Masking with Motion

I wanted to make a video where one guy is in black and white with film grain. How would I go about doing this? Would I have to mask around the person in every frame? Or is there a way to animate my mask so it moves with my person? Is a mask what I need to use to do that anyways?

Heya,
This is why every decent-sized visual effects studio (ILM, Weta, R&H, DD, etc) has a large department of people who do nothing but roto (trace people/objects) all day long. It can be tedious, but it's a necessary and surprisingly efficient way of isolating elements. Typically, you draw a bunch of little masks rather than a massive, single one. For example, an arm might be broken up into upper, lower, palm and fingers. This way you can rotate the masks instead of having to drag a bunch of points around.
Your other choice is to shoot in multiple passes (need motion-control if using a moving camera) with the actor in front of a greenscreen and isolate them by that method.

Similar Messages

Masking issues with Motion 5

Hi guys,
I had this general masking technique that I used with Motion 4 where I'd use any group of shapes, paintstrokes and so on, to mask some other object by dragging my group of "mask objects" into the image mask source well.
This technique no longer works as expected with Motion 5.
As an example, consider this project where I want to gradually reveal a circle.
Below are screen shots from both Motion 4 and Motion 5 of the same project, at frame 10:
As you can see, Motion 4 gradually unveils the masked shape (a circle), but Motion 5 doesn't.
I could get around this particular case by adding a write on behaviour to the circle shape. BUt this does not work as a general masking technique in M5, which is a bit sad.
Anyone care to shed some light?
BR;
::e

Hi Chand+Mark
Chandosx wrote:
You could get away with it by setting the blending mode to stencil alpha, but that won't work in every situation. The other thing you could do, is place the layer that's the source of the mask at the very bottom of everything, so it's not shown, and leave the layer turned on. Then all should work sorta the same. Quirky.
I'm not really familiar with what stencil alpha does, so I can't comment on that.
But the bottom layer option won't be any good if you want partially transparent output.
It *will* show unless you have some layer covering it up, which would be purely coincidential
UNLESS you use one very very special color for the mask source shape, and send the whole shebang through the keyer to get your alpha channel proper
Chandosx wrote:
And one other way I just tested, that works for sure, is using keyframes on the source shape's "First Point Offset"(or last ).
Hey, a self-made "write-on" for the mask source shape?
Well, it works in M4 - I'll confirm with M5 tomorrow.
Thanks for all your efforts to figure this out!
I still certainly consider this a bug and would expect this to be fixed.
How can I go ahead and report this a bug to Apple, are they monitoring this forum?
Cheers!
::e

How do I select an image with motion blur so that I can put it onto a different background ?

How do I overlay a image with motion blur on a white background (like the first image) onto a different background (to look like the second image)? any help would be greatly appreciated, many thanks ,ed
Message was edited by: motoredd

I’m afraid you may have bitten off more than you might want to chew.
The resulting pixels of an in-camera-blur combine information about the color/brightness of back- and foreground (edit: the result of surface properties and lighting conditions) with motion (basically transparency for this task) in such a way that it seems exceedingly difficult (maybe even improssible) to isolate the foreground in a »pure« form.
One may get a halfway decent mask (as the backgound is at least almost uniform and brighter than the foreground elements) but you may have to manually decontaminate the transparent areas, otherwise the masked object in front of a dark background would have a bright edge.

How can I align mask with object in Y axis?

Hi
Can anybody help me? I want to put small band on the upper arm of man in the scene, he is walking from right to left, I put my image in upper layer and made rectangle band and animated it with his arm but the problem is that I cant align the band with arm in Y axis, because of that there are some small tremors in the band, how can I define exact point on the arm and align my mask with it?
Appreciate any help in advance

^ Yep, Mylenium is right. There are two ways to do things - the easy way and the hard way. The easy way always involves thinking things through and establishing what you want before you shoot. Can you shoot with the band in place? If not, can you add tracking markers to the arm to facilitate adding the band later?
The hard way occurs when you have no choice and the work has to be done after the shoot. And Mylenium is dead right - before computers, EVERYTHING was done by hand, manually checking frame by frame until animations were correct. If your footage does not have the adequate preparation or detail for a computer to track, and you're unable to reshoot, the only option is to animate manually, check, fix, re-check, fix etc.
The Motion Tracking Workflow section of the manual is an excellent introduction:
http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/index.html

Complicated Mask Causes Motion 3 to Slow then Crash

I have a very frustrating problem with Motion 3. I'm rotoscoping a person in a clip from FCP. Essentially, I'm making him color and the background B&W. Making the mask went fine and the first few frames keyframing were also fine. After a couple of minutes though, moving a control point became difficult. There was a noticable pause from the time when I clicked and dragged to the time when the control point actually moved. I have about 50 or so control points so the slowdown causes me to spend several minutes on each frame and since the person is moving, I have to keyframe EVERY frame over a several second clip.
After a few minutes of slowdown, Motion will crash on me. Sometimes there's a hint that it's about to crash (I'll move the mask, but the opaque part of the mask won't move to reflect the new position of the control points), sometimes it just shuts off. I've lost a TON of time restarting. Once restarted however, everything works great and the control points move instantly for a couple of keyframed frames, and then it starts slowing down again.
It kinda feels like the RAM on my system is just being held up until I run out and then the program crashes. Here are as many details as I can think of to offer.
Motion 3.0.2
Project Cache is set to 80% total memory
No other programs running.
Clips are DV/NTSC self-contained QT files exported from FCP
NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256 vram

Hi guys
I've been making some titles and splash screens for a film I am making in Motion 3 and hit a brick wall when I started getting graphics card freezes and total system meltdowns. My MacBook has always been fine with motion and I depressingly attributed it to a bug when using extensive and complex masks (the composition contains loads of them) and multi-layered photoshop and illustrator media. I was convinced it wasn't my graphics card as everything else it does is fine. The nature of the comp meant I couldn't split the masks up and when I tried it crashed anyway.
It was then after persevering for a week that I managed to fix the problem. This might not be the case with you guys - I'm sure you have more idea than me, but I changed the project properties to an 8bit float and not a 32 bit one. I don't think I ever made a switch to 32bit and thought it was weird that it was 32bit in the Motion 3 file. After switching back to 8 the file runs really smoothly again without any problems and handles the masks as well as I was used to in Motion 2. I hope this helps anyone with the same problem in the future, I know it was a real pain dealing with the crashes and a really simple fix.

Depth, 3D, canvas restriction and masks -in Motion 4.

Hello.
I'm a digital artist, and work with Maya in combination with Motion 3.
Is there an improvement in the "compound blur" filter. Does Motion 4 support depth in the image based on grayscale images, rendered out of 3D packages?
The "compound blur" found in Motion 3 is quite buggy, and I've been forced to find several work arounds in order to use it.
I saw in another post, that Motion and Cinema 4D, can work together. Does Motion support 3D files, like camera movement from other packages, like Maya also? A plugin?
Is there still a canvas restriction in Motion 4?
In Motion 3 using masks based on images, can give quite a few problems, for apparently no good reason at all. The mask seems to change size, and you'll have to find workarounds and so on. Is this still a problem in Motion 4? Any experiences?
Thanks for your time!

The camera data can only be exported from C4D 11.5 AFAIK.
I'm not seeing issues with image masks in M4 yet.

How to create a shape/mask with a hole in it?

In graphics illustration applications, it's common to support boolean operations on shapes and paths, like subtracting one object from another resulting in a compound path (like a group of sub-paths). This provides the ability to create shapes with "holes" in them where background content can show through. Is it possible to do this with two (or more) shapes (or masks) in Motion 5? For example, if I draw a rectangle shape and a smaller circle shape inset within the rectangle, to have the circle as a "hole" in the rectangle so that as the rectangle passes in front of other objects they show through the hole? If the answer is yes this can be done, can you please descibe how? Thanks!

It's possible to create a lot of sophisticated masking effects in Motion and there are two different ways that can be used in combination or separately (depending on the type of object being masked -- some objects won't allow shape masks, but almost all objects allow Image Masks.)
To set up what's going on below: the bottom layer is a Clouds generator. On top of it is a Spirals generator.
The region in the center where the '8' figure is starts as a rectangle to which 4 circle shape masks are added. The Shape Mask tool is in the one to the right of the Text ( 'T' icon) tool in the toolbar at the bottom of the Motion window. When an "eligible" layer is selected in the Layers List its options will be selectable, otherwise it will stay dimmed.
The first two circle masks added to the Rectangle are arranged one above the other (visually) and their Mask Blend Mode is set to Intersect and the Invert Mask options are checked for both. Two more circle masks are drawn for the same rectangle shape and placed to form the "holes" for the figure 8. Their Mask Blend Modes are set for Add.
The region of the Spirals that form the outer border is another Rectangle Shape drawn to form the bounds. To that Rectangle I added an Image Mask (right click on the Layer and select Add Image Mask.) To the Image Mask sub-layer I dragged the original rectangle containing the 4 circle masks.
Finally to the Spirals generator layer I added an Image Mask and dragged the second rectangle on the that sublayer.
When objects are added to an Image Mask, Motion will automatically turn off those layers from being visible in the canvas.
When working with masks, especially several levels of masking, sometimes you have to think in opposites. For instance, originally, the inner rectangle is solid and the figure 8 is the cutout. When added to the second rectangle, the "state" is reversed. Where you see the spiral are the solid portions of the final composite mask. If you select the Invert Mask option of the Spirals Image Mask, the entire thing "flips" (and the spirals would replace the clouds and vice versa).
Shape Masks have four available Blend Modes (Add, Subract, Replace and Intersect). Shape Masks are "all or nothing" cutouts (with exception of feathering).
Image Masks use Alpha, Individual Color channels (R,G, or B) or Luma to determine transparency. Image Masks can also use bezier shapes as sources, making almost the same as Shape Masks in this respect, except that Fill Opacity can be used to vary opacity within masked areas.
HTH

Shake with Motion & Final Cut

I am new to Shake but here's what I want to achieve:
A man is standing in a street in the middle of an earthquake. The Man will be masked out so that the quaking will only affect his surroundings
I have edited it in FCP and I'll use Motion to achieve the 'quaking' effect.
I am thinking I'd export 2 video files (one with the shaking on it, and one without) then bring both in to shake in 2 layers and mask the shaking layer
I'm aware that all 3 applications integrate well together. Is there an easier way?
thanks!
G5 Dual

I was just wondering if you might want something looser (like a circle mask) if the effect tapered off as it got closer to you person.
You can "roto" in motion. It is not the easiest application to do it with, but if its' only a little bit (of course there is no such thing as a little bit of roto) then draw a mask in motion and key frame it's position. Follow the general rules of roto and you can cut out just about anything.
This is going to be easier in Shake and if learning how in Shake is worth the time taken to render a file of the quake from motion and then compositing it in Shake... You decide.
TonyTony

How can I fill mask with pattern?

Hi
Would you please help me? How can a add pattern to a mask? I drew a motion mask on video clip and now I want to fill it with pattern that I made in Photoshop and saved as PSD, what should I do? How can I fill mask with specific pattern?
Thanks for any help

AE doesn't directly support a pattern-fill like PS, so here's a workaround (as Mylenium suggested):
Create a PS document and create a layer filled with the pattern required.
Import the layer/PSD to AE and place in timeline.
Place a copy of the masked layer above the Pattern layer.
On the pattern layer, set the Track Matte to Alpha Matte.
Read more here:
http://livedocs.adobe.com/en_US/AfterEffects/8.0/WS3878526689cb91655866c1103906c6dea-7cf9. html

Working with Motion 5 and FCPX

hey guys
i am just getting started with motion 5 but i just wanted to know whats the easiest way to get them to work smoothly together please?
say for eg i have fcpx open and i have a shot where i want to add a background to my greenscreen and another where i would like to use a couple masks and other effects, whats the best way to 'get them over to motion and back to fcpx' please?
do i just export the clip then work on it in motion then export it back or is there a function where i can just seamlessly go between the 2 programs please?
any help woud be great!! thanks

Things have changed quite a bit from the FCS way of working in that (currently, at least) there is no round tripping between the two apps.
The effects that are in FCP X (including things like transitions and titles) are Motion-originated (not sure whether it's correct whether they're considered Motion projects). Much of the time they have sufficient controls available so that the user doesn't need to leave FCPX. But if necessary, they can be opened in Motion by control clicking. Once Motion is opened, you can modify them, rename and publish to FCP. You can also add adjustments via widgets and rigging that can then be made within FCPX after publishing.
For projects that are originated in Motion, they can be exported as QT movies (typically Pro Res 444), saved as templates, etc.
Hope that helps.
Russ

No color mask in motion 5?

Is it possible that there is no color mask in Motion 5?
It is present in FCPX.
I purchased Motion 5 just to create FCPX plugins. And

In the Keyer, you can go into the advanced controls and fine tune color selection more easily than any other Keyer I've worked with. They are not 15 year old plugins. They are very capable if you learn to use them correctly. I suggest the Ripple Training videos to properly learn now to use Motion. It can be a very powerful app.
I strongly suggest you start with the user manual, then do some proper training.
http://help.apple.com/motion/mac/5.0.5/#motn14b99d02
I do what I sort of think you're trying to daily without a second thought in Motion. Just take a deep breath, and take the time to learn it properly.
If you tell us what exactly the effect is you're trying to build, we can give you some guidance. This may or may not be the best strategy to achieve it.

Import Photoshop Shape/Mask To Motion?

Hi,
Is there a way to do this? I created a layered shape in PS for use in DVDSP, per manual. It looks like I want it to and behaves correctly. I want to use this same shape in Motion as a mask with the existing shape layer intact (a "border", if you will). My aim is to grow/shrink this shape and a video inside the border simultaneously.
Any help much appreciated!

You want an rectangular video inside an elipse - that is to trim the outside of a rectangle and place it in an oval frame? Just select the image, and the oval mask tool (click and hold on the rectangular mask and select the oval) and draw a rectangular...
Patrick

Is it possible to create DVD Templates with Motion for burning Blue Ray DVDs from Final Cut Pro X?

Is it possible to create DVD Templates with Motion for burning Blue Ray DVDs from Final Cut Pro X?

As far as I know, motion templates can only be used with DVD Studio Pro. FCP X only lets you add a background image to the DVD menu.

Image in a layer mask with gradient problem

Hi,
I have a image in a layer mask with an gradient on a 30c0m0y100k background and at the gradient from image to background I always get a white "shine". which NOT appears when the background is the standard photoshop-black definition in all colors.
please have look also here (where the problem is): http://adobe.ly/1yXBCix
and here where it looks like I want to have it (where I switched the layer mode of the mask to multiply and that causes that my background is not anymore 30c0m0y100k): http://adobe.ly/1HFZfC4
thanks a lot!
oliver

Yes, just save it and post it here using the little camera icon:

My new iMac with FCPX crashes when rendering complex templates and crashes when exporting with Motion 5

My new iMac with FCPX crashes when rendering complex templates and crashes when exporting with Motion 5
Using Motion 5.0.6 and Final Cut Pro X 10.0.7 on New iMac (December 2012) Mountain Lion,
Intel Core i7 quad-core a 3,4GHz, Turbo Boost fino a 3,9GHz
32GB di SDRAM DDR3 a 1600MHz - 4 x 8GB
Fusion Drive da 3TB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX 2GB GDDR5
During the rendering of complex FCPX mac crashes and I have to force a restart.
I also happens when I try to export movies with Motion 5.
Does anyone have the same problem with my new iMac?

Problems such as yours are sometimes caused by files that should belong to you but are locked or have wrong permissions. This procedure will check for such files. It makes no changes and therefore will not, in itself, solve your problem.
First, empty the Trash.
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below to select it, then drag or copy it — do not type — into the Terminal window:
find . $TMPDIR.. $ -flags +sappnd,schg,uappnd,uchg -o ! -user $UID -o ! -perm -600 -o -acl $ 2> /dev/null | wc -l
Press return. The command may take a noticeable amount of time to run. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear.
The output of this command, on a line directly below what you entered, will be a number such as "35." Please post it in a reply.

Masking with Motion

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