How would you create a Binocular Effect

[Doyle Rockwell]

Hey Brian,

Isn’t this effect usually achieved with a two-overlapping-circles matte effect? I would just draw two circle masks on the layer containing the footage, overlap ’em, feather ’em, and call it a day 🙂

[Brian Tetamore]

Yeah, I suppose to could animate the blur for each matte to create a “focusing” effect right? Maybe if I add more layers it will add to the depth of the effect?

[Andy Edwards]

Have you looked at the Eureka plug ins for FCP?
https://www.kafwang.com/EUREKA/EurekaMain.html

In Vol #5 they have a binocular plug-in with a lot of options. Not a bad set for $49.95

Andy

[Doyle Rockwell]

Hey Brian,

I just played with this a bit, and it’s quite simple and runs fast:

1. Draw a large circle shape (representing one of the binocular viewports).
2. Duplicate the circle shape and set it to overlap, giving you the basic binocular shape.
3. Group the two shapes into a new layer, name the new layer ‘Binocular Mask’.
4. Apply the Gaussian Blur filter to the Binocular Mask layer. Set the Amount to 30.
5. Add an image mask to the footage you want to binocularize (my own new word!). Found in Object->Add Image Mask menu.
6. In the layers list, drag the Binocular Mask layer into the image mask. You should see a masked image.
7. Add the Compound Blur filter to your masked footage.
8. In the layers list, drag the Binocular Mask layer into the Compound Blur filter. This tells the blur to blur only where the binoculars are.
9. In the Inspector, view the Compound Blur filter and set the Amount to 10 and toggle ON the Invert Map checkbox.

You should now have a nice, soft-edged binocular effect, with blurs on both the dark edges AND the edges of the unmasked area. Plays back fast, too. If you want to simulate coming-into-focus, just add a Defocus filter to the masked footage and keyframe it. You can even make a Library preset of this whole dealie and jsut replace the masked fotoage as needed. Plugin, shmugin, I say!