Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

H

HartStudio

Well-known member
I have some standard interview footage that I shot that I would like to sass up with some fake DOF.

Here is what I have.
johnny.jpg


This is what I want. Photoshop mock up!
johnnybl.jpg


Kinda makes the other guy look like a midget.... Wierd!

I know you guys know how to do this, I am just having a hard time figuring it out. Before I give ol Douglas Spotted Eagle a shout I wanted to see if you guys have a quick fix for me.


I will give a dollar to the first person to come up with a solution!!! ;D
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

The method you used to achieve the second shot is obviously the one to use.
I'd save out a frame to Photoshop, draw a matte around the "blur" area, feather it a tad, and bring it into your NLE as a "holdout matte" to blur the FG.
I use Vegas4 (and Boris3GL) to do this. Sometimes, if the foreground doesn't move too much, Photoshop can be just as easy.
Ken
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

I have boris3GL but I hate it. Too damn clunky. Manual is lame. But I will use it if I have to. Most expensive coaster I ever purchased...

Keep going on what I need to do. I am not famiar with creating a "Holdout Matte".

Now when I make this matte in photoshop, do I use a solid color or what? If a solid color, black or white? I am not sure what you mean.
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

Oh do you mean just have a static blurred shot overlay over the video? and cut out the parts that have motion?

I hope not. I did use a tripod so shots are pretty static but both people move a bit. Bobbing heads and such.

That can't be what you were talking about.... was it? Nah... :P
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

This might be stretching it but try a FX PLUG IN of Radial Blur

Select WEAK FIXED RADIUS
Choose TYPE PROPORTIONAL
Adjust STRENGTH to desire (Just enough to soften focus)

Move the PIXEL until it covers the area you want...

Just trying to help... :)
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

It seems I should be able to create a "blur overlay" Using a static transparent image that is blurred in the places I want. But you can't blur a completely transparent object. Hmmm...

I will give your idea a try john in a minute see how that works.

Guys I know this can be done, because i see it in your footage daily.

Just don't know how you guys are doing it.
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

If you have Boris Red GL, use the Red Engine as a standalone application. It is pretty flakey in Vegas...constant lockups. It's one of the few things that will crash Vegas!
However, in Red:
Place your scene in track1.
Duplicate it to track2.
Add a spline object to track 1 and drag it to the Mask part of the track(this will prevent your subject from being blurred).
Select the pencil tool and outline the shape you wish to keep sharp.
Blur track2 a bit until you get the effect you want (usually not over 4-6 on Gaussian blur).
I just did this for an interview scene where I needed to drop the sharpness of a BG in an office. Works well if you don't have a lot of camera movement. Also, if you need to kill a few wrinkles on the subject, a small amount of luminance blur (you can adjust the areas it will affect) gives a nice "diffused glow"
to the skin.
The process is easier to do than to explain.
Boris does this very well, but Vegas 5 has this adjustable spline thing built in!
Hope this helps.
Ken
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

[quote author=HartStudio link=board=Vegas;num=1082688633;start=0#5 date=04/23/04 at 03:33:15]
Guys I know this can be done, because i see it in your footage daily.

Just don't know how you guys are doing it.[/quote]

In camera is always your best decision! How close were you to the talent? Were you in a position to move the camera WAY BACK as if through the doorway?

If so you could've have created a DOF my moving all of the way back and zooming in to frame your subjects.
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

Couldn't you just mask out the area you want to blur with a soft mask and then overlay your masked clip over the same clip with a blur effect. There are several ways to do this. create a mask in photoshop and move it slightly during the clip (if there's movement) or create the mask in Vegas. This would keep the movement and create the effect you want. I've seen people do this.

Everdene
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

[quote author=John Hudson link=board=Vegas;num=1082688633;start=0#7 date=04/23/04 at 09:43:31]

In camera is always your best decision!  How close were you to the talent?  Were you in a position to move the camera WAY BACK as if through the doorway?

If so you could've have created a DOF my moving all of the way back and zooming in to frame your subjects.
[/quote]

You can get somewhat of a shallow depth of field in-camera, but it's not easy. It's a little harder to do it with the DVX because the lens doesn't have a strong telephoto end.

To solve this issue, I invented a product called the SoftScreen. The product is now being sold by the IndieToolBox. If you were at NAB you could have seen it demonstrated. For more info, check out the IndieToolBox site at http://www.indietoolbox.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=

It's not for every shot, it's mainly for closeups/talking heads, but it does give a wonderful 35mm DOF look.
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

Hold please I will try all your suggestions in just a second. :D

The winner is......
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

John Hudson with his radial blur! :-*
Almost looks identical to my photoshop'd image. Here is a screen shot.

Check it out kids! Where do I send the money John?

See the shot!
johnnybl2.jpg


It was just like he said. Simple all in vegas! Damn I love vegas!
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

:D

The best part is that I was not exactly sure until you asked the question! NOw we all know! :D
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

Problem is, that your talent in the foreground will not have the same amount of blur as your tree to the right rear.

Honestly, this shot really doesn't work with blur in my opinion unless you just blur the grey-haired guy out and not the tree.

In composing the shot, you've got too much room around your subject. I'd even suggest zooming in a tad using pan/crop tools to center the focus of the shot more on your talent.

As for the blur? If you like it...

Vegas 5 now adds bezier masking.. you could mask various segments of the frame and apply different blurs to each one.

mike
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

I wasn't trying to knock your solution, John. I love that we can do this all from within Vegas.

Mike
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

Not worried about my solution not working; Im the last expert on the list with Vegas.

Just thought it was a funny take.
 
Re: Trying to blur background in vegas - Fake DOF

Let me clarify as my last post is kind of vague. I thought it was funny cause it was like "Comp doesnt work! Tree is going to screw of Blur! Vegas 5 has what you need!"

I thought Jeez, now what? :D
 
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