Remove wall light switch

JimmieJC wrote on 12/19/2015, 3:52 PM
I need to remove a light switch on a wall. I'm doing an interview and didn't notice the light switch, it ruins the whole scene. I know it's probably easy to do but so far I don't know how to remove this light switch. I need a spot cloning tool, or something like a cloning tool but have no adobe products. Any ideas?
JC

Comments

rs170a wrote on 12/19/2015, 4:09 PM
I've had to do this more than once and here's what I do.
If the shot is static, do a frame grab. Bring that into Photoshop and do a "clone" so that you cover the switch with the surrounding wall. Bring that frame back into Vegas and place it over top of your shot. Use the masking tool in Pan/Crop to hide the offending switch. You may need to feather it a small amount to hide it better.
If the shot isn't static, you'll have to key frame the mask as it moves around.

Mike
ushere wrote on 12/19/2015, 4:54 PM
+1 mike.

had to do this more often than i'd like with clients footage.

i would NOT do it on a moving shot without a large cheque ;-)
Serena Steuart wrote on 12/19/2015, 6:15 PM
If moving, easier in Resolve.
john_dennis wrote on 12/19/2015, 7:42 PM
I replaced moving, talking faces one time and the cheque wasn't nearly big enough. It came under the "other duties as assigned" clause in my performance plan. Luckily, I don't have a performance plan anymore.
JackW wrote on 12/19/2015, 11:20 PM
Generate a color clip, match it to the wall color, use track motion to size it and move it over the offending switch.

Jack
astar wrote on 12/20/2015, 1:35 AM
Duplicate your video track.

Use a cookie cutter, or mask with feather on the top track.

Then offset using Pan/crop.

This will effectively make duplication tool in Vegas.
wwjd wrote on 12/20/2015, 2:06 PM
I do astar's trick above. Will probably never get noticed. simple, quick, done, no specials external tools.
Tim Stannard wrote on 12/20/2015, 4:15 PM
I also use astars method. Quite apart from removing the need to go outside of Vegas, if colours change for any reason (maybe there's some external light and a cloud passes, or someone casts a shadow) the "patch" will often change appropriately as well. It all depends on the situation, but a paste from a still will definitely not change.
JimmieJC wrote on 12/21/2015, 12:52 AM
Thanks for all the useful comments. I used Mike and Astar's method and it worked.
JC