change bkgd, tutorial suggest

joejon wrote on 7/12/2008, 1:10 PM

My son made a short rap video and I was wondering if there is a way to change or alter the background without changing anything with him and his friend. I use Vegas 7. The background is very cluttered and it would be nice to change it.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 7/12/2008, 2:06 PM

If the video was shot on a tripod, and if you have any video of the background without the players, and if the lighting is constant, you can use a "difference mask" to replace the background. Do a search in this forum on that phrase. Even if you don't have video of the background without the singers, you can create a background by taking several snapshots as the singers move around and merge these together to create a background, and then do the difference mask.

If the camera is handheld, then there isn't any way you can do it without spending hours (days, actually) and $$$$$ purchasing and then using motion tracking software.

Here's a link to a tutorial at Vasst:

Difference Masking-Unmasked in Sony Vegas Software

joejon wrote on 7/12/2008, 7:46 PM

I got as far as setting the composting mode to "difference", but the next step is to select "multipy mask" by clicking the "Parent composting mode selector" on the left side of the track. I don't have that. The screen shot in the tutorial shows the selector, but I don't have that on my tracks. I see he is using V6, I have V7, but that shouldn't make a difference. Any idea where that selector is or how to get it to show? Thanks

joejon wrote on 7/12/2008, 8:10 PM

I did finally figure it out after playing around for a while. I got all the steps done, but it didn't seem to work for me. I'll try it on some other video at another time to see if I can get it to work. Thanks for your help and the link.

rs170a wrote on 7/13/2008, 3:29 AM

Check out the Two Cats From One tutorial.

Mike

joejon wrote on 7/13/2008, 2:00 PM

I think I need to get some training. There are so many things that I don't have a clue about. The help is only good for the basics. This forum is really helpful, but I'd like to start to really explore Vegas and what I can do with it. I have "Vegas 4 Editing Workshop", but I think I need something more hands on and visual, maybe a dvd training. Do you have any suggestions? I also would like more options with titling, transitions and effects. Any ideas for reasonably priced add ons? Thanks

jrazz wrote on 7/13/2008, 2:30 PM

Training: Vasst

I recommend it.

j razz

joejon wrote on 7/14/2008, 6:39 PM

Thanks for the information. To get all of them is kind of expensive. I'll check into them further to see which ones would be the best. Thanks again.