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Of the four discs reviewed here, this volume is my favorite. News and corporate video producers will definitely find JB22 Global Impact a must-have, desert island collection.
JB23 Clean Streak
This volume is the complete opposite of the High Impact approach. Instead of misty, swirling backgrounds, these animations have the clean, modern look that is all the rage today. It's one part retro and at the same time leading edge. Colors are bold, shapes and lines are distinct, and the animations are vivid.
JB23-906 is a field of computer-generated spring flowers that grow and bloom in a long 26 second loop perfect for landscaping-related shows and/or commercial spots. JB23-918 is an outstanding fly-over/fly-through of a highly stylized cityscape. I didn't care for its default color scheme, but the Juicer 2 fixed that for me.
Several animations, such as JB23-916, JB23-917, and JB23-927, are 3D spaces reminiscent of Escher-type rooms with constantly changing perspectives, colors, and patterns. Many also feature the motion-blurred swish pans that look quite interesting, especially when timed with changing titles/graphics in a finished video.
JB24 Tunnel Vision
Fasten your seat belts, this volume is jam-packed with high speed journeys down a variety of tunnel landscapes, realistic and imagined. The realistic category includes JB24-948, a series of vaults or hatches that remind me of "Mystery Science Theater". The car tunnel (JB24-950), empty city street at night (JB24-964), train track tunnel (JB24-985), and tracking over a maze (JB24-984) are particularly strong. I feel that many of these realistic Jump Backs work quite well as metaphorical foreground video clips instead of as their intended background use. With the right sound effects, the dark jail cell/dungeon tunnel (JB24-958) would be effectively eerie.
Turning to the non-realistic side, there are tunnels of lights, shapes, smoke, and patterns that whiz by in perpetual motion. I placed a logo over JB24-959 with its centered ball of light and shooting light rays to great effect (and client appreciation).
The tunnel animations fall into the very long 20-30 second range before looping, though there are a few short entries. While some tunnels are bright and crazy, the vast majority convey dark and mysterious moods and uncertainty. That observation doesn't detract from their usefulness, though. Just be aware that these images make some strong statements.
The verdict
There you have it -- a new year, four new Jump Backs volumes, and new, lower pricing, too. Digital Juice also announced their ambitious schedule of releasing a new Jump Backs volume every month. That's great news for all of us who are constantly looking for easier, cheaper, and better ways to add value to our video productions. If these four volumes are indicative of what's to come, 2005 will be a terrific year for video editors.
Contact : Digital Juice, www.digitaljuice.com
Jeffrey P. Fisher is a Sony Vegas Certified Trainer and he co-hosts the Sony Acid, Sony Sound Forge, and Sony Vegas forums on Digital Media Net (www.dmnforums.com). For more information visit his Web site at www.jeffreypfisher.com or contact him at jpf@jeffreypfisher.com.
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