Teleprompter Project

[Michael]

from http://www.indigorose.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7192

Hi Corey. This is indeed, at first glance, a strange request.

Teleprompters, like the ones for broadcast tv, are an expensive endeavor for the most part. Yet, home versions can be constructed using a laptop, for example. The video camera shoots through a glass pane, angled downward (a cover is used to block out light surrounding the camera lense and provides a black surface for reflection). Think of an empty picture frame held in front of the camera, angled to reflect what's below.

A laptop computer can be placed just under the glass, (some have used an additional tripod and stand) to position the screen. Then, using the laptop that can scroll text, the "talent" can then look directly at the camera lense and simply reads the text. Obviously, the scrolling text must be reversed on the laptop.....to appear upright for reading.

One other problem, is the size and speed of the text. It has to be large enough for the talent to read easily and set at the right speed to look natural.
With a little practice, this can be a very effificent way to add a professional quality to the video....directly looking at your audience and seemingly well rehearsed. From my experience, and, as one who "uh's" and "ahh's" his way through for the most part, I am looking forward to building a gadget that helps.

Regards,
Michael

[Corey]

OK so you need a text scroller which can be freely reversed on either axis, can load text files, and has a way to adjust speed and font details?

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[Michael]

Yes. That's pretty much it.

Right now, thanks to Stefan_M, I have the basic structure using AMS. I can import .txt, adjust speed, background color, font color, and get the text to scroll full screen. Last problem: reversing the text.

Found some html code using CSS. For example:

<DIV style="BACKGROUND: white; FILTER: fliph(); WIDTH: 440px" align=right><FONT style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 50pt; FONT-FAMILY: "arial" color=black>

== insert text here ==

</DIV>

This might lead to creating a web object in order to make the project work. What do you think?

M.

[Corey]

CSS is very powerful, super fantastic stuff, you could probably do what you need to do that way for sure.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software