Lighten comp for auto mask from luminance

Rory Cooper wrote on 12/4/2009, 2:59 AM

This is a good example to mask text from luminance without any effort
Text on top composite lighten drop opacity if needed
Event or clip under add levels to pop or recede

Example http://www.myvideo.co.za/channels/xfx

So the darker male skater will be behind the text and the female lighter skater will be in front
Composite the text lighten drop the opacity set levels on clip to pop the luminance forward

I shot this yesterday with a Canon hfs 10 on a fig rig only had one shot at it
While filming with the rig someone said hell that’s got to be painfull and I replied actually its very comfortable
But then they might have been referring to Cinderella swinging on the cable

Comments

farss wrote on 12/4/2009, 3:27 AM

It's working well for the female skater but not so well for the male.
I'd also add some more visual interaction between the skater and the text to sell the effect e.g. shadows.

Bob.

Grazie wrote on 12/4/2009, 4:46 AM

You really have to do something with the reaction between the shaky horizontals of Ice Rink And Text. I'm finding that the 2 are just too dizzy making.

Just use text on "locked" or steady, but not on the wobbly bit. Ugh . ..

This narrative is about smoothness and compelling professionalism on a slippery surface. Reflect this! - You could have the titles reflecting and merging with the skaters. Now THERE'S a free idea for you!!! Just send money . . .. .

Grazie

Rory Cooper wrote on 12/4/2009, 5:19 AM

Thanks for the feedback guys

I wanted the text between the two skaters as what is happening and using levels to pop or recede the female skater
As for the shadows good idea .

I suppose if you wanted to automatically separate both you would have to duplicate and ad neg on to that and use that as a mask for the male and pre render to a new track
The problem is that the background is also very dark so your separation would bomb in places but still a lot quicker than masking and tracking

Grazie can I send beers instead

I am going to do some motion flow and stabilizing on the clip in Boris but I have to prerender everything to mov’s first
How would you solve that problem filming Grazie would you simply shoot with a lockdown HD and then pan and zoom in post?

Rory

Grazie wrote on 12/4/2009, 6:33 AM

> How would you solve that problem filming Grazie would you simply shoot with a lockdown HD and then pan and zoom in post?

What do you think?

Look, you've got footage; you are placing a hard line across the screen in the form of a run of text; something HAS to give? You can still use your footage, but have another approach. Maybe a kinda PiP or blend or . . lots to do here . .

But just to ask me would I have locked down the tripod - what do you think I am going to say??

Grazie

farss wrote on 12/4/2009, 1:39 PM

First word that comes to mind is "crane", probably because I can get a 9M one. It's just a basic crane though and anything better costs lots, ideally one would want motion control but that's WAY out of the budget. Being the mad engineer that I am I might have tried rigging a camera to the wire that lifts the dancer for a POV shot as she flies up.

Back on planet earth and given what you do have then "match move" is what comes to mind. Free solutions using Voodoo and Blender are available. I see signficant creative potential with these tools. You can also spend money and get commercial products that opens the creative potential further.

Bob.