FCP to Keylight to FCP problem

[Brendan Coots]

First of all you really should, if at all possible, complete your composite in After Effects rather than bringing the keyed shot into FCP to add in your background. After Effect’s tools for doing composites are much more advanced and you will get a cleaner result due to other issues. You will also have way more control over things like matching up the lighting, adding in details to help “sell” the shot etc. Even if you don’t plan to do a lot of advanced compositing, you will get a usable result much easier in AE.

That said, the reason you are seeing a fringe around your actor is because you need to render from AE using the “Straight” alpha type rather than premultiplied which is the default – once you select millions+ in your render settings, you can change the alpha type.
Note that anything you render with a straight alpha will look really screwy in Quicktime player, but it will import into your apps properly.

“I came across the statement that it was best to bring the files to be keyed directly into AE before they are put into FCP.”

Since you are shooting DVCPRO HD I will assume you are using an HVX200 or similar camera. If that is the case, then you don’t really have anything to lose using FCP to ingest the footage. Ingesting footage will not result in generational loss, in this case it is merely converting the video/audio data from the MXF “essence” files into a usable codec, but it doesn’t degrade quality in the process. The only alternative would be pulling your MXF files directly into AE which is detailed in this Adobe document. Can’t say that I’d recommend this approach but others who have done it more than I may have more insight into this approach…

Brendan Coots
Splitvision Digital
http://www.splitvisiondigital.com

[Robert Buncher]

Brendan,

Thank you for the response.

I will try to devise a work flow that would allow me to do all the compositing in AE. That sounds like a good idea.

I did have the alpha set to straight so that could not be the culprit.

The footage came from an HDX-900 so they were not MXF files.

Bob

MacbookPro 2.33 2gb os 10.4.11
FCP 5.1.4 After Effects Bootcamp XPpro

[Tim Kolb]

I always test my greenscreen keys in front of multiple colored backgrounds when I’m prepping an alpha channel output for say, a stock shot that will be distributed as an alpha transparent clip. only seeing the quality of your key against white or black won’t necessarily show you all the edge issues as anything that blends with the background will not be apparent. I usually create several layers with solids that are white, black, medium gray, magenta, yellow, and cyan…probably a little overkill, but I catch an amazing amount of little issues that way…

However, to echo what Brendan already said, completing the composite in AE is still the best way to make sure you have a well-integrated composite.

TimK,
Director, Consultant
Kolb Productions,

CPO, Digieffects

[Robert Buncher]

Tim,

Thanks for the insight.

Bob

MacbookPro 2.33 2gb os 10.4.11
FCP 5.1.4 After Effects Bootcamp XPpro