How to: Replace the background?

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DVX100Shooter

Veteran
I have an interview I shot and I am told I could use some of the textures that are in LiveType and replace the background with those. How is this done in FCP when I did NOT shoot against a green screen? I actually imported a texture into FCP and tweaked it and lowered the opacity some. I can't seem to figure out how to get it to look like its behind the person though. Its in the foreground of the shot which is not the look I was hoping for.
 
You've got only a few choices...

1 - if you've got a clean plate with the same camera settings and lighting AND you subject isn't wearing the same clothes as the background you MIGHT be able to key out the back with a difference matte. Rough going, but if all the things are in place above it will work.

2 - you're gonna need to roto shape the person out. Can be done... will take time.

Got Shake or AfterEffects?

CaptM
 
If you didn't shoot on a green screen, forget it. Roto'ing a static shot of a person talking to the camera will be near impossible for you to get to look convincing.
 
How convincing would it have to be to be put in front of a Texture plate from LiveType?!?

I do agree with you that forget it is probably the right answer, but that's not what he asked.

CaptM

Sorry -- Read my post... sounds harsh, doesn't it? Wasn't meant as a slam on your answer, Zoo.

CaptM
 
With the help of a friend that came over, I got it to work. I picked the clip in the timeline then set in/out points for that clip. Added the texture from Livetype on the next video track. Put the playhead at the first frame of the clip. Went to VIEW >MATCH FRAME>MASTER CLIP. Unlocked my audio clips. Dragged clip in browser over to the OVERWRITE box which put it on the 3rd video track. Then I added 2 8 point garbage mattes to give me 16 and just adjust the clip to remove as much of the background as possible replacing it with the LT texture. Used the Edge Feather to further enhance the look and the end result looks quite nice. The good thing about this is that it was an interview so the talent wasn't moving much. It does not look 100% like green screen but its a cool effect nonetheless!
 
Yea i have AE but I need to learn that too!


Hey Mench over the weekend I watched one of your tutorials on the "pleasantville effect" and tried it in something I am working on and it worked...I am glad I watched your tutorial. The first time I tried it, it didnt work like I wanted to but still the end result was still cool. What I ended up with was everything in the frame was B&W including the talent but after all the adjusting I did, the only thing that was in color was the red stripes in the guys shirt. Today I worked on the effect again and I got it to work the correct way...having everything black and white and the shirt of a guy in color!
 
What is it called in AE what I am trying to do? Do I just select a track matte and remove the background? I have a Trush and Chris Meyer After Effects book but I havent come across a how to for this effect.
 
No -- you use the Mask tool (edit: sorry, PEN tool)... and draw a mask around the person. You can keyframe the motion of the mask also.

CaptM
 
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