Need help chroma keying with Fusion (and other software) for Flash video.

[OM2]

I want to cut out the background of video footage shot on a chroma key background.

I've got Fusion: it seems really advanced.
I've looked at the tutorial on their website - it's really good.
But... the tutorial only takes you through adding an image background to a video that you cut the background out of.
All I want to do is: cut out the background of the video.

Is there a tutorial anywhere for doing this?
The documentation is very poor.

ALSO: I want to only use a section from the middle of the video.
I haven't really learnt it properly yet, but there doesn't seem to be any controls to trim the video...?

As a rule of thumb, for video that I want to cut out the background of: do I have to trim first before I bring to a software to do the chroma keying...?

I've tried other software:

Wax, not very good.
ZS4 - better, need to play around with more.

Same problem with above: I can't see how I can trim the video.

Also... I want the video for using in Flash.
If I want transparent video for Flash... what format should I save as?
I want to save in the highest quality possible and then compress with something like Sorenson or Riva.
Does Riva support transparent video? I know Sorenson does.

Any replies to the above would be appreciated.

Thanks.


OM

[guns1inger]

I've got Fusion: it seems really advanced

It should - it is. One of the reasons it costs thousands and isn't something you just pick up in your local computer shop.

I don't quite understand what it is you want to do though. You can't just cut the background out of a video. You have to replace it with something. Usually it is an image or alternate background. It could just be black.

Secondly, Fusion is a compositing and motion graphics tool, not an editor. You feed it just the video you want to work with, not use it to trim your video for you (although it can)

Fusion is way to grown up for someone with no experience, and while I find it brilliant to use, it is too complex to give a short tutorial on here. If you can follow the tutorial at eyeon then you should be able to do exactly what you need - except that I don't believe you know exactly what you want.

In fact, it sounds like what you you really want is either a gif file with a transparent background, or an image series of .png files with a transparent backgrounds, ready for use in Flash.

[OM2]

thanks for the reply.
i do understand what i want.

i've shot video with a green background.
and want to cut out the background (erm... ok myu terminology may sound wrong!).

i've been through the tutorial. it's very good and thorough.
but... i didn't get a good result.
i got better using ulead video studio (version 9).
i followed every step... and not sure where i could have made it better.

hmmm.. not sure what to do.

side question: any idea how much freelancers that use fusion can get paid...?

[guns1inger]

It's a specialised field. You would have a better chance of on-going employment if you learn After Effects.