adding a photo backdrop to videos

[MikesMovies]

Hi guys hope you are all well.

I think I am having a brain overload lol

I want to add a backdrop using a still photo to a fixed view point video clip.

You can see what I mean in my timeline grab.

How can i scale the photo to fit and make sure I can see all the wanted video as well?

Thanks

Mike

[aljimenez]

I think you want the photo on the top time line, and the video on the second timeline. This way the video is over the photo. adjust the size of the video to what you want.

[MikesMovies]

ah ok I'll try that, had thoughts I needed masks etc.

Cheers


Mike

[asik1]

ah ok I'll try that, had thoughts I needed masks etc.

Cheers
Mike

Well surly you will need masks etc....
How do you want the backdrop to be seen?? you heard about chroma key I'm sure.

[MikesMovies]

Hi

Slightly re-angled, the main subject is a model train and the backdrop needs to fill the white space behind it.

Thanks

[Terfyn]

For the effect you want, you will need to video the model against a solid colour background. I hesitate to say "greenscreen" as the engine is green but VS gives you the choice of any colour by using the "dropper" icon in chroma key mode. The chroma key will make the background transparent and the photo (on the main timeline) will show through in the area where the solid colour is.
A couple of tips. Make sure that the solid colour background is totally flat with no shadows or wrinkles and light the scene directly from the camera position to ensure that no shadows appear on the solid colour background. For lighting , I use fairly large (306 bulbs) LED floods, they run cold and are normally fitted with camcorder batteries so they are easily positioned. The ones I use (Neewer) can be adjusted for colour temperature and intensity.
I have used chroma key in X8 and X9 and it works quite well.

P.S. Just watched your video on YT. If you have a look at the photo section of, say, Amazon, you will find quite sizable coloured cloth "screens" which you could fix behind the model layout. Blue may be a better option than green in your case.

[MikesMovies]

Aha OK its been some time since I used GS last time was with Pinnacle 12.1 so it will be all new for me in VS.
I think we have a nice blue sheet I can use.
Great tip, many thanks

Mike

[lata]

Hi Mike
I am not sure if the colour mix in the images are gonna lend themselves to Chroma Key

Try using a photo editor to remove the background / sky. Then save as a transparent Gif or png file.

[MikesMovies]

OK Trevor, then use the GS or BL after?

[BrianCee]

The transparent sky bit works well for still images - not sure how you do it on a video though

[lata]

Hi Mike

Sorry I think I got a little confused regarding your clips, thought they were both images, but now having read the post again see you have the train as a movie file.
Sorry Brian I may have also led you up the garden path?

So recording the train again against a coloured backdrop Green or Blue screen will conflict with the train colours, so maybe Black or White would do.

But have you tried using Chrome Key to remove the trains sky, removing the white. Set similarity to about 20%.

again apologies

[Terfyn]

I've used my green backdrop with a background image that had grass in it. Because the grass was a different green to the backdrop, it did not affect the final merge.
I was under the impression that Mike wanted the sky and buildings as a background for the trains, so why remove the sky?

[lata]

Hi

Removing the sky from the train video

[Terfyn]

Hi

Removing the sky from the train video

As the "sky" is a magnolia painted wall with shadows, I still suggest a solid colour would work better. VS will accept any colour in the colour wheel so a colour other than those on the train set should work.

Incidentally my next GS project is making my Grandkids fly. I think a background of Criccieth Castle and a rough sea should prove interesting.

[MikesMovies]

The transparent sky bit works well for still images - not sure how you do it on a video though

train 03.png

Now that looks fab!