Class 9 - Feb 20
- Assignment 3 Video Screening and Discussion
- Keying and Masking
- Cinemagraph Assignment
- Assignment:
- Reading:
- Mueller Chp. 5
- Tutorial:
- Cinemagraph 01 OR Cinemagraph 02
- Alternatively, search for and explore other cinemagraph tutorials
- Announcements:
- Crossman Gallery: Reading Material, Opening Reception Thurs Feb 22 5-7pm
- Milwaukee Comic Con: WI State Fairgrounds Feb 24 10-4pm
- Theater Dance: Street Scene, Feb 25 & 27, March 1 & 3
- Arte Para Todos: Art/Music Education Benefit in Milwaukee, April 26-29
- Time Wasters:
- Shia LaBeouf "Just Do It" - Original Video Source, Reference Article
Reviewing Video Assignment 3: Compositing
All videos should be submitted on D2L prior to the beginning of class for Assignment 3. After videos are collected, we will begin reviewing and discussing the work. We should focus our attention on the technical concerns we were addressing:
- Layering and Compositing
- Quality of masks
- Sequence, Timing
- Does the work successfully "fool the eye"? Why? Why not?
Keying and Masking
In a visual effects and post-production work flow, pulling a key is an important technical skill. To help introduce keying processes, there will be a demonstration given. The demo will include how to work with a chroma key in both Premiere and After Effects. Both tools can be used and have different possibilities although the process is generally the same. Students may choose to focus on using whichever tool they are more comfortable with for keying.
Working with a key can be done in a lot of different ways. The following are some references for how to think about working with keys:
- Chroma Key & Luma Key
- Chroma Key: general any color not visible in subject, commonly Blue or Green
- Premiere: Ultra Key
- AE: Keylight + Key Cleaner + Advanced Spill Supressor
- Process:
- Consider and/or create a garbage mask/matte
- around subject
- masks any extra space
- allows smaller area to focus your key on
- Sample color to generate key
- Switch between "Final Result"/"Composite" and Alpha Views
- Adjust settings like "Tolerance" etc to refine key
- Alpha view helps to understand alpha channel and any partially transparent elements
- Repeat adjusting settings, trial and error is starting point for understanding process, all footage is different, you will always need to refine settings
- Always review and preview, high quality key shows little/no evidence of compositing
Cinemagraph Video Assignment
Assignment 4 is our cinemagraph assignment. You will create a looping animated GIF. There are some appropriate tutorials assigned. Your work may or may not need keying and you will incorporate masking and rotoscoping in your workflow. As with other assignments, you are welcome to work together but each person needs to submit their own work. You will need to shoot video and because our process creates a composite image, you may need to use a tripod for stable and consistent shots. Because the final format is a moving image file type, there will be no sound in this assignment.
A number of relevant examples will be shown in class for ideas related to this assignment. Proesses related to creating perfect loops, retiming, and color correction will be demonstrated in the next class session and may be incorporated into your work flow. Although some production work may be done outside of the studio, you are highly encouraged to take advantage of our class time together. Ask questions. Receive feedback. Work together in the studio. Share resources.