Double exposure tricks?

xarru wrote on 1/10/2008, 10:14 PM

I've played a few times with old fashioned double exposure in Vegas with some good and entertaining results.
I basically taped a well lit subject in an otherwise black room, then taped whatever I'd like to double expose into the room the same way.
I lay each sequence down on its own time line, and bring the opacity of the top time line down until both objects appear.
The ONLY problem with this method is that each lighted object will only have 50% opacity, so they are slightly see through.
My question is, is there a way to have both time lines output their images with full brightness?
Thanks,
Walt

Comments

TGS wrote on 1/10/2008, 10:31 PM

Yes. Use Sony Chroma keyer
Tape your well lit subject in front of a lime green or bright blue wall, eliminate any shadow casting on the wall. The wall needs to be the same color all around the subject throughout.
Place your background video on bottom track
Place your well lit subject on top track and click on the Icon "event FX" at the end of the clip, choose Sony Chroma keyer. When this Video Event FX opens, use the eyedropper to match the green or blue color of backgound.
Now your subject should be very well lit and in front of your background. You may need to make adjustments to get it right, it never works perfect the 1st time.

Do a search on "Chroma Key" to get more ideas

farss wrote on 1/11/2008, 1:17 AM

Simpler way, use a luminance key. If you've got a static background and shot you can also use a difference key but they're trickier, still Vegas does them about as well as anything. The Chroma Keyer in Vegas is functional but pretty basic.

Bob.

Chienworks wrote on 1/11/2008, 3:23 AM

If the background around the subject is sufficiently black then try setting the compositing mode to add or lighten. No keying necessary.

Former user wrote on 1/11/2008, 6:20 AM

Use the Masking and make your shape, similar to a split screen.

Dave T2

rs170a wrote on 1/11/2008, 6:44 AM

Use the Difference compositing mode as shown in the Two Cats From One tutorial.

Mike

xarru wrote on 1/12/2008, 7:18 AM

Thanks again to everyone for your advice.
I was specifically staying away from chroma key, and using the double exposure because chroma key looks marginal in my opinion when shooting ordinary DV.
Yes, I've read and tried most of the tricks, and lit accordingly, but about as good as it gets is "that looks quite good" and not "fool the audience" good.
My little double exposures even fooled a professional editor friend on repeated plays.
It's VERY limiting in what you CAN do with it, but in the right circumstances, it can be a "poor man's" way to a perfect key I think. :-)
Thanks again!