[Shaun Knapp]

Thanks for the responses.

As you will see, simply the setup is just bad for Green Screen, as many colors are used that have green in their spectrum. The video’s will present the problematic subject matter.

These links show footage that is poorly lit compared to what ought to be. More recent recordings have double the light on the talent and set them apart from the green screen, hair being most problematic in obtaining a good key. Aside from the lighting, it is the colors issue that is problematic.

I assume, that the only option I really have is to animate a mask over these color drapes when appearing on camera, correct?

VIDEO 1, Bad, No Mask. Here is a sampling of the key removing the colors in their accuracy, for this was not masked:

https://youtu.be/EdNJKGGH0ec?t=3m22s

Video 2, Painstaking Masking Applied, Color Drapes Preserved. Here is the same swatch of color, but this time accurate, as they were masked with the key turned “off”

https://youtu.be/LJsnukPa1MM?t=9m36s

And in animating a mask, the only option I’ve found is that which was created by this guy, Fox Mahoney:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_l2K6rXwGw

I hate the massive workflow nightmare to take such footage into After Effects to animate a mask. I don’t know what the workflow might be from FCP X to Motion, then back. Perhaps that might be a good option?

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[Shaun Knapp]

It looks like the answer is found in this FCP LA User Group Lecture, which is yes, now XML is exportable and I can bring it into After Effects:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnxZxamimE4

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[Shaun Knapp]

Would anyone be able to tell me if this Popcorn Island script cited in this thread works with FCP X? Can I export the XML from FCP X and have it open up in After Effects just the same as described, or might there be a glitch to attempting the same with FCP X?

[Shaun Knapp]

I’m certainly anxious to hear some good advice for you on this subject matter.

[Shaun Knapp]

Does that version have the Apple ProRes 444 codec? I think that comes with version 7, right?

[Shaun Knapp]

I’m going to begin to do a heavy amount of Green Screen work.

Keylight does a fabulous job, which I have in After Effects. But man, the plugin for FCP certainly may be an investment worth making. Do any of you know how good KeyLight works in FCP (Version 6.0.6 as opposed to After Effects?

And what of FCP, my version? KeyLight will work with it, I’m sure. I’ll have to check the website before making the purchase, but maybe time for a major workflow shift into another editor all together? I know of film schools everywhere that have abandoned FCP after Apple’s hatchet job to the program in dumbing it down for the masses, or is my appraisal off base, given I’ve actually not interfaced with FCP X?