The Alexa Frame Line Composer is a web-app that lets you customize frame lines on a computer and export them to the camera via SD card or save as images.
Almost every aspect of the frame lines can be manipulated on the composer from the amount of shading in the “surround view” to how far the pillarbox lines extend if you choose to have a 2nd aspect ratio. There’s also the ability to shrink the aspect ratio markers if, for some reason, you plan to crop the footage or want more “lookaround” space. An option even exists to change the cross-hairs in the center of the frame.
If the goal of using the composer is to eventually export the frame lines to use within the Alexa, the program will provide downloads for XML or Zip files to bring into the camera by an SD card. This feature should play nice with the new 3.0 software beta, for those who were worried. If the end result is just to get an idea of an aspect ratio or guidelines, the web-app will also provide downloads for image files – one compressed and one full-size.
I spent a good half hour myself playing with the frame line composer and was constantly finding little “oh, cool!” moments hidden within it. Of course you have to be some sort of a camera geek to get that excited, but if you’re reading this post, then I know you’ll find the thing as neat as I did. All in all, the tool is pretty cool and I don’t see similar offerings from RED or Canon, for that matter. Plus, rumor is that once he’s done posting in his forums, Roger Deakins uses this to cure his itch for shooting more Alexa.
