Easy way to remove video backgrounds?

Krisqo · Post by **Krisqo** » Wed May 17, 2006 8:56 am

Okay. So basically it goes (for my situation)

1) Create a mask for each motion that repeats
2) Move the corresponding mask to compensate for the forward movement by Sora

3) When all is done, go back and tweak each mask for accuracy.

Your idea, Zarxrax, involves making a second mask for each mask and using the space between the two to add a border to darken the outline?

I'm just curious about this, but on average, how long does it take you guys to do a mask? Is spending at least 30 hours on a 14 second clip too extreme? I wouldn't know since this is my first attempt.

Keeper of Hellfire · Post by **Keeper of Hellfire** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:00 am

How long it lasts to create a mask depends much on how complex it is. 2 min per frame for masking a chara doesn't look that bad for me.

Is spending at least 30 hours on a 14 second clip too extreme?

Wait. You want to use a 14s long clip in your AMV? I'd probably fall asleep watching this.

I don't think Zarxrax is talking about creating a second mask and to fill it with black. That wouldn't resolve your problem. He's talking about the possibility to create an outline around an existing mask. I don't have AE, so I can't tell you how. But in my program exists an option to show the outline of a mask and I can adjust the color. I think in AE it's similar. Btw., thanks Zarxrax for pointing this out. It'll help to improve some of my projects, I never thought about this possibility while it is that obvious.

Krisqo · Post by **Krisqo** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:23 am

Keeper of Hellfire wrote:Wait. You want to use a 14s long clip in your AMV? I'd probably fall asleep watching this.

LOL. It's for my Operation Introduction MEP. What I'm trying to do is have Sora walk across the screen depressed looking while I run several clips from parts of the show in the background as a symbol of rememberance.

And since you say about two minutes a frame for a character isn't bad, at least I know I'm not the only craxy person here (that's what my step-mom said when I told here about this). Anyway, I was having problmes with Premiere Pro so I had to scrap that Idea for this clip, but I will use it in my next full length video. I'll keep what you all said in mind and if I run into any more problems or have any questions, i'll raise them here.

Thanks again guys.

Ladymercury · Post by **Ladymercury** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:42 am

I know I'm late, but I was going to suggest masking like two - four frames and using the track window feature considering she's just repeating herself.... ._.

Krisqo · Post by **Krisqo** » Fri May 19, 2006 6:05 pm

Ladymercury wrote:I know I'm late, but I was going to suggest masking like two - four frames and using the track window feature considering she's just repeating herself.... ._.

It that the same as the Tracking Controls Pallette? I ask because everything about Motion Tracking is only available in the Pro Version of AE and there were none on E-bay when I bought AE to begin with (I'm not about to pay $699 or $999 for a computer program I can get for just over $200). And just to add, I think I counted about 38 or so frames of motion that repeat.