Comments

Luxo wrote on 3/16/2002, 11:02 AM
Well, I haven't tested this with video, but here's how I do it for graphics in Photoshop.

1) Create a new image
2) Choose Filter -> Other -> DitherBox
3) Choose a 2x2 pattern
4) Fill one horizontal row with black, leave the other white
5) Hit fill

That will make the lines, but I think using that exact format will cause the screen to flicker like mad if used in video, due to the interlaced fields. Experiment with larger grids (4x4 or more instead of 2x2). You should get it to work.

To import the image to Vegas, make sure your image is 655 x 480, and the horizontal lines are on a transparent background (the checkerboard pattern). Save the file as a native Photoshop document. Open it in Vegas, and put it over your footage. Adjust the layer's composite level.

This sounds like fun, I think I might actually try it. :-)
Luxo
Cheesehole wrote on 3/16/2002, 1:09 PM
nice method Luxo that DitherBox plugin is great! wish I knew about it a long time ago!

I had to do things a little differently from what you explained and maybe you can help me find an easier way. I tried to run the filter on a new document, but photoshop wanted something in the selection area. (can't run plugin cuz selected area is empty)

so I created a layer and filled it with black, then ran the Ditherbox plug and it came up fine. I didn't see an option for Transparent pixels in the Ditherbox plugin, so I just chose a color to use as transparency, like white, since I knew I didn't want white pixels in my pattern.

after I was done creating my pattern, I hit fill... and it worked! now to get rid of the white pixels that are supposed to be transparent, I did Select | Color Range... and chose the white pixel with the dropper, and turned fuzziness down to 0, and hit okay. then I hit delete to rid my pattern of all white pixels. I could then see the checkerboard pattern behind lines.

I then saved as a PNG file, which work best in Vegas. I created a video track at the top of everything, and dropped my image on the track. looks good, but not cool enough. I then changed the Compositing mode of the track to 'Multiply'. NICE! :D

- ben (cheesehole!)
Luxo wrote on 3/31/2002, 6:25 PM
Sweet! I can't improve on your technique -- it's exactly what I would do. You're right, the ditherbox filter is sorely missing a transparent color. Maybe in Photoshop 7?

I assume adding a green tint to the clip in Vegas would complete that night vision look. I also found an interesting way to give the horizontal lines a slight curve, like an "old fashioned" television (not this new flat screen jive).

1) Create an image 150 times larger than 655x480 (983x720)
2) Apply the DitherBox filter (and delete white) as discussed
3) Filter -> Distort -> Spherize -> 10%
4) Image -> canvas size -> 655x480

Voila! Cool optical illusion, don't you think?
Luxo