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How can I tactfully mask or edit a glitch in an otherwise perfect video? What I mean is, the actor has one scene where they looked into the camera for a second, and I would like to edit that out without disrupting the continuity or time line. I have tried a few filter techniques to hide this mistake, but it always comes across as distracting to the video.

This also brings up another issue with segmenting a video to add filters at certain points. It just doesn't seem intuitive to me...I keep wanting to move the video segment exactly where I want it on the time line (and I can't seem to do that), and position the filter or effect in between with the exact length that I need. Instead, it seems like you are stuck with grappling with changing the length of the effect time, which changes the clip length, which changes your effect time, etc.

For example, in Nero Vision Express, you are given an effect track that allows you to position the effect, change the length, etc. freely.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
JR

If you need to stay on the actor the precise amount of time and yet remove the ¡§one second mistake¡¨, then I would suggest you try this. Go back to where the actor finishes their dialog. Assuming you have some footage to work with, I would cut right there. Drop the audio (from the end of the dialog to the end of the scene) down to the audio line (to keep the precise timing). Go forward on that video footage to the error, cut again. Delete from that point to the end of the scene. Then slow the footage of the actor post dialog down until the length of the footage matches the length of audio on the audio line.

Thanks IndieFlick...that sounds like a better approach.

You make it sound pretty simple, so there must be some kind of time warp or stretch processing I can do on the video track. I'll take a look.

JR

This also brings up another issue with segmenting a video to add filters at certain points. It just doesn't seem intuitive to me...I keep wanting to move the video segment exactly where I want it on the time line (and I can't seem to do that), and position the filter or effect in between with the exact length that I need. Instead, it seems like you are stuck with grappling with changing the length of the effect time, which changes the clip length, which changes your effect time, etc.

Just cut your video where you want the filter to start and cut again where you want the filter to end. You should have gone from 1 clip to two clips, and apply the video to the middle clip.

Hi JR

Video filters are applied to the whole clip.

If you want to apply a filter to say 10 seconds then use your scissors to cut the video into pieces, Then apply the video filter.

Sorry, I meant transition...

Specifically I was trying to use a mask that slightly altered the video so that the actor was blurred for that second, and adjusting the timing to make it perfect became an ordeal. I suspect that you should adjust the timing of a transition only from the duration tools and not by stretching the transition or the segment.

At least I have a few tips to try now

Thank you,
JR

HiHi JR!

> the actor has one scene where they looked into the camera for a second,
> and I would like to edit that out without disrupting the continuity or
> time line. I have tried a few filter techniques to hide this mistake, but
> it always comes across as distracting to the video.

If it's that good already then a blur would probably really booger it. And
'older generation' ppl watching it might freak out a bit and wonder if they
were having a stroke. LOL!!

I have another idea related to a Q that was asked of me during a thread a
few days ago that I haven't replied to yet, 'why use 3rd party software to
do something?'

VS is a video production manager. I want it to do things related -mostly- to
just -video-. Photoshop is an image editor. It does video layers/filters and
I personally hope -they- don't go too far with the 'video editing' stuff.
But at the image level there's nothing better. I don't want *either* of them
to become audio editors! That's what Audacity or 'something else' is for!

There is no be-all end-all tool for everything. Back when I was a kid I
wondered why my Dad had 20 screwdrivers, more than just the typical
selection of straight slot and philips head drivers. Later, after many years
in various mechanical industries, I understood, because I had maybe 30
screwdrivers some of which I'd made from scratch or modified from others for
some specific purpose. The purpose of any tool is to make whatever task at
hand *easier*, not to try to make a tool do something for which it is not
'best suited.'

In this case I'd clip out only the exact frames where the actor looks the
wrong way, and edit them at the frame (single image) level to 'move his eyes
back into place.' Said more accurately, clip frames from the point that they
-start- to look the wrong way to the point they move back where they belong.
I'd have two images open in the image editor, one with the eyes where they
'should' be, and, sequentially, the other images where they're in the wrong
place. Then clone stamp the 'right' eyes over the 'wrong' eyes.

(Clone stamp means to pick up the pixels from one image and put them ina
another. In this case the visible eyeball portion of the eye from the
'wrong' copy to a new 'right' copy.)

Export the frames as a vid and paste them back into the original vid.

Time consuming, yep, with practice maybe 3 or 4 mins per frame, maybe
faster. But totally absolutely invisible edit at normal viewing speed.

Well I'm just a PS nut; there're probably others that can do this trick too.
And I'm a perfectionst (also learned from my Dad) so any 'blur hack'
reeeaallly runs against my grain. LOL!! If what you've got is an 'otherwise
perfect video' then it's worth the time and effort to fix that one burp as
perfectly as possible.

Have a day!

Jim

> Export the frames as a vid and paste them back into the original vid.

Now where can I download the free plug-in that does this for me

That sounds like what I need to do...or maybe morph through the glitch somehow. I was using something like MaskA4 that was close, but still no cigar. I am currently working in Cubase with the new pitch control called VariAudio, and I am spoiled now! I want to be able to tweak video like that!

I thought about the stroke thing too on a few of the Masks

JR

With a problem of this sort there isn't a one for all cure.
It all depends upon that particular scene as to what can be done to either cut out or else mask the problem.

Possible cures can include:
1. Briefly cutting the video track away to something else, but keeping the sound track going. Think of the News on television where the video is showing the speaker who is is describing the news event but the picture cuts away to show the event.

e.g. The train crash in Washington that occurred a few hours ago (at the time of writing) - you are looking at the news reporter holding his/her microphone and the reporter is describing what took place but the picture then changes to show work taking place at the rescue scene - whilst you continue to listen to the reporter.

2. Picture in Picture.
If the spoiled area permits, and the video concerned is suitable to do so, you can place another window on top of the spoiled are - thus masking it from view. The sort of thing you see in "24" with Kiefer Sutherland.

3. Titles.
Place some suitable text over the spoiled area. Again this only works if the video and scene are suitable for such a method.

4. Zoom in.
If the spoiled area is not in the centre, then use a pan and zoom filter to zoom in, thus sending the spoiled area "off screen."

These are just a few ideas, I am sure that having sown the seeds of thought you might find some other alternatives.

sjj1805 wrote:With a problem of this sort there isn't a one for all cure.
It all depends upon that particular scene as to what can be done to either cut out or else mask the problem.

Possible cures can include:
1. Briefly cutting the video track away to something else, but keeping the sound track going.

Use a section of your own video, place in the overlay track below the problem frames. Use Fade-in Fade-Out.
Mute this clip.

if it's dialogue between two actors...then do a 2 second cutaway for a reaction(or yes I'm here listening to you shot)...leave the voice of the actor talking but you cover the acting glitch with a cutaway to the other actor....