Removing dust specks from footage (dirty lens) at DVinfo.net

John Knight · February 6th, 2009, 03:53 AM

Hi guys,

Just trying to remove some specks of dust that appeared on my wide angle lens during a hectic beach wedding shoot. Some spots of sea-spray etc. Are there any plugin's or 3rd party filters that can help me?

Cheers

John Knight · February 6th, 2009, 03:22 PM

After hunting around for a while, I've found Magic Bullet has a "Film Fix" tool at a ridiculous US$799 (and they wonder why people pirate software???!!!)

Other people have mentioned exporting into After Effects and using the clone pixel tool combined with a blur... not too sure on how to do this, any tutorials or ideas???

Cheers

Andrew J Morin · February 13th, 2009, 02:38 PM

I've got some footage with this problem, too.
I'll try to remember to post my results after I've tried a few things on it.

Chris Barcellos · February 13th, 2009, 02:58 PM

Heres what I have done in Vegas. This assume very small dust speck. Premiere must have a similar capability:

1. I put 2 incidences of the same clip on two different track of the time line, one on top of the other, synched.

2. I then use filter called cookie cutter and place a hole, with edges feathered in the "top" overlaying clip. By doing that, the hole is now viewing the underlying clip. The hole is very tiny, just big enough to encompass the spec.

3. I then offset the underlying clip ever so slight so that what is shown through the hole is material just next to spec.

This has worked in many situations. On Vegas, I can do this at multiple places.

John Knight · February 15th, 2009, 01:43 AM

Hi Chris - excellent!

Yes - that would work just as well.

I eventually worked out a way to do this (more complicated) by exporting the clip into After Effects and then using the CLONE STAMP tool - similar operation to cleaning a photo in PhotoShop.

Your method is effectively a CLONE STAMP but more cleverererer!!! I'll give that a whirl.

February 6th, 2009, 03:53 AM	#1
John Knight Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 588	Removing dust specks from footage (dirty lens) Hi guys, Just trying to remove some specks of dust that appeared on my wide angle lens during a hectic beach wedding shoot. Some spots of sea-spray etc. Are there any plugin's or 3rd party filters that can help me? Cheers __________________ Over 28 years watching TV

February 13th, 2009, 02:58 PM	#4
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Heres what I have done in Vegas. This assume very small dust speck. Premiere must have a similar capability: 1. I put 2 incidences of the same clip on two different track of the time line, one on top of the other, synched. 2. I then use filter called cookie cutter and place a hole, with edges feathered in the "top" overlaying clip. By doing that, the hole is now viewing the underlying clip. The hole is very tiny, just big enough to encompass the spec. 3. I then offset the underlying clip ever so slight so that what is shown through the hole is material just next to spec. This has worked in many situations. On Vegas, I can do this at multiple places. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

February 6th, 2009, 03:22 PM	#2
John Knight Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 588	After hunting around for a while, I've found Magic Bullet has a "Film Fix" tool at a ridiculous US$799 (and they wonder why people pirate software???!!!) Other people have mentioned exporting into After Effects and using the clone pixel tool combined with a blur... not too sure on how to do this, any tutorials or ideas??? Cheers

February 13th, 2009, 02:38 PM	#3
Andrew J Morin Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 140	I've got some footage with this problem, too. I'll try to remember to post my results after I've tried a few things on it.

February 15th, 2009, 01:43 AM	#5
John Knight Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 588	Hi Chris - excellent! Yes - that would work just as well. I eventually worked out a way to do this (more complicated) by exporting the clip into After Effects and then using the CLONE STAMP tool - similar operation to cleaning a photo in PhotoShop. Your method is effectively a CLONE STAMP but more cleverererer!!! I'll give that a whirl.