Moving mouth in a still image..

[Bob C]

Loving this forum and the wonderful and inspiring examples I've seen here!

I have a still image of a good friend that I have used to superimpose a cropped video of me ( well just my mouth) as I recited the vowels so it appears his still image lips are speaking the vowels . The problem I have is the transition interface between the two images (1 video and 1 still image) is very visible.

Is there a way to make a smoother less defined ( softer or perhaps more transparent ) transition between the two? I have tried a small cropped video of my lips over this picture and also the the opposite way, that is, cut a hole in the still image with my speaking video under his picture. it kind of works but it could be much better.

This would be a very helpful technique learn to make inanimate objects seem to speak as well like a salt shaker or a wall as two examples. Thanks for any considerations.

I'm using Corel VSP 6.

[lata]

Hi Bob

Interesting exercise,
The Chroma Key options will allow you to set a transparency, there is also some masks that will help to vignette the mouth, that may help in blending the two clips.

You may be able to create your own mouth vignette, when you cut that hole did you fade the edges, save as png.

[Bob C]

Thanks Lata,

I did use the transparency option in the Chroma Key setting but your suggestion has brought to mind perhaps another technique of making another more transparent copy of the still image and place it perfectly aligned over the original opaque copy but with a slightly smaller hole in it and repeat that a few time but reducing the size of the hole with each copy. Then place the lip video below all the additional layers, that might get the effect I'm after.

Thank you for your reply and also the helpful links contained in your posts.

Bob C

[rvgara]

I use an older version of a program called "crazy talk" by realilusion. They have a much newer version out which looks pretty cool but I haven't bought it yet.