Simon Ubsdell
6
COW Coins
Forum Replies Created
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[David Battistella] “TILT SHIFT FILTER”
Hi David
Here’s a beta version of a Tilt Shift Filter –
– any feedback would be much appreciated. The Blur should ideally be a Defocus not the Gaussian that I am using but the processing is way too ferocious for it to be of use. I would work on getting a more lens-like blur effect which can be done with a bit more tweaking and stacking of filters.
My source image is not ideal for this – do you have an image in mind that you’d like to share?
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[David Battistella] “TILT SHIFT FILTER”
OK, then what controls would you like to have for this? Sounds like an interesting challenge, although to some extent it’s covered by Robbert-Jan van der Does’ elegant multi-blur filter. I reckon it would be good to have grading controls in there as well to get a more precise look.
Thanks to all for the cheers – very honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as Brendan, though, as the guy is truly in a league of his own!
And keep the ideas coming – it’s great to have specific challenges to see how far you can push the techniques, so I guess it’s a two-way street with advantages for all!
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Eli Hollander] ”
Thanks for looking into it, Simon. Would OSC for just position on the screen and size of the frame work, not for controlling the image inside the frame? (And as is, it’s really useful).”Hi Eli
Here you go – I’ve done what you suggested and used an OSC for the box position and you’re right it makes the layout process much quicker.
Note that in the process you’ve lost the numberical option in the Info tab – it seems (unless I’m wrong) that you can’t have both at the same time.
I’ve also given you a checkbox for the Drop Shadow and the Border On/Off states.
I looked into giving you a control for the scale of the box but I couldn’t make it work except in one dimension due to the limits of linking to the dummy filter. No doubt Brendan can tell me how it’s done though 😉
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Eli Hollander] “(Also, is there a way in Motion to to actual on-screen dragging control, as opposed to sliders and “X,Y” positions, etc.?)”
The moral of the story is that you can indeed have onscreen controls, but as soon as parameters start to overlap Motion really doesn’t like it and FCPX likes it even less. So you could for instance have an OSC for moving the box around but it gets very cranky if you also want an OSC for panning and scanning the source image inside the box, as the linkages start to fight each other.
At least that’s the conclusion I’ve come to so far.
The way things are currently set up in Motion, the OSCs are a bit of a cheat if you’re trying to control anything other than Filter Parameters which is what they are for. There are no OSCs for transform parameters or any kinds of Behavior. As Brendan correctly pointed out, you need to use a “hidden” filter to link your transform paramaters to get them to respond.
Maybe there’s an even more elaborate workaround for these situations but I haven’t found it yet – but I’ll keep looking!
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Brendan Gibbons] “One crucial bit, however I think it’s on by default. Any of these filters that have an onscreen control, for it to be visible back in FCPX you need to make sure the checkbox at the bottom of the filter inspector that says “Publish OSC” is checked.”
Yup, thanks got that bit a while back – only just cracked the rest of it. Turns out that the only filter with the right parameters for this is Poke 😉 Tried most of the others before getting back there, having started with it. Oh well!
Thanks so much for the tip – quite amazing what it opens up!!!!
You are the man, and no mistake!
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Brendan Gibbons] “You basically need to link the x,y coordinates of a filter, that’s not visible, and use a link parameter to drive the x,y transform of layer or mask etc.”
So clever – I was never going to get there, but it’s obvious now you say it! Thanks so much,
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Thom Stylinski] “I have several images I want to layer on top of each other, with transitions. Is putting each image inside a storyline really the only way to accomplish this?”
Hi Thom
Do check out my Adjustable Frame Effect posted here today as it looks like it’s perfect for the job you are trying to do. If you’d like I could make you a version with built-in controllable fades if that would help.
But yes, the lack of transitions other than in storylines is a major weakness in FCPX at the moment 🙁
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Wow! An absolute classic. And ever so retro 😉
Only one word of caution – my experience of Drop Zones in FCPX/Motion is that they are a major can of worms in terms of playback of the source footage. Have you found that at all?
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
[Brendan Gibbons] ” I wish they would make it easier to be able to publish the onscreen controls for transforms etc.
Because at the moment, one of the ways is taking a filter that has a centre point control, such as light rays and pinch and then using a link parameter to to drive the x position of layer using the x position of the filter. Same again for the y. Not ideal….but hey it works.
Must get back to some real work ;)”
Whoa!!!!! Don’t go away, you’re just the man I need. You of all people would be able to think of a way to enable OSCs to drive transform properties.
I’m hitting my head agaisnt a brick wall right now!
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com -
Hi Nick
Thanks for getting back to me – that confirms what I thought, which is that there are some serious issues with Drop Zones and playback rates.
Which is a shame because they could be so useful if they worked right.
All in all I’m not sure they are an improvement on Drop Zones in FCP 7 – which were very, very basic to say the least!
Great for stills – useless (currenntly) for video!
Simon Ubsdell
Director/Editor/Writer
http://www.tokyo-uk.com