Is FCS all I would need to do this?
I'm looking at getting FCS for my video productions and I'm wondering how far the special effects can be pushed on FCS or if I NEED to buy something else. I would like to one-stop-shop my Post Production but at the same time I would like some FXs in the movies.
Assume I capture various footage from my camera at 24p or faster rate at 1080p 1. Gun Shots & Light Sabers - Sort of playing with light. 2. Bullet Time - Like in the Matrix 3. Ships on the Ocean - I have a model I could film, and waves in the ocean, or even the model in water, but I would need to add the background etc? 4. Cut a Man in Half / Loose an Arm (although likely a lot of this will be on-set effect - but add the realism rather than drop frame in another view) 5. Ghosts via Double Exposure or Green screen. |
I think you'd be hard pressed to find any software that would do the wide range of SFX you listed. You are really looking for after effects, shake or combustion.
-C |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
FCS has the components to do all of those effects.
Motion will do compositing (not as robustly as Combustion, but in a much more seamless workflow way - which is what you're asking for), greenscreening, motion tracking/stabilization, masking and time ramps/ manipulation although I'm not sure about morphing/warping that would be required to do the Matrix effects correctly. |
I would be using After Effects
Rob |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
It's not the software however that will really allow you to do these effects, its your understanding of the key principles and tools behind compositing. i.e Trackers, Keyers, Rotos, x,y,z and scale values in relation to framing and depth, composite modes (add, subtract, multiply, overlay, screen etc.), artificial lighting, 2.5D and 3D compositing, particles, and a number of other tools. In general, you'll need Photoshop (or GIMP for a free although not ideal alternative) if you are going to be working with any of the above programs. |
So Craig, if I read you right I should be getting an extra "Special Effects" program and things like Bullet time should be scraped because it requires equipment I don't have.
|
Quote:
Quote:
They do a Bullet Time like effect in their short, they describe the technique in the commentary. Morphing between the shots would have given them a smoother shot (that's what they did for all 400ish cameras in the actual effect). Motion can do this in a semi-automated fashion by putting all of the individual clips/frames together, then using the smoothcam and optical flow stuff in motion to steady the shots and "tween" the motion between the cameras. You don't need the big expensive rig to do this effect, just to do it precisely the way they did it on set in the Matrix. Quote:
Quote:
or http://yafiunderground.com/Video/Gar...20Tutorial.wmv (shameless self-promotion) Quote:
In FCP, drop your room and main actor on the first layer, then the black background ghost footage on the next layer and set the composite mode (right-click or ctrl-click) to Screen or Multiply (I can never remember which, but one makes white transparent and the other black - I do know that overlay makes 50% gray transparent)... You can then adjust the opacity of the layer to control how much the ghost shows up in the scene... no green screening needed :) |
Quote:
Film making is probably the most collaborative of creative arts. Don't ever scrap a shot unless, given all variables, it just doesn't make sense to do it. In the case of Bullet time, what actually counts as 'bullet time' is a very small subset of all sorts of differing temporal effects that can be achieved in a number of ways (the simplest of which is simply having someone standing very still!). Don't ask what software you need to achieve a shot - ask what elements you need to achieve a shot and how you ad them all together. At that point, specific software merely saves you time and money. |
Or... you could do the Matrix effect like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqmhI...eature=related YouTube - Shaolin Soccer Japanese Matrix Style :-) |
How about green-screen (or blue screen) effects?
|
For green screen you might want to see what can be done in Motion. Primatte is one of the plug-ins, and that might provide the best possible key. I use Primatte in After Effects and am absolutely impressed by what it can do.
|
Can I plug my camera (DSLRv) into the computer and FCP pick it up as a video camera and capture video directly from the camera?
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:59 AM. |
DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network