Background removal in Vegas

[zoobie]

Not having much luck with this 15 second clip in Vegas Pro. I duplicated the track a few times then tried to chroma key out the background colors but with poor results. I've exported an image sequence and worked on a frame in Paint Shop but then there's another 354 frames. Not looking to spend $ on a one time need and can't re-shoot. How would you handle removing this cruddy background?

[budwzr]

This was the best I could do in Vegas Pro.

[budwzr]

The problem is lack of enough contrast between the subject and the background. This matte I made is not so good, because there's no room to finagle it.

[newpball]

The background is not uniform in color so chromakey is not the appropriate thing here.

Instead you need to rotoscope.

I don't use Vegas but I doubt that Vegas has no rotoscoping capability.

[budwzr]

If you're gonna go all out, you might try a garbage mask and see if you're able to get a better matte on the subject. A garbage mask is a similar idea, and first step, you need to do anyway, before you can Roto.

If the head doesn't move much, just use an Oval shape around it. Unfortunately, Vegas Pro's built-in Bezier Mask tool (RotoScope) is extremely tedious, non-intuitous, and the most frustrating tool in the whole program.

[zoobie]

That looks good for Halloween...
I was afraid of this.
I think a cursor program to automate my image editor may save a couple thousand clicks.
Maybe run over to Paint Shop's forum to see what's a good method.
Below is just a rough draft.
Thanks

[budwzr]

You might be able to feather it into a scene with a busy background. Why don't you post the clip and let everyone try.

Hair is always difficult to do because the background is mixed in very finely.

[zoobie]

Here it is at www.studio7b.com/pie_busker.mp4
I've the background red brick with a slight drop shadow like he's outside standing against a wall.
I will be resizing it to 720x405 so that will help a bit.
Kind of a one shot deal but it's interesting to learn how this can be done.
You never stop learning.
Thanks

[budwzr]

Unfortunately, it's a bit tough. Maybe one of the Pros here can help. I'm out of options. Also, the pie creates an almost impossible roadblock.

[zoobie]

I think frame by frame may be the way to go.
This frame is in Vegas after processing.
Shoulders need attention.

[racer-x]

I know this is not the effect you want, but while playing around with various filter, I made this Pencil-Sketch effect that looks kinda cool. Here it is if your interested...

[zoobie]

Yeah man...That was cool. I'll find a place for it somewhere if you don't mind. Did you use ArtistStudio?
I think I saw earlier that the pie guy has boogers in his nose...LMAO.
I saw a docu with President Clinton on some important matter. However, I couldn't help stare at this huge zit on the end of his nose. I never heard what he was on about....ruined the whole interview.

[racer-x]

I did it in Aviutl. I already forgot what filter chain I used however......

[zoobie]

I did 30 frames in Paint Shop and it came out horrible.
I've a huge movie to edit this Summer...
Abandoning this
Thanks

[newpball]

Just get a good green screen, make sure you do not have shadows and record with a high bitrate and you should be fine, a $100 investment will save you hours of tinkering.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Chroma-Key-Solutions/ci/7051/N/3974362639

[zoobie]

That was somebody else's goof.
That guy actually works in a studio...frightening.

[poisondeathray]

That was somebody else's goof.
That guy actually works in a studio...frightening.

Then shouldn't that "somebody else" fix it ?



Rotoing frame by frame will usually give you worse results than doing fewer frames.

The problem with rotoing frame by frame in a program like paint is it will take forever, and still give you "crunchy" results - because there is no interpolation between frames (you don't refer to adjacent frames) so the roto work is often "bumpy" between frames. You usually want to roto a series of masks for different areas , not 1 gigantic mask, using interpolation between keyframes. Fewer points and keframes are better, and will give you cleaner results. You address specific problem areas using multiple layers and composite them. For example, the hand and pie moving on should be done separately

Vegas can interpolate between keyframes for masks, but as budwzr mentioned above - it's pretty crappy for manipulating masks. But even doing this in a more suitable program with proper tools, this will still take a bit of work if you want decent results. Much easier to re-shoot it properly

[zoobie]

https://www.fiverr.com/ceneworksmedia/take-a-pie-to-the-face-with-your-message
Not exactly sweating it here...but I appreciate the interesting info....good to know.
I checked out some alternative $oftware that auto tracked...kind of an onion skin with memory.
I'll re-shoot it myself this Summer and make a nice slurpy pie.
Thanks