Ipod commercial "Silhouette look" at DVinfo.net

Lee Tamer · March 29th, 2010, 09:49 AM

I'm shooting a music video in a couple of weeks and had a quick question.

Im sure you're all familiar with the Ipod commercials.
YouTube - iPod Ad - Walkie Talkie Man

Is there any way to achieve Silhouette look without using green screen, which I'm assuming they do? I would assume use some type of solid white screen in front of the subject and use a back light and fill light behind the screen? Would I want a light pointed directly at the screen instead of a fill light?

Mike Watson · March 29th, 2010, 08:13 PM

I would shoot it silhouette on a white backdrop, then use After Effects or Motion to swap the black and white channels for whatever color you're looking for. In Motion, this is called "Colorize".

Bill Davis · March 31st, 2010, 08:27 PM

The technique is simpler than you're thinking.

ANY background that is DIFFERENT from the foreground dancers will work fine.

It's the difference that's critical.

A solid white background works because unless the dancers wear white - EVERYTHING about them is "darker" than the background. So a key using the LUMA values will "cut them out" of the picture.

A solid color also works (chroma keying) for the same reason.

Once the computer can figure out the DIFFERENCE between the dancers and the background - and you separate that difference into LAYERS using the keying software - you can apply any kind of color or pattern effect you like to the global "cut outs."

Good luck.

Liam Hall · April 11th, 2010, 07:02 AM

Light the background, don't light the foreground. Simple.

Mark Wheeler · April 11th, 2010, 08:54 AM

But selective parts of the foreground... ipod, cord, the star on the last dancer's shirt... are either brightly or dimly visible. I don't know that simply lighting the background is what the OP is looking for.

Liam Hall · April 11th, 2010, 02:32 PM

I assumed the iPod doesn't feature in the OP's music vid, he only asked how to create a silhouette. Just add fill if you want foreground detail.

There are tutorials all over the net for how to mimic the iPod commercials using displacement mattes and other techniques.

March 29th, 2010, 09:49 AM	#1
Lee Tamer Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 188	Ipod commercial "Silhouette look" I'm shooting a music video in a couple of weeks and had a quick question. Im sure you're all familiar with the Ipod commercials. YouTube - iPod Ad - Walkie Talkie Man Is there any way to achieve Silhouette look without using green screen, which I'm assuming they do? I would assume use some type of solid white screen in front of the subject and use a back light and fill light behind the screen? Would I want a light pointed directly at the screen instead of a fill light?

April 11th, 2010, 07:02 AM	#4
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	Light the background, don't light the foreground. Simple. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

April 11th, 2010, 02:32 PM	#6
Liam Hall Major Player Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 969	I assumed the iPod doesn't feature in the OP's music vid, he only asked how to create a silhouette. Just add fill if you want foreground detail. There are tutorials all over the net for how to mimic the iPod commercials using displacement mattes and other techniques. __________________ Writer-Director-DOP www.liamhall.net

March 29th, 2010, 08:13 PM	#2
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	I would shoot it silhouette on a white backdrop, then use After Effects or Motion to swap the black and white channels for whatever color you're looking for. In Motion, this is called "Colorize".

March 31st, 2010, 08:27 PM	#3
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	The technique is simpler than you're thinking. ANY background that is DIFFERENT from the foreground dancers will work fine. It's the difference that's critical. A solid white background works because unless the dancers wear white - EVERYTHING about them is "darker" than the background. So a key using the LUMA values will "cut them out" of the picture. A solid color also works (chroma keying) for the same reason. Once the computer can figure out the DIFFERENCE between the dancers and the background - and you separate that difference into LAYERS using the keying software - you can apply any kind of color or pattern effect you like to the global "cut outs." Good luck.

April 11th, 2010, 08:54 AM	#5
Mark Wheeler Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hemet, CA. Posts: 87	But selective parts of the foreground... ipod, cord, the star on the last dancer's shirt... are either brightly or dimly visible. I don't know that simply lighting the background is what the OP is looking for.