Video & Motion

Refbox helps video editors, animators, and motion designers organize reference footage, study timing, and reference cinematography while working.

Organizing Video References

Box Structure for Video Creators

Create Boxes organized by reference type or project:

• Cinematography Reference - Lighting, camera angles, shot composition
• Motion Studies - Movement timing, animation principles, transitions
• Color Grading - Color palettes, grading styles, mood references
• VFX Reference - Effects shots, technique examples
• Project: Title - References specific to your current production

Using Group Frames for Shot Collections

Create Group Frames on your workspace to view related footage together:

• Establishing Shots - Wide shots showing location or environment
• Action Sequences - Different angles of similar action
• Lighting Setups - Same scene under different lighting
• Transition Examples - Cut types, wipes, creative transitions

Common Workflows

Studying Cinematography

1. Import reference clips showing desired shot types or compositions
2. Open Video Frames with controls visible
3. Scrub timeline to find specific moments
4. Slow down playback (0.25x - 0.5x) to study camera movement frame-by-frame

Motion Timing Reference

1. Import motion examples - animation, sports footage, dance, etc.
2. Open multiple Video Frames showing different speeds of the same motion
3. Use playback speed control to slow down fast motion
4. Loop short sequences to study timing repeatedly
5. Scrub frame-by-frame to understand motion breakdown

Animation Reference

1. Collect video reference of real-world motion for animation
2. Import character animation examples for style and timing reference
3. Slow playback to 0.25x to see individual frames clearly
4. Take key frame screenshots for drawing reference
5. Keep Frames open beside animation software for constant reference

Color Grading Reference

1. Import clips or stills with desired color treatment
2. Use color picker (⌃ +I ) to sample specific colors
3. Compare multiple grading styles side-by-side
4. Reference while grading your own footage
5. Use grayscale (⌃ +G ) to study contrast without color

Video Frame Features

Playback Controls

Video Frames offer precise control for studying motion:

• Play/Pause: Click or press Spacebar when Frame is focused
• Timeline scrubbing: Drag to navigate to specific moments
• Playback speed: 0.25x to 2x for studying fast or slow motion
• Volume control: Adjust or mute audio per Frame
• Loop playback: Study short sequences repeatedly

Multiple Video Frames

Open multiple videos simultaneously:

• Compare different takes of the same scene
• Study multiple angles of the same action
• Reference timing across different animation styles
• Keep multiple references visible while editing

Each Video Frame has independent playback - play, pause, and control each separately.

Audio Reference

Using Audio Frames

Import audio files for reference:

• Music timing - Study beats, rhythm, phrasing
• Sound effect examples - Reference for sound design
• Voice timing - Dialog pacing and performance reference
• Ambient soundscapes - Environmental audio reference

Audio Frame Features

• Waveform visualization: See audio structure visually
• Scrub playhead: Click or drag on waveform to navigate
• Loop playback: Study musical phrases or rhythms repeatedly
• Playback speed: Slow down to analyze timing details
• Rename audio files: Click label to give descriptive names

Project-Based Organization

Video Project Setup

For a video editing or animation project:

1. Create a project Box - "Short Film - Title"
2. Add Assets:
   • Cinematography and shot style references
   • Color grading inspiration
   • Motion and timing examples
   • Sound design references
3. Import your own rough cuts to compare with references
4. Pin the Box during active editing

Stock Footage Organization

If you work with stock footage:

• Create a "Stock" Box organized by category (nature, urban, people, etc.)
• Import preview clips or screenshots from stock sites
• Add URLs as Links to revisit high-resolution versions
• Export Box to share curated stock collections with team

Building a Reference Library

• Record short clips from films or videos you admire (fair use for reference)
• Screenshot key frames from video for static reference
• Import your own test footage for technique practice
• Save motion graphics examples from showcases and portfolios

Tips for Video Creators