Blurring Out Objects in Video Clip

EagleDriver wrote on 8/13/2002, 8:35 PM

I have searched the forum for an answer to this but I haven't found one that is complete. I should also preface these questions with an acknowledgement of being a NEWBIE! My apologies upfront. I've tried to RTFM, must be a short between the ears because I'm just not getting it.

I'm trying to blur out the faces from a Man-in-the-Street type video clip. The objects (faces) are moving. I'm trying to edit out 2 faces, but I'm trying to do them one at a time (I intended to do 1 face, render the clip, and then do the 2nd).

I've copied the clip and added a 2nd video track. Added a Gaussian Filter and Cookie Cutter to the 2nd track. I've adjusted the size and shape of the cookie cutter. I've moved the 'circle' around to follow the target and added a keyframe each time I had to move it. Once I've moved through the entire clip I render it and play it back. The cookie cutter hole doesn't move at all. Stays in the same spot the entire clip.

Is there an easier way to do this? Should I have added the keyframe before or after I moved the cookie cutter? What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance. I'd appreciate any advice.

Comments

Tyler.Durden wrote on 8/13/2002, 9:01 PM

Hi EagleDriver,

You might try adding the keyframe before moving the circle...

...by moving it before adding, you're modifying the current keyframe.

It sounds like you have the effect setup right tho.

(another way is to put a soft circle as a mask in a track above the second layer, rather than the cookie cutter... both ways work the same)

HTH, MPH

sonicboom wrote on 8/13/2002, 9:02 PM

this can get frustrating--yes yes yes
when i first learned how to keyframe it opened a whole new demension to my videos
you can not just apply the cookie cutter etc and think it will stay
you must create keyframe points for each move
i can give you a detailed account but the best way is to download the manual and go to the page for keyframes
it's towards the end of the manual
in short---you should have the cusror lock on ---next--place the cursor on timeline--where you want to start---adjust the cookie cutter---
go to next frame where you want it to move---
you can right click on the keyframe point to hold or move----smooth, linear etc
if you are blacking out a face---i would HOLD it --for each frame that needs it
that's all there is
good luck
sb

BillyBoy wrote on 8/14/2002, 10:14 AM

It is very simple to do once you get the hang of it. Once you establish the second track, apply the blur and cookie cutter by moving the square in the work area to the area you want to smear or block out, resizing the circle as needed.

THEN once the mask is in place add a key frame which should result in a a white diamond inside a gray diamond on the FX filter window timeline, not the main timeline.

Do NOT render yet. Instead just play back a small section of the timeline and see how well the mask tracks, adjust as needed. Then continue on. If there is no movement of the mask you did something wrong. You should be able to advance the timeline one frame at a time and very preciously adjust the size and placement of any mask. It does take a little practice to master. You may want to experiment with a simpler video for practice first.

EagleDriver wrote on 8/14/2002, 9:24 PM

Many thanks to all of you who offereed up the help. All 3 suggestions helped. It worked while I was playing it back but after I rendered it -- nothing. It didn't save any of the edits I had made. I don't understand that at all.