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Ways of obtaining a smooth black background on (ungrateful) footage
Dear Creative Cow,
You have helped me out before, so I kindly ask for for your expert advice on:
Can you give me any advice on how to obtain a smooth black background on video-footage where the background is unfortunate?
I am putting together some interviews from different companies, university partners etc. They did not all manage to shoot the interviews with a black background, partly or totally.
I actually succeded on one clip so far (the easiest).
The background was a non-ironed black tablecloth but with sunlight on it.
1. I used color balance
2. Under type i choose shadows.
3. Removed the tick in preserve luminosity. -
5 Replies
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We would have to see the problem to provide any advice.
Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com -
Hi Stephen,
I have attached a screendump of one of the worst cases.
The goal is to have something looking like the other attached image which I made with a colleague. That is – the nice black background.
I guess the short question is whether it will be possible – or if I have to make them redo it.
Regards,
Søren -
If it is only a few seconds, then you could export the video as a series of image files, mask each frame individually, then import the sequence back to Vegas. I used Topaz ReMask on this image. (Topaz is half-priced this week)
The hair was particularly difficult. The white shirt on the white background was a problem. It took me about five minutes on the image in ReMask, so multiply that by your number of frames to mask. (I wonder if this could be called Rotoscoping?).
So, you need to decide what is more costly. A reshoot with a greenscreen background or mask each frame one at a time?
Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com -
Thank you for a very nice & exhaustive answer!
Impressive result in Topaz.Hmmm.. I’m just thinking.
The interview is (unfortunately) around 35 seconds.
And there are at least 2 interviews that would require a “treatment”.Can I just add a small question related to greenscreen background.
What is the best way to change the green background color to black? -
First, you have to get a good shot. The screen has to be evenly lit and with no shadows. Then just apply the Sony Chromakey F/X to drop out the green. Insert a new video track under the greenscreen track. Right click on the track and Insert Generated Media. Select Sony Solid Color and select black. Then drag the ends of the black event to match the greenscreen track.
Or – there’s always more than one way to do anything in Vegas – After you insert the new blank video track, double-click on the greenscreen event to create a region, then in the blank new track, right-click and select Insert Generated Media, solid color, black (as above). The generated event will be the size of the region automatically.
Steve Mann
MannMade Digital Video
http://www.mmdv.com
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