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how to selectively “brighten” area of a clip
Is it possible to selectively brighten an area of a clip?
I have a talking head which could use a bit more brightness. Is it possible to adjust this a bit, without affecting the background, which has the right amount of brightness?
Gilles
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11 Replies
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You could copy the clip, put the copy in a video track directly above the original, and use the cookie cutter or masking tool to cut out the area you want to brighten and blur the edges. Then apply the brightness changes to the clip that you’ve cut out.
http://www.scenethroughglass.com
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Thanks Angelo, I’ll give it a try and see how it works out. It’s logical.
Gilles
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Good advice from Angelo. While I haven’t done that in Vegas, I’ve used the same technique in final cut. Works like a charm.
Good luck!
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Thanks Mike/Angelo. It appears to be working and improving the shot.
The only minor issue is when the talking head moves a bit and she moves “out of the mask”. This leaves a noticeable “brighter cutout”.
By the way, which plugin do you find the best to brighten? I’m finding the “brightness and contrast” to somewhat wash out the image. I’ve also tried increasing the brightness of the white balance effect.
What do you recommend?
Gilles
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Gilles, Color Curves is my preferred tool to raise/lower the brightness/contrast of an event, be it video or a still.
I had to do something similar to what you’re doing a few years ago when I shot an interview but had to blur the background as it was too distracting.
I ended up creating and moving the mask whenever the person moved or I changed the shot.
It wasn’t that often but it did happen.
A mild amount of feather (out as I recall) helped a lot.
If you’re interested, here’s the result.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyaQ-eAIOmM&feature=player_embedded#!
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Thanks Mike,
Just tried Color curves… yes, much better! thank you!
Thanks for posting the video. Great job. The bg blurring is very effective, I can tell that it would have been distracting indeed if it were in focus.
The interview is Canadian… where are you located?
Gilles
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Thanks Gilles. Yes, Color Curves is much better with a LOT more control.
I work for St. Clair College in Windsor, ON.
That particular interview was shot in a hotel room (along with two others as well – talk about a challenge getting all of them to look different) in Markham as it was close to where the people lived. -
I see.
Yes that would have been challenging. You did a great job with the sound too. No bleeding of extraneous noise.
If you’re ever in the Toronto neighbourhood, let me know and we can meet up for coffee and talk video. 🙂
Gilles
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Thanks again Gilles.
On that particular interview, I borrowed a Sanken COS-11 from a friend who works at a local post house.
It’s a great lav (around $500) that I’m trying to talk my boss into buying 2 of.
I met up with Tom Panucz later that day and we finally had a chance to get together for a coffee and a brief talk. -
This particular clip does not appear to need a mask. A curve can have multiple adjustment points (double click the curve) on it to produce a curve that affects only, for example, the highlights. If only the brighter portion of the curve is boosted, the background will not be effected. Conversely, a curve can diminish only the darker portions of the image.
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