placing a moving picture into another video

[tomchook]

Hello,
I would like to place a picture into a video (for example, place a face, that would replace the original face of the character in the movie). I know it wouldn't look natural, but that's the point. Of course that this face, for this matter, has to move dynamically together with the character.

What is the best way to do it?
If it's a squared picture, but I would like to have it in the shape of the face, is it possible by saving it as a PSD/PNG/GIF file with a transparent background?

Thanks!

[guns1inger]

You can do it with masks and by hand tracking using Premiere, Vegas, After Effects etc.

You could also try the free tools such as Wax, ZS4 or Jahshaka.

The time consuming part, if you don't use a compositing package, is tracking the target by hand across the frames. The rest is easy.

[tomchook]

what is a compositing package? I have after effects, but I don't know how to use it. is there a tutorial/guide to show me how to do it the easiest way?

thanks!

[guns1inger]

If you have never used After Effects before then the answer is no.

There is a discussion on how to go about it here : http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/2/918527#918659

It links off at various points to different aspects of the process.

[Alan0123]

If you have never used After Effects before then the answer is no.

There is a discussion on how to go about it here : http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/2/918527#918659

It links off at various points to different aspects of the process.

Thanks