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Adding 3D “dolly in” look to flat images
I searched the posts and archives and didn’t find the answer to my question. I’m sure it’s here somewhere.
This is an old and popular effect I’ve yet to find an easy way to accomplish. In video we often use still images for zooming, panning, etc. I’ve seen an effect where the flat images seem to have been separated into layers and positioned so, when a move is rendered, it appears like the foreground is separate from the background.
This is such a common effect I’m sure there’s a simple plug-in to achieve it rather than the cumbersome way I’m imagining – i.e. create separate layers in PhotoShop and import into AE- even then, I have no idea how to adjust the background to allow the “dolly” effect as the camera moves.
Perhaps there is a link?
Thank you for any suggestions.
Ozzie Alfonso
Terra Associates
NYC
http://www.terramultimedia.com -
4 Replies
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Search for “the kid stays in the picture”.
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That search should give you some good results here…
My technique is to photoshop out some layers… either with mask painting or extract filter or magic lasso… depends on what I’m doing it on. Then put those in different layers and paint in the background.
The most I’ve done is 6 layers of a wedding party at the altar. Drove me nuts.
Usually when I do it I figure about 30 minutes per picture.
CaptM
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The idea and concept are much more common than you’re aware of. The way the effect is done is exactly what you wished it wasn’t. Cut your images into depth layers and position them into 3D space making sure to expand the background to make up for the holes and the distance wanted. If you do it right your final square on framing should appear to be nothing more than a picture.
This cut to depth layers is the technique used for years to create the illusion of depth in Lenticular images. I worked with lenticulars for almost three years. Trust me, if there was some easy plug-in to do it the right way, everyone would have it. This effect is slow and tedious to process some times, but it looks really cool, and other Techies will be jealous.
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Mainly, this has to be done by hand since image editing apps can’t tell what’s in front and what’s behind, what we want and what we don’t want.
Until they can recognize that sort of thing, it’s cut out foreground, clone background, move layers apart, pan 3D camera.
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