How to make a solid, transparent?

D

DVX100Shooter

Veteran
This is probably going to end up being some sort of MATTE question but I saw on a show the other day where they were using money i.e. dollar bills as a transition on the screen going one from one shot to another. Now the bills were transparent. Just wondering what I would need to do to do that. Doesn't it have something to do with removing the Alpha or Luma channel or something like that?
 
You mean the bills were transparent and the scenes did a cross fade behind it? From what I'm thinking, you're looking at Composite Modes.
 
BenB said:
Composite Modes.
Click to expand...

I'll bet your right, Mr. BenB.

Lay a clip down in the timeline>lay the "transition" clip on top of it> right click the "transition" clip and scroll to "Composite Mode"> click "Add", or whatever suits your needs> add cross dissolve at begining and end of "transition" clip.

-brown
 
no I dont think that is what I am talking about. Its like they took say a dollar bill but made it transparent so you can look through the bill but still see the insignia of the bill, you follow me? Back in the day I had an option on my old Sony camcorder that sort of did this but it was called superimposing an image. So instead of a green dollar bill, it would have black lines or whatever color you chose and it would be see through.

rcbrown I will try your suggestion and see if that works too!
 
Ah what you say is a finished image though right? They could have doctored that bill in a million ways. Also, inanimate objects, like a piece of paper, aren't nearly that hard to fake using CGI. And once its not real to begin with, the options are endless as to what you can make it do.

cheers.
 
I think it looks like you'd come a long way with either the luma or chroma key on the bill - depending on the image quality and format - of course.

Gunleik
 
DVX100Shooter said:
Its like they took say a dollar bill but made it transparent so you can look through the bill but still see the insignia of the bill, you follow me?
Click to expand...

This is exactly what several of the Composite Modes do.
 
Oh ok, I am going to play around with them and see what I can come up with. I just didnt know if I needed to try it in FCP or perhaps Motion.
 
It never stops amazing me how many "experienced" FCP editors who make a living with it come into my classes have have no clue as to how powerful FCP's compositing tools and abilities are. It's FCP's biggest strength...

Get the APTS book, Advanced Color Correction and Effects In Final Cut Pro. It's an awesome book with some really great info in it.
 
Yeah... I need to pick up that book, also. I know I'm just scratching the surface when it comes to effects. Hell, I paid a lot of money to use the final cut studio, it'd just be a waste to not take full advantage of all that it offers.
 
Back in the summer a friend of mine came over my house who just started working with FCP a short time ago was showing me all kinds of tricks and effects to do! I was like where in the world did you learn all that stuff...he is a big fan and user of Avid too! I have several FCP books and about to start reading this Motion book soon.
 
In my classes I strongly urge all my FCP students to get four books in the "Apple Pro Training Series" library that I consider VITAL to all FCP users:

Final Cut Pro 5
Advanced Color Correction and Effects in Final Cut Pro
Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System
Compressor Quick-Reference Guide
 
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