How to cut out “garbage” around the shot

[Shane Ross]

NO harm in trying it and seeing for yourself. It is right there in the VIDEO FILTERS>MATTE.

Shane

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[David Roth weiss]

Austin,

If I were you, I’d just scale up the video to get the C-stand and a bit more of the “out of bounds” stuff out of the picture and be done with it. Given that you will undoubtedly have guys moving about in front of the bad parts at all times you have few other alternatives.

David

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

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[Ben Holmes]

This was for a COMMERCIAL?

Ok. If you want to do a timelapse of the components going in, and the product did not move at all (!) I’d suggest making a timelapse ‘edit’ in FCP, then dropping that into Motion as a movie.

Use the mask tool in Motion (the pen) to draw (or set points) around the product. Take time to do this carefully. Undo points if you have to. Move them later if it needs it. To make curves, click (hold) and drag. Experiment with this on a small section before you do the whole thing. You may need to invert the mask so it cuts out the area outside the product. Read the Motion manual on masks.

At the very least, you will then be able to composite a clean background in. Get a ‘look’ for the background so it slightly matches the shadows within the product *shudder*, or go for a completely stylised look.

Then sack whoever shot it. I hope no one got paid for this…

Edit Out Ltd
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FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
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[Austin Steele]

Thanks for all your help guys. I am going to get to work on this now

[Jeff Pierce]

While it’s technically possible to drive a nail with a screwdriver, it’s a lot easier to do it with a hammer.

If this is a timelapse, then we’re talking stills. Why limit yourself to the capabilities of FCP?

How well do you know Photo Shop? You or somebody who knows Photo Shop could mask out that equipment rack with minimal effort. It’ll have a rock solid alpha channel so you can key it over whatever background you want.

Good luck.

[Austin Steele]

So clearly there were some mistakes made. I am a student intern doing the editing for a web commercial for this. My boss set up the filming. I think I’m going to keep it as is, and give it that sort of “raw” look if you know what I mean. Thanks for all your help guys!