Articles - DIGITAL PRODUCTION https://digitalproduction.com Magazine for Digital Media Production Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:15:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 236729828 Keychron K5 Max: The New Default https://digitalproduction.com/2025/12/17/keychron-k5-max-the-new-default/ Wed, 17 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://digitalproduction.com/?p=160891 A sleek black mechanical keyboard with gray keycaps and an orange key, placed on a dark surface with a curved white sheet in the background.

A keyboard is the most used tool in digital production, so why settle for mediocrity? After eight months of testing, the Keychron K5 Max has earned a place as my daily driver. Here’s why.

The post Keychron K5 Max: The New Default first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

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A sleek black mechanical keyboard with gray keycaps and an orange key, placed on a dark surface with a curved white sheet in the background.

TL;DR: The Keychron K5 Max is an ultraslim, full-sized mechanical keyboard with an aluminium frame and low-profile Gateron 2.0 brown switches. It offers a crisp, tactile typing feel without excess noise and connects via Bluetooth 5.1, 2.4 GHz, or USB-C. Configuration runs directly in the browser through VIA, saving settings on the keyboard for true cross-platform reliability. No drivers, no software, just professional performance and reliability after a rocky start

The Typing Key presses feel crisp and precise, with a satisfying level of resistance that avoids the “tinny” sensation found in some low-profile switches (and yes, we tested multiples). Also: The K5 has a layer of “acoustic foam”, which dampens the sound, but doesn't interfere with the tactical sensation of the keys. The travel distance is reduced compared to standard mechanical keyboards, but the overall typing experience remains solid, striking a balance between comfort and responsiveness. But before I am waxing and mumbl...


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The post Keychron K5 Max: The New Default first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

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DIGITAL PRODUCTION 160891
Work Hard, Sort Fast: Project Sorter 1.75 https://digitalproduction.com/2025/12/10/work-hard-sort-fast-project-sorter-1-75/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://digitalproduction.com/?p=236556 An illustrated interface titled

Project Sorter 1.75 auto-sorts your Premiere and After Effects imports by type, path, or metadata. Fewer bins to drag, more time to cut.

The post Work Hard, Sort Fast: Project Sorter 1.75 first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Andreas Zerr.

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An illustrated interface titled

With some plug-ins, scripts and extensions, you wish you had known about them long before the start of the last project, in our case a 100-minute archive documentary with over 1,000 individual media files. The "Project Sorter" script saves a lot of time when editing and post-processing larger projects, especially when it comes to sorting and cataloguing different media types.. Project Sorter is a bit like the post office clerk who sorts letters by city, district and street - only for media, not for direct mail items. The usual confusion at the highest project level: the differences between the media types can only be recognised by small symbols and labels. Sooner or later you have to sort them manually into bins. How Project Sorter works But first things first... Who hasn't been there: you find (or receive) one (or more) media files, drag them into Adobe Premiere (or After Effects) for processing, and leave them at the highest project level until you completely lose track of them and ...


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The post Work Hard, Sort Fast: Project Sorter 1.75 first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Andreas Zerr.

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Rendering the Inferno at RiseFX: The Lost Bus https://digitalproduction.com/2025/12/02/rendering-the-inferno-at-risefx-the-lost-bus/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://digitalproduction.com/?p=231486 A wide shot of a bridge spanning a canyon, surrounded by snow-covered cliffs and trees. The bridge features a sturdy metal structure and guardrails, with a clear blue sky in the backdrop.

128 shots, 15 sequences, and GPUs on the brink: RISE FX’s Oliver Schulz explains how his team built the burning world of The Lost Bus.

The post Rendering the Inferno at RiseFX: The Lost Bus first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

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A wide shot of a bridge spanning a canyon, surrounded by snow-covered cliffs and trees. The bridge features a sturdy metal structure and guardrails, with a clear blue sky in the backdrop.

The Lost Bus is a 2025 survival-drama directed by Paul Greengrass for Blumhouse Productions in association with Comet Pictures and Apple Original Films. The film is based on the non-fiction book Paradise: One Town’s Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire by journalist Lizzie Johnson. Set against the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, it follows a school-bus driver and a teacher who fight to guide 22 children to safety through an encroaching inferno. Combining Greengrass’s documentary-style direction with large-scale visual effects and environmental reconstruction by RISE FX, the film depicts one of the deadliest wildfires in recent history with stark realism.

Supervising the inferno: Oliver Schulz (IMDB | Linkedin) is a senior Visual Effects Supervisor at RISE FX, the Berlin-based VFX studio. Over more than a decade at RISE he has guided VFX supervision on major international productions including Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Blue...


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The post Rendering the Inferno at RiseFX: The Lost Bus first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

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Photoshop AI in practice https://digitalproduction.com/2025/11/26/photoshop-ai-in-practice/ Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://digitalproduction.com/?p=224172 Startbild: Phtoshop-AI

Following the integration of Adobe Firefly, there are now AI systems from partners. Flux Context Pro and Nano Banana are useful additions for Photoshop-AI in practice.

The post Photoshop AI in practice first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Jörn-Erik Burkert.

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Startbild: Phtoshop-AI

The use of artificial intelligence in Adobe Photoshop is being increasingly expanded by developers. In the past, the Adobe Photoshop-AI model “Firefly” took centre stage. Two further models have been available in the beta version of the programme for a few weeks now:

Both models have so far been able to prove their efficiency, which is impressively demonstrated by many examples on the Internet. Changing people’s clothes or manipulating the scene view are just two examples. In Photoshop, they are activated via the options in the context-sensitive taskbar. This works after selecting the entire image or an area. In contrast to Firefly, Photoshop only produces one result with the two new models.
Apart from the familiar use cases, the AI provides support when working on projects in the areas of graphic design, matte paint or concept art.

Transforming scenes in Photoshop

The use of stock photos in productions is a normal process. The same motif at a different time of year or day is usually not available. This is where Nano Banana from Google can help. It allows the scene to be quickly adapted to the production management’s specifications. This is achieved with a simple prompt. In the example, a night scene is created from an existing recording:

Photoshop-AI: Switch Time and season with Nano Banana by Google
Changes to the time of day or season are quickly realised with a short prompt in Adobe Photoshop using Nano Banana from Google.

Turn in a night scene

The method allows the uncomplicated creation of material for virtual TV sets or documentaries.

Phtoshop-AI: Text and Scene change with Flu Kontext Pro and Nano Banana by Google
The combination of changing text and mood produces different results depending on the order. Images on the left: The original, changed text and modified light. Images on the right: Modification of the light followed by modification of the lettering, which has an error. Clearly recognisable – Nano Banana does not always change the lighting consistently.

Transforming Text in Photoshop

“Flux.kontext Pro” is known for changing text in photos without manipulating the font or changing the character of the overall impression. The artist then corrects errors in product designs with just a few mouse clicks. A time-consuming subsequent photo shoot is not necessary. Alternatively, product names with different international designations can be created for motion graphics. These can be used flexibly later in production.

Phtoshop-AI: Flux Kontext Pro Text change
Flux.Kontext Pro from Black Forrest Labs helps with the modification of text elements in photos. Changes to the label are simple:
Change text “SALT & STONE” to “SALZ & STEIN”.

Both steps described with light and fonts can be combined. In practice, it has been shown that changes to the text with the Black Forrest AI should be performed in the first step. Then the lighting of the scene is changed with Google Nano Banana. The results are usually more realistic in this order and errors are avoided.

Photoshop-AI: Quick merging of motifs and objects

Matte painters and concept artists save a lot of time by using AI. Buildings can be inserted into landscapes or objects integrated into existing scenes in no time at all using text input – a single prompt is often enough.
However, the results are not always satisfactory, as the nano-banana model often automatically generates architectural suggestions. Significantly better results are achieved if you use a reference image. This is loaded into a new layer while the selection tool is used to define the target area in the background. If the background layer is active, it is then inserted via the context bar with the prompt:

Place the castle from Layer [Layer name]

If the first attempt fails, you can modify the prompt and possibly add further instructions such as “set on the mountain top”. The AI will then position the object better.

Photoshop-AI: Composite with Nano Banana. Inline Prompt in the documentI
Placing objects is easier with an inline prompt and graphics.


Inline prompts are available when inserting with Nano Banana. These are text layers with the instructions for working with Nano Banana. They are supplemented by graphics such as arrows and frames in a separate layer. These elements help with the exact placement of the object. Only one instruction is then required in the prompt for generative filling:

Complete the prompt in red

In some cases, Nano Banana inserts the prompt text and the corresponding graphic into the result. Then it helps to extend the instruction with “remove the red prompts and elements”.

In Photoshop Beta 27.1.0, Adobe has added the new Firefly model “Fill and Replace (Beta)”. A reference image can be loaded and placed via the context-sensitive taskbar. The function can remove the background in the motif if desired. Free-standing objects with clear edges are ideal for insertion. A clear background usually ensures good results for architectural motifs. Transitions on the ground often need to be reworked, which is easy to do with the existing mask. Any remaining errors can then be corrected with a brush.

Conclusion

Numerous image manipulations are possible with the new AI models in Photoshop Beta. However, the results are not always optimal. In these cases, it helps to work in iterations and approach the final result step by step. This method leads to success in most cases. A reminder: depending on your subscription, it can become costly quickly.

The new technology is a useful tool for quick results. However, Photoshop-Ai cannot replace creativity or the experience of the artist. Rather, it helps to build up a project and can make the work process more efficient.

The post Photoshop AI in practice first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Jörn-Erik Burkert.

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RealFX Part 2: From the loading bar to the keyboard https://digitalproduction.com/2025/11/24/realfx-part-2-from-the-loading-bar-to-the-keyboard/ Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000 https://digitalproduction.com/?p=228669 A top view of a sleek black keyboard with a purple background, showcasing various keys clearly. The keyboard includes a numeric keypad and illuminated symbols on some keys for visibility.

Three scripts, one goal: easyRulers, LoadUP and keyboardFX bring clean, functional motion graphics utilities for everyday After Effects work.

The post RealFX Part 2: From the loading bar to the keyboard first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Andreas Zerr.

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A top view of a sleek black keyboard with a purple background, showcasing various keys clearly. The keyboard includes a numeric keypad and illuminated symbols on some keys for visibility.

Having recently looked at the After Effects scripts circuit FX, mazeFX and quadrateFX from the Greek manufacturer Real Creations, in this second part we take a look at the other three effects in the RealFX bundle, which can be purchased from aescripts.com for just over USD 140. If you don't mind the cost or only really need one of the six tools, you can also purchase them individually for between USD 30 and USD 40. Using the effect controls, you can define the width of the circle (or bar), the size and spacing of the digits, as well as all colours. All parameters can also be animated here using keyframes. easyRulers 2: Rulers and sliders

In the easyRulers window, you first define the number of indices and the appearance of the bar or circle.

Whether a simple ruler, clock face, tempo display, volume, diagram or progress bar, the controllers of easyRulers 2 can be used for almost anything that needs to be visualised using numbers and indices. The script initially offers the user two ...


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The post RealFX Part 2: From the loading bar to the keyboard first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Andreas Zerr.

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