How to in FCP -- isolate the background w/ color when introducing a new subject

J

jordy2324

Well-known member
I wish I knew what this was called....and I wish I could find an example of it somewhere. But for some reason I can't find anything so I'll do my best to explain the technique and if it's possible in FCP.

So in my clip, I'd like to freeze the frame a few seconds after introducing a new character. Then, I'd like to color the background (everything except the new character I'm CG-ing). Essentially, I just want the effect to stop the frame, color the background to make the character stand out, then drop text somewhere in the color space introducing the new character.

I know I can do this in photoshop.... but it might take me more time to grab the frame, edit the frame, the perfectly place it back in the clip.

Can this be done in FCP? Or maybe After Effects (which I have as part of my CS5 suite but haven't really used yet).

Thanks for anyone out there who knows what I'm talking about.....
 
Your best bet is After Effects, but there is a bit of a learning curve if you've never used it.

There are a couple of ways of going about this, but you'll want to use a mask, either time freeze or time remapping, and various other effects to stylize your background.
 
Create a still frame.

Export it to PS and do the color in, reimport it and then a long dissolve between the original free frame and the PS free frame.

or,

Using Motion, cut your freeze frame onto the timeline, then send it to Motion. Use the masking tools to outline your subject and color the background...
 
David S. said:
Create a still frame.

Export it to PS and do the color in, reimport it and then a long dissolve between the original free frame and the PS free frame.

or,

Using Motion, cut your freeze frame onto the timeline, then send it to Motion. Use the masking tools to outline your subject and color the background...
Click to expand...

Nice.... seems simple enough both ways. Thanks, David.
What's the name for this, though? I've heard it before but forgot what the technique is called....
 
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