Effects question on After Effects at DVinfo.net

Mitch Buss · January 26th, 2005, 07:16 AM

I was wondering if it is possible to add in camera flashes to a clip. And if this is possible can you please tell me how to. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

MITCH

Stephen Schleicher · January 26th, 2005, 08:34 AM

what kind of camera flashes are you talking about? Camera bulb flashes? Internal Camera flash when film is exposed to light? What view point are you looking at these flashes from?

you could certainly add a camera flash to a still camera via motion tracking and a small flash effect. However, you need to be aware that simply creating a flashbulb effect will not look convincing because you will need to illuminate the area caused by the flash.

Cheers

Mitch Buss · January 26th, 2005, 08:07 PM

They need to be flashes of light like people are taking your picture. is there any way to do this? Thanks.

MITCH

Stephen Schleicher · January 26th, 2005, 09:41 PM

yes, but what is the view point?

Will we be looking at a crowd of photographers snapping their cameras, or will the viewer be looking at the person being photographed with the lights going off in their face?

And remember, just because you can easily add the flashes, doesn't mean you will get the look you desire. Remember there is the problem of lighting you have to deal with that can't be done in AE.

Cheers

Mitch Buss · January 27th, 2005, 11:38 AM

The perspective is that you are having your picture taken. You are seeing the flashes going off. I need to add in the flashes of light. The camera will be filming from over the shoulder of the person having his picture taken.

MITCH

Peter Higginbottom · January 27th, 2005, 02:40 PM

Hi
When I take video for the Girl guides, the wife is sometimes taking stills, this ties in very well with the effect I think Your trying to achieve, why not just fire a flash gun just to the rear of the cameraman? timed where You need it?

Regards.

Peter.

John Britt · January 27th, 2005, 03:42 PM

Peter -- When someone askes about adding an effect using AE, I would assume that they have already shot the footage. Obviously, a practical flash is better than an effect, but sometimes you just don't have it.

Mitch -- I've never done this specific effect, but try something like this: add a duplicate of the video layer, then add a circular mask around the flashbulb area, feathered out fairly wide. The edges of the feather should go transparent, leaving only the original layer underneath. Add brightness/contrast effect and a fast blur effect to the top layer. Animate the keyframes for both effects from zero to bright and slightly blurry then back to zero -- all within a few frames (less than 1 second). You may also want to try different transfer modes on the top layer (perhaps "overlay" or "hard light"). You may also be able to achieve all this with an adjustment layer instead of a copy of the video layer. Or with a solid white layer (w/ round, feathered mask as above), while animating the opacity as well.

This is just off the top of my head, but it should give you something to play around with. I don't have a chance right now to open AE and try it, but it should be an OK start...

Peter Higginbottom · January 27th, 2005, 04:15 PM

Hi
I realise what your saying, & after reading the posts stating the difficultys doing it after wards in post it was really a suggestion for the future, I perhaps should have said that rather than appear stupid to you.

I`ll leave it at that, say no more.

Regards.
Peter.

John McManimie · January 28th, 2005, 10:35 AM

This might work... it's free.

http://www.buena.com/ee/cameraflash.shtml

John

January 26th, 2005, 07:16 AM	#1
Mitch Buss Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 184	Effects question on After Effects I was wondering if it is possible to add in camera flashes to a clip. And if this is possible can you please tell me how to. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks MITCH

January 26th, 2005, 08:34 AM	#2
Stephen Schleicher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hays, KS Posts: 188	what kind of camera flashes are you talking about? Camera bulb flashes? Internal Camera flash when film is exposed to light? What view point are you looking at these flashes from? you could certainly add a camera flash to a still camera via motion tracking and a small flash effect. However, you need to be aware that simply creating a flashbulb effect will not look convincing because you will need to illuminate the area caused by the flash. Cheers __________________ Stephen Schleicher www.stephenschleicher.com

January 26th, 2005, 09:41 PM	#4
Stephen Schleicher Regular Crew Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hays, KS Posts: 188	yes, but what is the view point? Will we be looking at a crowd of photographers snapping their cameras, or will the viewer be looking at the person being photographed with the lights going off in their face? And remember, just because you can easily add the flashes, doesn't mean you will get the look you desire. Remember there is the problem of lighting you have to deal with that can't be done in AE. Cheers __________________ Stephen Schleicher www.stephenschleicher.com

January 26th, 2005, 08:07 PM	#3
Mitch Buss Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 184	They need to be flashes of light like people are taking your picture. is there any way to do this? Thanks. MITCH

January 27th, 2005, 11:38 AM	#5
Mitch Buss Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 184	The perspective is that you are having your picture taken. You are seeing the flashes going off. I need to add in the flashes of light. The camera will be filming from over the shoulder of the person having his picture taken. MITCH

January 27th, 2005, 02:40 PM	#6
Peter Higginbottom Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wakefield.West Yorkshire. Posts: 45	Hi When I take video for the Girl guides, the wife is sometimes taking stills, this ties in very well with the effect I think Your trying to achieve, why not just fire a flash gun just to the rear of the cameraman? timed where You need it? Regards. Peter.

January 27th, 2005, 03:42 PM	#7
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	Peter -- When someone askes about adding an effect using AE, I would assume that they have already shot the footage. Obviously, a practical flash is better than an effect, but sometimes you just don't have it. Mitch -- I've never done this specific effect, but try something like this: add a duplicate of the video layer, then add a circular mask around the flashbulb area, feathered out fairly wide. The edges of the feather should go transparent, leaving only the original layer underneath. Add brightness/contrast effect and a fast blur effect to the top layer. Animate the keyframes for both effects from zero to bright and slightly blurry then back to zero -- all within a few frames (less than 1 second). You may also want to try different transfer modes on the top layer (perhaps "overlay" or "hard light"). You may also be able to achieve all this with an adjustment layer instead of a copy of the video layer. Or with a solid white layer (w/ round, feathered mask as above), while animating the opacity as well. This is just off the top of my head, but it should give you something to play around with. I don't have a chance right now to open AE and try it, but it should be an OK start...

January 27th, 2005, 04:15 PM	#8
Peter Higginbottom Regular Crew Join Date: May 2002 Location: Wakefield.West Yorkshire. Posts: 45	Hi I realise what your saying, & after reading the posts stating the difficultys doing it after wards in post it was really a suggestion for the future, I perhaps should have said that rather than appear stupid to you. I`ll leave it at that, say no more. Regards. Peter.

January 28th, 2005, 10:35 AM	#9
John McManimie Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 314	This might work... it's free. http://www.buena.com/ee/cameraflash.shtml John