mmm... simple way to make overlay..?

FuTz wrote on 7/20/2004, 9:46 AM
Hi, I fell like a dumb since 3 days now and have "model T" internet (I'm away from home) so wasn't very eager to get on the forum.

I'm trying to make a simple overlay. It consists of a cookied clip that i put into kind a ring of fire and I eventually want to put 4 of this round "creation" on top of another wideshot image as a final result.
I just, like I said, "cookied" this clip on track one, put the ring of fire on track two with transparency as a background since the fire comes from "underneath" the cookied image...
I then saved and the result was a black background (with alpha on though) and the only way to put it on the wideshot as an overlay is to select "Add" in the composite mode, but then I get an overexposed image in the end.
I really don't want to use a mask since I always get this black line around the edges of my "fire" and kill the transparency effect of the flames.
I'd just simply like to put it on top as a simple "sticker" I would put on a window, for example. And still keep the transparency effect of the flames on top of wideshot image. I then would be able to simply use Pan-Crop and motion to position these 4 overlays.

Is there a way to achieve this?

Comments

Grazie wrote on 7/20/2004, 1:04 PM
.. er . . ?

. .futz .. y'wanna break this down into bit size pieces first? I really don't understand this . . . sometimes I think I'm there . . . then again . .I just loose it again . ..

. . . sorry

G-man
FuTz wrote on 7/20/2004, 8:56 PM
...lol!, sorry... (holy schmoke, I re-read my post and...ok... I'm with you there...)

... I'm trying to make a special "medal" (let's call it this way) which edges are fire. Think about a "sun". But a "sun" with somebody speaking inside it.
I just want to be able to "craft" this "medal"/"sun" so it lays on nothing, on transparency... and render it so I can eventually just put it on a top track and Pan/Crop and resize it over an image that's underneath.
In fact, I want to put 4 of these "medals"/"suns" in every corner of the underneath (moving) image.

The problem I get is that when I save my "medal"/"sun", the render comes with a black backdrop, *not* with a transparency/"checkerboard" backdrop so I can't just put it on a top track without using Compositing mode or Mask (which always gives black borders around my "medal"/"sun").

When I use Compositing mode, I have one option that brings me where I wanna go: "Add". But using "Add", I get an overexposed overall image; it actually aditions my "medal"/"sun" with the underneath image. Just like everything was shot at +21dB on some crappy cam... ugly.

I just want a "live sticker" I can put everywhere I want over any clip I want, my problem being that the edges of my "sticker" are flames and I want to keep the transparency properties of these flames when put over another image...
Grazie wrote on 7/21/2004, 12:31 AM
Ah! Got it . .ok . .

First thing, I've not yet "mastered" how you keep the tranni bit you are asking for . . maybe you can't . .Anyways, when I run into not having "back" or retaining the transparent bit, I use Chroma Keying FX to "remove" the background .. I use this to great effect when using the Text Media Generator and I wanna get back the transparent background.

Give your background some "removable" obnoxious colour - say acid lime green . .anything that is NOT in the thing you want to remain .. then render. Bring back to t/l THEN chroma key OUT that colour you want disappeared . .yeah? Now you got the thing you wanted ON a tranni background ..

Sounds long winded, but once done you will find not only is it quick you will also gain a lot of control on other projects too!

I use and abuse chroma key for loadsa stuff! One THE best FXs on the blackboard!

Grazie
FuTz wrote on 7/22/2004, 1:37 PM

Thanx Graze,
I tried the chroma keyer but not with the green. My mistake. I'll try again, hopefully with more success, otherwise, I'll simply stack all those tracks one over the other and do the effect without previous renderings...
Woah, that would bring me to 9 tracks plus all the effects :-I'll book my computer a whole free weekend just to render all this!