Lighting effects etc. applied on a section of the video

[Raga]

I'm looking into creating "lighting effects", as you find in the Photoshop, which essentially is a shortcut for adjusting levels over a certain area of the image with feathered edges.

Any clues on how this might possibly be done with VDub or AviSynth?

I'd be applying this on lectures I have on tape, where the view is essentially in the same place all the time, and in which the background is unnecessarily bright, leaving the speaker's face a bit dark.

Also, are there methods for applying anything else over only certain sections of the video?

[redwudz]

Take a look at Neuron net. A lot of VD filters and links there. http://neuron2.net/.

Here's one I found with a quick search there that is similar to what you are asking about. http://web.tiscali.it/minomala/;Radial Luminance Correction filter.

There was also a 'hotspot' filter, but the one above or one of the others listed may work. I think VD has a filter for about anything. A Google search for 'Virtualdub filters' will give you a list of sites.

[Raga]

That one just fixes the "spot" to the center of the view. Anyhow, that's a beginning there! Thanks! At least I know there is hope out there.

[thecoalman]

If your going to be doing a lot of editing in the future you may want to look into getting a good editor. Ulead Media Studio Pro, Adobe Premier or Sony Vegas. They would all have a feature like that plus so much more. Essentially if you can think it up you can do it.

[Raga]

Yeah I suppose I'll eventually have to bite and do just that.

What would you recommend, with a lot of features and flexibility, yet not taking ages to master its use? I hear a lot of good about Vegas, I was once a bit pissed with Ulead. Premiere looked like it'll take ages to lean things. Thoughts?

[Raga]

Are there big performance differences between the "leading" video editors?

[thecoalman]

Yeah I suppose I'll eventually have to bite and do just that.

What would you recommend, with a lot of features and flexibility, yet not taking ages to master its use?

Can't comment on Premier or Vegas but if I was to venture to guess all three are equally as good and equally as hard to use. Currently MSP is a bit behind the times since it hasn't had a release in 2 years but that also makes it quite affordable.

IMO best bang for your buck is Ulead Quartet, it includes DVD Workshop which is considered by many to be the best authoring app. Also has Cool 3-D for animation and Photoimapct for image editing.

The editor itself is actually 6 components.... Lot's of stuff to play with. You can pick up a version of Quartet for about $400 with the older version of DVD Workshop which is more than adequate for most.

Note that the only current software in this package is the editor and Cool 3-D: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=285495&is=REG