Not sure what its called...

[Jayren02]

Hi there. Im pretty new to editing, so im not to sure what the effect I want to achieve is called. It is used alot in videos like Istiv's "The race" and "shonen bushido" the effect where characters are are layed over the background, lipsynching and such. Im not sure how to cut out the characters from there own backgrounds, or how to place them over the new backgrounds. Im pretty sure it involves transparency and whatnot. Could some one please explain this effect for me? I have photoshop CS, after effects 7, sony vegas 6, and premiere pro 2. I prefer using vegas 6 though, for video editing. thanks for your help

[JaddziaDax]

"Masking" or "Rotoscoping" is the term youre looking for

this is how you do it in vegas:













pretty much you just have to be more precise with the anchors and you will have the characters cut out

you can also do it with photoshop... and after effects... but i dont have screencaps for them O:

and for the lipsync you combo that with this

[Jayren02]

Thank you so much! That helps alot!

[Bauzi]

What you absolutly need for rotoscopeing is the pentool.
That´s how you use it:
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/guides/PenToolGuide.pdf
(it has example videos too)

Without it. It´s a real hard and annoying work. You have the same tool in Vegas too.

[JaddziaDax]

uh yea, Vegas has its own pen tool if you looked at the screencaps O:

[Bauzi]

Uhm... Well I surf the net with disabled images (all those things just cost too much bandwith) if you meant me. ^_^

[JaddziaDax]

you crazyness O:
yea i meant you

Vegas has a pen tool O:

[Bauzi]

I not only disable the pictures.... I use a pop up blocker (hahaha who hasn´t one today?) and a flash blocker plug in for firefox.
Seriously I save tones of MB that I can spend on other much more usefull stuff.

Yeah... I´m a bit stingy =P

[JaddziaDax]

well limited bandwidth will do that to you ;_;

[Greggus1]

With or without it, It´s a real hard and annoying work.

fix't.