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“Bloody Omaha” … video layering?
I just took a look at the “Bloody Omaha” video, AMAZING work…and they make it look so easy.
I was just wondering how they do the layering, obviously when they film the 3 actors running up the beach they keep the camera steady and consistent for each shot, but how do they do the layering to make it appear like there are hundreds of people on the beach?
Do they mask out each actor’s entire path and place them over an empty beach layer?
Thanks for any tips!
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5 Replies
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[Macohead] “Do they mask out each actor’s entire path and place them over an empty beach layer?”
Pretty much! The masking isn’t very difficult for the most part because the area around each actor (or group of actors) should match the background plate if the camera was locked down, so the masks don’t need to be very tight for the most part. It only really gets complicated as the different layers cross over each other, then more accurate rotoscoping is required since the layer ‘behind’ the front layer isn’t a part of the background plate.
Check out this tutorial for a visual demonstration:
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/oconnell_pete/roto.php
Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
Would it also have been possible to do a procedural matte since they are dark against a brighter background instead of masking by hand?
Never tried, but it seems like it might have been an option.
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I’m not sure what a “procedural map” is, but I thought of this:
Could you motion track the first guy in the group, then create a close-fitting mask around the group and attach it to the null object? Seems like that would work and you could obviously fine tune it if the mask got in to trouble along the way.
And what is a procedural map is anyway?
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[Matthew McCarter] “Would it also have been possible to do a procedural matte since they are dark against a brighter background instead of masking by hand?”
This is a possibility, but your mileage may vary. You would likely need to dilate the matte somewhat in order to make sure that the lighter parts of the soldiers (faces? specular highlights?) don’t become transparent. Then you’re most likely including areas of the beach in the matte again. It could definitely help though.
Darby Edelen
Designer
Left Coast Digital
Santa Cruz, CA -
Its duplicating the layer and adjusting so it is just black and white with a gray. Then use it as a luma matte or alpha for the bottom instance, then the soldiers would be effectively “keyed” out allowing anything to be placed behind them.
Check video copilot.net’s advanced sky replacement tutorial for further reference
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