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Activity Forums Adobe After Effects Best effect for keying feathers

  • Best effect for keying feathers

    Posted by Lincoln Athas on February 21, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Hey all,
    A little new to after effects and working on a comp with feathers. I need to key out the white behind a falling feathers video and would like a general direction on how to do that with the most accuracy. What keying effects are best for hair?
    Thanks!

    Vishesh Arora replied 13 years, 6 months ago 3 Members · 8 Replies
  • 8 Replies
  • Stephen Smith

    February 21, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    This is obviously much easier to do when the feather or hair is shoot in front of a well lit green or blue background. In this situation I would try the Luma Key or the Color Key. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

    Stephen Smith
    Utah Video Productions

    Check out my Motion Training DVD

    Check out my Vimeo page

  • Vishesh Arora

    February 21, 2013 at 10:15 pm

    Lincoln

    As Stephen said Luma key is good to key out white from the Footage but rarely gives fine results.

    If you can upload a screenshot of your footage, I can create an example Project to show how you can use different keying effects to key any color.

    Vishesh Arora
    3D and Motion Graphics Artist
    Films Rajendra

    Blog:
    https://digieffects.wordpress.com

    2011 3D Demo Reel:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8

  • Lincoln Athas

    February 23, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    Thank you Vishesh!
    If it is not a problem for you, here is a screenshot:

    Thanks!

  • Lincoln Athas

    February 23, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    Dave,
    I actually purchased the footage online so I don’t know the answers to those questions. I did post a screenshot of the footage in this thread, so if that sparks any ideas please let me know!
    Thanks for you help,
    Lincoln

  • Vishesh Arora

    February 23, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    Lincoln

    Its almost impossible to key this kind footage. Sorry to say that but the feathers are merging with background too much. I have tried to key it just to give it a try but it seems very difficult. Didn’t get any good result. Its like Occlusion pass from a 3D software package. From where have you got this footage?

    Alternative:

    If you want to create feathers in after effects , you can use Trapcode Particular Plugin and can create a very similar look just like the original footage.

    May be someone else would be able to key this kind of footage.

    Vishesh Arora
    3D and Motion Graphics Artist
    Films Rajendra

    Blog:
    https://digieffects.wordpress.com

    2011 3D Demo Reel:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8

  • Stephen Smith

    February 25, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Can you take a still grab and cut out one of the feathers in Photoshop and then animate the feather falling from the sky?

    Stephen Smith
    Utah Video Productions

    Check out my Motion Training DVD

    Check out my Vimeo page

  • Lincoln Athas

    February 26, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    Thank you everyone for your help, but I will probably have to come up with another plan.

    Vishesh – thanks a lot for the experiment. Also great demo reel.

  • Vishesh Arora

    February 26, 2013 at 8:36 pm

    Lincoln

    Glad I could help. Sorry for the harsh answer but it is just the truth. Best of luck for the alternative method.

    Vishesh Arora
    3D and Motion Graphics Artist
    Films Rajendra

    Blog:
    https://digieffects.wordpress.com

    2011 3D Demo Reel:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHPgIJU_BR8

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