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Source Filmmaker

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Source Filmmaker
Developer(s)Valve
Initial release27 June 2012;12 years ago(2012-06-27)
Preview release
0.9.8.4 / 15 May 2020;4 years ago(2020-05-15)[4]
Written inC/C++
Engine
  • Source
Edit this at Wikidata
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
Size15.71 GB[2][5]
Available inEnglish[2]
Type3D computer graphics software
LicenseFreeware[5]
Websitesourcefilmmaker

Source Filmmaker(often abbreviated asSFM) is a3D computer graphicssoftware tool published byValvefor creatinganimated films,which uses theSource game engine.[6]Source Filmmaker has been used to create many community-based animated shorts for various Source games, such asTeam Fortress 2,theLeft 4 Deadseries,andHalf-Life 2.

Overview[edit]

Source Filmmaker is a tool for animating, editing, and rendering 3D animated videos using assets from most games which use the Source engine, such as sounds, models, and, backdrops. SFM also allows for the creation of still images, art, and posters.[7]

SFM contains three different user interfaces and a "work camera" for previewing an active scene. The three interfaces are used for creating clips, controlling animation, and making fine-tuned adjustments, which include:

  • TheClip Editor;for recording, editing, and arranging shots.[7][8]They hold the user's recorded gameplay and virtual assets.[9]It also allows the user to place and arrange sound files and video filters.[10]
  • TheMotion Editor;for motion adjustments over time such as blending two animations. Users can also use motion presets to select paths and manipulate different scene objects,[11]play clips at different times,[12]and puppeteer the characters in different positions and frames.[13]
  • TheGraph Editor;for editing motion[14]by creatingkeyframesthat can be used forpose-to-pose animation.[15]

Users can either create new projects or import data from Source-based games to extend their SFM animations. SFM also supports severalcinematographiceffects and techniques such asmotion blur,Tyndall effects,dynamic lighting,anddepth of field.Users can alsorig 3D charactersand can useinverse kinematicsto manually animate movements.

Production and updates[edit]

Pre-release[edit]

SFM was developed internally at Valve in 2005 and most of it was based on the code from the in-game demo playback tool found in Source. SFM was used to makeDay of Defeat: Sourcetrailers with effects that could not be achieved in real-time.[16]The tool was used extensively for certain promotional materials for the release ofTeam Fortress 2,particularly theMeet the Teamtrailers.[17]This version of SFM, which ran using Source's in-game tools framework, was unintentionally leaked during the public beta ofTeam Fortress 2in September 2007.[18]By 2010, the entire interface was re-implemented usingQt 4and given its engine branch for further development.

Before SFM was released to the public,Team Fortress 2carried a simplified version of SFM known as the "Replay Editor", which was limited to capturing the actual events occurring throughout a player's life. It provided no ability to modify actions, repeat segments, or apply special effects beyond those already used in-game. However, arbitrary camera angles were possible, such as tracking the movements of other players in action at the time. The Replay Editor also allowed users to upload completed videos toYouTube.[19]

On June 27, 2012, SFM became available on a limited basis through Steam, the same day the final Meet the Team video "Meet the Pyro" was released.[20]The open beta forWindowswas released as of July 11, 2012.[21][22]From 2011 to 2018, Valve operated a competition known as theSaxxy Awardsfor community-made SFM animations.[23]Winners were awarded an ingame item inTeam Fortress 2.[24]

Other updates[edit]

On April 1, 2013, Valve implemented support for theSteam Workshop,which allows users to upload their custom-made assets onto the Steam community. These assets range from video game models and sound to animation project files.[25]

A version of the software for Valve'sSource 2engine, known as Source 2 Filmmaker, was released on May 15, 2020, alongside other development tools forHalf-Life: Alyx.[26]

In February 2023,Facepunchstated they would be making their own version of SFM, as it was broken for their game,S&Box.[27]S&Box, like Half-Life: Alyx, runs on the Source 2 engine.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Source Filmmaker homepage".Valve.Retrieved8 July2012.
  2. ^abc"Source Filmmaker".Steam.Valve.Retrieved13 November2012.
  3. ^"Valve Tutorials".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved21 December2012.
  4. ^Hamilton, Ian (15 May 2020)."Valve Launches Half-Life: Alyx Workshop Tools, Updates Game For Linux".UploadVR.Retrieved30 March2021.
  5. ^ab"FAQ".Valve.Retrieved13 November2012.
  6. ^"Source Filmmaker".Valve Developer Community.Retrieved4 August2009.
  7. ^ab"00 basics".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  8. ^"02 editing".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  9. ^"01 recording".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  10. ^"03 sound".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  11. ^"04 manipulating".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  12. ^"05 time selection".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  13. ^"07 puppeteering".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  14. ^"06 graph editor".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved16 March2013.
  15. ^"13.1 Pose To Pose Animation".YouTube.Valve.Retrieved21 December2012.
  16. ^SFM Team (23 May 2013)."Day Of Defeat: Prelude To Victory".Valve.Retrieved28 May2013.
  17. ^Valve (January 17, 2009)."Meet the Team - Team Fortress 2 YouTube playlist".YouTube.
  18. ^"Source Film Maker Tutorial".YouTube.2 January 2010.Retrieved21 April2015.
  19. ^Valve(9 October 2007).Team Fortress 2(Steam) (1.2.3.3 ed.).
  20. ^"Free Source Filmmaker brings Valve's 3D animation tools to the public".Ars Technica. 25 January 2013.Retrieved27 June2012.
  21. ^Daw, David (12 July 2012)."Trying Out Valve's Movie Making Tools With the Source Filmmaker".Retrieved13 July2012.
  22. ^"Happy New Year! (0.9.6.1 Released)".Source Filmmaker.Valve.22 January 2013.Retrieved25 January2013.
  23. ^"The Saxxy Awards".Rock Paper Shotgun.2018-03-15.Retrieved2023-10-07.
  24. ^"Source Filmmaker".sourcefilmmaker.Retrieved2023-10-07.
  25. ^SFM Team (1 April 2013)."The SFM Gets Its Own Workshop!".Source Filmmaker.Valve.Retrieved4 April2013.
  26. ^Clayton, Natalie (2020-05-16)."Half-Life: Alyx gets proper mod tools and Steam Workshop support".Rock, Paper, Shotgun.Retrieved2023-03-17.
  27. ^"Source Film Maker - News".sbox.facepunch.Retrieved2023-09-22.

External links[edit]

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