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“automatic cut”
hey everyone,
I’m looking for a way to automate one of my job:
I’ve got a lot of sequences that i need to color correct in AE.
this sequences are already edited and I’ll receive only one clip per sequence.Is there any tool / plug’in or expression to automatically cut this sequence into subclip on many layer ?
sebastien
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2 Replies
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There used to be a kind of macro (CutDetector) that did this, it could only be run via the ‘useful assistants’ plugins from profound effects.
I bought the suite for just that feature back in the day.I remember going back to AE 6.5 a few times last year to accomplish this (not compatible with 7), but it seems broken now
Also, I’m affraid they don’t sell it anymore, though I’m not sure.
The Way I do it now slowly, by hand:
– I create a comp filled with the footage.
– I duplicate the layer (disable sound for now if applicable: it slows down previews)
– The top layer gets layermode ‘Difference’ -> you see a black screen
– shift the Top-layer forward 1 frame
– Now you see the difference between this frame and the next. You can lower the opacity of the top layer if you want to, so you see more of the context
– select the bottom layer.
– press the space bar:Whenever you see a bright flash: you’ve passed a cut, go back to the bright frame and split the layer (Command-Shift-D)
repeat….
repeat….
repeat…OK, you might say: why have the difference layer if I have to scroll trhough the timeline frame by frame anyway ?
Well in my experience you loose less time: without the flashes telling you where the cut is, you scrub or play through the timeline, then you see a cut, you go back frame by frame, untill you’re too far back (you can’t notice the cut before you pass it again), then one frame forward again, then split:
that really adds up…In the end you can of course throw away the top layer. re-enable sound.
There is an effect out there that does colour sampling (from digital anarchy i think, I don’t have it)
Something similar will be included in AECS3.Perhaps using these, one could automate the process by measuring the difference in colour from frame to frame as averaged (with a large mosaic) in different zones. If there’s a lot of difference: it’s probably a cut (or a strobe or a flash, or a Red double-decker bus that suddenly drop from the sky…)
That’s how that Useful Assistants script used to work. -
Firstly i want to thank you Filip for this large and complete post !
I remember that SONY acquired the “useful assistant” for his own development and software… strange situation, probably an economic idea.
Anyway, you’ve got another solution by hand… good idea to flash by a difference mode !
Yes, I was looking for “Color sampler” too in order to compare two frames in few area at the same time but my lack of knowledge in script don’t let my automate the cut.
There is certainly a “script’man” to show me this way (compare few area / cut or marker)
sebastien
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