Remove Background from Video VS X6

[opus2801]

Hi,

I recorded some video of a person speaking. I do not like the background and would like to remove it so I can add another one. I tried using the Chromakey feature and various filters for VideoStudio but was not able to completely remove the background.

Any help you can provide for a novice is appreciated.

Best Regards

[Ken Berry]

Could you describe the current background? Chroma Key will only remove a background which is a solid colour. If your background is anything else, such as a scene with object or people in it, then there is little you can do except re-film with the background you are after.

[opus2801]

Thanks for the quick reply. The background the person was standing in front of was a chain link fence. I will not be able to get the person to reshoot it. Would I have to shoot a new video with a solid background and then combine them?

[opus2801]

Hello,

Can you let me know if you have any additional information on this topic?

Thanks

[BrianCee]

Your never going to be able to change the background completely - your best option would be to make a mask with a transparent "hole" in the middle as near to the shape of the person talking as possible - put the picture you want as the background on the mask

I have made up a sample mask which is in the zipped file below - download and unzip it and put it in the overlay track - now I do not know your speaker image size - so you will have to make your own to fit your speaker image and I do not know what image you want instead so I have just used a bright coloured background which could be any image or picture you choose - but I hope the image below gives you an idea of what you can do

Ov mask.zip

(694.79 KiB) Downloaded 175 times

[Troy at TheGTAMblog]

If I may pop in with a related query, is there a way to create a mask in VSP? As in, 'draw' a shape around an object, saving that to be utilized as the mask?

[BrianCee]

No unfortunately that is not possible - I make all mine in another image manipulation programme and import them into VideoStudio - given time you could take a still image from a video frame - take that into whatever image manipulation package you prefer and make a cut out frame there to take back into VideoStudio.

The real answer of course is to shoot against a plain background and Chroma key it out in Videostudio then you can change your background at will.

[digifigi]

I have a similar problem. Your suggestions above helped a lot. I'm using VSP X6. Unfortunately, I filmed in Black and White so I can't use the Chroma Key to eliminate the background. I did Take Snapshots, and edited the photo to create masks. However, the area I want to see is four men in a row who are singing and moving.
Here is a link to the unlisted video still rough cut on youtube: http://youtu.be/xmyYCC3-H54 How do I get the mask to move with the men? The only other solution I see is to slice the video, take snapshots and create more masks.
Pam Ronan aka digifigi

[BrianCee]

ah yes you have a real problem there as the four men are not moving in unison - I cannot think of an easy way to do it - unless someone else has an idea your cutting and multiple masks may be the only answer.

[digifigi]

Thanks, hopefully someone will have a bright idea before I start snipping and trimming. I have a month before the complete project is due (9 reproduction commercials and intros and outros).