My way of Rotoscoping

sqblz wrote on 2/7/2003, 7:14 PM

I want to try an idea, to see if it works. It will go like this:

(1) With a "movie disassembler" (like Avi Quick) , I decompose the AVI into its component frames. I will get 25 BMP's per second (you guessed well, it's PAL).
(2) With an image processor capable of doing batch processing *and* can emulate the Classics, I will create a template that transforms a normal image into a Van Gogh painting (or Matisse, Gauguin, ...) or a line drawing, etc.
(3) Using the batch processing capabilities of the editor, I will apply the template to each one of the BMP's that resulted from the disassemblement of the movie.
(4) I re-assemble the movie again, using the altered BMP's. I will get as clip which will be like if Vincent had a go with it ...

What is your best bet for the image editor used in (3) ? *Maybe* I could use a macro processor to repeat the tasks, but I must always open one BMP, alter it by some process, save it and move to the next one...

Thanks for your brainstorm.

Comments

Lajko wrote on 2/7/2003, 7:42 PM

ThumbsPlus does a nice job for batch processing. It has a suite of filters. although primarily for converting and cleaning up images, it does have some artistic filters that may be enough for you. While not all the image editing power of Photo Shop, it could be just what you need. It is also a very nice cataloging program.

http://www.thumbsplus.com/

I use it to view thumbnails of images then drag them to VV4, Photo Shop or anywhere else. I can't live without this program. Especially when the "media explorer" tends to choke and hang for a while when you hit a directory with a thousand files or some really big files.

Spirit wrote on 2/7/2003, 8:10 PM

Fireworks is great for this sort of thing. Excellent batch processing with multiple effects, plugins, resize etc. You record a series of actions as a command, then run that command as part of the batch process.

Luxo wrote on 2/7/2003, 9:08 PM

I've done this very thing with Photoshop. Goto File -> Automate and you can apply an Action (a series of commands) to all files in a folder. I was going for the poor man's Waking Life feel, if you've seen that film. Worked out okay, but looks best at low frame rates. 12 fps looks good.

Zendorf wrote on 2/7/2003, 10:20 PM

If you can get a hold on Aura DV (Newtek) which was being given away free at seminars and on Digit magazine's cd, then you can take DV footage in and apply an 8bf filter. I do this with a few different filters on the same footage and then get various composites of these by lining them up in Vegas and using various levels of opacity and mattes. Works a treat to say the least! Much easier than using batch processing in Photoshop. You can also use multiple filters in AE...but hey that beast is pricey. Or you could wait for that Satish magic ;)

satish wrote on 2/8/2003, 12:14 AM

photoshop filter adapter should be out soon... :)

Zendorf wrote on 2/8/2003, 9:39 PM

Brilliant Satish!!!!...if u need any testing gimme a buzz ....tangram@tpg.com.au as I have tons o' filters....

sqblz wrote on 2/9/2003, 4:47 PM

Thanks, thanks
As I was about going to try Aura DV and Photoshop with these ideas, there comes Satish and holds my horses...
Be it, then. We wait. Patiently.

But Aura DV seems worth trying anyway.
(Macromedia) Fireworks seems daunting ... are you sure ?

Cheers