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Hole in my head HELP!
Hi guys,
I’m trying to create an effect whereby I have a big hole in my eye so that you can see right through my head (nice, I know).
I’m an adobe after effects novice…I’m so close to getting this right yet a million miles off too.
Here is what I’ve done so far:
I have some green material over my eye, I used the track motion tool to track it and linked it to a null object. I then created another Null object, drew a mask around the green material and parented it to the track motioned null object.
I’m now not far off, the mask moves nicely with the green cloth.
What I can’t suss out, and it’s driving me mental, is how to use this nice motion tracked mask and put it over the footage so that the green material is masked out (subtract mask I guess?) leaving me with the background layer?
So to better explain I have:
Null Object (tracked green material over eye)
Footage
Null Object linked to first null with mask drawn
Background frameThe second Null looks great, the mask moves nicely with my green cloth eye patch…I just wish I could cut it through to the bottom layer.
I’m sooooo close, and yet feel so far off too.
Can anyone help?
Best Regards,
Kieran
https://uk.youtube.com/user/Kie77 -
12 Replies
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It sounds like all you have to do is pre-compose layers 1-3, and you’d be all set.
Select the three layers of your actor and the masking out of the eye, and goto Layer>Pre-Compose. This separate composition should now have all the information of the actor+hole in head, and your original composition will have this one pre-copmposed layer over your BG.
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Invert the mask.
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Nope, sorry. The mask should be drawn on a solid that follows the green stuff. Make the solid the inverse track matte (check the Help) of the head layer below, so the solid cuts a hole in the head.
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Thanks for your help guys.
I’m still not getting it…so, I haveNull Object (this is the track movements)
Footage
Null object2 (this has the mask which follows the green eye patch, i set the mask to subtract)
BackgroundI’ve tried moving null object 2 above the footage too…I just can’t see how to make the subtract property of the mask go through the footage.
What does inverse matte do? I gave Null object2 (the mask that follows the eye patch) an alpha inverted matte from the drop down, but didn’t see any change. Is this what you mean?
Should I be using a null object to follow the eye patch in the first place?
Thanks again for all your help
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Ok, with your help I’m making progress. I replaced null object 2 with a black solid, so I now have this:
Null Object (tracking data)
Black solid (mask drawn with subtract property, it moves with the green eye patch)
Footage (I’ve chosen alpha matte to black solid 1 as it makes the hole in the eye)
BackgroundThis is a step forward, the hole now moves with the eye, but the whole footage moves too. So the hole footage is swinging around….but the hole is remaining on the eye.
It’s like I need to pin down a layer from moving and just have the mask move.
Am I making any sense? 🙂 -
Have you tried just keying out the green cloth patch with keylight?
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Thanks for your help guys. I’m behind on what you all know…alpha inverse matte…keylight, I know not what you mean.
However, I’ve come up with a way all by myself, I’m very chuffed with myself, a little smug even.
I’ve done this:
Null object (tracking motion)
Background layer (drew the mask with add property)
FootageThis seems to have done the trick…I’m most pleased 🙂 I’ll post up my video when it’s done….I’m just waiting for some fake blood to arrive 🙂
Thanks again for your help…I’m still learning how vast AE is.
https://uk.youtube.com/user/Kie77 -
Ach – not so smug anymore. I thought I had it, but my method meant the same bit of background is mapped to my eye.
Steep learning curve this…. -
Wow, I’m playing with keylight now. What an amazing tool. This could be the way. Thankyou
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If keylight does the trick for you, don’t throw away your tracking data. You can use it when you add your blood.
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