Im still on the topic of the image and video mattes. Check out this video below:
http://media.putfile.com/mask-sample/320
I need someone to FULLY describe what I need to do to achieve something like this. (making the ball go behind the wall). I tried what this other guy was telling me and it's not working one bit and I'm TOTALLY frustrated. I need to know the entire process in full details. PLEASE!!!!!!!!
ty
matt
can someone fully explain this????!
-
Terry Stetler
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Westland, Michigan USA
This is a perfect example of not using a howitzer to shoot squirrels, meaning it's easier than it looks 
Basically this effect only requires compositing multiple layers. First you cut out a portion of the buildings image (the windows and light post between them in your example) for use as an overlay, then you animate the ball between the building layer and the window overlay.
Ok...understand that I only spent about 10 minutes on this, so the object alingments aren't just so, OK?
You start out with the picture of your building. In this case I chose Benicia, the old capital building in California;
In an image editor cut out its columns and door (I used PhotoImpact 11) and paste them as a new image. Next cut out the door between them and select the background color. Now invert the selection before saving it as a *.tga, *.png etc. with transparancy. This gives you an image + alpha channel overlay of just the columns;
I also exported a *.tga w/alpha channel of the globe object from Cool3D Production Studio;
Now these were all assembled on the MSP8 timeline, or MSP7 with appropriate changes. I used a 2D moving path to both align & scale the columns with the building. The ball was placed on a track between them;
and the globe animated using a moving path;
The globe starts out of frame to the left and large, then shrinks as it moves to a point just to the left of the left column. It then bounds back & forth twice before moving out of frame to the right and large again.
Note the repeating keyframes in the middle that are used to make the ball bound back & forth. I only keyframed the first and last of these, copy/pasting their settings to the other alternately placed ones (Lt/Rt/Lt/Rt) for consistancy.
As long as the globe is in front of the building or in the columns alpha channel (between them) it's visible, but as soon as it exits the alpha channel and into the columns image data it's "behind" them.
When exported you get this (right-click + Save As please);
http://digitalvideo.8m.net/globeanim.wmv
If you export an animated object from C3DPS or whatever using a 32 bit *.avi or *.tga image sequence the effect would be even cooler.
If the background were a video file that doesn't pan etc. just save a single frame and cut out only that portion of the background that the animated object would pass behind for use as the overlay. Now you can have people walking by while it "invades" their space
Poof
Basically this effect only requires compositing multiple layers. First you cut out a portion of the buildings image (the windows and light post between them in your example) for use as an overlay, then you animate the ball between the building layer and the window overlay.
Ok...understand that I only spent about 10 minutes on this, so the object alingments aren't just so, OK?
You start out with the picture of your building. In this case I chose Benicia, the old capital building in California;
In an image editor cut out its columns and door (I used PhotoImpact 11) and paste them as a new image. Next cut out the door between them and select the background color. Now invert the selection before saving it as a *.tga, *.png etc. with transparancy. This gives you an image + alpha channel overlay of just the columns;
I also exported a *.tga w/alpha channel of the globe object from Cool3D Production Studio;
Now these were all assembled on the MSP8 timeline, or MSP7 with appropriate changes. I used a 2D moving path to both align & scale the columns with the building. The ball was placed on a track between them;
and the globe animated using a moving path;
The globe starts out of frame to the left and large, then shrinks as it moves to a point just to the left of the left column. It then bounds back & forth twice before moving out of frame to the right and large again.
Note the repeating keyframes in the middle that are used to make the ball bound back & forth. I only keyframed the first and last of these, copy/pasting their settings to the other alternately placed ones (Lt/Rt/Lt/Rt) for consistancy.
As long as the globe is in front of the building or in the columns alpha channel (between them) it's visible, but as soon as it exits the alpha channel and into the columns image data it's "behind" them.
When exported you get this (right-click + Save As please);
http://digitalvideo.8m.net/globeanim.wmv
If you export an animated object from C3DPS or whatever using a 32 bit *.avi or *.tga image sequence the effect would be even cooler.
If the background were a video file that doesn't pan etc. just save a single frame and cut out only that portion of the background that the animated object would pass behind for use as the overlay. Now you can have people walking by while it "invades" their space
Poof
Terry Stetler
-
Terry Stetler
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Westland, Michigan USA
-
matt_magnone
-
matt_magnone
I think I get exactly what you mean Terry. Like say I even wanted the globe for instance to come out from behind the left side of the building (behind the brick) I would just cut the area of the brick where the ball would be behind and overlay that. I do see why you needed an alpha channel for the columns so it wouldnt go behind the door! But say you just wanted it around 1 column, then you wouldnt necessarily need an alpha channel, but just use that 1 column as an overlay. Correct me if wrong. I think I got your process. I am more interested in doing this with video. But like you said, a still video shot with no panning would be perfect.
Matt,
As Terry suggested a still image is perfect for this. That is exactly what I used in my sample clip. By using Video Paint or Video Graphics Lab, one has full control of creating masks for tracking source video. I find COOL3D PS does an even better job for mask tracking. Here's another sample I did. Created a binocular shaped object in COOL3D PS and keyed it to cover the engines. With the use of MSP's water-flow filter to complete the effect. Same overlay mask technique.
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=heat ... &width=320
Bottom line, spend the $30 USD for Video Graphics Lab.
Terry,
Your links are not working. Right-clicking does not work either. This sample and your twinkling star sample.
As Terry suggested a still image is perfect for this. That is exactly what I used in my sample clip. By using Video Paint or Video Graphics Lab, one has full control of creating masks for tracking source video. I find COOL3D PS does an even better job for mask tracking. Here's another sample I did. Created a binocular shaped object in COOL3D PS and keyed it to cover the engines. With the use of MSP's water-flow filter to complete the effect. Same overlay mask technique.
http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=heat ... &width=320
Bottom line, spend the $30 USD for Video Graphics Lab.
Terry,
Your links are not working. Right-clicking does not work either. This sample and your twinkling star sample.
-
Terry Stetler
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Westland, Michigan USA
-
Terry Stetler
- Posts: 973
- Joined: Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:34 pm
- Location: Westland, Michigan USA
Looks like the d***ed hosting co. turned off remote file access when I upgraded capacity 
I turned it back on in my site prefes so try it again.
I turned it back on in my site prefes so try it again.
Last edited by Terry Stetler on Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:01 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Terry Stetler
This sample clip works now but your twinkling star does not.