Software Glossary
Collection
A collection contains audio clips, video clips, or pictures that you have imported or captured in Windows Movie Maker. A collection acts as a container for your clips, which are smaller segments of audio and video, and helps you organize the imported or captured content. Collections appear in the Collections pane of Windows Movie Maker.
Project
A project contains the arrangement and timing information of audio and video clips, video transitions, video effects, and titles you have added to the storyboard/timeline. A saved project file in Windows Movie Maker has an .mswmm file name extension. By saving your projects, you can open the project file later and begin editing it in Windows Movie Maker from where you last saved.
Movie
A movie is the final project you save by using the Save Movie Wizard. You can save a movie to your computer or to a recordable CD, send it as an attachment in an e-mail message, or save and send it to the Web.
The saved movie can be watched in a media player, such as Microsoft Windows Media® Player, or in a Web browser. If you have a DV camera connected to your computer, you can also record your movie to a tape. You and others can then watch the movie on the DV camera or on a TV.
Background.
If possible, use a still background when recording video. If you need to record against a moving background, try reducing the depth of field to help reduce the amount of detail in the background. Reducing the depth of field or shortening the area in focus softens the background and helps reduce the amount of data that changes from frame to frame. To reduce the depth of field and make the background go out of focus, use a lower level of light and move the subject closer to the lens, or move the subject farther away from the lens and use a telephoto lens to zoom in.
Lighting.
Provide adequate lighting; use soft light, diffuse light, and consistent light levels. A certain amount of contrast is necessary for lighting a subject, but avoid direct high-contrast lighting. For example, when recording a face lit by strong sunlight from the side, the facial features in the shadow can be lost on video.
Clothing.
Have your subjects wear clothing colors that complement their skin tone and are sufficiently different from the background and other overlapping objects. Avoid bright colors, which tend to bleed or spread outside an object, and stripes, which may create moiré patterns, especially when the subject is moving slowly.
Tripod.
When possible, use a tripod when recording video. A tripod will help to keep the video camera still and improve the overall quality of the recorded video. This prevents your recorded video from being jittery and improves the source material that you plan to use in your movies.
Audio files:
.aif, .aifc, .aiff .asf, .au, .mp2, .mp3, .mpa, .snd, .wav, and .wma
Picture files:
.bmp, .dib, .emf, .gif, .jfif, .jpe, .jpeg, .jpg, .png, .tif, .tiff, and .wmf
Video files:
.asf, .avi, .m1v, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .mpv2, .wm, and .wmv