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hiding strings thru masking ???
hello wise after effects users …
i have a project i’m shooting where i’m going to be pulling computer mice around on strings to make them seem like they’re moving on their own. i was planning on pulling them using fishing string to fake the mice moving, however, in my tests, the fishing string shows thru the camera lcd on tighter shots.
now my question is, is masking the strings out of the shot the only way to pull this off, or does anyone have any suggestions on how to hide the strings?
thanks!
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3 Replies
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If the camera doesn’t move, be sure to make a “clean slate”
a shot of the empty decor, without mouse & strings, that way you have something to fill in the blanks. -
Also, you can make a masked solid that follows the strings and apply stroke to it. Use that as a track matte for a copy of the footage, but running one or two frames behind the original. That way, you’re using the stroked masks to reveal the footage where the strings are not.
This copy is placed over the original to hide the strings.
Hope that was clear …
SR
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Not sure if you can reshoot, but I have a makeshift solution. Instead of fixing it in post, how about placing rare earth magnets inside a hollowed out mouse and another one under the table. You can then move them around in a more realistic manner and without strings.
Since your hand would be moving the magnet under the table, it would be out of view and your mouse would follow the magnet under the table.
I am a magician as well as videographer and I always try and do special effects in “the real world” as much as possible. I just think that CG is good, but not good enough yet. The latest Star Wars flicks are a good example. Back in the “old days” models were used instead of CG. It looked better in my mind because the ships were ‘real.’ Just my 2 cents on that matter.
Warm regards,
Scott
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