Tech Tuesday: Playing Around with Video Production? Try Out Fusion 7 For Free

November 18, 2014

By Laura Brauer

With the convergence of still and video, photographers are often stretched to the limits with learning new skills and adding (often expensive) equipment and software to their already abundant arsenal of tools. But, if you’re editing video and/or creating motion graphics, Blackmagic Design—the same company that brought us the Pocket Cinema Camera, among other incredible hardware and software products—has  a special treat: its Fusion 7 software for free!

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This Windows-only (sorry, Mac users) software offers highly sophisticated tools to create Hollywood-like effects, but within a relatively easy-to-learn package. Granted, unless we’re talking iMovie or Adobe Premiere Elements, most video software has a learning curve, which is steeper for some than others. But if you have basic video editing skills, Fusion 7 shouldn’t pose too much of a challenge. One of Fusion 7’s strengths is its node-based workflow. It’s sort of like layers but simpler to use. You can link effects together and the connections are visible on screen allowing you to, at a glance, view a graphic to keep track of various effects.

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Fusion has a solid background in Hollywood and was used on feature films like The Amazing Spider-Man 2. But that doesn’t mean you need to aspire to feature filmmaking to use the software’s compositing, special effects, animation and 3D tools. Shooting on green screen? Perfect. Fusion 7 includes Primatte, which makes it incredibly easy to remove and replace backgrounds. Need some 2D titles for your work? No problem. The list of tools and capabilities is long and impressive.

Perfect for individual users and small studios, Fusion 7’s sibling—Fusion 7 Studio—includes all of the freebee’s features and functionality and adds many more capabilities, particularly for large workgroups. If you don’t have the $995 to shell out or the need for the higher-end software but perhaps work with a company that does, files from Fusion 7 are compatible with the Studio version.

Be sure to visit Blackmagic Design for more details and to download Fusion 7.