring, as you say, over each panel, just as you can with the iPod. Add to this the magical but, at the moment, missing ingredient of transitions and effects - which you, the artist, create - and you come close to creating a truly exciting environment for comics. And what better way of doing it than with the iPod’s clickwheel. But we’re not there yet, and until we are it may be that the animatics are our best hope.

timdemeter · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 7329 Location: Milwaukee, WI

For what it's worth Tom, a few months ago I would have agreed with you, and I'm one of the artists in on this.

I'm very much a comics purist, and I hopped on board the video bandwagon largely due to, what I view as mammoth potential of, the iTunes store as a place to get comics. However, since immersing myself in the possibilities of this kind of comic I've gotten really, REALLY into it. I think all of us doing these videos do not want to be viewed as low budget cartoons, and I think the work on iTunes really is something all it's own. But I see your point, and if it ain't your thing, I'd understand why, but I certainly don't think we're hurting or homogenizing comics here either.

That said, it is a matter of practicality for iTunes right now and I'd much rather try new things for a shot at that action then toss myself into the bottomless pit of doing an indy comic in the direct market/Diamond.
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tommythefly · Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 1:31 am Post subject:

Understood. I agree, this is certainly a well-needed shove for comics, and the more video comics I view the more I'm coming round to the idea. Even so, I just can't shake the feeling that they're stepping outside the realm of comics and into animation, and it's probably something I won't be partaking in too soon.

Having said that, I'm still anxious to see where this interesting new twist takes things, and Tim, best of luck with your video comics.