This is not really limited to the XL2, but since this process is used on the 16x9 DV image I get from my XL2, I'm posting it here for other XL2 users.
I have recently discovered a trick that works very nice when pulling green/blue screen mattes with from my XL2 footage. I have always used DVGarage's dvMatte in Motion (FCS) to pull green screen mattes on DV footage. The Pro version is very very nice. I had just one problem, my mattes were always a little soft (around the edges). Since the resolution of DV (720/576 - PAL) is a little low, it is hard to anti-alias the matte edge without getting a soft edge. If your lighting is very good, you have less of a problem, but sometimes things aren't perfect (most of the time). So I discovered this new way of creating a beautiful thin, anti-aliased matte edge.
I capture the footage in FCP (DV codec) and convert (up-res) to Apple's ProRes 422 (HD1280x720) in Quicktime. Now I have an HD images (720p). I now use dvMatte to pull the matte and do all my composition (including grain/noice addition) in this higher resolution. You will instantly get a much finer, beautify, anti-aliased matte edge. Once you're happy with your composition, convert back to DV with Quicktime and you have a beautiful image.
I know it doesn't make sense to everyone since you take a low res image to start with, but the composition (matte) is done with more resolution to work with and thus you have a thinner edge. I now do all my composition and SFX in this higher resolution. I also find it very important since I may provide my final product in 720p.
Try it and let me know.
I have recently discovered a trick that works very nice when pulling green/blue screen mattes with from my XL2 footage. I have always used DVGarage's dvMatte in Motion (FCS) to pull green screen mattes on DV footage. The Pro version is very very nice. I had just one problem, my mattes were always a little soft (around the edges). Since the resolution of DV (720/576 - PAL) is a little low, it is hard to anti-alias the matte edge without getting a soft edge. If your lighting is very good, you have less of a problem, but sometimes things aren't perfect (most of the time). So I discovered this new way of creating a beautiful thin, anti-aliased matte edge.
I capture the footage in FCP (DV codec) and convert (up-res) to Apple's ProRes 422 (HD1280x720) in Quicktime. Now I have an HD images (720p). I now use dvMatte to pull the matte and do all my composition (including grain/noice addition) in this higher resolution. You will instantly get a much finer, beautify, anti-aliased matte edge. Once you're happy with your composition, convert back to DV with Quicktime and you have a beautiful image.
I know it doesn't make sense to everyone since you take a low res image to start with, but the composition (matte) is done with more resolution to work with and thus you have a thinner edge. I now do all my composition and SFX in this higher resolution. I also find it very important since I may provide my final product in 720p.
Try it and let me know.