@mkro

Hi.

I'm having trouble trying to visualise this.

Have you seen something similar before? Would it be possible to do a screen grab as an example of something you have seen?

The nearest I can think is something like this.

Ray.

Thanks, Ray. Here's a crude example from a video I'm working on. Cut a freeform hole in track 2 (Controlling track) which will allow track 1 to show through. Another case: I want to cut out a door from track 2 and show track one in the opening. In the ideal world, you'd green screen the door opening, shoot the scene, and replace the green with the second video. It would be nice to be able to do this easily with legacy footage. Cookie Cutter function doesn't quite do it because you apply the function to track 1 and the shapes are set.

Mike

@mkro

Hi,

Which version of Video Pro X are you using?

If you have video audio on separate tracks like me, put the video that you want to see in the hole in the table on track 1, the table on track 3. Select the object on track 3, Effects, Video Effects, Cookie cutter. Change the method to "Cut away section." Adjust the location - Centre X and Y, etc.

Below, I resized and moved the video on track 1 to show what I wanted in the hole.

Alternative, do the inverse of everything or just use an alpha mask between the two video clips.

For free form, no, you will have to create the mask yourself using a graphics editor like Xara DPX or Xara Photo & Graphics Designer. See my tutorials on using Xara with VPX/MEP.

John CB

Thanks, John. I get to the same place using Size/Position on track 2.

Say I want to cut out a door from track 2 and show track one in the opening. In the ideal world, you'd green screen the door opening, shoot the scene, and replace the green with the second video. It would be nice to be able to do this easily with legacy footage. Cookie Cutter function doesn't quite do it because you apply the function to track 1 and the shapes are set. Sounds like Xara could do this but not as straight forward as being able to cut a hole of the desired shape to show track 2.

Mike

@mkro

Hi Mike.

Is the main background a static shot in as much as the camera angle doesn't move?

You say the shapes are set with the cookie cutter, which is correct but instead try using the mask section and the size /position and warp tools instead to produce angled masks. Copy the effect settings and apply to the background video. Add a second mask for a shadow effect. Here I have left the video in its original orientation but that could be made to lie down as well at the same angle.

I tried to make a short video.

You could go further. Make your own green screen from coloured art card and cut a desired shape.In the instance you showed you could lay it on the table where you want your 'door'. Then it becomes interactive. You can walk past it sit down in front of it. Pretend to manipulate the image within and then use VPX to twist, turn enlarge or shrink to fit actions. I can now think of several things to do with this effect now.

Thanks for the idea.

Ray.

@mkro

You can apply the CookieCutter to either track/object and switch which one gets cut, as I demonstrated.

John CB

@mkro

Hi Mike.

Is the main background a static shot in as much as the camera angle doesn't move?

You say the shapes are set with the cookie cutter, which is correct but instead try using the mask section and the size /position and warp tools instead to produce angled masks. Copy the effect settings and apply to the background video. Add a second mask for a shadow effect. Here I have left the video in its original orientation but that could be made to lie down as well at the same angle.

I tried to make a short video.

You could go further. Make your own green screen from coloured art card and cut a desired shape.In the instance you showed you could lay it on the table where you want your 'door'. Then it becomes interactive. You can walk past it sit down in front of it. Pretend to manipulate the image within and then use VPX to twist, turn enlarge or shrink to fit actions. I can now think of several things to do with this effect now.

Thanks for the idea.

Ray.

 

 

Thanks for producing your example. In my situation, the only thing that moves is the second hand on the clock. I imported a screen shot of the clock video to Photoshop and free hand cut out the section. Then I slid the horse photo under it so it was only visible in the cut out. In the Pro X world, I would like to cut out or mask a specific region in the clock video and slide the video of the horses under it. If I thought about doing this before shooting the clock scene I would have put a green card on the table and be good to go. I was just wondering, in cases where I'm using archival footage, if there was a straight forward way of achieving the same effect.

Best regards, Mike

@mkro

Hi Mike.

From what I have been able to do so far I'd say not from just within MEP.

It would be quicker and less work to set up the background shot again and add a green shaped card or other relative colour you can block.

My example using your background, I first had to edit in Photoshop to produce enough tabletop to work with. Another option now thinking about it would be to create a mask yourself in paint or other package to the desired shape.

Easier to do in Photoshop where you could import a still of the background like I have and then produce a layer to export as a mask. That would give more control to the edges and have the correct physical dimensions to work.

I'm not one for buying additional plug-ins but try to work with what I have. So there may be a plug-in that does exactly what you want that I'm not aware of. I would know how to do most effects or work them out eventually but simply don't have the gear, effects, or space to do most of them. It's really difficult to do anything that looks convincing in CGI as the eye gets trained over time to spot it in use. I prefer in camera where possible because most of the time it's easier and can save a lot of time in post processing.

I also know that what is in my head is difficult to explain to anyone else so if I'm not giving the exact advice you need I'm sorry.

But if you can either find an example of what you want to show here I'd be happy to try out ideas to see what I can come up with. In the past I've had ideas I have had in my head but found difficult to employ and come to the forum where once explained other have helped me refine the workload down. I think It's surprising what you can do with the basics.

Here's an example where John EB and others helped me refine this effect using layers.

Fingers crossed, we can help you, but no promises. 😇

Ray.

Ray, TANKS is exactly it. If the layering effect can be done with a font, it can be done with a random shape. I’ll have to experiment...another tool in the chest to find new uses for legacy footage.

Thanks so much,

Mike

@mkro

Hi Mike.

You may want to look at this thread then to see how it was done.

I'll only take credit for the idea, not for the solution as to how to do it. That was a collected effort between the more experienced people here.

Good luck.

Ray.

@mkro

See this tutorial to see how I make an irregular mask and applied it. You can try using Photo Designer 7 which comes with VPX. Open it as a standalone. There are some tutorials on the French forum (this forum) showing how to make masks using Photo Designer 7.

John CB

@browj2

Hi John.

Was '(this forum)' supposed to be a link?

Ray.

@CubeAce

I was in a hurry. This forum means this forum, but you have to turn on French for the tutorials and, if wanted, for the forum itself. The French side has many very useful tutorials.

John CB

@browj2

Hi John.

So the French VPX forum. Got it. Thank you.

Ray.