[Richard Graham]

Thanks again Dave. I get what your saying. I guess I will just have to settle for mediocre keys. Not in my nature but nevermind. I have learned alot though but still swimming in the basics. After Effects is a great program.

Thanks for your suggestions but yes I am a hobbyist so the outlay just isnt worth it. I have always been interested in video editing but have only scratched the surface before.

I did a few more tests last night and this time used a hair light and it made a significant difference. I am still not getting great keys but it is a big step up. Before I was having to lose a lot of hair detail but Im now maintaining most of it. So, I think my current results are good enough for what Im trying to do. Theyre not gonna get much better with this grade of camera anyway.

Anyway, thanks for your help Dave. You are a valuable addition to this site.

[Richard Graham]

Hi Dave,

Many thanks again for the reply. I am using CS5. What Ive been doing so far is the following:

capture footage with SD60 @ 1920×1080 50i avchd
import into AE for keying
render keyed footage @ dvcpro-hd
import rendered footage into premiere project for editing

I have tried converting to dvcpro-hd before importing into AE but couldnt see much difference to keying process. And the only real reason I have even been converting from avchd in the first place is due to my computers inability to edit avchd at a decent speed.

However, I will again convert to dvcpro-hd as per your advice and give it another shot.

Liek I said, turning down sharpness all the way has helped alot but Im still having trouble around the hair. To be honest I am not using a hair light. However, the subject is a good 8 ft away from the screen.

Last night I done things different and iported the avchd clip into premiere and selected replace with AE compostion. But the results of keylight looked different in AE and prem. For example the alpha channel looked great in AE but had blotches of transparency in premiere. Very strange.

Anyway, thanks again Dave.

Richard

[Richard Graham]

Apologies, I do not know what happened there. I meant to reply to another thread about a white outline after keying.

And Steve, you made a reply without knowing what the problem was, raising your nose at my camera. Cameras that cost 5 figures also have user difficulties that could perhaps be solved with a little understanding of its workings. We all have to start somewhere. I dont go out and buy a Les Paul when I want to learn guitar.

Mods, please delete this thread.

Richard

[Richard Graham]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the reply. Your name has become familiar to me while I made use of the search engine over the past few weeks. ‘Daves’ stock answers’ have taught me alot.

Yes, I know my camera has to take alot of the blame. But, as this is just a hobby, I can’t justify moving up a level. Anyway, I found a similiar thread here where somone mentioned the camera adding some edge enhancement. I had already checked this and it was at 0. Last night though, I checked again and discovered that I could go to minus figures. This helped alot, not 100%, but alot. I know Im never going to get great results with a point and shoot camera but its going to end up on dvd anyway and the samples Ive burned seem ok.

I remember you mentioning on another thread to convert avchd before keying. My untrained eye and skills cant see much difference but Im sure its there. Ive worked hard at getting the best I can out of this camera and feel reasnonably happy. Ive read the keylight manaual more than once but still have a lot to learn. I have also discovered, despite Ultras great review in cs5, it is not a patch on keylight.

One other thing that has bugged me though is when I have imported my clips into premiere, selected ‘replace with ae compostion’, gone into ae and done the key, when I am happy with it I discover that when I go back to premiere and watch it update, the video isnt quite the same. It looks like there are still a few probs with the key despite looking great in ae. Thats a different question for another day though.

Thanks again for the reply Dave.

Richard