Technical

Articles of a technical nature

Pinokio – your answer to offline AI Video Generation

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pinokio

What is Pinokio?

Pinokio is an open-source, one-click localhost cloud platform designed to make running AI applications on your personal computer as simple as browsing the web. It acts like a specialized browser that allows you to install, manage, and automate various AI tools without dealing with complex setups like Python environments, Git repositories, or dependency installations. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it turns your PC into a self-contained “personal cloud” for AI tasks, ensuring everything runs locally for privacy and speed.

When it comes to AI video generation apps, Pinokio shines by simplifying the installation of tools that often require technical expertise. For example, apps like ComfyUI (a node-based workflow for diffusion models) or specialized video generators like Wan2GP (which supports models such as Wan 2.1/2.2 for optimized video creation on GPUs with 6GB+ VRAM) can be set up with a single click. This eliminates barriers like configuring CUDA for NVIDIA GPUs or handling large model downloads manually. On hardware like your Lenovo LOQ with an NVIDIA RTX 5050 (8GB GDDR7) and 32GB RAM, it’s particularly effective, as many of these tools are optimized for consumer-grade setups, allowing you to generate short videos (e.g., 10-14 seconds) from text or images without needing cloud services or high-end servers.

Installing Pinokio on Windows 11

Pinokio’s installation is straightforward and takes just a few minutes. Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored for your Windows 11 setup:

  1. Download the Installer: Head to the official Pinokio website (pinokio.computer) and click the “Download” button. Select the Windows version—it’ll download an executable file (e.g., Pinokio.Setup.exe).
  2. Run the Installer: Locate the downloaded file in your Downloads folder and double-click it to launch. If Windows Defender prompts you (common for new apps), click “More info” and then “Run anyway” since Pinokio is from a trusted source.
  3. Follow the Setup Wizard: The installer will guide you through the process. Accept the terms, choose an installation directory (default is fine), and let it complete. No admin rights are typically needed beyond the initial run.
  4. Launch Pinokio: Once installed, open the app from your Start menu or desktop shortcut. It may take a moment to initialize on first launch as it sets up its internal environment.
  5. Optional: Update Pinokio: After launching, check for updates in the app’s settings menu to ensure you have the latest features and app scripts.

Your laptop’s specs (AMD Ryzen 7, 32GB DDR5, RTX 5050) are more than sufficient—Pinokio leverages the GPU for acceleration in AI apps, and with Wi-Fi 6 support, model downloads will be quick.

Using Pinokio: A Basic Tutorial

Once installed, Pinokio’s interface is intuitive, resembling a web browser with tabs for apps and a discovery section. Here’s how to get started, with a focus on AI video generation:

  1. Explore and Install Apps: In the main window, use the search bar or browse the “Discover” tab to find AI tools. For video generation, search for “Wan2GP” (supports Wan 2.1/2.2 models for efficient text-to-video on your 8GB GPU), “ComfyUI” (for custom video workflows), or “HunyuanVideo” (optimized for short video clips). Click “Install” on the app’s page—it handles everything automatically, including downloading models and dependencies.
  2. Launch an App: After installation, go to the “My Apps” section, select the app (e.g., Wan2GP), and click “Run.” It opens in a local web interface (like http://localhost:7860) via your default browser. No need to worry about ports or servers—Pinokio manages it.
  3. Generate AI Videos:
  • In Wan2GP or similar: Enter a text prompt (e.g., “A futuristic cityscape at sunset”), select a model like Wan 2.1 for optimized performance, adjust settings (e.g., resolution to 512×512 for faster results on your RTX 5050), and hit “Generate.” It uses your GPU to create videos locally.
  • For ComfyUI: Drag nodes to build a workflow—e.g., connect a text prompt to a video diffusion model, add upscaling, and render. Pinokio pre-configures it with video extensions.
  • Tips: Start with small outputs to test (e.g., 5-10 seconds). If VRAM is an issue, enable low-VRAM modes in the app settings. Outputs save to a folder within Pinokio’s directory.
  1. Manage and Customize:
  • Update apps via the “Update” button to get new models (e.g., Wan 2.2 upgrades).
  • Use the terminal tab in Pinokio for advanced tweaks, like installing custom extensions.
  • Uninstall apps easily from the My Apps section if needed.
  1. Troubleshooting Basics: If an app fails to install, check your internet connection or GPU drivers (ensure NVIDIA drivers are up-to-date via GeForce Experience). Pinokio logs errors in its console for easy debugging.

With Pinokio, you can expand to other AI video tools like PyramidFlow for image-to-video or VideoCrafter 2 for advanced editing, all without the hassle of traditional setups. Experiment with Wan 2.1 for quick, high-quality results on your hardware—it’s a game-changer for local AI creativity.

Getting Started with DaVinci Resolve 20: A Beginner-Friendly Tutorial

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da vinci resolve

DaVinci Resolve 20 is an incredibly powerful (and mostly free!) video editing software that combines editing, color grading, visual effects, and audio post-production in one app. If you’re new to it, don’t get overwhelmed—the basics are straightforward once you learn the page-based workflow. This tutorial covers the essential features step-by-step, with pro tips to help you work faster and avoid common beginner mistakes.

Tip #1: Download and Install Correctly

  • Go to the official Blackmagic Design website and download the free version (it has 99% of what beginners need). Only upgrade to Studio ($295 one-time) if you need advanced AI tools, noise reduction, or 8K+ exports.
  • Suggestion: During install, choose “Optimized Media & Render Cache” location on your fastest drive (SSD preferred) to avoid slowdowns later.

1. Creating a New Project and Setting Up

  1. Launch Resolve ? Project Manager window opens.
  2. Click New Project ? Name it ? Create.
  3. Immediately go to File > Project Settings (gear icon bottom-right).
  • Set Timeline Format to your footage’s frame rate (e.g., 23.976 or 30 fps).
  • Under Master Settings > Color Science, choose “DaVinci YRGB Color Managed” for beginners—it’s forgiving and automatic.
  • Enable Automatically set project settings based on first clip added if you’re unsure.

Pro Tip: Always create a Database backup (File > Backup Project Library) before big edits. Resolve’s Live Save is great, but manual backups save lives!

2. Importing Media (Media Page)

Switch to the Media page (top tabs).

  • Drag folders/clips from your computer into the Media Pool (left side).
  • Or right-click Media Pool ? Import Media ? select files/folder.
  • Organize right away: Right-click ? New Bin (like folders) ? name them “Video”, “Audio”, “Graphics”).

Pro Tip #1: Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) while dragging clips to create copies instead of references—useful for archiving.
Pro Tip #2: Use the Metadata Editor (right panel) to add keywords, scene numbers, or flag favorites. This makes searching huge projects a breeze later.

3. Quick Editing on the Cut Page (Fastest for Beginners)

The Cut page is designed for speed—perfect for YouTube/social edits.

  1. Switch to Cut page.
  2. Drag clips from Media Pool to the timeline (bottom).
  3. Basic cuts:
  • Play with Spacebar.
  • Press B (Blade tool) ? click to cut.
  • Or hover between clips ? T (Trim tool) ? drag to ripple trim.
  1. Fast edits: Select clip in viewer ? use buttons like Smart Insert (F9), Append (F12), or Overwrite (F10).

Pro Tip: Enable Live Media Preview (viewer menu) to scrub thumbnails in the Media Pool super fast.
Suggestion: For talking-head videos, try the new AI IntelliScript (right-click timeline ? Create Timeline Using Script) if you have transcribed audio— it auto-assembles clips by dialogue!

4. Full Editing on the Edit Page (Most Flexible)

Switch to Edit page for precise control.

  1. Create a new timeline: Right-click bin ? New Timeline ? name it.
  2. Drag clips to timeline or use Insert (F9) / Overwrite (F10).
  3. Trimming tricks:
  • Select edit point ? Comma (,) or Period (.) to ripple trim left/right by 1 frame.
  • U key toggles between ripple/roll/slip/slide modes.
  1. Add transitions: Go to Effects Library > Video Transitions ? drag Cross Dissolve to cut.
  2. Add titles: Effects Library > Titles ? drag “Text+” to timeline ? double-click to edit.

Pro Tip #1: Press N to toggle snapping—turn it off for fine adjustments, on for clean edits.
Pro Tip #2: Use J-K-L keys for playback: J = reverse, K = stop, L = forward (tap L multiple times for 2x, 4x speed). This is 10x faster than clicking play!

5. Basic Color Correction (Color Page)

Switch to Color page—Resolve’s superpower!

  1. Use the Primaries Wheels or Bars for quick fixes:
  • Lift (shadows), Gamma (midtones), Gain (highlights) ? drag wheels to balance exposure.
  • Use Contrast slider and Pivot for punchy looks.
  1. Auto tools: Right-click clip ? Shot Match or Auto Color for instant improvement.
  2. Scopes (bottom-right): Turn on Waveform or Vectorscope to see if your image is balanced.

Pro Tip: Always start with Balance Color (magic wand icon) or the new AI Magic Mask (isolate people/objects easily).
Suggestion: Save good grades—right-click thumbnail in Gallery ? Grab Still ? reuse on other clips with **Apply Grade.

6. Basic Audio Mixing (Fairlight Page)

Switch to Fairlight page.

  1. Volume: Drag yellow line on clip or use Mixer (right side).
  2. Quick fixes: Inspector ? Dynamics ? enable Dialogue Leveler or Voice Isolation (AI noise removal—amazing for podcasts!).
  3. Add music: Drag audio clip ? right-click ? Link Audio/Video if needed.

Pro Tip: Use A key to toggle audio waveform view on timeline—makes finding cuts visually easy.
Suggestion: Try the new AI Audio Assistant (Fairlight menu) to auto-balance levels across your whole timeline.

7. Adding Effects & Titles

Back on Edit page ? Effects tab (top):

  • Search “Film Look” or “Blur” ? drag to clip.
  • For titles: Toolbox ? Titles ? Fusion Title ? customize in Inspector.

Pro Tip: Use Inspector > OpenFX for Resolve FX like Sharpen, Glow, or the new Film Look Creator.

8. Exporting Your Video (Deliver Page)

Switch to Deliver page.

  1. Choose preset: YouTube 1080p or QuickTime H.264.
  2. Set Render Timeline or Individual Clips.
  3. Click Add to Render Queue ? Start Render.

Pro Tip #1: Enable Use Optimized Media if playback stutters during edit—Resolve creates proxies automatically.
Pro Tip #2: For faster exports, check Render Cache > Advanced Settings > Use GPU Acceleration.

Bonus Beginner Tips for DaVinci Resolve 20

  • Keyboard Shortcuts are your best friend — go to DaVinci Resolve ? Keyboard Customization ? search “Premiere” or “Final Cut” to switch layouts if coming from another editor.
  • Use Dual Monitor mode (Workspace ? Dual Screen ? On) if you have two screens—one for timeline, one for viewer.
  • Enable Proxy Workflow early (Project Settings ? Proxy Generation) for smooth editing on slower computers.
  • Free official training: Download the “Beginner’s Guide to DaVinci Resolve 20” PDF from Blackmagic’s site—it’s project-based and excellent.
  • If something feels slow, go to Playback ? Proxy Handling ? Half Resolution or generate proxies.

Practice with sample footage (download free clips from sites like Pexels or Blackmagic’s site). Start small—one scene at a time—and you’ll be editing like a pro in no time. Resolve 20’s AI tools (Magic Mask, Voice Isolation, IntelliTrack) make complex tasks feel magical once you try them!

Happy editing

Affordable Text-to-Video AI: A Beginner’s Guide

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black and white robot toy on red wooden table

Introduction

Text-to-video AI tools have revolutionized content creation, allowing anyone to generate video content from simple text descriptions. This tutorial will guide you through the best affordable options and how to get started.

Understanding Text-to-Video AI

Text-to-video AI uses machine learning models to interpret your text prompts and generate corresponding video content. These tools can create anything from realistic scenes to animated sequences, and even talking head presentations.

Best Affordable Options

1. Free Tier Platforms

Runway Gen-3 Alpha

  • Cost: Free tier (125 credits ? 5 seconds) | $12/month for 625 credits
  • Best for: Short, high-quality realistic clips
  • Getting Started:
    1. Sign up at runwayml.com
    2. Navigate to Gen-3 Alpha
    3. Enter your text prompt
    4. Generate and download your video

Pika 2.0

  • Cost: Free tier available | $10/month for extended use
  • Best for: Creative effects and animations
  • Getting Started:
    1. Visit pika.art
    2. Create a free account
    3. Use the prompt box to describe your scene
    4. Experiment with the camera controls and effects

Luma AI (Dream Machine)

  • Cost: Free tier with limits | $30/month for more
  • Best for: Realistic scenes and cinematic shots
  • Getting Started:
    1. Go to lumalabs.ai
    2. Sign up for Dream Machine
    3. Write detailed prompts for best results
    4. Download your 5-second clips

2. Budget-Friendly Specialized Tools

HeyGen ($24/month)

  • Purpose: AI avatar videos (talking heads)
  • Ideal for: Presentations, explainers, course content
  • How to Use:
    1. Choose an avatar
    2. Write or paste your script
    3. Select voice and language
    4. Generate your video

Invideo AI ($20/month)

  • Purpose: Long-form content with stock footage + AI
  • Ideal for: YouTube videos, marketing content
  • How to Use:
    1. Describe your video concept
    2. AI generates a script and storyboard
    3. Review and edit
    4. Export your video

Writing Effective Prompts

Basic Structure

[Subject] + [Action] + [Setting] + [Style/Mood] + [Camera Work]

Examples

Poor Prompt: “A cat”

Good Prompt: “A fluffy orange cat walking through a sun-drenched garden, flowers swaying in the breeze, cinematic lighting, slow-motion, camera tracking shot”

Pro Tips for Better Results

  1. Be Specific: Include details about lighting, time of day, weather
  2. Describe Motion: “walking toward camera”, “spinning slowly”, “zoom in”
  3. Set the Mood: “peaceful”, “dramatic”, “energetic”
  4. Mention Style: “photorealistic”, “anime style”, “3D render”
  5. Keep It Simple: Start with one main subject and action

Step-by-Step: Your First Video

Using Pika (Free)

  1. Sign Up
    • Go to pika.art
    • Create account with email
  2. Write Your Prompt A steaming cup of coffee on a wooden table, morning sunlight streaming through window, steam rising slowly, warm cozy atmosphere, close-up shot
  3. Generate
    • Click generate
    • Wait 1-2 minutes for processing
  4. Refine
    • If unsatisfied, try adding more details
    • Adjust camera movement parameters
    • Regenerate with tweaked prompt
  5. Download
    • Save your video file
    • Note what worked for future reference

Comparing the Options

PlatformBest ForCostOutput LengthQuality
RunwayRealistic clips$0-12/mo3-5 sec?????
PikaCreative effects$0-10/mo3-5 sec????
LumaCinematic shots$0-30/mo5 sec?????
HeyGenTalking heads$24/moMinutes????
InvideoLong-form$20/moMinutes???

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Vague Prompts: “Make a cool video” won’t give good results
  2. Too Complex: Describing 10 things happening at once confuses the AI
  3. Ignoring Free Trials: Test before committing to paid plans
  4. Not Iterating: First attempts rarely perfect – refine your prompts
  5. Wrong Tool: Don’t use Pika for talking heads or HeyGen for landscapes

Workflow Tips

For Social Media Content

  1. Generate 5-10 short clips with Pika/Luma (free tiers)
  2. Download best results
  3. Edit together in CapCut or similar
  4. Add music and text overlays

For Presentations

  1. Use HeyGen for talking head sections
  2. Generate b-roll with Runway
  3. Combine in PowerPoint or Keynote
  4. Export as video

For YouTube Videos

  1. Script your video concept
  2. Use Invideo AI to generate full draft
  3. Replace weak sections with Runway/Pika clips
  4. Final edit in your preferred video editor

Next Steps

  1. Start Free: Try Pika and Luma’s free tiers today
  2. Learn Prompting: Practice writing detailed descriptions
  3. Compare Results: Generate same concept across platforms
  4. Choose Your Tool: Pick based on your specific needs
  5. Upgrade Strategically: Only pay when free tier limits you

Resources

  • Prompt Libraries: Search “text-to-video prompts” on Reddit, Twitter
  • Communities: Join Discord servers for each platform
  • Tutorials: YouTube has platform-specific guides
  • Inspiration: Browse galleries on each platform’s website

Conclusion

Text-to-video AI has become remarkably accessible and affordable. Start with free tiers to learn the tools, focus on improving your prompting skills, and upgrade only when you need more generation capacity. The technology improves monthly, so what seems impossible today might be standard tomorrow.

Happy creating!

How to Change Bookmark Icons in Brave Browser

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browser logos

Bookmark icons (also called favicons) help you quickly identify your saved sites. This tutorial shows you multiple ways to change or update these icons in Brave browser.

Table of Contents

  1. Automatic Update Method
  2. Using Browser Extensions
  3. Manual File Edit (Advanced)

Method 1: Automatic Update

Difficulty: Easy
Best for: When the website has changed its icon or the icon isn’t displaying correctly

Steps:

  1. Simply visit the bookmarked website
  2. Brave will automatically fetch and update the favicon
  3. Check your bookmarks bar or bookmarks manager to see the updated icon

Why this works: Brave caches favicons, and visiting the site forces it to refresh the cached icon.

Method 2: Browser Extensions

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Best for: Adding custom icons to bookmarks

Steps:

Installing an Extension:

  1. Open Brave browser
  2. Visit the Chrome Web Store (Brave supports Chrome extensions)
  3. Search for one of these extensions:
    • Bookmark Favicon Changer
    • Custom Bookmark Icon
    • Bookmark Manager (various options available)
  4. Click “Add to Brave” or “Add to Chrome”
  5. Confirm the installation

Using the Extension:

  1. Once installed, right-click on any bookmark
  2. Look for the new option added by the extension (usually “Change Icon” or similar)
  3. Choose from:
    • Uploading your own image file
    • Selecting from an icon library
    • Entering a custom URL for an icon
  4. Save your changes

Tip: Most extensions support PNG, JPG, and ICO file formats. For best results, use square images (16×16 or 32×32 pixels).

Method 3: Manual File Edit (Advanced)

Difficulty: Advanced
Best for: Power users comfortable with JSON editing
?? Warning: Always backup the Bookmarks file before editing!

Steps:

1. Close Brave Completely

  • Make sure Brave is fully closed (check your system tray)
  • This prevents the browser from overwriting your changes

2. Locate Your Bookmarks File

Windows:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\BraveSoftware\Brave-Browser\User Data\Default\

macOS:

~/Library/Application Support/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Default/

Linux:

~/.config/BraveSoftware/Brave-Browser/Default/

3. Backup the Bookmarks File

  • Find the file named Bookmarks (no extension)
  • Create a copy and name it Bookmarks.backup

4. Edit the Bookmarks File

  1. Open the Bookmarks file in a text editor (Notepad++, VS Code, or similar)
  2. The file is in JSON format
  3. Search for the name or URL of your bookmark
  4. Find the "favicon" field – it looks like this: "favicon": "data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KG..."
  5. Replace the base64 data with:
    • A URL to an icon: "favicon": "https://example.com/icon.png"
    • New base64 encoded image data

5. Save and Restart

  1. Save the file
  2. Open Brave
  3. Check your bookmark to see the new icon

Converting an Image to Base64:

If you want to embed a custom icon:

  1. Use an online tool like “Base64 Image Encoder”
  2. Upload your icon image (16×16 or 32×32 pixels recommended)
  3. Copy the resulting base64 string
  4. Paste it into the favicon field (including the data:image/png;base64, prefix)

Troubleshooting

Icon Not Updating?

  • Clear Brave’s cache: Settings ? Privacy and security ? Clear browsing data
  • Make sure you’re visiting the actual website, not a cached version
  • Wait a few minutes – favicon updates can be delayed

Extension Not Working?

  • Check if the extension has permissions enabled
  • Try restarting Brave after installing the extension
  • Verify the extension is compatible with your Brave version

Manual Edit Issues?

  • Ensure Brave was completely closed before editing
  • Check that your JSON syntax is valid (use a JSON validator)
  • Restore from your backup file if something breaks

Tips and Best Practices

  1. Icon Size: Use 16×16 or 32×32 pixel square images for best results
  2. File Format: ICO, PNG, and SVG formats work best
  3. Backup First: Always backup your Bookmarks file before manual editing
  4. Extension Method: For most users, browser extensions are the easiest and safest option
  5. Organize First: Consider organizing your bookmarks into folders before mass icon changes

Conclusion

Changing bookmark icons in Brave is straightforward once you know the right method:

  • Quick fix: Just visit the website
  • Custom icons: Use a browser extension
  • Full control: Edit the Bookmarks file manually (advanced users only)

Choose the method that best fits your technical comfort level and needs!